The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-01
Volunteers.

sent of the others he was given the priv
tlege of voting for the officers.
After Capt. Williamson had call
ed the meeting to order and had
stated that neither he, Lieut. HUI
ger nor Lieut.. Anderson would be
able to go with the command,
the election Of officers was proceeded with,
A communication from Col. Garrard, who
Is in Atlanta, was read. The colonel de-
sired action taken by the company, as it
Is necessary that no further delay be had
in the arrangements for getting the troops
under way from Savannah 10. whatever
place may be decided upon as the point of
rendezvous.
= suggestion was made that the election
of the officers be by ballot, that of captain
coming first and the iieutenants being
chosen IN order. 1t was also suggested
that no nominations be made, but that the
first ballot in the election of each officer
be the nomination of those whom the com
pany desired to consider
This suggestion Was adopted, and the pre-
liminary ballot showed thirteen votes for
Private Austin. He was present
and voted, his ballot being cast for
private Austin unanimous, and, in response
10 a motion, rousing vote by reclamation
made him captain of the men of A, who
will go with the battalion to the war.
The vote on the preliminary ballot for
first lieutenant showed that Corp. Gibbs
was a winner and the second gave him
the Office by handsome majority, two or
three other members receiving one or two
votes each. Corp. Gibbs election was then
made unanimous.
The troublesome part of the election was
that for second lieutenant. The prelimin-
airy ballot showed that four names had
been voted on Sergt. Screven, Sergt.
George Freeman, Corpl. ]. NJ Rogers and
Private John ID. Carswell After one or
two ballots the contest narrowed down to
Gergt. Sereven, Corpl. Rogers and Private
Carswell. Ten or twelve ballots resulted
In the same count, four for each one OF
the nominees.
II was finally suggested that Capt. -elect
Austin be allowed TO draw one of the
twelve ballots that had been cast and that
the gentleman whose name appeared upon
~ drop out of the race. Messrs. Rogers
and Carswell, Mr. Screven not being pres
ent, agreed readily to this. and the draw
brought forth the ballot of some faithful
supporter of Corpl. Rogers, thus putting
him out of tkss contest. Corpi Rogers ac-
cepted the DISAPPOINTMENT with an easy
grace. and the election proceeded.
For several ballots the vote was a tie
between Sergt. Screven and Private Cars
well. After time some OF his supporters
went to the other side, as 1t began to look
as If no conclusion would be reached and
then the majority was for Sergt. Screven.
The volunteers of Company A and the
men they recruit will be lead by one of the
most gallant officers the state could pro.
duce. Ills record as a soldier is unsurpass-
ed. Though his rank has been that of a
private. he has so discharged his duties as
10 indicate the ability he win show as com.
manding officer With a personality that Is
al once attractive end impressive Capt
Austin combines the attributes that will
make him liked and esteemed by his men
IN appearance he is every inch a soldier
and the soldier shows in every word hs
speaks.
Capt. Austin was born in Texas. His IA.
tner served with distinction IN the civil
war the famous ram Manassas being un.
Ger MS command, and the military abili
ues OF the father are shown IN the son
capt Austin came TO Savannah In 1876. a %
mas since lived here. with the exception o.
IlVe years spent in the regular army of th,
United States. He enlisted in the Seventh
cavalry the famous Fighting Seventh .
- Continued on Seventh PAGE