The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-15
SURVIVOR OF SEMINOLE WAR.
Mr.. Nj. A. Cohen Probably the Only
One in Savannah.

One i'm Savannah.
Mr.. NJ. A. Cohen of this city is proba-
bly, the only survivor of a number of vol
unteers furnished by Savannah during
the Seminole war in Florida, from 1885 to
1899
The Morning News published list
few days ago, giving the names of a score
or more OF a detachment of the Phenix
Riflemen of this city, which left Savan-
nah in the early part of 1896 under COM
mand of Lieut.. Segur, with a brief ac-
count of their departure and return, tie
facts being obtained from an old file of
the Savannah Georgian. Newspapers were
run on different policy then from now
and an incident such as the departure of
a company for the war, which would now
be covered in every detail was only briefly
mentioned. In the account published few
days ago it was stated that there proba-
bly, were no survivors left of the Phoenix
Rifemen who took part in the Seminole
war. This publication met the eye of Mr..
M. A. Cohen and called to his mind dis
tinctly the fact that ne had a part, though
a small one, in this war
Il left Savannah with detachment of
the company in December, 1885, said Mr..
Cohen, when called upon by a Morning
News reporter and asked for his recollec-
tons on this score. 1.-The Phoenix Rifle
men were one of Savannahs old organiza-
tons 1 was not a member of the COM
pany previous to the war, but having a
friend in the company, decided to volun-
teer. The officers of the company were
Capt Bowen, Lieut. A. Segur, Second
Lieut.. Thomas ]. Walsh and Junior Second
Lieut. Benjamin Herb. Segur really COM
manded the company. He was an able
mechanic, and lived here for a number Of
years afterwards. At the same time with
US there went down a large number of
men from the beat companies Or district
militia, under the command of the city
marshal, whose name was Stone. Capt.
Stevens company from Savannah had
gone down previously, and had charge of
the hotel at Picolata, where the fighting
commenced. We went to Picolata- and re-
manned there until our discharge Having
volunteered for only sixty days, our term
of service was short, and we saw no
from Picolata further south and the Dade
massacre occurred The war was con-
Quoted with volunteer troops when it first
begun, and until Gen. Scott took the field
with the regular troops. The war lasted
four years"
MIR. Cohen could not recall any surviv-
ing members of the Savannah volunteers
for the Seminole war who are now living.
The late John w. hewitt, he said, was a
member of the Phoenix Rifiemen, and there
is a Mrs, Sherman living in Savannah who
is the widow of a member of the Rifle
men. Mr.. Cohen can probably lay claim
to a longer residence in Savannah than
any other citizen, being now % years of
age, and having resided here practically
his entire life. He is still actively engaged
in business.
Mr. George N. Nichols, who is another
old resident of Savannah, remembers the
departure of the volunteer troops for
Florida in 1865. Mr.. Nichols was then
en- apprentice in the Office of the Geor-
gian. William H. Bulloch, the editor and
proprietor of the Georgian, accompanied
the party, as did some of the employees of
the office. The Office force being small
Mr. Nichols remembers distinctly that Re
had a very hard time of it for a while in
helping to get out the paper The Sa van
nah company mentioned as having gone to
Florida under command of Capt. Charles
Stevens, Mr.. Nichols said, was a detach-
ment of the Chatham Artillery, only one
gun being carried. Capt Stevens was af-
forwards city surveyor, which office he
held until his death.