The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-28
THE GUARDS NEW FLAG.
THE PRESENTATION WITNESSED
BY 5000 PEOPLE.

Il
Adoption of the National Colors By
the Battalion-The Flag a Gift From
the Guards Lady Friends.
The presentation of the United States
flag to the Savannah Volunteer Guards
Battalion was the event of the day. and an
occasion Of much interest. The presenta-
ton was witnessed by fully 5000 people.
Shortly after O'Clock the crowds began
TO gather in the neghborhood Of the De
Soto. The balcony at the southeastern end
Of the hotel was filed with chairs, which
were reserved for the ladies', the front row
of seats being occupied by the ladies of the
committee who secured the flag.
At 4 O'Clock the balconies of both fist
and second floors Of the hotel aud also the
balcony Of the Guards ar1nory, the green
in trout Of the hotel the sidewalks and the
bull street entrance TO the square were
filled with people.
THE BATTALION IN LINE.
few minutes later Cobb's band struck
up march and the Guards marched OUT of
the armory by companies with about 1875
men IN line divided into four Companies
A, and C, and fourth company COM
posed OF mel from companies B aud C.
| commanded by Lieut.. John NJ. Bryan.
The battalion was drawn up on Harris
street in single rank, facing the De Soto.
The flag, which was in the keeping of the
ladies on the balcony. was handed over to
Col. John Screven by Mrs. VIM.
w. Rogers, in behalf Of the follow
ing committee: Mrs. John Williamson,
chairman; Mrs. William W. Rogers secre-
tary and treasurer; Mrs. Thomas I.
3sc,reyen, Mrs John L. Hammond. Mrs.
William Garrard. Mrs John NJ. Bryan.
MISS Nj. Cosens, Miss Daisy McAlpin, Mrs.
Emile Newman, Mrs. r. f. Burdell, Mrs
I. NJ. Cunningham, Mrs. Lee Roy Myers,
Mrs. II. c. Cunningham, Miss Georgia
Screven, Miss Annie 7. Conner, Mrs. T. G.
Arnold, Mrs. William P. Hunter.
COL. sCREvEN's SPEECH.
Col. Screven took his position on the side
walk, Just below the balcony, where he was
IN sight and hearing Of all, and presented
TIE banner in the following address:
FELLOW GuARDs-I have the honor, in behalf
OF the ladies organized for that purpose, to pre-
sent to our battalion this beautiful American
nag. TO say that have undertaken this solemn
duty without the conflicting sentiments which
you, too, probably realize in common with my
SeH would be a suppreSsion-6n unmanly and
ignoble suppression of the truth. Perhaps,
however, to secure its cordial reception it
should be enough that this silken emblem came
from the fair hands of those whom we love and
know, and whom we are ready to defend with
our lives; those, too. whose hearts although
more tender. pulsate with a patriotism as
fervid ana enduring as our own
70 them, the past is memorable as it can be
to us. They sent their husbands, their sons
their brothers, their lovers to the field: they
crowned their battalions with standards and
cheered them to the onset; they tenderly
watched over the wounded and the sick aud
they wept for their slain Alas, they weep even
until now But that part, though never to be
forgotten. is buried. like its sacred dead, and
can never again be revived. The flag of the
south droops over the dark encampments where
the heroes sleep, and will no more lead the
serried lines of battle. The issues of that fear
full era are forever extinguished-its peculiar
causes have forever passed away, nor is il DOS
slole that we could desire to have them re.
newed.
An eminent modern philosopher has said that
war is nothing else but the bloody exchange
OF Ideas, and he says further that "a nation is
progressive only on the condition Of war;
Like the great storms of physical nature it
sweeps away much that may be unstable, or
cumbersome, or rotten In the political fabric,
and leaves IL stronger more enduring, nobler
than before. SO has it been with these reunited
states, after the most trying war ordeal of the
present century. cannot pause to demonstrate
truths which are evident to us ALL but the south
ern people have at least attained peace which
all the world was conspiring to take away. and
q prosperity that peace alone could guarantee.
They have suffered defeat in an internecine
conflict which they did not invite; but when all
the circumstances of the struggle are justly
considered, defeat was virtually victory This
seems bold assertion; but what southern
soldier regrets the war or is ashamed of its
battles, even when they ended in defeat?
Is 1t not enough for the occasion, the struggle
ended, that this great country is once more
united; that our forefath hers, who knew no
north nor south, won its independence for all
that sharing as of right in the grand inherit
ance they bequeathed, we have contributed as
much as any Of the American people to estab-
lish and maintain American honor; and that
even in our resistance. there was founded,
under proyidence, new era of prosperity and
glory for all this great country
Accept then. fellow comrades this slken
emblem from the fair and noble women who
tender it. Let 1t be the pledge. not only of your
loyalty to them, but to the whole country, and
of your readiness to defend it whenever Ameri-
can soil may be invaded, or American honor be
assailed.
A round of applause followed upon
the conclusion of Col. Scre7el's address.
Its sentiment was manifestly approved
COL. GARRARD's ACCEPTANCE.
Col. Garrard stepped forward and re-
ceived the flag in behalf Of the company in
the following words:
SIR-On behalf of this ancient and honorable
corps it is my privilege and pleasure, as its
commanding officer, to receive this beautiful
flag, and to tender to the fair donors, through
your honored self its sincere appreciation and
grateful thanks. This sir, is no ordinary occa-
SION. a quarter OF q century ago This gallant
old corps upheld the Southern Cross in deadly
combat with the brave meu who bore this flag.
The arbitrament of battle was against us.
We yielded to the inevitable. We furled that
banner lood-stained, riddled with shot and
shell, tattered and giorious-which, Tor four
years of unprecedented carnage. had illustrated
southern valor, and tenderly laid it aside as a
consecrated relic
Since then order has come out of chaos, bat
tehelds have become gardens and vineyards.
Civil government has been restored, and the
southern states. prosperous and great, are fully
represented in the halls of congress, and in the
army and navy of the United States.
Southern won an placed in our hands the
stars and bars and they were right; they
now place in our hands the stars and stripes, y
and they are right.
Fellow soldiers! this corps sprung into exist
ence in the early dawn of this century, and for
eighty eight years its career has been historical
names. II is the Oldest infantry command il
this state. 1 would rather carry rife in
its ranks than hold commission in any other
volunteer command in the United States. II
carries the Tag of Georgia, presented to it by
the Hon. Alexander IL. Stephens-it will nOuI
carry along with it the flag OF our country, the
greatest aud proudest nation on earth.
From this time on, then, these two flags are
our colors-to them, we hereby consecrate our
lives a1d our sacred honor. The Savannah
Volunteer Guards Battalion will stand by its
colors-even unto death. pledge this to these
ladies, and to this gallant gentleman, oul
former commanding officer, and | klO1 you
will make my pledge good
Col. Garrard's speech was frequently in.
terrupted by applause. Ghe speeches con-