Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-06-02

the whole state VI fascens z
military preparation. Not many
companies were organized but
every one seemed TO be getting
ready for it. Young men by the
thousand had their hats turned
up at one side and on it was a
small bow Of narrow ribbon Sc
curely fastened. 1t was known
as a cockade.
Sallie Ada Reedy 4 rising poe
tess of Mississippi. gave forth to
the world an inspiring poem, the
subject Of which was, The Boys
with the Blue Cockade. TWAS
copied largely over the State and
over the entire South.
In less than a week after il was
positively known that Lincoln
was elected, a meeting was held
in the Court House to decide what
was best 70 be done. The tone
ot the speeches plainly led in the
direction of secession and armed
resistance il Necessary. Every
Union man in the iowa wheeled
into line and among them DR.. F.
NJ. Green. He made fiery
speech, and in a few DAYS had
begun raising the company known
az The Lamar Rifles. thus making
good every word he uttered in
the court house. They drilled
very frequently if not generally
IN the basement story of the
G. p. Church. | remember dis
nnc,ly the first time Capt. Green
wore his uniform. twas superb
from hat to heels, lar more ele-
CANT than Major General could
have procured a year afterwards.
The following are its officers
as drawn from the Military His
tory OF Mississippi: Cap,,in.-
Francis NJ. Green, promoted Sep
TENDER %, 1861: VIM. G. Nelns.
wounded at Petersburg. March
18th, 1865.
First Observation-Disclosures J..
Lovejoy, ". u. helms. FL. G.
Fernandez.
Second Lieutenants.-W. G.
Neims, II. G. Fernandez, W. 4.
Osborne, r. W. Black.
Third L:eutenants-J.G Shee-
cog. J. c. Robinson, Chas. ".
Orr, r. ". Black.
Full strength of company f39:
died OF disease S; killed and died
of wounds %; discharged 80.
transferred 8; deserted D re-
mainder As.
Early in the spring of 1851, the
ladies' of Oxford prepared an
elegant flag for that company
and a certain night was appoint.
ed for the presentation. on the
morning OF that day two elegant
companies from Holly Springs.
The Home Guards, commanded
by Capt Thos. W. Harris. and
the JEFF Davis Rifles commanded
by LIST Lieut.. Harvey W. Walter
the Captain. Thos. II. Benton,
being absent, came down on the
train 10 grace the occasion.
They spent about two hours in
the afternoon drilling on the
square, and with their brilliant
uniforms, elegrnt flags. and ex-
cellent work done, they made a
fine impression. That night the
Cumberland church was packed
and Jammed with the elite OF
Oxford to witness the ceremony
of presentation. The speech was
made by Miss Sallie Wylie. OF
College hill, and it was a splen-
did effort. Her voice was loud
clear, musical, and her arsiculc-
ton and emphasis was renarka-
by distinct. She could be heard
fairly well by the immense thron-
and even out in the vestibule and
on the steps. Captain Green's
speech Of acceptance was well
worthy of him but was not SC
well heard as that of the fai,
presenter, bis voice not being in
good condition.
Deafening calls were then made
for Lamar, but he was not in the
! city. Ringing speeches howev.
er, were made by Capt. Harri:
and Lieut.. Walter, which closed
the ceremonies.
This company was mustered
into the service Of the state, Feb
., 1851, in the Court house YARD
in the northwest corner of il
There seemed 10 be present about
SO men in line. As the muster.
ing officer was having the roll
called, the company being form
ed in open ranks, one poor fellow
had the misfortune to have soms
+, kind of spell that feIled him &c tbs
earth as il he were shot. Oscal
Fades biurted out in that dee,
bass undertone which often wa:
his habit, Let him of, he,