The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-12
WILLIAMSON MAJOR
CHOSEN TO COMMAND THE sAvAN-
NAH VOLUNTEER GUARDS.
OFFICERS ELECTED HIM.
WILL SUCCEED MAI. THOMAS
sCREvEN, WHO HAS RETIRED.

Expected He VIII Do Much for the
BattaIIon-Has Accepted Offer and
VIII Be Formally Chosen within
Two Weeks-NNashInstOn Birth
day on the Rifle Range-Many Med
ais VIII BE offered.
At meeting of the officers Of the Sa-
vannah Volunteer Guards, last night,
Capt. william w. Williamson was unan-
imousy elected to the majority made va
cant by the resignation of Maj, Thomas
Screven- Capt. Williamson has accepted
the office, and an election, at which
he will be formally chosen, will be Or
dered by the Governor and held within
the next two weeks
For two weeks past the officers of the
battalion have been considering the ques-
ton of a successor to Maj. Screven, who
had announced his intention of applying
to the Governor for transfer to the re-
tired list. The officers realized that in the
present condition of transition from mac
tivity to renewed life and strength, in
which the Guards now are, it was essen
tial to the well-being of the command
that they should elect a major who could
fill many and varied requirements. The
question was canvassed from every view
point, and the unanimous choice of Capt
! Williamson was the result.
After the meeting of the corps the off,
GERS met and elected Capt. Williamson.
He had discussed the question previously
with representatives of the board of Off
GERS, and at their request met with the
board last night Then it was that he
agreed to accept the office that was ten
dered him, and that the officers pledged to
I'D,
forts TO bring the command back to it's
Old condition of strength and efficiency.
Capt. j.. Ferris Cam of Battery c, has
been placed upon the retired list of Off
GERS of the State Troops by Gov. Gambler
| at his request. This leaves vacant the
office of captain of that battery and the
officers of the battalion passed a resolu-
ton that it was the sense of their
meeting that First Lieutenant f. C. Will
son, 20 whom the battery had rendered
the captaincy, should accept it. While
Lieut.. Wilson has yet made no formal
announcement of his intention it is be-
lieyed that he will accept the proffered
commission.
Capt Williamson, the next major of the
battalion, was for many years the COM
manding officer of Company A, holding
that commission until the reorganization
of the command, after the Spanish-Am
placed on the retired list by the governor
He is the possesser of many qualities that
peculiarly fit him for the discharge of
the duties of the commanding officer of
the Guards, at this present juncture.
Feb. - on the Range.
In accordance with their usage, the
Guards will spend Washington's birth
day, Feb. %, on the Avondae Rifle
Range, where one of the old-fashioned
good times, for which the corps is fam
GUS, will supplement the attractions of
the rifle contests for the battalion and
company medals.
Capt. J. M. Rogers, the senior officer of
the battalion, and now in command, will
issue general order, providing for the
shoot and the other features of the days
celebration, within the next day or two.
1t was decided last night that all four
of the battalion medals should be offered
and contested for, and that in addition
to these special medal should be of
fered for the honorary and veteran
class. The battery medals, of which
there are from one to four in each bat
terry, will also be awarded.
! Special efforts will be made to secure the
attendance on Washington's birthday of
| the older members of the corps, and It
is the intention of the officers to make the
| occasion resemble the rifle contests that
the Guards used to have in every essen
tial particular. There will be an oyster
roast, with the necessary extras on the
side, and with ali the goodfeHowship that
distinguishes the command.
| 1t was announced last night that Capt.
Wright Hunter, of Battery d, had been
prevailed upon to reconsider his intention
OF resisning and that he would continue
in command of his battery. Under Capt.
| Hunters command the battery has steadi-
lxT ipNTa sod tn
cheney, and it was regarded as particu-
larly unfortunate that he should retire
just at this time. BY the joint efforts of
the members of his battery and his
brother officers his intention has been
changed.
Finances of the Corps.
The officers have attacked the financial
problems with which the command has to
deal with new vigor and determination.
In their solution it is confidently ex-
pected that Maj. Williamson will be of
very material assistance and that with
the help he is in position to render
and will render, it will not be long before
the Guards will be in a thoroughly SOL
vent and satisfactory financial condi-
ton.
AT present the military corporation is
in the hands of receiver, but is hoped
that a readjustment of outstanding obh-
| cations Will be completed now within a
short time, and such arrangements made
with the creditors as will permit the COM
mand to gain again exclusive control of
! its building. Every officer of the com
mand who Is in the city, was at the meet
! ing, and every one of them pronounced
| the present condition and prospects of the
| corps brighter than they have been for
two years and more. New members are
being steadily added at each meeting.
Meeting of battalion.
At the meeting of the battalion, which
preceded that of the officers, the letter
of Maj. Screven, announcing his resigna-
! ton, was read. The letter is as follows:
ITO the officers and members of the
| Savannah Volunteer Guards. Gentlemen:
l regret to inform you that, after an ac-
! tive membership of your honorable corps.
for almost twenty years, 1 feel called
upon, because Of private business, to re-
sign my position as your commanding Off
Ger. l took this step with much reluc-
tance, on account of my long connection
with the Guards, as well as that of
others OF my family, who like myself con-
sidered their membership an honor of the
highest character. 1 beg to extend to you
my best wishes for a successful future.
81 ask that my name be paced on the
roll of Company y. / have the honor to
remain, your obedient servant,
Thomas Screven"
1t was suggested that Maj. Screven was
already an honorary member of Battery