The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-06
INDIAN FIGHTERS OF THE so,s.
s"Fannnhians Who ShOuIdered Arms
i'm the Seminole Wnr.

i'm the Seminole War.
In tracing up some old family history at
the Georgia Historical Society the other
day. Mr.. William L. Grayson came across
an article in the files of the Georgian. a
newspaper published in Savannah before
the war. which may be of interest to
many of the readers of the Morning News
In its issue of Jan. %, 1886, the Georgian
gives the list OF officers and members of
the Savannah Phoenix Rifiemen, who left
Savannah two days before on the steam
boat John d. Mongiu for Florida to take
part in the Seminole war. The list is as
follows:
Second Lieutenant Joseph F. Segur
Ensign Thomas j Walsh
Second Sergeant BENJAMIN f. Herb
Third Sergeant John hewitt
First Corporal George Bett.
Third Corporal John Ii. Webb
Fourth Corporal John Williamson.
Privates;
George A. Lathrop. George Waters.
X. E. sherman. c. G. Cramer.
Samuel Dawson. d. N. Lane.
John l.. GraysOn. c. j. Zittrouer
w. S. Thompson. II. Carter
Thomas Wylly. James Warner.
John G. Pringle T.. Fields.
Capriano de Meranda
George Craig, bugleman.
These are nearly all old Savannah names
The John L. Grayson mentioned in the
list was the grandfather of Mr.. w L.
Grayson, the present chairman of the Fire
Commission.
A later issue of the Georgian states that
Capt. Bowen, with another detachment of
the Phoenix Riheman, had left for Flori-
da to join his command but does not give
list of the detachment
Judging by the Georgian of THAI year
the war fever must have been at its hight
in Savannah at that time. A number of
men had been drafted from each beat or
militia district for the Seminole war, but
there were more volunteers than the gov
eminent could make use of and the drafted
men were not called into service In
fact all the volunteers were not called
into service The Georgian of Feb g. 1886
contains a letter from Gen. Clarke. thank
ing the citizens of Savannah for troops
and steamers.
Besides the Phoenix Rinemen there was
another company from Savannah com
manded by Maj. Stevens. The list of this
company is supposed to be in the files of
the old Savannah Republican, which are
now in the archieVes of the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington. The two Sa-
Vannah companies, however, saw very
little service, being discharged and re-
turned to Savannah within a month after
their arrival in Florida. The issue of the
Georgian of March 2, 1886, contains the
following order issued at Piccolata. Fla.
Feb. "a preceding:
The Phoenix Rifle Company of Savan-
nah, under command of Capt Bowen. is
hereby discharged and will return to Sa-
vannah in the steamboat j. D. Mongin.
The gallant spirit of this company in vol
unteering and promptly repairing to the
place of danger to protect the persons and
property of their fellow citizens entitle
them to the thanks of their country. and
the pleasing duty devolves upon me to ex-
press the high sense entertained of their
patriotism and good conduct
The order is signed by James Bankhead,
Colonel Third Artillery, United States
army. and by D. S. Herring, first lieuten-
ant and adjutant of'the same command A
similar order was issued to Maj Stevens
company a few days later.
There are no survivors of the Seminole
war in Chatham county so far as known.
though there are one or two widows of
veterans still living here. They are en-
titled to pensions under an act of Con-
gress adopted some years ago. There are
doubtless many descendants of these Sem
mole war volunteers still living.