Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-06-25

Ile, and no less so are the memories
OF the old guards of the Americas
Light Infantry in view of the active
service which the company is now see
irg.
The following address was deliver
ell by Henry stanfeld, of Americas, a
former sergeant of the company, on
the occasion of the annual meeting of
the A. L. I. four years ago. The in
teresting speech was made by a valu
able member of the company. 1t was:
Mr.. Toast Master, Comrades, Ladies
and Gentlemen:
History at its best is nothing but
true relation of facts. I hope you
will bear with me tonight in relating
the history of an Infant that was born
in 1881 in the old building, now oc-
cupied by ]. w. Harris as hardware
store.
This Infant has grown to lusiy
manhood, and is now 81 years old. At
TIE time this infant was born, gray
uniforms, with numerous brass but
tons, feather plumes and gold lace
were used. Every man paid for his
own uniform, the state of Georgia
furnishing nothing but an old so cal
ibre gun, belt and bayonet. In fact,
military in those days was nothing
more than a social organization, bat
in time of need they showed their
valor.
I can remember when the Americas
Light Infantry was called on to quell
riots in our streets. The negroes il
those days were very obstrepsorous
and it was not unusual for the mayor
of our town to call on this valiant
company to protect the helpless AID
preserve the peace of our town.
The first captain for this company,
at the time it was organized, the 22ni
of September, 1881, was Captain Geo.
S Watts, brother of our valiant old
Confederate veteran, Harrison Watts.
At one time in the early years Of
this company they attended Mardi
Gras, in New Orleans, with 81 men
ard 8 officers, and were shown many
social courtesies.
The first encampment that this
company had was private one at
Iadian Springs, Ga.
In front of the old Barlow Block IN
1882. this beautiful silk flag was given
to CAPTAIN Joseph Shaffer by Miss
Floyd Hollis, the mother of our own
Allen Fort.
The company lived and prospered
fer about years, and for lack OF at
tendance died natural death.
Discipline in those days was thing
unknown. One man was as good as
another whether he be officer, or
whether he be private.
At the time of the inauguration of
Gov. Atkinson, in Atlanta, this COM
pany was we'll represented by 40 men
and Q officers, who conducted them
selves with true military spirit and
were a credit to this town, receiving
honorable mention in the Atlanta
lapers.
lie llISI SLdbC ClASolAlph1NAAS "S~S $1,000
at Augusta, Ca, in 1890. This COM
pany attended with about 65 men ami
3 commissioned officers Their uni
forms at this time consisted of a
blue swallow tail coat and about %
brass buttons and gold lace which
were furnished from their own peck
cts. the state of Georgia not furnish,
ing anything except the old gun they
had carried for years.
About 1889, after the death of the
original A. L. l., $50 citizens Of Amer
icus met in the Wide-a-Wake Hall and
applied to the state of Georgia for a
new charter for the A. L. l., which is
the present organization. At that time
the weathiest and best men Of the
town became members and supported