The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-11-26
PARADE GROUNDS STORY.
WHERE THE MILITARY or THE
CITY HAVE TRAINED IN TINES
PAST.

PAST
Prospective Change in the Name Of
what l. Now Called Forsyth Park
Extended Induces an Interesting
story 81 It's Past History, From the
Pen of MIR. Thomas Gambie-Forms
"A Part Of HIS New History of sa-
Vnnnnh-A Hundred Years After
the Estabiishment OF the City he
fire the Military Had "A Place 60
Parade-The status of the Military
and Council.
The recent discussion by the officers OF
,he Firs, Regiment OF Infantry OF the
nan 20 give some distinctive and historic
name 10 Forsyth Park Extension. or the
military parade ground, as Il was legal
IL known before the war. has revived in
tsrest In the status OF that portion OF
the public domain.
When the petition OF the officers OF the
regiment and other commands OF the city
is presented 10 Council. asking that the
name be changed it viii PROBABLY he re-
fsrred 70 the Committee OF the Whole. Il
NAV be some weeks before this much even
has been done.
The Park Extension was laid out for
military purposes In $3.50. ard was known
as the New Parade Ground from then I'M
tl 1871 when 1t was Incorporated with
Forsyth Place. or park. and became
known officially aud by tho general pub
l, as Forsyth Park Extended, although
the military have eluns with more or
less g,r,lnaeit. TO its original title.
IRE following history OF the several "a
rade grounds OF the military OF Savannah
l. an extract from the History OF the
city Government OF savannah by the
Mayors secretary. Mr. Thomas Gamble.
Jr which will be completed by che md
d. Of next month. and IL 60 be pub
hshed in connection with the annual re-
porte Tor the year 1860
Although Savannah has been a town full
Of military spirit almost from It's foun-
dalton no permanent provision was made
for military parade or drin ground un-
ell one hundred and ten years after the
landing OF Oglcihorpe This was proba-
bly, largely due 10 the fact that extensive
commons bounded the city. convenient 81
nccese and free 10 the use OF such mill
tary companies as saw ft 20 avail them
selves OF them. Al no time probably in
IS history. except in the brief period aft
er the Civil War when che Union army
was IN control has the city been without
one or moro military organizations. and
during many years United States force
was stationed here during the winter
months and later on throughout the year.
After the War Of 1872 small force Of
regulars was stationed temporarily az
Later these were evacuated and the Fed
eral troops were accommodated IA bar
nacks iu the city The bulk of these
having been removed Council. April T. 1893.
urged the Secretary Of War TO station
more troops NJ or near the city and
agreed 10 furnish land for barracks.
Nothing seems TO have been done on this
limo and In the spring OF 1924 All OF the
United States troops were Withdrawn. on
account Of the lack OF accommodations.
Council on April Is adopted resolutions
appointing a committee TO CORES pond
with the Secretary OF War. with a view
OF having az least two companies regl-
larry stationed here. The secretary
agreed 10 move the troops back II suita-
Die and healthy barracks were selected.
A committee for this purpose was APP
pointed by Council. but no report was
ever made.
In March. 1896 the Secretary OF War
asked that he be informed as 70 the noss
eligible site for barracks. Mayor Daniel
ard Aldermen Shellman and Williams
were appointed and reported that "a site
on the Great Ogeechee road a short dis
tancs beyond the one mile post was deem
ed the most eligible ana could bc had
for s. 90 II desired TO locate the bar
racks IN the city a good situation could
be selected upon the extreme southern
limits OF the commons and the city would
yield the same to che government free
Of charge as bong as occupied for military
purposes.
The government appears 60 have taken
advantage OF this. ns ia 1881 the proceed
ings or Council snow that the Secretary
Of War was then requested 20 remove the
troops nom the Oglethorpe cantonment.
which had been established on the eX-
IRENE commons (uow GwlnuetD 60 New
Houston streets. and permanently locats
them la the populous part OF the city and
petition was forwarded 20 Congress,
asking IL To- erect suitable barracks IL
lad been tho custom TO move the troops
from the Oglethorpe cautonment during
tne summer. owing 10 the illness that pre-
vailed az that time In the memorial sent
to Washington Il was urged that II the
.arrncks were established IN che city this
necessity wouh disappear. Barracks suit
a.ie for loo soldiers were asked for in
4fder that the city might be benefited hy
tHeir Presence. particularly at a time
eacn. from che periodical emigration OF
many u the whites "a military force is
most needed %
The use Of the Theater was rendered
at Us owners a. barracks for the sum
NOR Citizens In the vicinity protested.
oat Council sustained this use % the build
JOS and granted permission TO the mill
iafF 90 fence IN shc space between the
iaeater and the Academy grounds on the
forth. The troops were "a good health
throughout the summer, sustaining the
'"Hteutiou that they could be permanent
D. located Ia the clty.
100 November 1872. the Mayor was in
sirue ted 10 correspond with the Secretary
or War FOR the erection Of suit
aRn barracks and on the
following February Os2O a committee
va appointed 10 designate ihe
.dhd and TX the price. the government
hiFiug expressed its intention Of keep
.Is troops at Savannah permanently. On
"uF ID. 1893. "a block OF lots. ten IN
number. directly 20 the south OF Liberty
street and east OF Bull stree. and oppo-
iie the center o. Brown ward" was Of
.fied tho government Tor q cantonuent
ioi $1,000 Tho offer was accepted. aul
t't' permanent barracks were built and
tohunucd in such use before and after TIE
l4Fll War The site was sold 70 num-