The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-08-26
SARGE PLUNKETT.
ALE PRAISE TO THE YORK OF THE
VETERANS ASSOCIATION.
The Last Dash of the Confederates Which
Ended the Fighting Around Atlanta.
Georgia's Malta in War Times.
For The Constitution.

ISOLATION has gone to work IN earnest 10
have the battle fields around Atlanta
marked, they shorfld have the help Of every
one in that direction.
The big things will take care OF them
selves. 1t is the small things-anI yet OF
importauce-that will have to be watched
after. / cannot tell where the last fight
of the war was, but l do know the ground
that was the scene of the last Gghr around
Atlanta, and it is well to inform the vet
Grams association of all these things.
If YOU will start out west from the city
out West Hunter street-take the Maysor
and Turner's ferry road at the end of that
street, follow the road 10 Toiand's store.
lust opposite Westview cemetery, and
there inquire for the house of the Rev
Sanford Smith, you can find the ground
upon which the last guns were hreq II
tho fights around Atlanta. After the city
had fallen and everything was making
ready for the march of the army TO tht
sea there happened a regiment OF cavalry
to halt around the residence of Mr.. smith
At that time all citizens had been given
the choice Of going beyond the Ohio river
or going south beyond "A certain mint
This regiment that / speak of had beer
and see that none evaded this order As
they rested in the yard and around tht
premises of Mr. Smith there was a sudden
blast of the bugle. 4 hurrying TO arms
ana in n moment a company OF confeuer-
ates came dashing in sight. hot, quick
fight ensued several were killed and
wounded and the confederates dashed
away as quickly as they had appeared
These were the last guns fired around At
Ianta the last fight, the last blood shed
Mr. Smith SIN lives upon the spot, about
one mile a little north from west from the
site Of old Ezra meeting house or course
the old church will be marked, but this
ground being il was q small anair Tor
those days. will be passed without
thought. unless some one of the veterans
takes It upon himself to look after the
small matters-large things viii take care
of themselves.
Atlanta is growing to be city of such
Importance that every day 1 am reminded
Of some small matters that should be
taken care of. Along in the year 1896 Brown
was at a house raising which was the
starting Of Atlanta. Brown was as supple
as n cat in those days, never missed log
rolling nor house-rasing. and was a great
favorite among the girls. Hardy IVY
built the first house ever put up in what
is now Atlanta. and Brown says that il
was just around the corner from Forsyth
street on Peters street. John Thrasher
built the second house some three years
after Ivy had settled. This John Thrash
er-"Cousin John" he was called-built the
first storehouse in Atlanta. and he did a
great barter trade till one Willis Carlisle
came and put mp a store close by our
Cousin John and outdone him in busi-
ness. willis Carlisle could play the fiddle
and by this means he drew the custom
away from Thrasher and so disguised
that gentleman till he moved away and
remained away for several years, but re-
turned again with the best fiddler he could
procure and a banjo picker besides, and
forever fourished az the town advanced.
Rev. J. S. wilson, a Presbyterian minis
ter preached the first sermon
esrar preached in A.lauta. Ivy efrre ard
C2rlisiC's store Vas about where tine NeIla-
bles brothers are building such a fine house
a thi. time the old capitol site.
Brown could tell heap more about things
of before the war than lace can ol things dur
ing the war, but. OF course. the veterans
association win only seek 20 be informed on
matters during OLD sherman's visit.
Il had to go there when old Sherman
come" said Brown. when I began 10 pump
him for some Information to help along the
veterans.
"IiaI to go:' said 1 in a manner to egg
him on.
Eyes; had 20 go" said ne. II had TO jine
under the last coHscript call-fourJeeu 20
eighty. I have never seen what good il was
TO take such old folks. but I had TO jlle
and they mixed me up with the old veter-
ans and one of them had his eyes ON IRE for
ever to keep me there, and l am not in any
way euthused on any movement Of Theirs
tin this day ! don't know how the veter-
ans OF this time are, but the old soldiers
that they sent me under We're entirely too
funny to suit me. They seemed to take
pleasure fla laughing at me IN times when
nothing but seriousness perchcJ uTou my
fevered brow. I am satisfied that one fe.-
low they pat me in a pit with tried to set
me killed just 70 laugh at my kicks as i ez-
pired. Every time that 1 would get laid
down good he would have me 10 get up
and thy them again and would laugh at
every fool thing that passed. One time
when ! raised my head little too high and
a yankee bali went zip through the crown Of
my hat the fool thought Ii great fun"
Brown is right; they did treat the raw re-
cruits with too much hilarity and they treat
Ell the old ''melish" with TOO htlle consider
alton. The ''nelish" Were all too old 10
not pass alons but what the vets would
rcam all sorts of things at them. come
out of that hat!' Come out of that c0at.'
Il know you are there. l see your legs
and "a thousand other such things is what
would greet the militiaman's ears whenever
ne Ventured out Gut these screams 0i0
not disturb the most Of them. for they We're
deaf to the lannon's roar. much less n vet
Grams screams. ] knew one company or
this Old Georgia militia that was a hundred
and five strong. and in all these 1O5 men
there were only one hundred and six eyes.
and the sergeant that drilled them had to
20 to each one when he wanted them to
form into line and scream in his Ears. Fail
i'm Fan inn and it gen rally took an hour
Q1sr..
didn't start them right off they would all
sit down, and the most of them would have
to have help to get up IL any speed was re-
quired in the matter. l laugh a little my
self now. when l think of that old Georgia
"luelish" and of Joe Browns pixies" The
pixies were sharp steel knives fastened on
the end of long STAFF and some OF them
should be preserved to show the coming
generations how the militia could have play
ed thunder If it had not have been for age
and rheumatism.
But the old "melish" has passed away,