The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-27
NINETY-TWO YEARS OLD.
The Guards Celebrate Their -Four
Score and Twelve.

The Savannah Volunteer Guards cele-
brated their 92d anniversary yesterday
by the largest parade in the history of
the corps. There were eighteen more
men in line than on the former most cele-
brated parade Of the corps in 1888, when
the Guards, then a single company, turned
out 1875 men. Yesterday there were PIG
in line, rank and file, as shown by the ad-
iutant's report. The figures are as
follows: staff 4. Company A IS, Company
B SO, Company c 53, Company d a. Total
2l6.
A number of members of the battalion
employed at the Centrafrailroad and else
where was unable to obtain leave of
absence, otherwise the ranks would have
been swelled by a score or more Of men.
Old war members of the corps who have
not paraded in years were out in the
ranks in service uniforms. The friends
of the corps as well as the members were
greatly delighted at the show
ing and their confidence in its
future is unbounded Col Garrard was
delighted as he had good reason TO be,
at the success af the event TO which he
has devoted so much effort.
IN FOUR. COMPANIES.
The occasion was made remarkable by
the parading of the battalion for the first
time in its history as four companies
The fourth company showed up in fine
form. The men carried themselves well,
and no one not acquainted with the fact,
would have supposed it was their first
parade Capt Gadsden and his officers
-- have -lahored hard. and their success is
deserved.
The companies assembled in the drill
hall at 3 rs o'clock. All were delighted
at the full ranks displayed by each com
pany as ii entered the hall. Company d
was the last company TO enter and was
greeted with prolonged applause, con-
Guiding with three cheers and tiger for
the new company
Col. Garrard addressed a few words TO
the battalion cautiontng the men TO be
careful in all details of military bearing
in order that there might not be single
circumstance to mar the success of the
occasion.
THE PARADE.
The companies then filed out on Bull
street, where the battalion was formed in
the order of the companies, b, G, d and
A. The members of the stan were Lieu
tenants Freeman, Bryan and Leaken.
Every company officer was present.
The line Of march from the arsenal was
down Bull street to Liberty, west on
Liberty to jefferson, down Jefferson to
Broughton, east on Broughton to Bull,
and out Bull to the west side Of Wright
square, where the battalion passed in re-
view Of the confederate veterans. 1t
then escorted the veterans to the confed-
crate monument.
At the conclusion of the exercises at
the monument, Col. Garrard drilled the
battalion for half hour on the parade
GROUND. The parade was witnessed by
thousands of friends of the Guards, who
praised their fine appearance. The APP
pearance of the four companies in tn,
service uniform of camp, hats, blue shirts
web belt, jeans trousers and leggins, wal
quite striking and thoroughly military.
THE COLLATION..
After the return to the arsenal the mer
Invested themselves of their arms anc
equipments and repaired to the drill hal
where they had been invited to partakt
of a collation. by Col. Garrard. A mum
Der of confederate veterans and formel
members of the corps were present by in
vitation.
The two hours exercise had given tn,
men hearty appetites and a heavy on
slaught was made upon the eatables anC
turntables. The impromptu exercise
which followed were quite interesting.
1t. Bryan called the attention Of tn
corps TO the very successful parade an,
moved that a vote Of thanks be returned
TO the commander, Col Garrard Their
was thunderOus response of ayes to tn
motion, followed by calls for Col. Gar
rard. In responding to the call, tn
colonel said he was under obligations L
the members of the corps for the spiri
which they had displayed in the Celebra
ton of its 92d anniversary.
NOT MANY AS OLD COMMANDS
There are not many men, he said
''who can say of their commands tina
they are % years old. This corps has ha
continuous history for that length c
time. On May /, 1902, the corps parade
on the streets of Savannah under th
command Of John Cunning. Since tina
time its history has been an integral par
of the history Of Savannah. Blot on
the history of this corps, and you blot OF
half the history of Savannah.
with such a record as this corps hi
had in the past it cannot fail of success
the future. ] was delighted to-day to sc
PIG men in the Uniform of the corps. Tn
is not friendly estimate but an actu
count.
The corps is old in years but young
vitality, and as youthful as when it fir:
began its history. II now has q membe
ship of over 800 men of the military elias
active, exempt, honorary and veteran, q
subject TO the call OF the corps
in eight years the corps will celebra
its centennial and / trust that the eel
bration viii be worthy Of the event, ar
that a large number Of those present I
day will be with US on that occasion"
Col, Garrard concluded by proposing
toast to the confederate veterans, Il
''men who have made history" and call,
upon Col. Olmstead to respond
Col. Olmstead was greeted with Il
piause as he came forward. He said I
call was an unexpected peasui
"The French have an EXPIRE,
ion" he said, which appli
on this occasion, "noblesse obig
the nobility of the past obliges
to maintain an honorable record in Il
future
TIE GUARDS AT PULASKI
Col Olmstead told of the first servi
which he had performed with the Ruarl
the taking Of Fort Pulaski by detal
ments from the Guards, the Chatha
Artillery and the Oglethorpe Light
fantry, commanded by Gen. Farstc
then a colonel.
Speaking of the detachment, he sal
"a nobler set of young men never left t
city Of Savannah
There need be no fear for the honor
the state' said Col. Olmstead in &C
clusion, $50 long as its soldiery is co.
posed Of such young men as compose tt
command"