The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-23
TO GO TO ORLEANS
OGLETHoRPE LIGHT INFANTRY
DECIDES TO MAKE THE TRIP
AS ESCORT TO VETERANS.
LARGE DELEGATION FROM sAvAN-
NAH AT REUNION NOW ASSURED.

Fifty Members of the Command
Expected to GO-Thirty-five Sig
nifed Their Intention Last Night.
5000 Has Already Been Raised.
sleeper Will Probably BE Char
tered for the Trip-Chpt.-EIect II.
NJ. Hitch Will Command, and VIII
Present Savnnnnh's Claims for
Next Reunion in the Convention.
At a meeting of the Oglethorpe
Light Infantry held in the officers
quarters at the First Regiment Arm
ory last night, it was decided definite
ly to make the trip to New Orleans as
an escort to the Confederate Veterans
Association. So far as is known, this
command will be the only one from
Georgia at the reunion.
The matter has been undetermined
for a long while. Thirty-f1ve of those
present having signified their inten-
ton of going with the command, and
there being quite a number of others
to be heard from, the success of the
trip was assured, and it did not take
the men long to make up their minds
to go. It is estimated that nearly
fifty men will comprise the command.
The company will go under the COM
mand of Capt.-Elect Robert NJ. Hitch.
He will take his examination at once,
and will be commissioned before the
date of departure. 1t has not been
determined on what date the men will
leave, though it is practically assured
that they will leave at the same time
that the veterans do. The regimental
prize drill will take place on the even
ing of May Is, just the day before it
is proposed to start on the trip.
Arrangements Being Made.
The Steering Committee is now in
communication with reunion commit
tees in New Orleans, in an endeavor to
perfect arrangements. The corre-
spondence up to this time has necessa-
rily been limited. since it was impos-
sible to take any step until the mat
ter had been finally determined. Ar
engagements for the trip viii be made
at once.
The committee has now on hand $780,
which has been raised for the purpose
of defraying the expenses of the trip.
A large part of this was realized from
the Oglethorpe Minstrels. The most
popular plan is to charter a sleeper,
and live aboard this while in New Or
leans. This will be the plan observed
by the veterans, and many of the COM
mand think that it cannot be improved
upon. There are, however, arrange
ments now in progress to secure a hall,
and if this is furnished to the command
free of charge, as there is reason to
believe it win be, there is a POSSIBLE
ity of that plan being adopted.
A great deal depends on the num-
Der of men who will make the trip.
The plan to attend the reunion was
proposed some time ago, and the MEM
bers of the command have been MAX
ing their arrangements accordingly, so
that it is probable that the expense in
CURED will be minimized by a large at
tendance
Active preparations for the trip were
begun last night, when the command
began series of drills. In prepara-
ton for this trip and the regimental
prize drill, drills will be held hereafter
three times a week, so that the com
mand may attain a degree of
excellence for the two exhibitions
VIII Swell Delegation.
The action of the Oglethorpes in lie
Gliding to go to the reunion is hailed
with delight by the members of the
Confederate Veterans Association and
the McLaws camp of veterans, as well
as the Sons of Confederate Veterans,
many of whom will attend the reunion.
The presence of the Oglethorpes will.
they think, add greatly to the appear
ance of the delegation from Georgia,
especially since the command will prob
ably be the only one present at the
reunion from a state as far distant as
Georgia.
1t is especially desired to send as
large a delegation as possible. since
there is movement on foot to secure
the next reunion for Savannah. For
several years there has been some talk
of securing the reunion for Savannah.
The committee appointed at the regu-
lar meeting of the McLaws camp, at
which time the movement was launch
ed, is actively at work. 1t will be
necessary to secure several speakers to
present the claims of Savannah before
the convention, and the members of
the committee are of the opinion that no
more able exponent of the cause could
be found than Hon. Robert M Hitch
who will attend the reunion as cap
tain of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry,
delegate from the F. S. Barlow Camp
of Sons of Confederate Veterans and
as a prospective commander-in-chief
NJ f17a Tnif tod .NfT fasl -.