The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-22
INVITED TO GO TO CHICAGO.
COL. TURNER'S PLAN FOR RECEIV-
ING 5000 SOUTHERN TROOPS.


His Letter to Col. George 4. Mercer in
which He Proposes an Encamp-
ment of Southern Troops on the
lake Front Mt the Opening of the
Chicago Southern states Cotton
Exposition in Is9G-TransportatiOn
Can BE secured at About $40 "a Man
and He says Chicago VIII Take
Care Of Them After They Get
Therc-A Matter for the Military
TO Think About.
Col. Henry L. Turner and the officers
OF the First Illinois regiment. who were
IN savannah for a day last month, are
working on plan 20 get about 1900 south
ern volunteers TO Chicago next year, and
encamp them on the lake front They want
about 30 or go men from Savannah alone.
In letter to Col. George a. Mercer, Col.
Turner says:
You win undoubtedly have heard more
or less Of the plan. originated In Augusta
regarding a Chicago Southern states Cot
ton Exposition next year. Mr.. Mcneil
and one or two others of our citizens have
been talking with me in reference 10 this
proposed exposition, and out Of the vari-
Gus talks has grown a suggestion, that AT
the opening CT the exposition, in order TO
give il a grand send-off. the First regi-
ments trip TO the south might be re-
versed successfully, and i was requested
10 study over the matter and outline
plan"
Nothing would so surely draw the people
from the surrounding country to the open
ing Of the exposition, Col Turner says,
as the presence of a large representation
Of southern troops The big camp on the
lake front, right in the heart of the city,
would alone be a large drawing card. The
presence of southern soldiers would sur
up interest in the exposition among SOUTH
col Turner included in his letter an out
line of a plan for such a trip on the part
OF the southern troops. Either the troops
themselves or the citizens sending them
should pay their transportation, when,
taking our trip as a basis, Col. turner
says, would average, including thelf SUD
sistence while travelling, about $40 per
man. / would undertake to raise the
money TO pay all costs OF encampment ana
subsistence of troops while here.
Col. Turner says he is is assured OF the
most hearty cooperation on the part OF
the military there. should any such plan
be decided on. While this Is suggestion
rather than a matured plan, Col Turner
wants the southern military to take hold
OF it, and find out what the general FEEL
ing is with regard to making such trip.
He has already discussed the plan Win
Col. Peters Of the Second tennessee regl-
ment, and the latter is OF the belief that
the project viii be most enthusiastically
received throughout the south.
In figuring on a plan for such trip
Col Turner and Col. Peters calculated
about nine trains, each of ten cars, would
be necessary. Each tourist car comfort
ably carries forty men, and about eight
OF these cars are used on a train, so it
will be seen they are talking of getting
about 1900 southern troops in Chicago for
the exposition in 1896. They were appor-
toned approximately, or, rather, by guess
Train l. jacksonville, Fla, 40 men, Tai
lahassee, Fla, 40; Macon, so; Atlanta, 100;
Train 2. Savannah, 2lO men, with a pal
ace horse car for the cavalry.
Train 8. Charleston, 2i0 men,, Columbia,
Train 4. Mobile. 80 men. Selma. 40. Mont
gomery 40, Birmingham 40, Pensacola 40,
Murphreesboro 40, Chattanooga 40, and
Nashville 80. Total 400
Train .. New Orleans, 100 men, with
horse and baggage cars.
Train s. Galveston 50 men, Houston 40
Austin 90. San Antonio 40 and Dallas 30
Train I. jackson 20 men, vicksburg 4O
Meridian 40 Grenada 40. Memphis 80, Sec
ond Tennessee Regiment So Little Rock
Train s. A total Of 400 men from Rich
mond. Petersburg, Lynchburg, Norfolk,
Danville, Fredericksburg and Winchester.
40. Goldsboro 40, Raleigh 50, Fayetteville
40, Knoxville 20, Lexington, KY, 40, and
Louisville 50. A total of 400.
The above estimates are, of course, all
guess work, but II is believed that some
thing like these numbers of men could
be worked up in case the matter were
given proper attention. The outline plan
provides for the troops to arrive In Chi
cagO Of some specified week, go at once
into camp and remain there Thursday,
Friday and Saturday. Col. Turner, in his
plan, even goes to the extent of outlin-
ing a programme for the troops during
their stay in Chicago, and for their APP
pearance at the proposed exposition. Such
a trip would be quite a novel one for
the southern soldiers. With a big military
programme on hand for next April or
May, however, il is doubtful if anything
like the number of Savannah soldiers
mentioned could get away to make the
trip. The Savannah soldiers, however, al
ways do their part in a thing of this
kind, and Will, If the plans are carried
out, have good representation on hand.
TO WORSHIP AT WESLEY.