Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-05

meetings and by attending IN a nouS
the funerals of deceased members,
endeavored to maintain their cofpo-
rate existence, and to preserve their
uropariv. But as soon a. the carpet
aa0 Government was ANONYMOUSLY
eyTeiled. and James NJ. smith be-
came Governor, the corps, encouraged
IL him determined to resume its
n.u,f functions. As soon as this
determination was known, large
numbers OF new members Joined,
and the work Of reorganization was
undertaken. All the surviving Off
carS and uon-commissioned officers
fe.irned-the new members were as
signed to mpanies-Otficers of all
grades were chosen and elected
Major Basinger to the command. The
battalion staff was Organized-the
present uniform adopted-the drum
corps collected together again-and
the rules revised. Arms were soon
furnished by the State, and, with
restored strength, the corps made its
first parade under the new order of
things on the 18th day of January,
1878.
In the course of time a band
was organized and permanently at
tached TO the battalion. Major Bas-
niger obtained from the State the use
Of the arsenal for place of meetings
and drills, and the corps had it re-
paired and improved at its own eX-
pense. Buildings were erected on the
lot where the armory had stood, from
which a revenue was derived-finan-
cial affairs received due attention,
and the reserved fund put on pro-
per footing.
In 1879, in pursuance of a law Of
the state then passed, which required
all battalion commanders TO be
Lieutenant Colonies, such a commits
sion was sent to the commanding
officer; and the corps was numbered
third i'm the list Of volunteer infantry
battali0ns.
In August, 1882, Col. Basinger re-
signed; and Lieut.. Col William
Garrard, the present energetic and
popular commander, was elected TO
succeed him.
At the time of Col. Basinger's
resignation, he had been member
for thirty-one years, and from the
day of his admission to membership,
almost Immediately contemporaries
Gus with his promotion to a nom
commissioned office, he was distin-
guished for his devotion and for his
high soldierIy qualities, through
every grade of office within the gift
of the corps. He was inspired by
all its gallant traditions, and at no
period in its history has it had a
commander who sustained its honor
with more loyalty, intelligence and
skill. A successful lawyer and
man of unusual attainment, he de-
voted his unwearying industry and
highly trained powers TO meet all
the requirements of a military posi-
ton, trying in peace, but imperious
in war, and he failed in none. 1t
was chiefly through his efforts that
the Guards became skilled in heavy
artillery. To this branch of the
service, Col. Basinger, who is an ac-
complished mathematician, gave
close, studious attention during much
of the war, becoming the author of
| full, systematic tables of traiectories.
and was appointed, while stationed
at Battery Wagner, one of an army
/ commission to report on the proper
form of heavy artillery.
OF his conduct in battle, there can
be no better panegyric than the re-
cord of the Guards in the bloody
dramas at Battery Wagner and
/ Sailors Creek.
Col. Basinger was longer in chief
command than any of his predeces-
sOrs. Although previously in acting
command, he was Major and Lieu
tenant Colonel of the battalion dur
ing about nineteen years.
The commissioned officers of the
battalion under Mai. Screven were
as follows;
Co. A-Capt. w. 5. Basinger;
Lieuts. Thomas +. Screven, w. II.
King, John +. Upper.
Co. B-Capt. G.. W. Stiles; Lieuts.
Ed. Padelford, +. A. Castelar,
George ID. Smith.
Co. Capt. &. G. Rice; Lieuts. G
NJ. Turner, John r. Dillon, Eugene
Blois.
Lieut.. Dillon, Acting Adjutant.
Capt @. c. Rice, Acting Quarter
master.
Lieut.. w. ii. King, Acting Com
missaTy.
After Maj. Basinger assumed com
mand, Lieut.. T. +. Screven was
made captain of Co A, and the fol
lowing became lieutenants, namely
p. n. Raynal, w. +. Cue and w. ID
Grant, and +. =. Starr was appoint
ed Adiutant of battalion. After the
war ended the officers under Mai
Basinger were:
Co. A-Capt. George w. Stiles
Lieuts. p. n. Raynal, A. A. VIM
E. r. Starr.
Co. B-Capt. L. +. Screven; Lieuts.
j. &. Habersham, III. III. Woodbridge,
Malcolm Maclean.
Company Capt. Jno. r. Dillon
Lieuts. +. II. Sweat, IL. c. Cunning
ham, John Reilly.
Lieut.. Sweat was afterwards APP
pointed Adjutant, and Lieuts. Ray.
nal and Cunningham became re,
spectively Captains Of their compa
MES, and the following became Lieu
tenants at various times, namely: c.
j. Barrie, G.. II. Maxwell, ii. r. Sy
mons, w. +. Symons, Cuthbert Barn
well, Joe c. Thompson, l.. G. Strong
NJ. A. Barrie, j. A. Cronk, J. w
Fretwell, w. Z. Hunter (Adiutant)
Major Basinger became Lieuten
ant Colonial Ia nofIhar 1870