Morgan County GaArchives DATES OF DEPARTURE -- of Companies from Morgan to The Civil War. ************************************************ 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: John R. Clarke jclarke@rose.net 20 January 2004 This is a column from the Madison, GA Madisonian and the name of the speaker, as recorded by the publisher of the Madisonian, W. T. BACON, was not listed. However, I presume she was female. The date of this column was also not listed but it was probably printed in the Madisonian ABT 1900. Col. William T. BACON (1869-1844) was the publisher of the Madisonian from 1894 until his death in 1944. This document was OCR'ed from a scan of the original Madisonian column, as provided to me by Mrs. Mary Alston McCullough, a MUSTIN and RICHTER family descendant who is the custodian of most of these newspaper clippings from the MUSTIN family of Madison, GA. -- John R. CLARKE, Thomasville, GA (14 Jan 2004) ---------- DATES OF DEPARTURE -- of Companies from Morgan to The Civil War. Mr. Bacon: I have been in a remniniscent mood, and with the aid lot my diary - have jotted down the dates of the departure of the different companies from Morgan to the Civil War. I thought it might prove a little interesting to the older citizens who would recall those sad days. I mention the "College Guards" as a little pleasantry, more to make Sallie High (Pat Burney's wife) laugh, than anything else. She is the only one of the patrotic band living here now. As "Memorial Day" rolls around, it carries us back- to the '60's" when our brave boys went out in 'defense of their country. On the 26th of April, 1661. the citizens of the county met at the court house square, where Miss Rebeeca Saffold presented a flag to the "Home Guards" in behalf lot the young ladies of the Methodist College. Never did she look sweeter than on that occasion, attired in a simple calico dress, with a wide black girdle. She was responded to by Capt. Andrews in some very feeling remarks. Ike Reese made a short speech and presented Sergeant Barrow with a sword as a token of love from his pupils. Mr. Barrow returned thanks in a very appropriate address. After the ceremonies at the court house, the Company marched to the depot to the tune -- "The Girl I Left Behind Me." An immense concourse of the citizens was present at the depot to witness their departure. The occasion was one of deep and yet most melancholy, interest. After tearful farewells they boarded the train for Augusta. where they were mustered into the service of the "Southern Confederacy" for three years of the war. On the 25th of July. 1861 the "Panola Guards" were presented with a flag from the young ladies of the Baptist College. Miss Josie Thrasher was chosen to present it. A large crowd assembled in the college yard, and the Panola Guards marched in, and formed in a line in front of the colonade. where Miss Thrasher stood, and in a clear, musical voice in words befitting the occasion, she tendered them the flag. Capt. Knight responded with pathos and dignity, characteristic of the man. "The Panola Guards" left Virginia on the 29th of July. Again were the hearts of the people saddened, for they did not know who of their loved ones would return. On June 14th, 1861, the citizen of Madison met at the court house and Miss "Shag" Richter presented a flag to the "Barrow Cadets," an was responded to by Lleut. McHenry Both addresses were excellent. This Company disbanded. however, and the boys later in the war joined other companies who were already in service. Everybody's heart beat with pariotism in those days. It is no surprising then. that the "Preparatory Department" of tine Baptist College formed a Company. calling themselves the "College Guards.' Vala Harris was Captain, Sailie High presented the Company with a flag in an appropriate address with much feeling. Della, Hillsman replied to her. Dora Harris presented the sword. Unfortunately the "College Guards" were never called into service. Capt. Thomas P. Peacock with a Company, left Madison on the 31st of October in defense of the coast. Capt. John Harris made up a Company and joined 'the 44th Georgia Regiment. I can't recall the date that he left. He never returned, being killed in battle. In 1864, Gov. Brown called out all of the boys in the State of the ages of sixteen and seventeen. There were not enough boys of that age to form a company in any one count so several counties had to combine Capt. Milier, of Augusta, made up a Company and several boys from Morgan joined it. They were stationed on the coast. The boys were never in a battle, but no doubt would have fought valiantly had an opportiuniuty presented itself. Our lamented W. S. McCarty was one of the boys who surrendered at Savannah. Reminiscence ------------