Baldwin County GaArchives History .....History of Baldwin Co. - Baldwin Blues 1925 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 5, 2004, 5:38 pm The Baldwin Blues (Copied from clipping of Union Recorder, dated March 23, 1897,) What a glorious record that old Company had! It was always the crack company in the state. It was organized in 1848 by as handsome and soldierly a set of young men as ever marched to the music of fife and drum. Capt. William Steele, the then clerk of the Superior Court and afterwards private secretary of Gov. Hershel V. Johnson, was its first Captain. Charlie Ogden was first, and for a long time, its orderly sergeant. Even as I write, I have before me a very interesting photograph of four of its leading spirits taken in full dress uniform on the day of its first parade. What a handsome uniform, and what handsome men they were! Here they are: William A. Harris, who had just returned from the Mexican War, was then its first Lieutenant. What a fine looking man was Edward J. White, its 2nd Lieutenant. Then here is Geo. Doles, who was always the leading spirit, its 3rd Lieutenant. Then in the background is Corporal Howard Tinsley. Corporal Tinsley is the only one of the four who survives, but he does not look quite so young now as he does in the picture before me. The other three are quietly sleeping, with most of their comrades, under the daisies in the old grave yard. In those days we could not forget the fourth day of July or Washington's birthday, or the day of the battle of New Orleans. The Baldwin Blues would not let us. They were soldiers and patriots, and, whether ----------------- p. 56 rain or shine, would turn out and parade in honor of the day. One of the most pleasing and thrilling recollections of my childhood, was when I was awakened in the early morning, by the shrill piercing tones of the fife and the sudden roll of the drums. What a scrambling out of bed, and raising of windows, even by young and old, white and black. And there would be "Old Hammerheels" or Bill Marlow blowing the fife with might and main, and York Park and Willis Norman on the kettle drums, and "Old Stirling" on the bass drum, all beating for dear life as if existence and everything was at stake. We would know then that the Blues would parade and that there was a glorious day ahead. If it was Washington's Birthday or the Fourth of July, the citizens, ladies and gentlemen, little and big, young and old, would all assemble in the Representative Chamber at the old State House, the Baldwin Blues always having the post of honor. And after listening to Washington's Farewell Address or the Declaration of Independence, as the day might be, read either by Judge Iverson Harris, or Gen. Sanford, or Dr. Thos. F. Green, or Col. Kenan, or Col. Rockwell, then some of the younger men would deliver an oration, and amid the booming of cannon the ceremonies would end. But that was not all. There would generally be a big barbecue, and after the barbecue the toasts. I can not now remember them, but there was patriotism in those days, and true friendship, and no glutinous greed for gain and placing the almighty dollar supreme and above every other consideration. The day would end by a parade of the Blues through the principal streets of the city. After the resignation of Capt. Steele, Capt. W. S. Rockwell was for a long time the Captain of the Blues. But the soul of the company, the leading spirit was Geo. Doles. It was he who drilled them in such per- ----------------- p. 57 fect proficiency. He was every inch the soldier, full of company pride and was authority on military subjects throughout the state. In 1857, I believe it was, when the citizens of Milledgeville, being very proud of their military company, subscribed a very large sum and invited the military of the state to come and be their guests. They came about 2,500 strong and were with us a whole week. They encamped on the hill near the Central depot, and it has been called Encampment Hill ever since. Our city was filled not only with soldiers but beautiful women and distinguished men from all parts of the state. It was the gladest and most gala week that Milledgeville ever had. Many celebrated companies were present. The Savannah Blues, the oldest company in the state; Frank Bartow commanded the Oglethorpe Light Infantry; Paul J. Semmes commanded the Columbus Guards; Peyton Colquitt commanded the City Light Guards, of Columbus; Robert Smith, the Macon Volunteers, and Tom Hardeman, The Floyd Rifles. What an array of historic names! Soldiers every one! And how gloriously did they illustrate their old mother state on many a bloody field. There were other famous companies present, but in points of drill, equipments and soldierly bearing, by common consent, the palm was given to the Baldwin Blues, and due credit to Lt. Geo. Doles, as the drill master. The genial and jovial Capt. Rockwell was at that time the captain of the Blues, but being a very large, fat man and not able to march, he was made an aide to General Sanford and Gen. Jessup, the militia generals in command. But when he came to riding there was the same difficulty as in marching, for he wanted a gentle horse that he could easily manage. The trouble was finally settled by Dr. Paine offering Capt. Rockwell as his Rosinante for the occasion his famous riding horse, "Turk." "Turk" was a splendid riding ----------------- p. 58 animal and was about as well known to every one in the town as was my celebrated horse, "Whisker," who for a while had the reputation of running away and breaking Rough William's arm—but that is another story. Turk though very aged and gentle was yet a very spirited horse and had never in his long life been hitched to a buggy. Capt. Rockwell, for convenience kept Turk at the livery stable. One morning he sent his servant to the stable for his steed, but Turk was no where to be found. Where was he? Had he gotten loose and gone back to Dr. Paine's? A servant returned with the report that he was not there. I can recall the consternation that was in the minds of our citizens at the loss of Turk. Where could he be? Was he stolen? It was near the hour for review—the Generals were mounted and their aides, all but Capt. Rockwell. What could he do? There was not another horse in the whole town that he could ride. Just at this critical juncture here came Dr. R. G. Harper driving down the street like mad with old Turk hitched to his buggy—Turk who had never before felt the weight of harness on his back. It seems that Dr. Harper, late the night before, had called for his team and the hostler by mistake had hitched up Turk for one of the Doctor's horses. Well, the lost was found, and great was the rejoicing. Capt. Rockwell was mounted once again, and soon at his post with the Generals. The encampment of 1857 was a great thing for Milledgeville as well as the State. It was doubtless the largest body of soldiers that had been assembled upon her soil since the Indian war. It gave a fresh impetus to military affairs throughout the state. Companies sprung into existence everywhere and it was not long before every town had its military organization. In the meantime Capt. Rockwell had resigned and Geo. Doles had been selected as captain of the Blues. On Tuesday during the week of the great encampment a most impressive scene occurred. The remains of a former honored citizen, Mr. B. T. Bethune, were ----------------- p. 59 brought here for interment, and having been a great friend of the Blues, presenting it with its first standard of colors, and also having been one of its Lieutenants, the company turned out and buried him with military honors. Additional Comments: From: Part I HISTORY of BALDWIN COUNTY GEORGIA BY MRS. ANNA MARIA GREEN COOK ILLUSTRATED ANDERSON. S. C. Keys-Hearn Printing Co. -1925— File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/baldwin/history/other/gms238historyo.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.3 Kb