Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-13
SAVANNAH VOLUNTEER GUARDS.

Presentation of Flags to the Battalion
by Governor stephens and the Mary
land Delegation.
At O'Clock Company A of the Savan-
nah Volunteer Guards Battalion, Captain
Thos. f. Screven, assembled, and pro-
ceeded to the steamer Florida, where
they met their guests, who had been
CHARTERED there on Sunday night, and on
the arrival at the arsenal, the corps, I'M
der command of Lieutenant Colonel Gar
rard, was formed in their spacious hall,
and Colonel John Milledge, formerly of
the First Georgia Regulars, {. 5. A., now
of the Governors staff, appeared, and
read the following letter from the Govern
or, accompanying a beautiful State flag
worked in silk.
STATE OF GEQRGIA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
SAVANNAH, GA, Feb. -, 1888.
Lieut.. Col. Nm Gdrrdd, Commanding
the SardRnah Volunteer Guards Bat
DEAR SIR-It is my pleasant duty to
present to your battalion, in behalf of the
State of Georgia. a State flag, gotten up
in pursuance of the last act OF the Legs
lature upon the subject.
As it is inconYenient for me to do so in
person, / hereby depute Colonel John
Milledge, of my staff, TO discharge this
agreeable Office for me, who Will therefore
in appropriate terms for and in behalf of
the State deliver the flag to you.
From the best information have, yours
is the oldest infantry organization in the
State, and therefore it is the more apprO-
pirate that this flag should be committed
to the companies under your command.
Yours truly,
ALEXANDER Fl. STEPHENS,
Governor.
Col. Milledge, in a few words, addressed
the corps, referring to the time when,
TWENTY-FIVE years ago, he, with others from
Middle and Upper Georgia. were called
to Savannah in the defense of the state.
The battalion, as the oldest infantry or
ganiZation of the State, responded to the
sentiments of the people. and was faithful
to the cause of constitutional liberty, its
dead being numbered among the slain from
Battery Wagner to Sailors creek, in Nir-
ginia. He said that the Governor felt pc
culiar pleasure in presenting this, the
first State flag, to a corps which had illus
trated its native State so hOnOrably on
many hard-fOught field, and was assured
that its past record was a promise of its
future. Col. Garrard received the colOrS
and thanked the Governor for the trust
imposed, referring to the medium selected
by His EXcellency to represent him on
this occasion. The command was brought
to the present arms and the colors We're
received with the usual honOrs.
After the reception of the state
flag. Colonel Garrard addressed the
corps in eloquent words. referring
to peculiar honor that deyolyed
upon them ON this day. The delegation
of citizens appointed by the Governor Of
Maryland had also selected them to bear
in the line of procession the colors of the
State of Maryland and the flag of the city Of
Baltimore. These gentlemen who had hon
Ored our city on this historic anniversary
were the descendants of Lord Baltimore
and his coufreres, whose story embodied
the history of religious freedom in this
country. He expressed the great pleas
IRE that the corps felt in being selected
to bear the cOlOrs of a sister State whose
history antedated the constitution of our
Union.
The State flag presented by the Governor
is Of heavy silk and most beautiful in its
finish. The two flags from Maryland are
of massive material and are handsomely
mounted, and well worthy the inspection
of our citizens. We learn that they will
be on inspection at the Guards armOry
to-day.