The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-11

writer that we would endeavor to raise
the company and report daily at the
same place the number of men we had Sc
cured. Before we parted. however, we
determined to send for Bulloch Jackson
and offer him the place of first lieutenant
if he would join us. He came and ac-
cepted enthusiastically. In that manner
was the neuclus of the old corps formed,
but the hard work was all before us. How
ever, we were young, full of energy could
get all the military training we needed,
and we started out determined to succeed.
From the very first days recruiting we
felt sure of success. We got Erwin God
frey, second lieutenant; the Crabtrees, the
Branches, James Lachlison, the Marshalls
and several others whose names escape me
now Very few whom we selected and ap-
preached declined and we had to exercise
some tact in declining to receive some who
We're undesirable. AS it was, one black
sheep" did get into the fold, and we were
compelled to organize a courtmartial, be-
fore our uniforms were made, to try him
and eXpel him. From its quick work one
might truly style it drumhead courtmar-
tial
by the end of August we had secured
some forty-odd men, tried and true upon
whom We could rely, and had the promise
(conditionaD of some twenty more; so we
proceeded to organize select a name, elect
our officers formally and begin our drills
w q uStQ 10 meet III an lfllOIIIldI HldIlIe1 at
Capt. Grants office, or at the store of Mon
Sieur Pierre Beranc, corner of Bay aud
Drayton, just where the Savannah Bank
and Trust Company now stands, and We
drilled in the old st. Johns Church build
ing, on South Broad street. next door to
the Waldburg house.
Then the city fathers, recognizing that
we had come to stay gave us "a habita-
ton and home in the third story of the
Exchange building (the southeast corner
room. We were the first company to
adopt and drill by Hardee's Tactics Cup
to this time SCOTS Tactics were in gen.
eral use), and so people were anxious to
see the new uniforms and the new style
of drilling.
1.-The old uniform new at that time) was
very handsome, and did credit to our own
cutters and tailors, Mr.. Sim Adams and
William Cox. 1t was of deep navy blue
cloth trimmed with buff and gold lace.
The hats of the officers were surmounted
with long white plumes. Altogether II
made one of the most tasteful and strik-
ing uniforms.
Having adopted the light infantry drill,
we determined to call ourselves a light
infantry company. The only difficulty
was in finding a suitable prefix, and none
more suggestive could We find than that
Of one of England's heroic generals, the
founder of Savannah. Gen. Oglethorpe,
and so we became the 'Oglethorpe Light
Infantry
"Our great difficulties having been sur
mounted, We sought a captain, and the
choice falling upon Capt. John N. Lewis,
a committee was appointed to wait upon
him and tender him the position. After
reading the roll of members he accepted
aud remained with us a year, when he
was succeeded by that gallant chivalric
hero, Capt Francis S. Barlow.
Jan. s, 1856 having been selected for
our first parade, we bent all our ener-
gies to getting the men into shape, so that
they might make a credtabe appearance.
Beginning with the awkward squad we
carried them through the manual of arms
and company drill until each man moved
like soldier.
And that parade! Who having partici-
pated in ii could forget it? The crowds
lining the sidewalks as we formed under
the trees" on South Broad street just OPP
posite the residence of 1Dr l.. A Falli-
giant, the throng which followed us
through the street seemed to consist of
Savannah's population. Then the banquet
that night the speeches we thought so
eloquent! the jollity! the good fellowship!
the witty sayings the songs we sung! all
of them went to mark the birthday Of the
| old corps as red-letter day in its his
tory.
first parade but we tried each and all OF
us to keep it up to the standard of a
corps d'elte" when Capt Barlow took
command he awakened a new interest
within us. At his home he loved to gather
crowd of old Oglethorpes and then, I'M
der his own roof-tree, both he and his
gifted wife made each one feel as though
he was a member of one large family
He devoted much of his time to the
company's interest, planning to make it
more and more perfect in its organiza-
tom increasing it's roll and above all
building up that esprit de corps" with
out which no company can succeed, and
with which every company becomes like
brothers in a family home. The history
of the old company under his command
is written for all men 10 read. 1t is en-
craven on the hearts of the men of the
command to-day. and it will be remem-
bered whenever deeds Of patriotic daring
are rehearsed. No one can write that his
tory better than they who followed him
to illustrate their native state upon the
soil of Virginia"