The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-20
OINED BY GEORGIA FRIENDS.
THmTY-FIRsT MICHIGAN SERVED
BY LADIES OF SAVANNAH.

Enough Cor All 10 Eat-Many Peo-
PIE Went out From the City-CoI.
Gardener Declared the Regiment
Was Helping the Georgians CeIc-
bratc Lees Birthday-ThOse Who
Made the Dinner Success.
The dinner given yesterday 20 the Thir-
ty-drst Michigan Regiment by the ex-
members of the First Georgia ana their
lady friends was the best Of the three
that have been given the troops since Sa-
vannah has been a place Of encampment.
This was the verdict Of all the ladies'. and
there were but few, if any, of them who
had not had something to do with one
or both Of the other dinners.
Some Of those who took leading parts
in giving the dinners to the Seventh Army
Corps Thanksgiving day and to the Third
Georgia Regiment some time later, did not
hesitate to say that these former occa-
sions had paled before the success that
had crowned their efforts, and the Mchi-
gan soldiers will find themselves wonder
ing, if any one raises the question how
any other dinner preparations, decora-
tions or service could surpass what they
saw, admired and partook of yesterday.
There is gratitude in the hearts Of the
soldiers from Michigan to-day. They are
trimming over with thanks to the ladies
of the city and the members Of the three
local companies the Greens, the Cadets
and the Blues, who entertained them so
lavlshly and Hospitality. The soldiers
from the North said they had heard that
Savannah was city noted for its hospi-
tality and something of the fame of those
dinners that have already been given had
reached their ears, but they were sur
prised to see how well the ladies and their
old soldier-friends had carried out their
promise.
Everywhere expressions of the warmest
appreciation were heard after the dinner.
officers and men seemed 10 vie with one
another in saying nice things of and 10 the
ladies'. aud some of the compliments paid
would have done credit to the wit and
grace of a Chesterfield or the delighted
safety of the old Roman after he rose
from his feast. Cheers resounded from la
BILE to table as the men finished their din
ners and arose to give three and a tiger
for the ladies'. They seemed to have an
arranged code of yels, and the ear-split-
ting hurrahs came as bOisterOus tokens of
the good Will and gratitude of the Mich
igan men.
After the dinner was over the call was
sounded for the companies to assemble.
They were then marched TO a space near
the coloueIs tent, where a compact for
nation, the men being without arms, was
secured. Then Col Gardener mounted the
seat of an army wagon for talk 10 has
men. He told them how glad he felt upon
having regained his health after an Illness
of several weeks and the pleasure it gave
him to be again with his command. Then
he touched on the prospective trip of the
regiment to Cuba, saying that the people
with whom the soldiers are to be thrown
are well disposed towards the United
States. that they are friends, and, while
differing in language and customs from
the citizens of this country, they are en-
titled to eonsiderate treatment, which, the
colonel said, he felt sure the soldiers would
not fail to accord.
Col. Gardeners references to the bond
of friendship that united the Thirty-frst
Michigan and the First Georgia regiments
while they were encamped together were
received with applause. Both his own
men and the visitors to the camp heard
what he had to say about this with the
varrnest satisfaction. The colonel said:
Cast thy bread upon the waters and
in many days thou shalt find 1t again.
When in Chickamagua Park this regiment
did unto its neighbor as We would have
them do to us. il little thought that the
current of events would ever bring us here
10 Savannah and the overlooking hospital
tiles of its people-to return in manifold
way the bareback and coffee which we
shared with the First Georgia on that
rainy morning.
"A lasting friendship has been estab-
lished between those in this army who
come Som the palmettoes OF Georgia and
those whose home is among the pines of
Michigan-a friendship which to US has OBJ
liberated al sectional lines, and as we
here to-day assist in celebrating the birth
day of that good man and great soldier, Gen.
Lee so l am sure the First Georgia would
assist US in celebrating the birthday of
Abraham Lincoln, the great friend of the
South or of Gen. Grant the great soldier
of the North. May this friendship be last
ing, and may it tend TO convince us all
that as between man and man, when we
really come TO understand each other there
is no longer a North or a South, but that
we are aA one people with common feel
ngs of patriotism and a common pride
in this republic which was founded for
the benefit of no class, but as a refuge
where the average man and the oppressed
enjoy the peace ana happiness TO which
ne is by nature entitled, yet denied him
to-day over SO large a portion OF the
earth's surface
At the conclusion of his remarks, Col.
| Gardener said there was another colonel
present whom he knew the regiment would
be glad to hear from; in fact, there had
been times when he seemed to be the colo
mel of the Thirty-tirst. He called on Col.
| Lawton.
Col. Lawton said that he had not pre-
pared speech. You're lawyer inter
| jected Col. Gardener. Much depends on
how you pronounce that" retorted Col.
Lawton He said he was glad to embrace
| this opportunity of speaking to his com
/ rades of the Thiry-hrst Michigan. for in
! their presence he felt perfectly at home
| Looking al the faces before him. he saw
! many men that formerly belonged TO his
| command. and he was glad that they had
! the chance to go 10 Cuba under a com
! mander possessing the ability and experi-
! cnce of Col. Gardener.
There had been time, Col. I.awton
said, when it was probable that the First