The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-19

assistant in his once noted Home
School, and had unusual facilities for
writing school histories of this character
Few people realized how greatly we are
indebted 10 the railroad companies for
valuable maps, charts, illustrations and
literature descriptive of famous battle
fields, bloody conflicts and noted military
commanders. Some of this literature is
largely advertising matter, and is Great
ed by desire 10 secure liberal patron
age for the railroads to conventions of
the United Confederate Veterans and the
Grand Army of the Republic encamp-
ments. Perhaps the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad is the most liberal and extern
sive publisher of such literature This
year in G.. A. r., Illustrated lin colors)
folder for the Chicago encampment rs
simply immense" and full of valuable
military historical facts. Then it pub
fishes monthly an elegant magazine, the
Book of the Royal Blue and the July
issue is largely devoted to the Battle
of Antietam." In Georgia the Western
and Atlantic Railroad under the able
supervision of Col. B. w. Wrenn and Mr..
Joseph NJ. Brown, published a great mass
of military matter in regard to the Sher-
man-Johnston campaigns. And during
che Cuban war the Central of Georgia
did q good service by its map of ''Win-
ter Camps" of the volunteers and other
publications. The Plant System also
published several military folders, maps,
etc, of a valuable character for refer
ence, present or future
Sham battles seem to have lost their
hold upon the people, and this is as it
should be. They do no good and often
result in great harm causing the death
or severe woundiug of two or three par
Elephants. The issue of Aug. Is of the
Daily Messenger of Troy, Ala, owned and
edited by William J. Blan and his tai
ented young son, Sidney Herbert Blan
contains a fine picture of the honored
father, a veteran printer and one of the
best men in Alabama who fifteen years
ago on that day, had both hands blown
off while discharging a cannon in a sham
battle of the Confederate survivors. His
death was anticipated, but having lived a
temperate and moralslife the Vigor OF his
constitution carried him through, and to-
day, by the use of artificial hands. he is,
as he has been for the past dozen years,
making an honest living in his chosen and
lifelong profession of printer and pub
Usher. And he has raised a noble son,
his associate editor, and daughters who
rank among the best public school teach
ers in Alabama. And yet, but for his
pure life and vigorous constitution this
veteran soldier would have gone to a
premature grave and his little children
been left fatherless through the mishap
of sham battle.
A special press telegram from Opelika,
Ala, states that DR. Joseph r. Harmer,
of that place, has been ordered to Wash
ington, and is to be assigned to an i'm
portant position in China or the Philip
pines. The special further states that
DR.. Harmer was for twenty years a sur
geon in the army of the West, but re-
signed ten years ago." Now l never
heard of an officer in any department of
the old army or the new-dating from 1915
by the name of Harmer, except Lieut..
Col. 1siah Harmer, of the First United
States Infantry, in 1884, and for time in
command of the entire army. DR.. Harmer
was evidently a contract surgeon" and
as such, he was not in any sense an OFF,
Ger of the army. His position was sim
ply the same that of "a civil engineer.
under Capt. Gillette in river and harbor
work. Neither is an officer, and yet. un-
der contract or hire, he performed work
done by an army surgeon or engineer.
A recently printed newspaper cut of
Lieut.. General Nelson A. Mics, u. s. A.,
will satisfy anybody in the belief that
this egotistical solder has at last reached
the point he so long aimed at. He now
wears a cap and uniform that gives him |
the appearance of the Emperor of Ger |
many of Won Moltke or Prince Bismarck |
Inc cap Is not Only stunning, put ike !
the manner In which he attaches his mili- |
tary badge to his coat collar, is quite |
royal in its style. But Gen. Miles viii |
learn that 1t is not what is on the head |
that makes a great military commander. |
1t is what is in the head. a preacher once |
put on Bishop George +. Pierces hat and !
said, why, Bishop, your head and mice |
are the same size" To which the good !
bishop smiingly replied yes, on the out |
side So Gen. Miles head, in is ew AID |
gorg Gus cap may restm ble Won NJ likes, |
II is only on the outside as the former has |
the weakest intellectual and military en- |
dowments OF any man who ever bore the |
title of lieutenant general in our army. and |
yet he Is the most consplC uOus in the mat
ter Of outward show
Florida IS justly proud OF the fact that
one Of the heroes in the PHILIPPINES is a
grandson OF Gov William p Duval one
e the very earliest chief magistrates Of
this sta .. Charles d. Roberts graduated |
frcm West Point Military Academy
in time 10 tnter service in Cuba. and is
row frs ieuieuan. Of the Seventeenth
United states Infantry. but serving as cap
tain Ct vounteefs In the Phillip ines. His |
ther, Maj cyrus s. Ro5,rts. Of The
same regiment, is a native % Come tfcrt
ana won his spurs and several brevets in
the volunteer service DUNG The civil
Wsr and in 1876 cam. iaio the regular
service as = cond lieutenant Of the sev-
en- nth Infantry. Cept Charles y. Rob
ert', who WAS captured ia scouting
party In May has late been released by
the Fiiipinos. His father Is now on duty |