Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-18
C0L0RS FULL OF GLORY.
HISTORY oFTHE MONTGOMERY
GUARDS FLAG.

/ Its Presentation 60 the Hibernian So
eietY Last Ntght-Its Travels from Fort
Pulaski Through Field and Prison to
the Close ofthe last Battle ut Benton
vilIe-An Occasion Full of Historical
Interest.
Yelled under the folds OF the green and
! gold banner Of the Hibernian Society and
4 handsomely encased in a frame Of native
wood, there hung in catholic Library hall
/ last night one Of the most interesting
I relics OF the war-the oolors OF the Mont
/ gomery Guards.
/ Upon platform az the eastern end of
/ the hall sat the members Of the Hibernian
I Society, with the badge Of green across
4 their breasts.
The occasion was the formal presenta-
( ton OF the flag 10 the society by its Presi-
[ dent Capt. L. j. Gullmartin. Tables
/ were arran ged crOsswise OF the haH ana
J extending into an Slcoye. IN the centre OF
| which hung the flag President Gullmar-
/ tin sat at the head Of the table, and Vice
/ President =. ". Meldrim and other OFF,
! GERS OF the society at the ends. A num-
/ Der OF invited guests were present,
among them Gen. G. NJ. SOrrel, Vice Pres
/ ident of tue Georgia Historical Society;
! Col. Charles II. Olmstead, Commandant
! Of Fort Pulaski during the time the Mont
| gomery Guards formed a part OF its gar
/ rison; Col. William Garrard, OF the Sa-
/ vsnnah Volunteer Guards Battalion;
| Capt. j. F. Wheaton, Of the Chatham Ar
/ tillery; Solicitor General DuBignon and
/ others.
| AS President Guilmartin arose TO make
J the presentation, when he did in very
/ few words, the covering was thrown back
/ from the frame, and the beautiful sLken
| flag that was carried from Pulaski to
/ BentOnVille was brought to view. AL
| though the silk is somewhat stained and
/ the gilt furnished, the flag, in the main,
has been well preserved. Upon
| one corner of the frame
hung portrait of the beloved chaplain OF
| the company, Rev, Father Whelan, who
| wash the fort during the seige, and be-
! ing offered his liberty at the surrender re-
| fused to accept the offer and underwent
! all the rigors of imprisonment with those
| he loved and to whom he was endeared.
| Mr., Charles F. Prendergast, secretary OF
! the society, read an interesting sketch Of
the flag compiled from the written and
! verbal statements of eX-members Of the
| company.
| ACCEPTING TIE TRUST.
Vice President Meldrim, on behalf of
the society, accepted tue sacred trust con-
fded to its care. He spoke elOquently of
the heroism which marked the men who
had so faithfully guarded it, and by whom,
| after many Yicisstudes, it had been
| brought back finally to be placed in the
care of the Hibernian society, not to re-
vive the bitter and painful memories Of
unsuccessful strife, but rather to perpetu-
ate lofty example Of sOldlerly courage
and fidelity worthy Of the emulation of
all true warriors and patriotic men.
| Col. OlmGtpad rQSnOudpd tn the TnOUpgt
of President Guilmartin, and narrated in
an exceedingly interesting manner the
| circumstances Of the siege and surrender
| OF Fort Pulaski. He paid an eloquent
| tribute to the memory OF the beloved Fa-
ther Whelan, and related many amusing
anecdotes Of the occupation OF the Fort,
| and the occurrences during the early
| days OF the war, when the Southern SOL
! diery, though at home on parade was lost
in the stern discipline Of garrison and
camp life.
Gen. SOrrel spoke in behalf OF the Georgia
| Historical Society, to whose care the flag
is to be intrusted until the Hibernian So
ciety shall be able to resume its keeping.
Capt. Wheaton, who was Familiarity
known by the garrison at Pulaski as
Corporal Jack" Col VIM. GaTTard, So
licitor General duBignon, ex-Solicitor
General Charlton, Donald Mcdonald,
Esq, Capt. Christopher Murphy and
| others were called upon and responded to
the occasion.
THE MONTGOMERY GUARDS.
The Montgomery Guards, composed
almost exclusively of Irishmen or their
descendants, were organized in Savannah
on Aug. 20, 1861, and in the following
month as part of the First Volunteer
Regiment of Georgia, mustered into the
military service of the Confederate States
fR.a al fol- r,rryu
l.. j. Guilmartin, Captain; John j
Symons. First Lieutenant; Christopher
Hussey, Second Lieutenant; Christopher
Murphy, Junior Second Lieutenant.
Sharing Jasper's disinclination tC
fight without cOlors, Capt. Guilmartir
provided the materials for handsome
flag. which was made by the Sisters O
Mercy OF Savannah, and formally pre-
scented TO the company, then in garrison
at Fort PULASKI. by that fine old Irist
gentleman, John Foley, who was Majol
OF the regiment at that time. Private
Bernard O'Neill was appointed colo
bearer. The presentation occurred on st
Parlck's day, 1862, while Fort Pulaski
, was closely invested by the Fedora
. forces.
The story OF the occupation of the fort
and its gallant defense, is one which will
ever be part OF the history OF savannah
e On Jan. 8, 1851, the fort was taken posses
sion of in the name of the Stat
of Georgia by detachment of tn
Z volunteer soldiers Of this city. !
/ was in almost dismantled state, bu
! it was soon placed on new footing
, by the enthusiastic soldiers. After tn
capture of Port Royal by the fleet undo
Commodore Dupont, Tybee island, Oppo
+ site Fort Pulaski. was evacuated by tn
4 COniederates, and soon after was occupied
by the Union forces. In February, 1862, TN
A latter succeeded in erecting batteries II
, the river at Venus Point and on Birt
) island which eventually cut off all com
4 munlcati0n between the city and the fort
The Federal forces thus having the for
/ isolated rapidly pushed forward thei
/ seige works on Tybee Island, and undo
cover of night erected heavy batteries Of
the western end of the island, known a
Kings landing, within about 1000 yard
c of the fort.
= COMMANDMENT OF PULASKI.
3 On the morning of April 10, Gen. Hun
D ter, commanding the besieging force, sent
o under "A fiag OF truce, an order for the i'm
mediate surrender and restoration of TN
fort to the authority and possession o
= the United States 10 which Col, Charlie