The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-23
ITS SERVICE AS ARTILLERY.
WAS but An INCIDENT or THE
GUARDS DgTIEs.

Battalion Writes an Interesting
Letter, Relative 60 he History snd
That OF the other Military Com
mand- Of the Cisy-He Insists That
Capt. 4. G. Davenport Was Never
Lieutenant Colonel of the ReEi-
ment-Instances where Non-com-
missioned Officers Ia the Guards
Held Commissions IA the ReEi-
ment Recalled.
Col. william :. Basinger OF Athens.
ono OF tho former commanding officers
Of the Savannah Volunteer Guards Bat
talon, has written an interesting letter
10 friend IN Savannah. who also re-
tains a warm interest IN the command
relative 20 some Of the facts OF St. his
tory and that OF the other military or
sanizations OF the city.
Recently the statement has been cur
rent that at one time Ia its history the
Guards were heavy artillery. COL Basin
ger says that this Is not at oil correct.
For some time indeed" he says. after
relating something OF the organiza lion
fSd early history OF tho corps. 1T was
assigned 70 duty nj batteries on che coast
% Georgia. aud ~ sullivan's Island. S
c. where Il was Obliged by circum.
stances to assume tho duties OF heavy
artillery. As we'll az infantry. And. as
you personally know. for YOU were one
of us. II gained great reputation for pro.
hcienoy IN both branches OF service. but
tho very brightest laurels tho corps won
during tho war were gained by rs exploits
AZ Battery Wagner ana on tho field VI
sailor = creek. az which latter place a.
was singled out by it, commanding gen
eral Tor his special thanks Tor ita CON
duct and courage
I am amused AZ the suggestion I'm the
SIP from the News which YOU send me &"
writes Cot. bnsinger. that / NAV b mia-
'"Nen ~ SAYING that Capt A. q. Daven-
port was never Lieutenant colonel Of the
fegiment a. n there could be ANY can
spieuous fact in the history OF the Guards
from 1871 20 iss2 which do not know
.. perieouy A. know my own personal
.'S"f 10" petition to Council men
W Mr. CANDLES account or the
parade ground, may have been signed Ia.
Lieut. Davenport as lieutenant comn,a,,i
ing inc savannah Volunteer gtnrdu
"hleh was then but a single counapv
IN IN" other hand. referring ~ the
susEeSiioh Ia tie slip YOU send me thot
l'leut. Davenport might have beeh AZ ,hc
same time, lieutenant IN the Guard.
ana lieutenant colonel ~ the regiment 4,
was standing rule Of tho Guards then
% III ought 70 BE- now. that no ofHcer.
commissioned or non-commlssioned could
hold any other military appointment Win
out ieaNe spec ally granted hv the f.1rpa
No such leave was ever granted ~. -,
would have been. TO any commissions,
oiiicer of the Guards or was granted 90
Lieut.. Davenport. n be had accepted an.
oiher military appointment wtthntf
leave b. would have had 20 resign nut
he remained with the Guards. as d-at
lieutenant. till they formed their hattal
len. In 1851. when he became CAPTAIN "a
company y. and resigned that commits
sion. IN the same yenr to become can
tain % tho Tattnall Guards"
Col. Rasinger expresses surprise that
me fact that Cart George W. Stiles was
once Lieutenant colonel Of tho regiment
should seem 20 be 50 little known. and
seems to think that the hooks OF the
regiment should have revealed this cir
cumstance Of its history.
Inc volunteer companies Of Savannah
were nrst formed into a battalion" he
writes. under an act Of the General A.
militia laws OF the state were enforced
az that time and an the volunteer com.
panies or the city were nt-
tached to the First Regiment
Of Militia. Not only did they make
The regiment too big but II was a CON
slant annoyance 20 them to be snndwlchol
between the ununiformed and uninstrii-t-
Cd militia companies ne regimcntai drills.
These considerations led 20 the formation
l % NF..Hara II.
81 In the slip from the Morning News oi
Dec. Is. Lieut. A. r. T.awfon OF the Blues
was elected lieutenant colonel 20 comman
u. There was no other field officer VIII
liam Builoch Jackson. then non-eammis.
stoned officer Of the Guards was allowed
by special resolution OF the corps 10 De-.
come adiutant Of the battalion. while SIN
retaining his non-commissionod office. on
condition that he should be- excused from
his duties 10 tho corps only when the
battalion should be out a. n whole Short.
~ afterward the DcKalb Rihemen were
formed ana came into the battalion This
accession entitled the battalion to become
a regiment under the second section oi
| the act OF 1852. and a new act was passed
IN December 1863. 20 organize the regi-
ment which provided FOR full reglmcntnl
organization.
"Thercupon. Lieut. Col. T.awton wa,
| Nit"fffA fnlNtHt anu our afAF ffltNtts capt
George W, Stiles. then junior sergeant
/ ln the Guards under special resolu
/ ton Of the corps. which. I think. wa
offered By myself was permitted 90 be-
come lieutenant colonel OF the regiment
under conditions similar 20 those pre-
| scrlbcd in the case - nulloch jackson
but when tho Guards formed thel
/ battalion in 1861. Col. Stiles resigned nj
commission a. Lieutenant colonel to tax
| the position Of first lieutenant OF Com
pany u ~ the Guaris Iiis later histor,
we all know Rivalry between the Guard
I and the Blues had nothing 20 do witt
/ tho selection 81 these gentlemen for posl
| lions Ia tho volunteer battalion and reg
/ lment. They were chosen for their wei
known qualifications. IT. those days IN.
/ Guards were in the habit Of training 81
/ good officers %
One great good has followed the reaon
I discussions upon matters OF military IN
I terest. They have revived the naggins
zeal OF some Of tho veterans OF the sew
]