The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-12
SIDNEY HERBERT'S LETTER.
KINDLY REFERENCE TO THE LATE
CAPT. USINA.

CAPT. USINA.
Some Interesting Facts in the His
tory of Richmond COunty-The
Question as to Who Fired 1.-The
First ShOt"-FOrt sumter still Be-
ing Discussed-DiXie Popular in
All Parts of the COmntry-PrOmO-
lions of SOutherners in the Army
and Navy-Attacks on Military
Schools and Military Instruction
Not Considered Worthy of Notice.
A sketch in the McDufie Progress
Commended - other Matters of
General Interest.
Pine Crest Villa, Maitland Fla,
July 1.-THE death of Capt. M. P.
Usina caused me sincere regret, al
though 1 had never met him. 1 knew
him only as an appreciative reader of
my letters, and a courteous gentle
man whose kindness to me shall long
remember. We were pitted against
each other in deadly conflict at the
First Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas,
to become friends in the later years
of peace and a reunited country.
- Since my last letter Col Col
cock has kindly sent me some reports
of the Battle of Honey Hill, S. c., but
they are too long to be used in these
letters. as my space is too limited to
give even a brief mention of current
military events. My notes in last Sun
days letter on this topic, l am sure,
have settled the question of who COM
manded at that battle in favor of the
late Col. Chas. Jones Colcock. All
these VeXed questions show the need
of an official bureau of information in
every state capital to which an ap-
peal can be made for authentic infor-
nation on all such disputed points.
Writing of Patriotic Societies" in a
Fourth of July article, Sam w. Small
refers to John Tyler Cooper of At
lanta as the only member of the So
ciety of the Cincinnati known to him
in Georgia. Sam ought to visit Savan-
nah and see some of the descendants
of the old original Georgia members.
1 think Mr.. Coopers membership has
lapsed. Sam also says Capt. Jack Mar
tin of East Point, is the only Georgia
member of the famous Aztec Club of
the Mexican War. In this he is mis-
taken. Lieut.. Gen. James Longstreet
of Gainesville, is a very distinguished
member, as he was promoted to first
lieutenant and breveted captain and
major for gallantry in several battles,
being severely wounded at Chapulte-
pee. Ny old friend, John ]. Martin
went out, | think, as a private in the
Palmetto Regiment of South Carolina,
but was commissioned later on, a first
lieutenant and then captain in the
Twelfth United States Infantry. from
which he resigned in March, 184S. /
can recall the names of a few Georgia
members, all deceased. They were Gen.
VIM. Montgomery Gardner, Gen. A. H.
Colquitt, Gen. Lafayette McLaws,
Gen. VIM. Il. T. Walker, Gen. Goode
Bryan, Capt T. r. Mcconnell and
Lieut.. Bedney T. Mcdonald, son of
Gov. Chas ]. Mcdonald of Marietta
A Florida reader of these letters asks
for information about his grandfather,
who was a captain in the Indian War
of 1887 in Florida, but who came from
Dooly county, Georgia. and his name
was John Ayers. The Popes, who were
private soldiers in the Civil War and
in the regular army, will be hard TO
matter. : Gen. John B. Gordon's
article on Gettysburg, in the July
Scribner's Magazine, is full of interest
to the old soldiers who were in that
battle. Chas. E. Magoon Esq, also
has an article on the Civil Features of
the War Department" which deals with
Porto Rico and Philippines matters.
1.-THE United Service" magazine
for July is rich in military articles
veterans of the Civil War. Gen. w.
H. Carter. U. s. A., writes of "Infan-
try in War" and Benz. F. Stevens,
who was captains clerk on her, gives
an interesting sketch of famous "Old
lronsides," the naval vessel embalmed
in DR.. Holmes immortal poem. A
handsome portrait of Mr.. Stevens ac-
companies the sketch. and but for his
name under it the friends of Capt. Will
liam A. Shaw an old Savannah Cadets
war veteran, would declare that it was
a fine picture of Our Billy" They are
both fine looking men, and would east
ly be taken for twins.
1t is possible that Richmond county,
Georgia, so noted for it's great men
and stirring events during the Revo-
lutionary period and the early history
of the state. was one of the first com
munitleS IN Whlch an agricultural So
ciety was formed, and especially such
an organization of the most eminent
men in the community. The military
seems tc have been given the post of
honor. as the president was Gen. w.
w. Montgomery, a kinsman, 1 presume,
of Mr. Justice w. w. Montgomery and
Gen. William Montgomery Gardner, u
S. A., and c. S. N. The first vice pres
ident was Gen. Valentine Walker, d
l<insman no doubt of Gen. William II.
T. Walker, U. S. A. and c.. S. A.
The second vice president was Gen.
David Taylor, with William Longstreet
as secretary and John Eve as treasurer.
The board of trustees was composed or
such distinguished men as A. b. Long
street. William Eve, Paul Fitzsimmons
and j. G.. McWhorter. l think, this
society organized at Spring Hill, Aug.
o. 1929 is slil, in active nnera lion