Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-05
HEROES OF MANY FIELDS.
STIRRING CA,iErR OF GEOR-
GlA,S FIRST REGIMENT.

NIA1 AAAAfrA -@ANN 40 A%-N -
Formation of the Independent Vol
unteer BattaliOn-The Organiza
tions Composing it-Organizatior
of the First Negiment-lts First
Work ia the Late Unplcasantncs'
Something about its Officers
Bombardment of Fort Pulaski
and its ~urrender-Life in Prison
- Reorganization - Participation
in the Mountain Campaign I'D
Georgia - After the Cause was
Lost.
From the eventful day on which Gen.
James Oglethorpe landed upon the BUN
Rt Yamacraw until the present time' lhe
city of Savannah has been noted Ior Ine
vigorous hold of the military loes upon
The minds and hearts of its citizens. NIL
itarv sprit born OF necessity has always
baan hioh. and belief in the military yir-
tues has been inherited by generation after
generation imbibed as it were with
mothers milk.
The earliest picture Of the city repre-
sents a few scattered houses surrounded
bv wall OF living forest, but upon The
left a flag futters in the breeze, and bat
terry of cannon points over the waters OF
the river, promising even in that early
day hot welcome to every foe. The col
ony was planted upon ground claimed by
the SpaniaTds. Within easy distance was
the strong fortress of st. Augustine,
base from which again and again the
land aud naval forces of His
Majesty Philip V we're hurled against
the little handful of Englshmen. A
regiment was one OF the first of Ogle-
thorpe's wants, and from the beginning
each colonist felt in his lnmost soul that
the safety OF affairs and fresides de-
pended upon stout arms and brave hearts.
No wonder that then was born the spirit
that has never since died. The war OF
the Revolution certainly had no tendency
TO weaken the sentiment, but rather
added fuel to the fame, and to this day
the Imagination of every native OF the
old city kindles to a white heat as he re-
calls the rush OF Pulaskrs Legion aad
the fall of that gallant chlettaln. the
desperate assault upon Spring Hill re-
doubt by the allied forces. and the death
of Jasper. We mourn over the fortunes
of that fatal day as though 1t bad been
Yesterday, and how our hearts rejoice as
we think OF the glorious morn wnen the
British ships sailed away never to return
save as the white winged messengers OF
peace" and the Ragged COntinentals"
once more marched in TO enjoy their own
again.
These events were talked OF at the fire.
side by old men aud women, even so late
as 40 years ago. AS little children they
had witnessed them, and the story was
handed DOM from one to another, ever
exciting a generous ardOr in noble souls
20 prepare for the day when their man
hood, too, might be put to the crucial
test their courage and self-denial tried as
by ire. WHAT Savannanian who ever
saw him can forget the venerable figure
OF Sheftall Sheftall, that old soldier OF the
Revolution, pacing back and forth in the
quaint old uniform in which he had
fought for liberty, aud who can tell what
influences his simple life in the COM
munity may have had in moulding mill
lary thought and desireg
AN OUTPOST IN 1872.
The war of 1912 found Savannah still
An outpost. The proximity OF BTltain's
great naval stations IN the West Indies
kept our people keenly on the alert to
repel invasion. Florida was still a
dangerous neighbor, and so once again
me maps Vi Tue CITY SuON Iut uOAnEb VI iAS
inhabitants guarded by cannon. From
the river on the east around to the river
on the west we see a line of strong re-
doubts and salients, telling the story of a
people ready to defend themselves, a
people who had added to natural bravery
She skill and military capacity which be-
long only to those who study the arts of
war in the piping times OF peace.
The legitimate OutgrOwth of this gal
l.. .s...s ln fvaas tDa a
the young men of Savannah as Voluntee
soldiery. Scarcely bad the echoes OF the
Revolution died away when "The DeX-
trous Company of Artillery" was formed
that splendid organization whose guns
pealed forth a salute to Washington, and
Numbered a mournful farewell over the
grave OF Greene. An organization which,
at the completion of its hundr edith year,
to-day renews its youth ''bke the eagle''
amid the reJoicIngs and congratulations
Of the entire country. Other companies
were formed in quick succession, each
doing It's full share in fostering the manly
virtues received OF their fathers, aud in
transmitting TO their successors the ira
ditions of a glorious past.
During the first half OF the pres
emit century the volunteer aud uni.
formed companies OF the city formed
part of the First Regiment,
First Brigade, Georgia Militia, and pa.
raded on stated occasions side by side
with the ''unterrihed," ununiiormed, un'
disciplined companies of the "Beats," as
they were called.
THE FIRST MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.
These organizations were but bur.
lesques upon what military command
oughl 10 be, and it was not to be won
dercd at that toe volun GERS b. came res
tive under the enforced ASSOCIATION. The
desrabilty cf form ng a battalion eX-
Ulusively from the volunteers was most
apparent. Steps we're taken to that end
and on Jan. 20, 1892, a bill was approved
bY which It was enacted:
III. That the volunteer companies now
existing IN the city of Savannah and be
longing to the First Regm. Mt. First Brig.
nde, First Division Georgia NJ ilitia he and
the came hereby are organized and erect
ed into separate battalion, which shall
be called the Independent Volunteer Bat.
TALON of savannah, and be no longer a
part Of the said First Regiment.
al. That am other volunteer com
panies Of foot which may her-a ter be or
gained IN the city Of Savannah shall bC
attached 90 said battalion until The mum
Der Of sa d conn auies shall be- els ht, wheI
the SAID COMPANIES shall beOfeauiz. a an(
erected iutu a regiment, which shall b,
called the L. dependent Volunteer Regi
ment Of savannah, and said regimes
shall not consist at less than eight or NOR
tnan fourteen companie-."
Section three OF the act vested the com