The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-17
HALF A CENTURY OLD.
TIE IRISH JASPER GREENE SEMI
CENTENNIAL TODAY.

for Itself In Two Wars-The Early
History Of the Corps ORGANIZED BY
a Little Band Of Irishmen It Grows
to such Proportions During the
War Between the States That It
Had Co Be Divided into Two Com
mands-The First Two Captains TO
Banquet With the Command To-
night.
To-day the Irish Jasper Greens, Georgias
Oldest band Of Irish citizeu-soidiery Will
fttingly celebrate their half century OF ex-
istence. Il has been a half century fraught
with historic events for the corps, which
will ever give it a high place In the
soldiers niche Of fame of the Empire State
of the South.
Around the Greens is clustered the mem
cries, traditions, trials and experiences Of
two wars, IN each Of which the men OF Irish
blood and their children who adopted
Georgia for their home proved the valor OF
the race from which they sprung and sacri-
ficed their lives and limbs upon the battle
fields to uphold untsrnished the honor Of
Georgia.
In the first war the Greens for twelve
months followed their oountry's foes through
the boys and over the precipices Of inhospi-
table Mexico, battling for the starry banner
Of the United States. and in the other the
corps as gallantly chung to the fortunes Of
the southern cross and with all the fierceness
of the Irish soldier when aroused the Greens
fought back the invasion of their southland
against many OF the men with whom years
A.. l. 4 60
with in the struggle against a common
enemy.
HISTORY TO BE PROUD OF.
The history Of the Greens is one of which
every member of the command can refer
TO with pride, for it contains remin-
iscences of brave men, forced by necessity
20 exile themselves from their native lana,
who gave their strong arms to the country
in which they had found refuge from per-
secution and tyranny.
The first movement to organize military
company Of Irish citizens in Savannah took
shape in meeting of a small band of Irish
men who gathered over J. Riordan's
store, at Barnard street and Bay lane,
on the night Of June 80 1912. J. F. Stokes
was the chairman and J. Riordan the sec
rotary OF that meeting. After soussing
matters for some time it was finally agreed
to form militia company and seek its at
tachment to the First regiment Of Georgia.
The records show the names of the follow
ing as being in attendance at the first meet
ing besides the chairman and secretary: p.
Kean. J. d. Rice, H. f. Daley, c. O'Neal,
NJ. Feeney, ID. Lynch, j. Foley, J. Cooley,
J. Kelly, c. o. Riley, John Mcmahon, T.
Carey, J. Murphy, o. O'ROurke, q. Kelly,
David UConnOr, Michael DugSau, Henry
james and E. Prendergast.
After appointing a committee TO select
g.. H. - g.. A.
new company was brought up, but was
postponed to some future time, and a COM
mittee was appointed to go outside the COM
pany to secure a commander.
THE CoMPANY's FIRST UNIFORM
The next meeting was held July Il, at
which time uniform consisting Of a green
cloth coat and pantaloOEs with buff trim
mings was decided upon. The naming Of
the company came up again at meeting
on July p, and here were some of the names
suggested jasper Greens, Jasper or Irish
Fusileers, and Jasper Hibernian Relief
Corps No agreement could be reached and
the question went over again.
The following meeting, Thursday, Aug.
4, selected John +. Ward as captain and
Elisha Willy as first lieutenant, and de-
cided on the name of jasper Greens. At
the following meeting, week later, M.
Hopkins was elected second lieutenant and
missioned officers were elected Aug. Is, as
follows: Henry James. first sergeant;
Philip kean, second sergeant; John Rior-
dan, third sergeant; John Mcmahon, fourth
sergeant; Edward PrenderRast, fifth SER
gesnt; John Foley, first corporal; Hugh
Riley, second corporal; James Cooley, third
corporal; Michael Duggan, fourth corporal,
and David O'Connor, fifth corporal.
The word Irish" was prefixed to JAS
per Greens" Aug 25, and the name then
decided upon was made final. Thursday,
Sept. L, the Greens we're given the privilege
of meeting In the long room of the exchange.
Weekly meetings continued there until Dec
8, 1912, whsu the Greens began their real
organization in their drill room over
Gaudry & Sons store, on Bay street,
PAST THE HALF CENTURY THREE MONTHS.
Dec. s, therefore, was really the 50th an
ntversary of the corps, but its celebration
was postponed until to-day, the anniversary
of the patron saint of Ireland, st. Patrick.
The membership of the company had
steadily increased since the initiatory meet
ing over Riordan's store. and on Dec. the
following names were on the roll: John E.
Ward, Elisha Wylly, Mathew Hopkins,
Henry r. jackson, John Riordan, John
McMahon, Edward NJ. Prendergast, John
Foley, John Murphy, John Edwards, Philip
Kean, Hugh Murtagh, Michael Leary.
James f. Stokes. II. f. Daley, p Martin,
John Kelly, David Connor, c. D. Murphy,
James Donnolly, Michael McGrath, David
Lynch, J. Ii. Owens, Thomas Hayes, Hugh
REILLY, Con O'Neill, James Doyle, +. b.
Rice, Owen Foley, NJ. Conway, M. Duggan,
Bernard Brady, h. James, Timothy
Carney, Patrick Geary. Michael Dillon
John Reilly. P. J. Guilmartin, Timothy
Abbott, Charles Reilly, James Reilly, John
Lavsn, John Reedy, James White, Edward
Smith, Andrew Dixon, C. B. CIusky,
Michael Duffy, Jr., Thomas Haynes. J.
Sherlock, C. Hussey, Francis Harrison,
John Cullen, Patrick Duffy, Jr., Thomas
G. Dempsey, Edward O'Byrne, John Reilly,
John Doyle, William Mitchell, John Raglan,
John Grady, John Love Lawrie, John K.
Rice and James II. Low.
THE CHANGE OF OFFICERS.
In June, 1843, Lieut.. Wylly resigned, aud
Lieut.. Mathew Hopkins became first lieu
tenant and Ensign Henry r. jackson sec,
ond lieutenant, In January, l845, Capt.
John E. Ward and Lieut.. Hopkins re-
signed their commissions, but at the earnest
solicitation of the company Capt. Ward
withdrew his resignation, but Lieut.. Hop
kins insisted on his, and Second Lieut..
jackson succeeded him.
Capt Ward, however, resigned in Nav,
1876, on account OF the press of professional
business, and the company passed highly
complimentary resolutions to him and
placed his name on the honorary roll.
Lieut.. jackson was unanimously elected