The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-04
a GEORGIA COLONEL.
He Drilled a Log, and Hal a Very
mellow Escape.
From the Chicago Record.

the KING OF Red Clay, one of the noun
tain kingdoms that lie astradde OF the
state line which divides Georgia and Ten
nessee, and is one OF the most noted char
acters of that mountain region. In the
f5s Col. Mills was a republican, residing
N Atlanta. and ran for congress on the
republican ticket about the time of the
| political upheaval that brought on such
ISdical changes in the state government.
lie was a victim Of existing Circumstan-
cesf ana without waiting until the ballots
we're counted, he gave up the fight in dis
Not long afterward he removed to the
remote corner Of the commonwealth where
rs now resides, and possessed himself of
ne historic town of Red Clay. including
the ancient council house where Andrew
jackson and the chiefs of the Cherol<ees
met LOT the last time preparatory to the
removal or the tribes to their new terri
tory IN the west He is fun of anecdotes
ana MS stories carry one back 10 the days
u the otq Georgia militia, of which he was
one OF the commanding officers
Il shall never forget said he one day.
my nrst experience as a drillmaster /
was elected captain of a company down
IN Cobb county, the muster roll of which
included the war-lilCe denizens of the for
est depths IN the neighborhood of Lost
mountain Hunters, traders, trappers,
squdlters and crackers Of low degree We're
included in this organization. l knew the
cnafacter OF the men that / had to deal
MIN, ana as my father was Mai. Gen.
justly celebrated Georgia militia / felt
that must keep up the dignity of nv Of
nee Dy arraylng myself not only in author
lty put IN all the gorgeous habiliments of
a nigh official in the Georgia MALTA
called to mind an old friend of my
Iatner capt Howell, who lived over in
GNlhnett county and who had recently
resigned the. command of his company.
lie possessed a gorgeous uniform with the
most tetchlng epaulets that I ever beheld.
ana made up my mind that I would
apply to him for the loan of his parapher-
malta to wear at my first drill, which was
70 occur on the following Friday. 1t was
in the heat of the summer after crops We're
lald ny, so l mounted my gray pony and
rode to the home of Capt Howell who
extended to me an exceedingly warm re-
ceptlon. Lend you my coat and epaulets?'
said he, when 1 told my mission; "of
course l Will | will do anything for the
son or Gen; Mills, who is my warm per-
sonai friend, sir, am proud to say Try
on the coat and let us see how it fits.
ana, II is the very thing. Take it with my
compliments, sir, epauets and ALL and
may you wear it with the same distin-
guished honor with which your esteemed
father has worn the uniform of a major
general ,,ei, i OF the Georgia militia, sir There
a silken sash as long as a fence rail with
a gold fringe. on 1t like an old-fashoned
WINDOW curtain After bidding him an af-
fecuonate adieu, / mounted the gray pony
and started back home.
Hold on there shouted Capt How
ELL after had ridden a few PAGES; here
IS something else that you will need, Capt.
Mills; and he overlook me and handed
me copy of Scotts tactics. / present
you with this, sir, as the highest authori-
~ IN the land. II has been carefully COM
piled by Gen. Winfield Scott after the
most approved methods and usages of
the greatest commanders of the age sir
1t is above and beyond all statutory law
and is second and subservient only to the
constitution of the United States sir. On
~ FOLLOW its instructions and carry out it's
resulallons and your future is assured
capt Mills
With the uniform and sash carefully
packed in my saddle bags and that COPY
of SCOTS tactics in my left hand / ode
Off down the winding road in the direc-
ton of Lost mountain, where the citizen
soldiers of my command We're pursuing
their peaceful avocations A casual in
spectiOn of the cover of the book showed
me a military officer in full regimentais,
ana as opened II and began reading my
heart swelled and my bosom glowed with
military enthusiasm and patriotic ardor
About 2 O'Clock in the afternoon [ ar
rived in the heart Of the forest around
Lost mountain, and it occurred to me that
as 1 had never drilled company of sol
dlers ought to engage in some prelimi-
nary tactics and not make a display of
my ignorance to the men whom / expect
ed some day to lead to glory. So 1 turn
ed aside into the forest, and, after riding
for 200 or 300 yards through the densest
woods l ever saw, / dismounted at the
root of a fallen tree and tied my pony.
"Divesting myself of my coat 1 put on
the emblazoned and epauletted garment
presented to me by Capt. Howell and in
its tinseled tassels doafinp. IN tba 'i VIII ~
Taking Dosition close 10 he faIIe, 49, 49,
where thoiieht II VoI,id he ,5tteri,, ige'
possible for any one to come upo11 me
without nv discovering their annroanb
/ assumed a haughtv and commR1an Sdst,
posture. and with a COPY of Seott's tacs
tics opened in nv hand I began dri1iino.
the imaginary squadron. ''''9
Carry ahmst / called in stentorian
tones
Order ahmsr
Right shoulder ahmsr
q Present ahmsr
:" Recover ahmsp
Having gone through with this mart Of
the evolutions to my entire satisfaction.
/ began on that portion of the manual
which referred to loading and firing the
old flint lock muskets, then in use by the
Georgia militia
Draw rammerr
" Bite off cartridger
90 Charge cartridger
:: q . .SSe;sa PAM e. l T.
:: . &sSs 5 R P;ssai.yr
Fire"