UPSON COUNTY, GA - MILIITARY CIVIL WAR Co K 5th Upson Guards Newspaper clippings 

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The Upson Pilot

May 4, 1861


Military.  Our town is now a camp. Business of all
kinds is neatly suspended. The fife and drum is even
too much for that tocsin of the soul -- the dinner
bell or the moonlight walk!

The Upson Guards are in camp and drilling every day,
ready and willing at a moment's notice to march
wherever ordered. We have no doubt this gallant
corps of citizen soldiers will prove real grit in
the day of trial.

We are sorry to learn that A.S. Baer one of the
members of the Guards was accidentally shot in the
leg by a pistol in his own hands on Wednesday
morning last. Mr. Baer was on guart at the time of
the accident. The wound is painful but not
dangerous.

Too much credit cannot be accorded to the Ladies who
have assisted with their needles and otherwise to
the comfort of our volunteers.

P.S. Since the above was written we learn that the
Upson Guards have received marching orders. They go
to Pensacola as a part of the Fifth Regiment and
will rendezvous at Macon on Tuesday next.

June 1, 1861

UPSON GUARDS. Resolved that the "Upson Guards" do
fully appreciate the high compliment paid them by
their former county man and fellow citizen, the Rev.
J. C. Liedsey, in the sumptous dinner served up for
them at his residence in Barnesville on Tuesday the
7th inst.  May his declining years be his happiest.

Resolved that this company does feel .... devotion
of our friend, A.J. White, Esq in looking
after....before we took up march ... and during our
sojourn at Camp Oglethorpe [Macon].  In honor of his
liberal and generous spirit, we will name this first
pitch of our tents at Pensacola "Camp White".

Resolved acknowledgements due Mrs. Joseph McAlpin of
the city of Macon for the fine and bounteous eatable
which she sent us at Camp Oglethorpe.

Resolved that we thank the ladies of the city of
Columbus for the rich and bountiful breakfast which
they furnished us on Tues morning 14th inst, at the
Rail Road depot.

Thanks to G.A. Miller, Esq of the Upson Pilot for a
large package of his papers.

(Done at Camp White near Pensacola, Florida, on the
morning of May 26, 1861, in full company assembled. 


Camp White, near Pensacola  
May 16, 1861

Dear Sir:
All safe at Pensacola, the boys in good health and
fine spirits. We struck tents Monday eve at camp
Oglethorpe, took the train for Columbus at 11 3-4
oclock at night and arrived at Columbus about sun
up, where the ladies of Columbus (God bless them)
had prepared for us a breakfast that any epicure
might envy.  Took the train immediately after
discussing the ride viands and arrived at Montgomery
at 12. We marched from the depot to the city and a
committee of gentlemen waited upon us and tendered
the company the compliment of a supper. For the
indispensable necessity, that we couldn't stop, we
had to decline.  The gentlemen determined to evince
their regard sent buckets of ice, sugar, lemons,
brandy, mixed into a punch and the rear rank being
faced about it was passed along the lines and the
boys did it full justice.  Our canteens were filled
wither from the artesian well in the city.  We gave
three cheers for the "Punch" and marched to the
depot of the Alabama & Florida Rail road. We here
found miserable freight cars ready to transport us,
they were very dirty and hot, and had anything less
than patriotism animated our hearts everyone would
have rebelled.  All baggage and equipment aboard at
2 1-2 o'clock we steamed away.

At the depot a scoundrel with bread and rotten
sausages succeeded in imposing upon some of the
boys, I gave him a sound abusing and made him pull
the money out of his pocket and pay it back.
President Davis and Mr. Wigfall came on the same
train in the rear passenger car. They made rapid
time upon the road.  Our young private Birdsong
after supper was invited on the engine and run it
for some time. The train being a half hour behind
time, the engineer told him to put her through.  The
valves were pulled open and she went as wild as
Mizeppa.  The train was about 200 yards long, flying
over bridges, precipices and embankments, at one
time passing through a curve the driving wheels of
the engine bounded from the track and the flange of
the wheels run upon the rails til the curve brought
them back into the track. "Press" says this is all
that saved us.  He prepared to leap into the dark
himself. I have never passed so miserable a night in
my life, notwithstanding all this, yesterday morning
our men cleared away the bushes for encampment,
pitched tents, and are now quite happy. Every fellow
was out yesterday bathing, fishing and looking after
curiosities.  We get a view of the Navy Yard and
from one of the wharfs we can see Fort Pickens
standing out in the distance, Santa Rosa, with its
scrubby pines in very distinct even to the naked
eye.  Two large men of war display their masta and
upper rigging beyond the  island; with the telescope
we can see the "stars and bars" flying above them.
The night we come down three spies were taken in Gen
Bragg's camp and were hung yesterday morning.  I was
down on the wharf yesterday evening and the guard
there captured seven as mean looking men as I ever
saw. They came over in two suspicious looking little
crafts, one of them heaped up the wharf with
miserable bedding, tables, chairs, etc as if they
were moving. The guard called for their papers and
having none were arrested and carried to the guard
house in the city, the leader, evidently bears all
the leading traits and characteristics of a Northern
man.  He got in a bad humor at first, but affected
non chalance, and then swore the craft belonged to
the Southern Confederacy, that his captain when he
come would make them smoke.  Having on my uniform
and feeling some authority, I beckoned the captain
of the guard to me and told him not to dispute with
the crew nor allow at that time any explanations. he
returned to them, presented his gun and told them to
shut up and march, which they did immediately. I
have not heard from them since. The city has all the
appearance of a close, filthy spanish town. The
harbor is large and beautiful and wharves good.

Fish abound in great quantity and variety, also
crabs and oysters, the latter forbidden to the
soldiers. The sand is very deep and the days very
hot, but the nights are delightful. Yesterday one of
the city authorities stated that the Confederate
Flag would not be tolerated by the Mayor of
Pensacola. Whether it was intended as a joke I
cannot say, one think I do know, some of my men
reported the intellection to me and asked for one
banner to come out. I immediately ordered it out and
the beautiful banner from the Ladies of Thomaston
floats from the center pole of the Marquett,
perfectly visible from the city. It has not been
troubled and better not be by the city people, whom
we learn are all sticking up for the Union yet,
except the glorious women. The dealers extort in
high prices and if you offer them paper money they
discount 5 per cent. The Hotel charge 75 cents for
breakfast and supper and one dollar for dinner, poor
fare at that except crab and fish.  More anon.

My love to all the women and respect to brave men of
Upson Letters will reach me at Pensacola, Capt Upson
Guards, 5th Regiment, Georgia Volunteers.  Wm G.
Horsley