Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-08
THE EIGHTH GEORGIA.
The Survivors Reunion and Their
Trip to the Sea.

teers was pleasant one, and one which
will ever be remembered by those who
were present. At 8 O'Clock the survivors
met at the Oglethorpe Light Infantry's
armory AMI ''fell inn by order of Maj.
shellman, their old Adjutant. The Ogle-
thorpes in uniform, but without arms,
Capt, Falligant, commanding, headed by
the Guards Band, " ere under orders and
the survivors and their escort took up the
line OF march for the steamer st. NichO-
las, which lay at the foot of DraytOn
street.
At the boat the command was met by
DR.. j. T. Mcfarland, who was the sur
geOn of the old Eighth, and Capt. Usina,
master of the St. Nicholas, who was at
one time a member of the regiment, and
other members of the entertainment COM
mittee. AS soon as the party was re-
ported, ''all present or accounted
for" the steamers lines were cast on.
An excursion was made through Angus
tine creek and Warsaw river 10
Warsaw sound, passing in view of
Bonaventure and other places Of
interest. Rounding into LaZaretto
creek the steamer passed by Tybee
island and stood out toward the bar
buoy. The waves of Old Ocean, however,
had no visible effect upon the veterans or
their entertainers. Capt. Usina, having
satisfied himself that his old comrades
were good sailors as we'll as soldiers, put
his steamer about and headed leisurely
back TO the city, where the party arrived
about O'Clock.
The trip down was spent by the veter-
ans in recalling incidents Of a quarter OF
a century a0o, and many a good story
was told. There was more said though
about the fun the soldiers had had than
the fights they were engaged in.
REvIvING OLD MEMORIES.
During the trip a bOuntIful collation.
was served, and after the guests and their
hOspitable entertainers had partaken of
something better than ratiOns the sur
vivOrs we've called TO order by Col. L. N &.
Lamar, President of the association, and
in response to repeated calls the gallant
Colonel made an eloquent speech.
"1he glory Of our immortal corps" he
SAID. lis IN its heroic dead. The living
brought from the conflict the supreme
boon of life. The unfortunate dead, glo-
rious in their sacred marty rdOm, sealed
their devotion to duty by their noble
blood. 1t is fitting, then, that we, as a
! specially imperative feature OF these cere-
monies and exercises, shou d do full JUS
| tice to the brave spirits OF our Organiza-
/ tion that are its most precious sacrifice
! and most golden memory. They iliumi-
| mated its annals and cannOniZed It's his
tory. They vitalized its BRIGHTEST prom
ises and incarnated its most enduring
fame. In reference to our dead, no men,
| ton would be just that did not
hold up TO living admiration the lllustri-
GUS name of the immortal Barlow.
| Around this chivalric spirit clusters the
most shining radiance of the whole proud
! galaxy. There were peculiar 9lOries in
/ mis- record. He was statesman as we'll
/ as soldier; he was an orator. heaven
! born, as well as a warrior. In his death
! there was the sad extinction Of the pa
triot as well as the bloody martyfdOm of
/ the general. From this shining star can
never be taken the high fame OF having
/ been the first great victim of the reVolu-
ton.
TRIBUTE TO OLD COMMANDERS.
''Not less distinguished in merit, but
/ only less conspicuous is the fame of that
courageous officer, Col. Thomas l..
| Cooper, brilliant aud dashIng soldier.
He came of strong strain OF men, and
was true to his manly blood. He was the
first Captain OF the Atlanta Greys. and
was in command of his regiment at the
| time of his death. One of the saidest
losses to the corps was the death of that
glowing Young soldier. AnJutant John
Branch: brave as a lion, instiled with
martial ardOr, debOnnair in his flow OF
spirits. developing the greatest promise
or distinction, his taking of in that
memorable first battle of Manassas was,
IS We know, one of the younger martyr.
dOms of the war, that 10
those who understood their
significance caused the saddest gre oil
the struggle. But must not pursue the
glittering list further. as there were SO
many heroes should fatigue with eulOsy
| only intended to illustrate he wealth of
ses scd aud lost.
"honOr TO these illustrious dead; an eter
nal remembrance TO them, and the sweet
est memory TO the living"
COL. ANDERsoN's REMARKS.
The next call was made on Col. &. w
| Anderson, commanding the FIRST Volun
teer REGIMENT OF Georgia, who made d
stirring speech. Col. Anderson said the
first duty Of soldier IS 20 obey orders
He had hoped to be a silent spectator
He was fOrciby reminded. he said, OF the
faltering words with which an eloquent
French orator began his eulOgy on the
Prince Condo. In referring to the histo ~
and gallant deeds of the old Eighth be
was overwhelmed by the greatness of the
theme ana the needlessness of the task
He spoke OF those who had fallen in the
din and roar Of battle beneath tina South.
ern cross. cousecrated by so much unset
fish devotion and such unstintCd liba'
ti0ns OF blood. "Dld the custom obtain
in this country he said, las il does 10
day among the old regiments OF France
when the roll is called by the orderly
sergeants. how many times The Oldest
veteran would step 10 the front as the
name Of some once loved comrade was
called ard respond. Died on the
field Of honor our cemeteries will tell.
soon the wooden head boards will decay,
aud the names cut by the hand Of adoc.
ton Will be etfsc a.. as time spares not
: the beauty OF zoe Hover nor the majesty
Of the oak. ami. a. IN pnysical nature,
vines aud teudris and flowers grow
around ancient runs. so round those sa.
cred ruins OF the heart amidst whose sol.
emu shades We sometimes Owed 10 wan,
der. green memories eutWire as we recall
that glOrihed band ol soldiers who, Win
Jackson. Barrow, and others, have
crossed over the ilyer aud are resting in
the shade Otthe trees. What ueep inspir.
alton 20 the youth of these ORGANIZATIONS
Sons II the old veterans, now composing
these companies, these reunions mus
prove.
"All the instincts, sympathies and rs,
pirolinns Of the human soul should IMP 4
us TO perpriuate DO arr, history aud song
tn story OF those dead heroes weo, IN the
pain of duty. marched ny 20 death NJ ID
friend, and took from bis out trntc1ed