The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1886-11-20
The Georgia Volunteers
Report OF Adjufanf and lnspec-
tor Generals Stephens.

pu'et covering 40 pages, IN which rs IN
Guided the proceedings of the military
Advisory Board, the report If Inspectors
and complete roster OF the
State Troops. The report of the
inspections recently made, make
a splendid showing for the mill
tary of Savannah, considering the many
disadvantages they labor under, Uoder
the law the. St tie Military is limited to
90 companies, whit; so iuiantY. 7 cav
airy aud B artillery; colored companies
22-2O infantry, / cavalry aud artil-
Iery aud are distributed as follows:
ColOred companies s, Au-
gusta 5, Mac 3, Atlanta 3, Columbus
l, lbany l, Rome /
White cOmpanies-Savapnah 10,
Macon 3, MilIdgeviile 3, Augusta B,
Atlanta :, Columbus 3, Rome 2, Albany
2. Griffin 2, Eatontou, Sparta, Forsyth,
LaGrange, TsIboton, Brunswick, Tay-
lor's Greek, Black Spring, Dawson.
Mattock, Monroe, Fort Gaines, Thomp-
son, Pleasant Hill, Montezuma, Kuex
vile, Springfield, WalIhouryille, Darien
and Johnson Station each.
Col Stephens reports that in compi-
ance with the provisions of the military
Act Of 1885, an order was issued dis
banding all military organizations not
designated as part OF the egular vol
unteer force, and that certain companies
named, ten in all had SURRENDERED their
arms and aecoutrements, two of which
are co'0red companies. Also, that In
accordance with the same Act he had
appointed MIR. Joseph K. johnson Of
Washington, D. c., to make complete
roster OF persons who entered the rvice
of the Confederate States in the late war
from this State; that he is the person
designated BY the War Department for
examining such records, and that his
compensation for the work will be 800
per month which he promises to finish
in nine months
Col. Stephens recommends, as one of
the measures looking toward the discip-
line aud efficiency IF tie troops. the
holding Of an annual encampment for at
least Fix days in each year and that the
encampmeut site should be located per
manentIy. Attention is called to the
TACT that the United States furnishes
each maritime State which provides for
an annual encampment of at least six
days III the year with five thousand dol
lars. wnth of heavy ordnance, the
object being TO educate the troops near
est the sea coast defonces 10 the use of
seige guns &c. He then concludes 10
the following language:
"In behalf of the military Of Georgia,
| commend them 10 your favorable con
sideration and fostering care of the State
and ask for them careful inquiry into
their wants and ne essitIes. | would
call attention to the fact that the State
does not appropriate anything for the
support and maintenance of her military
organizations. They have to rely solely
upon themselves and upon small anuu-
al appropriation made by Congress
which is utterly inadequate to meet
their requirements This appropriation
amounts to little over $500 1t was
made under an act which was passed
during the administration of President
jefferson. At that time it was deemed
that this amount was sufficient to prop
erly equip Georgia's militia. Since then
the state has quadrupled her population,
and the amount utterly fails to do more
than to partially equip a limited mum
Der of companies. 1t is needless to em-
phasize the importance of Well equip
ped and disciplined militia to govern
ment. While there may be no dangers
MANAGING us, othe, sections of the
country are approaching the solution of
very great problems which may result
in most disastrous conflicts, and there
is no forecasting the perils which may
await US in the near future, and wisdom
lies in the maxim 'Semper porofus
The surest way to conserve the peace is
to be prepared for its breach, The State,
when occasion demands it, has nohesi-
tation in calling upon her military
organizations to quell riots or to aid the
civil authorities in executing the law,
and it does seem that as a measure Of
justice correlative obligation would not
leave them to the Federal Government
and themselves for their support and
maintenance"
NtoI Er;oJ 4or Won. 60. D. :