The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-20
FROM CORPORAL TO CAPTAIN.
j. NJ. ROGERS ELECTED CAPTAIN
OF COMPANY OF THE GUARDS.

Appointed for the PurpOsc-Mr. r.
NJ. Screven Nominated for First
Lieutenant and MIR. Il. Vi. Hitch for
Second INSTRUMENTATION of the
Committee Ratified by the Conn
pany and n Formal Election win
BE Ordered by the Colonel for an
Early Date-sOmething of the Mil
itary Service of the New Officers.
All Entered the Service in Re-
Spouse to the Call.
The committee appointed some days ago
from among the members of Company A
of the Guards to nominate officers reported
last night after the meeting of the corps.
The nominations were as follows: Cap
tain, Mr.. James M. Rogers; first lieutenant,
Mr.. R. NJ. Screven; second lieutenant, Mr..
Robert NJ Hitch.
As acting chairman of the committee,
Mr.. John D. Carswell rendered the report
1t was received with every evidence of APP
probation by the members present, and the
motion for its adoption that was at once
forthcoming met with a warm and ready
second.
Capt w. w. Williamson of the retired
list of officers of the state service presided
at the meeting. Upon the company sight
flying its acquiescence in the report of the
committee he requested one of the mem
bers to go out and escort the newly elected
officers into the company room. Messrs.
Rogers and Hitch We're found and brought
to the room. They were greeted with APP
plause
Capt Williamson acquainted the gentle
men with the action that had been taken,
and both responded 10 the honor that had
been shown them in speeches that partially
expressed their appreciation of it. Both
said they were ready and anxious to de-
vote their energies to the upbuilding and
advancement of the company and that it's
interests would be theirs. While neither of
the young officers-to-b be had sought the po-
stion or accepted the nomination without
having counseled the committee to look
farther to see if they could find others bet
ter suited, they acknowledged that it was
a pleasure to receive it. They said that
they appreciated the fun Importance of the
positions, particularly the captaincy, and
realized the demands that are made upon
the time and attention of militia officers
1t had been the earnest desire of the
nominating committee to induce Capt Wal
Hanson to again accept the captaincy of
the company but the efforts made for this
were unavailing. He was waited upon by
the entire committee but his resolve to re-
tire from active connection with the mill
tary was unafterable He expressed the
warmest appreciation of the committees
desire to confer the NOM
inaton upon him, however, as it could
readily be seen that it was not without
regret that the captain adhere to his de-
csion 10 retire. That the company was
as anxious as the committee to have Capt.
Williamson remain at it's head was shown
when the report was submitted. A mem
Der of the command arose 20 his feet, and,
while acknowledging the wisdom of the
selection that had been made, wanted to
know how it had CHANGED that Capt. VIII
Hanson had not been nominated. To this
the reply of the chairman was ready aud
convincing. He simply said that every
effort had been made 20 induce him to do
so, but that the captain would not accept
The presiding officer stated, as soon as
the company had Informally elected
Messrs. Rogers, Screven and Hitch, THAI
he would request Col. Garrard to order an
election for an early date. At this cleo
ton the nominees will be officially voted
upon, and the results will go to the office
of the adjutant general.
Mr.. Rogers is well-known in Savannah
as one of the leading young lawyers. As
military man he has many qualities to
commend him, and his experience has
been such as to eminently fit him for the
responsible position to which he was elect
ed by his comrades For years he has
been member of the company, and dur
ing the greater part of the time as a pri-
vate. 1t was only about a year ago he
was appointed a corporal and this was
the position he held at the time of his
election to the captaincy. During the
seven years of his residence in Macon he
was member of the Macon Volunteers,
the crack military organization of that
CITY, the greater part of the time as first
sergeant.
When the call for volunteers came Mr.
Rogers was one of the warmest advocates
OIL the Guards responding. He spoke in
FAVOR of Company volunteering at the
ume the meeting was held for the pur-
pose OF ascertaining just how many of
the members were ready to go to war
capt. W. G. Austin. who was elected to
pe captain of the members of the COM
pahy who responded to the call, saw in
MT. Rogers is a splendid soldier for the re-
hponslbie position of first sergeant. He
accordingly appointed him to the position.
wnlch ne filled with signal success dur
ing the time he was in the army.
Mr. Screven, it Is understood, will ac-
P' the Heutenancy. He has been a
member of Company A for MANY wears
and his selection insures an officer Who
thoroughly understands tactics A grad
uate of the Virginia Military Institute. his
framing there received has been kept up
ana ne is recognized as an authority. AS
Hght guide of Company for several
years, Mr.. Screven's services were found
invaluable. 1t has been said by many
onicers that there has not been a sergeant
IN the militia in Savannah who could ex-
Gel him as a guide. When the company
volunteered to go TO war Mr.. Screven was
elected to the second lieutenancy, a posi-
tlon he filled with great credit
Mr.. Hitch has been a member of the
company for five years. Some three years
ago he won an appointment as corporal
IN competitive examination, in which a
number of the members of the company
TOOK part. This place he held up to the
utne the company entered the service
when he Was anpoiptqd nv Cant A,,eti,,