The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-26
GUARDS DISCUSS THE ORDER.
CONSOLIDATION NOT LOOKED UPON
FAVoRABLY BY BATTALION.

Battalion Into Heavy Artillery.
Col. GarrRrd Says 1t Is Not the
business of an Omcer to Discuss
Military Order-He Reported TO
Col. Lawton Upon Receipt of the
Order-Old Veterans of the Guards
Indulge in "Reminiscences of the
Long and Honorable Career of the
Corps.
The announcement in yesterdays Morn
ing News that an order had been issued
from the adjutant generals Office for the
constellation Of the Savannah Volunteer
Guards battalion with the First Regiment
OF Infantry. was the talk of The town, es-
peciaIly with the military men.
Although it had been announced that the
state advisory board at itssrecent meeting
had decided upon a reorganization Of the
state forces, restricting the infantry 10
five regiments of four battanons each, the
Guards had been so often before threaten
cd with consolidation with the regiment,
without this result being actually brought
about that many thought that II would
be The same In this case.
The order was naturally discussed with
more interest among the members Of the
Guards than by the other military men,
who are slightly affected by the order.
The Guards have been so long an independ-
ent organization that a sentiment of pride
in the regularity of their position had
grown up and the members generally were
strongly in favor of maintaining the indi-
viduality of the corps. There was no little
disappoin tment expressed on many sides
yesterday that this was no longer to be
the case. At least this was the impression
gained by a casual reading of the order
A second and more careful examination
of the order showed that there was no
ground for apprehension that the Guards
would lose their individuality in becoming
a part Of the First Regiment. They wiz
stu form "A separate battalion, will re-
tain exclusive control Of their own quar-
ters and win manage their internal affairs
as they have always done. In other words
they wiz continue to be the Savannah
Volunteer Guards. as of old.
A well known member of the corps IN
speaking of the order, said that while ne
regretted that the Guards were not al
lowed to remain a separate and independ-
ent command, the order was no more than
the members of the command had a right
to expect and is entirely in keeping with
the military system of the state.
Lieut.. Col. William Garrard, command
ing the battalion, returned to the city
yesterday morning, after an absence of
several days. He found the order from
the adjutant generals Office on his desk,
and after ascertaining its contents, re-
ported TO Col. A. r. Lawton of the First
Regiment. After Col. Garrard had made
his formal report the two officers en-
gagged in an informal discussion of the
situation. AS is we'll known, Col. Law
ton, nd gnfff fFAl ri On for
of the closest personal friendship, and it
is unnecessary to state that the discus
sion was of the most pleasant character.
Col. Garrard. when seen at his office
later in the day, said that Vt was unnec-
essary to discuss the situation. II re-
ceived the order and Immediately reported
to Col. 1Bawton for ORDERS said ne. "As
military man l do net think II proper
for me to discuss orders issued by my
superiors. There is nothing to do except
to obey orders"
Discussing the matter informally Goa.
Garrard said that there was no reason why
the new condition of affairs should not be
made TO work out advantageously for both
commands AS TO how this may be done
he did not care to discuss In detail He
was told that some of the members of the
guards were not pleased with the order for
consolidation.
There is nothing to be worried about"
cons olidated with the regiment before.
The merging of the Jasper Greens. the
Oglethorpes and the other commands
which composed the First Regiment did
rot cause those commands TO lose their
individuality and the Guards have no rea-
son to fear any such result"
Col. Garrard was asked how the matter
of the two lieutenant colonies in the First
Regiment would be arranged. That is
matter of detail for the adjutant generals
office to decide" he replied.
A meeting of the Guards Battalion has
been called for tomorrow night. the notice
stating that il is TO discuss business of vi
tai Importance" When asked about the
purpose of the meeting Col Garrard said
il was not called to consider the order of
consolidation, but 10 discuss business mat
ters The members of the battalion are
too much interested in the question of con-
solidaton however, not TO bring it up In
some shape.
The order for the merging of the Guards
! with the First Regiment recalled to many
! of the older members of the corps that
| for many years before the war the Guards
! belonged to the First Regiment and this
! brought up a train of other "reminiscences.
| The Guards are the Oldest infantry COM
| mand in the state, having been organized
| in 1902 with the other volunteer compa-
| MES Of Savannah, the Guards were a
| part Of the First Re glment of Georgia
| Militia. EbiS included not Only tne OIsu-
| nized commands but the irregular militia,
which was required to gather on muster
| DAYS This association was distasteful to
/ the volunteer commands, and they sue
| ceeded in having a bill passed by the Leg
! stature for the organization of the IN
dependent Volunteer Battalion of Savan-
| nah" There were seven companies in the
! battalion, including the Chatham Artil-
| lery. and A. r. Lawton, afterwards Gen.
! Iawton, and father of the present colonel
| of the First Regiment, was made heuten-
| ant colonel. This was the origin Of the
! present First Volunteer Regiment of
| Georgia.
| This organization continued until the
| breaking out Of the war between the
! states. when the Guards decided to carry
! into effect a step which they had had un-
! der consideration for some time, which
was TO convert the company into a bat
| TALON there being a provision in their
! charter which permitted of this. The
| membership of the Guards was very large.
and as recruits poured in upon them there
| was little difficulty i'm organizing first two