Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-06
NOTABLE MEETING OF OAR. WILL
BE HELD IN SAVANNAH NEXT MONTH
Refinement of Gen. Nath-
anieI .Greene's Remains
Will Be An Event of
National Interest.

rial TO erect 10 the memory or Sergeant
Jasper and the reinterment OF the remains
OF General Nathaniel Greene under his
monument. the meeting OF the Daughters
OF the American Revolution in Savannah
next month will be OF such character as
20 attract attention all over the United
States. Ii Is seldom that two such inter
esting and important ceremonies occur so
near together While both General Greene
and Sergeant Jasper have monuments in
Savannah, the services OF the reinterment
OF the remains OF the friend OF Washing
ton under his monument In Johnson
square the afternoon OF November 18th
viii be almost as elaborate as the ceremo-
mics attending the laying OF the corner
stone OF the monument, and the ceremonies
incident 20 the erection OF a memorial 10
Sergeant Jasper at a point just west OF
the city. where he rescued the American
prisoners from their British captors, will
be very pretty and I'm keeping with the
Importance OF the occasion.
Colonel Asa Bird Gardiner. at one time
district attorney OF New York and promi-
nently connected with the Society OF the
Cincinnati. will deliver the address at
the Refinement OF the remains OF General
Greene and the Chatham artillery, the
ancient organization that attended the fun
eral OF the general viii be present at the
reinterment OF the remains of himself and
his son. for what is left Of the son OF the
illustriOus soldier is 10 go into the tomb
with those OF his father.
At the ceremonies attending the unveil-
ing of the Jasper memorial. which is In
the form OF a marble fountain at Jasper
spring, Hon Pope Barrow, judge OF the
superior court. will speak. This ceremony
will take place the afternoon Of Novem-
Der Is.
II Is expected that the refinement of
General Greene's remains Will be an oc-
casiOn OF more than ordinary moment.
The remains viii be deposited in a casket
tie regulation size, although only mas
sive skull and some few other bones re-
main OF those Of General Greene, and the
governor OF Rhode Island and legislative
committee is expected to be present, as
well as Governor Terrell and the Georgia
legislature in a body.
The city has made a donation for the
occasion and most of the visitors will be
the guests OF the two chapters Of the
Daughters OF the American Revolution,
who have the two ceremonies in charge.
The monument 10 the memory of Gen
eral Greene is in the shape of Roman
sword. 1t Is Of such a commanding char
acter as to attract attention even in a
city where there are probably more mon
uments than any place of its size in the
United States. 1t is in the center Of John
son square. on Bull street. the citys most
prominent thorOughfare. with bronze tab
lets on the northern and southern sides,
near its base. One Of these contains the
name OF General Greene and the dates of
his birth and death. 1t also refers TO his
services in the Revolutionary war. On
the other tablet is full length figure of
General Greene In relief, with his horse in
the near background
The corner stone of the monument was
laid by General Lafayette when he visited
Savannah in 1S25. There was at that time
a plan on foot to erect monument to
both General Greene and Count Pulaski.
Lafayette reached Savannah March 10,
1S25. and on the following Monday laid
the corner stone OF the monument to the
memory Of General Greene. The ceremony
was In charge Of the MasOns. Later in
the day he laid the corner stone for
monument TO Count Pulaski in Pulaski
square, although the Greene monument
served as a memorial to both for a time.
There was great deal Of discussion at
the time OF the erection OF the monument
as to whether IL should go in the center
Of the square or on the side. The original
intention was to put it on one side. but
later IL was decided TO place the shaft
in the center. The wisdom of the deci-
sion has never been questioned.
After the corner stone was laid the
question of securing funds for both the
Greene and Pulaski monuments came up
for consideration. This was quite a seri-
Gus problem. evidently. for it was decided
to start lottery for the purpose Few re-
alize now that these two shafts were
reared by the aid of lottery money. but
there are many in Savannah who can re-
call subscribing to the lottery fund.
The Greene and Pulaski Monument Lot
terry was authorized by the state under an
act Of November so. 1896. and Messrs. John
Stevens. William B. Bulloch, James b.
Read Richard w. Habersham, James p.
Screven, Alexander Telfair. Abraham b.
Fannin. NTordecai Myers. John Shellman,
William p Marshall. Anthony Porter,
Samuel b. Parkman and Joseph Wallace
Bevan, all prominent citizens, were nam
ed as the lottery commission. The lot
terry continued its drawings for a number
OF wears, its advertisements appearing in
the newspapers even in the E0's. The COM
missioners, instead OF conducting lot
terry. sold the right to private parties in
consideration of the sum of 81 900 a year.
The state also contributed TO the mon
ument fund.
The Greene monument stood compile
ted except for the bronze tablets from
iS9 to 1883. On May 10. ISL Alderman Fer
rim introduced a resolution I'm council TO
secure an estimate OF the cost OF suitably
Inscribed plates for the monument the
again taken UP, and I'm March, 1913. Gen
eral Henry r. Jackson. president Of the
Georgia Historical Society, wrote TO coun-
eli asking the cooperation Of that body
In securing the completion Of the monu-
ment Council appropriated $500 TO the
cause and in July, 1854, the tablets were
unveiled with appropriate ceremonies, the
Chatham Artillery firing salute.
Although a monument had been cree
ted to General Greene's memory, there re-
NAMED until the spring Of 1901 a great deal
Of doubt as TO the exact spot in which he
was buried. IL was generally known that
his remains resided in Colonial cemetery,
but the exact location OF the grave could
not be discovered.
AS early as July &c. 1879 council adopted
a resolution stating the fact that here
was much doubt as to where General
Greene was buried and calling for an
investigation. A committee was appoint
ed but II did not succeed in the quest,
and In November. 1919. a second commit
tee was named. This committee was also
unsuccessful. and other committees were
named at different times. Many theories
were advanced as 10 the burial place Of
the hero. Some thought he was buried at
his home. Mulberry Grove. a few miles
from Savannah. while others said he was
buried at st. Marys, S. Q.
The Rhode Island Society of the Gin
cinnati took up the search I'm 1901 and Col
onel Asa Bird Gardiner. president of the
Rhode Island society OF the Cincinnati,