The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-26
GUARDS DISCUSS THE ORDER
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strictured for this new attempt to enforce
an old law that has been suffered in the
past to lie in what the Guards ventured to
mink very proper condition of innocuous
desuetude.
at will be the death of one of the Oldest.
as well as one of the most historic com
mands in the state if the law is carried
INTO effect In this instance said an officer
OF the battalion at is true unfortunately
enough, that the command was badly de-
moralized by the war and the departure
then of so many of it's most active and
earnest members and the only thing that
has prevented the almost entire loss of
fitness and efficiency is the loyalty Of the
men to the command and its traditions
and their pride in its history and achieve
ments. Like all other pride, this is sell
fish, and the men are unwilling to share
Ii with any other command. They want to
keep and preserve it themselves. To me
this sentiment seems natural and proper,
and l share it,"
we could not be merged with another
command and preserve our Identity at the
same time. The statement is a mixture
of facts as well as of phrases, and is a
paradox on the face of it. The record of
the Guards, both inNpeace and war, has
been sufficient to entltle the command to
respectful consideration from the state
battalions in other commemorative
that are permitted to retain their identity,
because of the length and nature of their
past services, to authorize the command
remaining as 1t now is. 1t is no new de-
parture in the history of state troops, and
is met with in many places in the coun-
try. The Guards have prospered in the
past because they were the Guards and
they viii suffer in the future, when they
become the Third Battalion Of the First
Regiment of Georgia Volunteers. I OBJ
serve that under the order the battalion
is to be permitted to number its compa-
MES, First Second Third and Fourth. So
far as I know this distinguished privilege
is accorded every battalion, of every regi-
ment in the country. Therefore, we may
well be excused and pardoned if we are
not overwhelmed by the distinction"
II do not, of course, intend to minimize
or slur the excellence of the record of the
First Regiment. This would be as gratui-
tous as it would be undignihed, nor do the
facts of history warrant it, The regiment
has always done its fun duty and 1 sup
pose always will. have no desire to de-
tract from its reputation and 1t is not
that the Guards object to being amalga-
mated with ii, but that they object to be
amalgamated with anything. They want
TO be themselves and this expresses the
whole thing in a nutshell"
"Will any effort be made to secure the
abrogation of the order?" this officer was
asked.
Il think so was the reply. THE plan
that has been discussed among the officers
is 10 make the battalion one of heavy ar
tillery instead of infantry end to secure
the passage of an act or an order of the
department authoriz ms this change. The
command has already seen service in this
branch of the artillery and as the heavy
artillery are drilled as infantry also we
would not have 10 surrender our rifles. 1t
seems proper that in a sea coast town
there should be those who are ready and
fitted 10 look after the heavy ordnance on
the sea shore, protecting the approaches
to the city and If 1t will result in the
maintenance of the identity of the corps
we would be anxious and willing TO under
take this work
On the formal ton of the Guards into a
separate command known in the Confeder-
ate army as the Eighteenth Georgia Bat
talon Infantry, a new company was or
ganized TO take its place in the First Vol
unteer Regiment of Georgia. This COM
pany was called the Tattnall Guards, in
honor of Capt. r. M. Tattnall, one of the
most distinguished of the former COM
manders of the Guards, and a brother of
Commodore Josiah Tattnall 1t was conf
manded by Capt. A. c. Davenport, VINO
mad been captain in the old corps. This
company served throughout the Confeder-
ate war, and was part OF the flFS0 teSl-
ment when 1t surrendered with john
ston's army in North Carolina.
In ante-bellum days the Guards and the
Republican Blues were the strong COM
panies in the First Regiment and were
their rivalry was not confined to them
selves, but extended to he whole people
of the then little city. Nearly every man
and woman and boy and girl were parti-
sans of one or the other corps. On one
occasion each company had on parade
about 200 men, and 1t was a ques-
ton which had the greatest number.
Every man identified with either company
who was able TO walk and who could be
uniformed In those days of gorgeous sol
der Clothes was on parade IL was red
letter day in the history of the town. The
Guards were commanded by Capt James
p. Screven and the Blues by Capt. John
w. Anderson two wealthy citizens, prom
inent in business and social life. The as
sembIy grounds of the Guards was on the
BAY az the foot of Whitaker street and
that of the Blues on the same street near
Bun street The citizens crowded the
streets and each Guard, as he came
along Respondent in his blue coat, with
red breast and trimmings, and silver but
tons bell crowned hat, and red and white
plume was hailed as a hero, and the same
was the case with each Blue" when he
appeared In dark blue coat, with light
blue breast and trimmings, and silver but