Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-06
THE OLDEIGHTH GEORGIA
A REGIMENT THAT WAS BORN
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.


mand-On the Terrible Field ut
Survivors To-Day.
In sketch Of the services of a Confed-
crate regiment from Geo.gia the wr tier
must necessarily 90 over almost he same
field as those who have told OF the deeds
OF other commands. The record will be
the same tale OF heroism, suffering and
sacrifices. Its flag will bear the inscrip-
tions of as many battlefelds, and its
"dead upon the field of battle" will num-
Der about the same. II one regiment oy
the fortunes of war distinguished itself
more than another, 1t would not be possi-
BILE in a general outline OF it's services,
such as this is intended to be, to specify
IN what particular it differed IN glory.
1t is not with the intention of
exalting the members OF the Eighth
regiment of Georgia Volunteers above
their fellow patriots that this briet sketch
is prepared. 1t is intended only as a
synopsis OF its hlstory-an epitOme OF its
four years Of warfare. The Eighth was a
war regiment. Like many another it was
born on the battlefield, and ended Its ex-
istence there.
The Eighth, however, became well
hhOWu at bus very lUCtDtiOu Oh tue Adle
conflict. In its first battle il suffered Sc
we're losses, and among its dead was the
immortal Barrow. 1t was Bartow's regi-
ment. 1t might have been a brigade, or
even a division, had it been possible to
nave accepted every company which was
eager to be enlisted under his leadership.
THE REGIMENTS FIRST COLONEL.
Francis 5. Barlow, its first Colonel,
was brilliant lawyer just in the zenith
OF his well-earned fame when the State
seeded. He was not a ''seeessiOn-
Ist," per Sc, but when Lincoln was
elected he thought the time had
arrived for the South to assert her
rights. At that period, and for several
years previous be had been the beloved
commander of the Ogiethorpe Light In-
taatry, volunteer company Of Savannah.
This company was one OF those which,
under the orders OF the Governor of
Georgia, had occupied Fort Pulaski In
January, 1861. During the exciting
period which followed, aud which culml-
mated with the attack on Fort Sumter and
the quickly following Invasion of Nir-
gina, Capt. Barlow and his company
were anxious TO take the field. Gov.
Brown, however, objected to any
companies leaving the State at that
time. The members OF the company
were greatly disappointed bv the stand
who had been elected member Of the
Provisional Congress, however, took the
1rst opportunity presented at the assem-
bling OF that body at MONTGOMERY to have
a resolution passed authorizing the Pres
ident to accept the services OF companies
rendered directly to him. The act had no
sooner received the signature of the Pres
ident than Capt. Barlow waited on Mr..
Davis and in person rendered the services
Ofhis company. The offer was accepted and
the news telegraphed to Savannah. There
was great rejoicing throughout Georgia
when the news was received that Barlow
would take his command to Virginia.
From all parts of the State
came applications from companies
for places in Bartow's regiment.
His company was the first that yOlun-
teered ''for the war;. Previously troops
had been enlisted for six and II months.
PRESIDENT DAVIS WAS OVERWHELMED
with tenders OF companies and regi-
ments under the resolution before referred
TO, and the country resOunded with
the sound of fife and drum
of a patriot sOldiery. The trains
were not sufficient to accommodate
the young volunteers eager for the fray,
and within month the hills and hlllsides
around Richmond were dotted with en-
campments of troops from the fair South.
The OgIeth0rpes were among the first to
leave the State, and arrived in Richmond
on May %. Early in June, Capt. Bar
| tow selected 10 companies from among
| those that were III camp at HOward's
| Grove. There was great disappointment
among such companies as were not ac-
cepted. Such, however, at once
| found places in other organizations.
In mentioning the OglethOrpe Light In
| fantry it is not the intention OF the writer
| to make it conspicuous above the other
companies of the regiment. Reference to
it's early war history is necessary to q
| proper understanding Of the formation OF
! Bartow's command.
THE REGIMENTS ORGANIZATION.
The companies selected to constitute
the regiment we're as follows, and no bet
ter soldiers ever marched forth to battle:
! Company A, Rome Light Guard, Rome
e. j. Magruder. Captain.
Company B, Oglethorpe Light Infantry,
! Savannah-J,,J. West, Captain.
Company e, Macon Guards, Macon-L.
Nj. Lamar, Captain. sl
Company d, Echols Guards, Green.
Vile - Howard, Captain.
| Company X, Miller Rifles, R0me-J. r.
! Towers, Captain.
Company +, Atlanta Grays, Atlanta.
l.. Lewis, Captain.
Company G, Pulaski Volunteers, Haw-
kinsville-T. d. l.. Ryan, Captain.
Company d, Floyd Infantry, Rome
Fred. Cooper, Captain.
Company |, Stephens Light Guard,
! Greens boro-G. o. Dawson, Captain.
Company X, Oglethorpe Rifles, Lexing-
ton-Jacob Phinizy. Captain.
The regimental officers were:
| C0lonel-Francis 5. Barlow, Savannah.
Lieutenant COlonel-W. Montgomery
! Gardner, Augusta.
Major-rhOmas L. Cooper, Atlanta.
Adjutant-JOhn l.. Branch, Savannah.
Captain and Quartermaster-Wm +.
Aver, Rome.
Captain and Commissary- Charles II.
Smith, Rome.
Surgeon-Dr. II. V. NJ. Miller, Rome.
Sergeant Major-Henry A. Menard, Ma
con.
Ordnance sergeant-Daniel r. Towers,
/ Rome.
The officers of the regiment, however,
changed rapidly. The Colonel was killed
IN the first battle, and Lieut.. Col. Gard
ner, who had just resigned from the
| United States army, was wounded and
| crippled for life, though he afterwards
served with distinc ion as Brigadler
| General. Mai. Cooper was killed by fall
from his horse before the first year was
| out. Adj. Branch fell with his Colonel.
! Capt. Howard, company ID, was killed in
the first fight. number, however, of