Macon, Georgia - Historical Record of Macon and Central Georgia : Containing Many Inter (part 8 of 8)

1824, two streets had been built in the new town of Macon, and the Messenger was removed from Fort Hawkins settlement to one of them. Fifth street. During the long period of his eventful life, he was a true chronicler of all important current local and State events, many of which have been reproduced in this book, taken from his old files preserved and bound by Mr. N.

C. Munroe. In 1825, the Blue Lodge of Masons was organized and he was elected secretary and treasurer and re-elected every year until his death. He was elected grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Georgia in 1845, and re-elected every succeeding year. He was a natural horticulturalist and florist, and devoted much of his time to the culture of flowers, fruits, etc.

At his death he was the oldest surviving member of the Macon Volunteers, and his attachment to the corps was like that of a parent to its favorite child. The stores and public offices were . closed at the hour of his funeral. No marble column marks his resting place, but a greater monument is his - the whole of Rose Hill Cemetery.

Volunteer Companies Of Macon

tenant, Robert Birdsong, Second, John Chain, Third, and Samuel J. Cooledge, First Sergeant. The corps consisted of about forty members. The following were the officers in command that succeeded Captain Wright: William J. Dannelly, Lemuel Newcomb, A. R. McLaughlin, Isaac G. Seymour, Isaac Holmes, Z. T. Conner, James Bivins, Robert A. Smith. During the war : Robert A. Smith, next George S. Jones, who was wounded and captured at Gettysburg. In the same battle the three Lieutenants - E. C. Grannis, first, was shot, from which he died; T. R. Campbell, second, shot, captured and died in prison; L. H. Wing, shot, captured and in prison until the close of the war. Reorganized April 23d, 1872, George S. Jones, Captain, next C. M. Wiley, next W. W. Carnes, now in command.

Floyd Rifles. Organized in 1840. Samuel R. Blake, Captain ; Samuel J. Ray, First Lieutenant, Robert Carver, Second, B. F. Ross, Third ; W. D. Griffin, First Sergeant. The following officers have succeeded Captain Blake : B. F. Ross, T. Hardeman, Jr. During the war: T. Hardeman, Jr., George W. Ross, killed ; C. R. Redding, killed ; the command then fell upon Lieutenant A. A. Freeman, who was afterwards taken prisoner, and then upon Lieutenant W. W. Richardson. Reorganized May, 1872, by election of Colonel Thomas Hardeman, Jr., Captain ; next. Colonel William H. Ross, next George F. Cherry, next J. L. Hardeman, who is now in command. '

Macon Guards. Organized first in May, 1846, Isaac Holmes, Captain. They served one year in the Mexican war, and then disbanded. On the 22d February, 1859, the Metropolitan Guards was organized, with Joel R. Griffin, Captain, and in December following the name was changed to the Macon Guards. In i860, L. M. Lamar was elected Captain. In April, 1861, they were ordered to the defense of Savannah. They returned in May, remaining but one day, when they left for Virginia, and enlisted under Captain Lamar in the gallant Bartow's 8th Georgia Regiment for the "period of the war." The following officers sue-

Macon Cadets. Organized May, 1874, first under the name of Macon Volunteers, Company B, with George W. Findlay, Captain. The name was changed to the Macon Cadets in 1876. Thomas L. Rpss is the present Captain.

Mitchel Light Guards. Organized May, 1874, by the election of John Ingalls Captain, who shortly afterward resigned, and was succeeded by John Griffin, who was succeeded by John A. McManus, at present in command.

Second Georgia Battalion. Organized April, 1861, at Norfolk, Virginia, by the election of Captain Thomas Hardeman, Jr., of the Floyd Rifles, as Major. In March, 1862, Major Hardeman was elected Colonel of the 45th Georgia Regiment, and the Battalion was commanded by L. T. Doyle until May, when they returned to Georgia for a few days previous to re-enlistingfor the war." Upon reorganization. Captain George W. Ross, of the Floyd Rifles, was elected Major, who was killed at Gettysburg, in July, 1863. Captain C. J. Moffett was then made Major, and remained in command until the surrender at Appomatox, when the remnant of the Battalion laid down their arms, Sunday, April 9th, 1865. The organization at Norfolk, in 1861, was composed of the Macon Volunteers, Captain R. A. Smith; Floyd Rifles, Captain T. Hardeman ; City Light Guards, Captain P. H. Colquitt; Spalding Greys, Captain L. T. Doyle. The Battalion was reorganied in 1874, with the Macon Volunteers, Captain Jones; Floyd Rifles, Captain Hardeman; Macon Volunteers, Comi)any B, Captain Findlay. Other companies were added to the Battalion, and in 1875, Major Jones was elected Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain William H. Ross, Major.

In 1876, Colonel Jones resigned, and was succeeded by Major Ross, and Captain C. M. Wiley elected Major. In 1877, Colonel Ross resigned, and was succeeded by Major Wiley, and Adjutant N. M. Hodgkins was made Major, and E. D. Huguenin appointed Adjutant, which officers continue at this time. The present companies in the Battalion are the Baldwin Blues, Macon Volunteers, Floyd Rifles, Macon Cadets, Macon Guards and Putnam Rifles.

Volunteers In The War

Artillery - Jackson Artillery, Captain Theo. W. Parker; German Artillery, Captain F. Burghard ; Napier Artillery, Captain Leroy Napier - afterwards Macon Light Artillery, Captain H. N. Ells. The Jackson Artillery was put in State service ; it was reorganized, with George A. Dure as Captain, who took the company into the Confederate service, and was succeeded by Thomas L. Massenburg. The company was then known as Massenburg's Battery.

In 1846, Miss Mary Ann Howard, of Columbus, Georgia, presented the "First Georgia Regiment," with a banner on their departure from the banks of the Chattahoochee to the scene of war beyond the Rio Grande. That lady, of noble lineage and many accomplishments, was afterwards married to Charles J. Williams, who had been Major of the regiment during one years' service in the Mexican war. Major Williams died in the Confederate service, while in command of the First Georgia Regulars, with the rank of Colonel. Mrs. Williams permitted her son to volunteer in the army at the early age of fourteen years. During the war she was one of the most active women in the South in administering to the comfort of the troops on the field or in the hospitals. In January, 1866, she suggested in an impressive article published in the Columbus Sun, the adoption of a Memorial Day, and that the 26th of April be that day ; and she also recommended the organization of the Ladies' Memorial Societies throughout the South. Her suggestions were heralded by the press and adopted by the people. After several years of devotion to the cause, she died in Columbus, on April 3d, 1873, was buried with military honors. On each Memorial Day, besides the tributes of love laid upon her grave by the hands of her own sex, the military of Columbus march around it, and each soldier deposits thereon a floral ensign in reverential memory of the once lovely votary at the shrine of the Confederate dead

A Ladies' Memorial Association was organized in Macon, with Mrs Thomas Hardeman as President, in 1866 and 1867, and the first baptism of flowers over the heroic dead occurred on April 26th, 1867, at the old and new cemeteries. It was typical of woman's loving care, and her appreciation of the Day which her devotion has made sacred in Georgia's calendar. A

* prayer by a minister, the scattering of flowers and the repairing ^ of mounds over the graves were the only ceremonies. The ^ State was under bayonet rule, and a number of Federal offlcers were present. The objects of the Memorial Society was the care of the graves, their annual decoration, and the erection of a monument so soon as practicable. At the decoration referred to, a little girl made a tiny floral Confederate flag not larger than her own delicate hand. The writer noticed her as she artistically arranged the leaves of the violet and verbena in color and form, and quietly plant it on an unknown soldier's grave. The sentiment so happily expressed by a Southern poet, was impressively suggested :

In 1868, the Memorial Association was permanently organized, with a number of gentlemen as members. Mrs. Isaac Winship was made President, and Miss Kate Fort, Secretary, their predecessors having resigned. The reputation of Mrs. Winship for energy displayed during the war, at Atlanta, in charge of hospitals, was widely appreciated. During the battles around Atlanta she established the extensive Atlanta hospitals in Vineville. After the war, it was through her exertions that the bodies of the Confederates that were hastily interred around Jonesboro were collected and removed for more appropriate sepulture. She raised the greater part of the funds to build the monument in Griffln, Georgia; also, collected and sent a large^amount to Richmond, Virginia, as a contribution to the erection of the monument iu Hollywood Cemetery in memory of the Georgians who fell and were buried on the soil of the Old Dominion. It was natural that she should have felt a deep interest in the Macon Association - she was the first child born in the vicinity of Macon. She was born within the ramparts of Fort Hawkins, in the year 1813, when her father. Major Philip Cook, was in

The first labors of the new organization were directed to the removal of the bones of the soldiers in the old abandoned cemetery to a more appropriate place. Every grave was exhumed of its contents, which were properly placed in wooden cases, and deposited alongside of their comrades in Rose Hill. The building of mounds, the erection of headboards, with the names and company of each body, was, together with the removal, an additional labor and expense. After the accomplishment of this worthy work, the efforts of the Association were devoted to the accumulation of a fund for "the shaft that is in the stone." The amount was finally secured, and on the 26th of April, 1878, in the presence of a vast assembly, a procession consisting of the military, lodges, societies, fire department, county and city officers, the Faculty of the Wesleyan Female College, the Faculty and students of Mercer University and Pio Nono College, and a large number of veterans, all under the direction of Col. Wm. H. Ross, assisted by four mounted Aids, each of whom lost an arm in the war, formed around the base of the monument, and after the deposit of a large amount of valuable articles, and an address by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, the sto7te was laid upon which the shaft was to be erected. A letter from ex-President Davis, regretting his inability to be present, was read by J. L. Saulsbury, Jr. It was in character with the hero and statesman, chaste, dignified and eloquent. Governor Colquitt then delivered a handsome address, which was highly appreciated. A beautiful floral monument was temporarily erected, designed by Mrs. Plane, the relict of Major W. F. Plane, who fell at Sharpsburg. The dense crowd repaired to Rose Hill, and the grave of every soldier covered with boquets, wreaths, crosses, mottoes, floral devices and incense breathing tributes.

The Macon Confederate Monument

of Carrara marble, having been planted upon its durable base of Georgia granite, was prepared to be unveiled. The Georgia State Agricultural Society was holding a most successful Fair at that time, and the wide streets of Macon were thronged with visitors from every part of the State, and many other States. The President of the Society was suddenly called upon to be the Orator on the unveiling of the monument. The ceremonies were very imposing. The pageant was grand, and the illuminations at night were gorgeous. A number of military companies from other cities united with their comrades in Macon to do honors to the occasion.

A procession was formed at ten o'clock, A. m. The Ladies' Memorial Association and the Orator of the day in carriages in the front, followed by Colonel C. M. Wiley, in command of all the military, Macon Volunteers, Putnam Rifles, Floyd Rifles, Macon Cadets, Baldwin Blues, Mitchel Light Guards, Columbus Guards and Southern Rifles, under command of Major N. M. Hodgkins ; detachments of the Fernandina Light Infantry, and the Gainesville, Florida, Guards, a company of the Savannah Volunteer Guards' Battalion, Oglethorpe Light Infantry, Savannah Cadets, Republican Blues, German Volunteers, Irish Jasper Greens, under command of Captain J. W. Anderson ; Cnatham Artillery, with four guns, Nassau Light Artillery, of Fernandina, and Howell's Battery of Sandersville, with two guns each, under command of their respective commanding offlcers ; Cook's Brigade of Veterans, commanded by General Cook, and other veterans of the Confederate armies, bearing a battle worn standard. The procession proceeded to the monument, where the Quitman Guards, which had just arrived, joined it. The infantry formed around the monument ; the artillery some distance in the rear, the Ladies of the Association, the gentlemen's committee, old Confederate officers, a few dignitaries and press reporters occupied the stand, also the Governor of the State and the Orator. At meridian, as the signal gun was fired by the Chatham Artillery, the drapery simultaneously fell, and the marble statue of a Confederate soldier was unveiled, amid the shouts of the multitude ; ten other guns followed in quick succession, and as the smoke that encircled the monumental soldier passed away, a full view was afforded to the dense crowd of twenty thousand spectators. The height of the whole monument is thirty-seven feet ; that of the soldier is eleven and a half feet. He represents "a private in the ranks," and is uniformed as privates were in the earlier part of the conflict, with a heavy coat and cape, and a broad brimmed hat, slightly turned on one side - front towards his own Sunny South. He wears as soldierly an expression as could be chiselled on stone. He stands upon a square pedestal, on the four panels of which are inscriptions in gilded letters, and emblems, first: The Coat of Arms of Georgia; second, The Arms and Implements of War; third. The Great Seal of the Confederate States of America; fourth, as follows :

The States For Southern Independence

After a graceful introduction by Governor Colquitt, Colonel Hardeman, the orator of the day, delivered an eloquent, pathetic and highly sensible address. He paid a deserved tribute to the Memorial Association at its very commencement. In answer to his own inquiry: "What means this grand pageant? This burnished armor, these nodding plumes, this martial music?" he said, "we come to pay honor to our Confederate dead, and to accord heartfelt praise to the mothers and daughters of Macon for this beautiful and enduring memorial of the heroism and patriotism of our fallen heroes. The hope of its projection was born in woman's heart ; it was watered by woman's tears ; it was sustained by woman's prayers, and reached its consummation by woman's untiring efforts. Gratefully do I acknowledge here her watchful guardianship over the ashes of our dead. The ' shaft ' that took shape in their hearts has assumed symmetrical proportions in the polished marble that now lifts its polished summit - the sunlight of heaven gilding its top - the hopes and memories of earth clinging around its base." He also paid a high compliment to the committee of gentlemen appointed by the Association, for their zealous aid and energy, and closed with the hope that sectionalism might be forever lost in National union, and that peace and prosperity would reign throughout the country.

To add to the historical events of the day, the Chatham Artillery, organized in 1786, and probably the oldest corps in America, brought with them two valued relics, the Washington

Guns, captured by the surrender of Yorktown, 1781, and presented by General Washington to the company on bis visit to Savannah, in 1791. They are six pound brass pieces, of splendid workmanship, and quite ornamental. Near the muzzle of one is the inscription. La Popularie, in the center. Ratio Ultimo Regum, behind which are two raised handles, and near the vent the inscription. Hie Pluribus Impar, and near the cascabel is the name of the maker and the date, 1756. The other piece, near the muzzle, has the inscription : " Surrendered by the capitulation of Yorktown, October 19th, 1781." In the center is a cut of the Crown, with the Garter, on which is inscribed : Honi soit qui mal y pense ; and in the center of the Garter the letter M. Below is another Crown, and behind it in large letters, G. R. (Georgius, Rex.) Near the cascabel is inscribed, R. Gilpm, Fecit, 17^6. The inscriptions on both guns are along the upper surface. The bore of the pieces have been much worn, and during later years they are only fired on important occasions. They first spoke in Macon in 1844, during an encampment at which the Chatham Artillery participated. Their voices were familiar to many of the citizens. They are the most venerable speakers in the whole country. They can inspire more enthusiasm in one volley than a silver tongued orator in a set speech. Consecrated by the triumphs of Yorktown, and hallowed by the names and memories of Washington and LaFayette, when their voices rang out in deep-toned welcome at the unveiling of the Macon Monument, they seemed to fill the air with praises of the dead.

After the ceremonies of the unveiling were concluded, the crowd dispersed and assembled at the Park to inspect the Grand Exhibition of the State Agricultural Society, and the visiting military were escorted to the banqueting halls of the respective armories in the city. The city presented a handsome appearance ; never had there been so much bunting and display of flags before. The old Star Spangled Banner was the ascendant in numbers, and was of all sizes. At night a grand illumination took place - the most brilliant ever made in the State. Thou- sands of Chinese lanterns, flags, transparencies of numerous devices were strung from the tops of houses, swung high in the air across the streets. The court-house, from top to base, all public buildings, hotels and stores were illuminated with the greatest taste, some with variegated lights, which made the scene sparkling and blazing. Across the street, high in the air and near the Monument, thirteen transparencies were suspended, each representing a letter, which formed the legend - Our Hero Dead ; and directly over the head of the marble soldier was suspended a beautiful wreath of immortelles, with two genuine white doves, with extended pinions, hovering over it, emblematic of the undisturbed Rest which those to whose honor the column was raised now enjoy. From headlights and volumes of red lights that were thrown upon the Soldier and on the monument, he was resplendant with a halo of light.

The design of the doves was by a young gentleman of the city, a son of a distinguished naval officer, first in the United States, and afterwards in the Confederate Navy. The wreath or crown was made by a young lady from Florida.

Photograph

Of all sizes, taken perfect as art can make them. Every thread of lace work and fold of drapery displayed. Particular attention given to shading, which makes an exquisite finish to the picture.

Strangers and citizens are invited to the Gallery to examine the many specimens of PHOTOGRA.PHS and PORTRAITS of well-known ladies gentlemen and children.

Stoves Of All Kinds

CROCKERY, CHINA, GLASS-WARE, CHANDELIERS, HALL LIGHTS, LAMPS, Etc., TABLE CUTLERY, POCKET CUTLERY, KITCHEN KNIVES, TINWARE, AGATE-IRON-WARE, JAPANNED TIN-WARE, WOODEN-WARE, BASKETS, WILLOW-WARE, AND STOVES OF ALL KINDS.

Gin Feeders And Condensers

Also, COTTON GIN SA IVS, TIBS, and other GIN MATERIALS, and Dealers in LEATHER and RUBBER BELTING, and Cotton Gin Makers' and Machinist' s Supplies of all kinds.

From 1843 to 1858 we manufictured GINS at Columbus, Georgia, under the firm name of E. T. Taylor & Co., afterwards Clemons, Brown & Co., and made what was then known as the Taylor Gin. During the year 1858 we removed to this place, where we have been exclusively engaged in manufacturing Gins ever since. With this long experience, the best labor-saving machinery, skilled workmen, and accessibility to the largest market in the country, it is believed we possess advantages not enjoyed by any other manuficturer in our line for producing the BEST work for the LEAST money* and we believe all who favor us with their orders will have reason to agree with us.

Macon, Georgia General Passenger Depot

Since the first opening of the HOTEL, on January ist, 1856, the Registers of Arrivals, which are open to inspection, show an average list of daily arrivals of sixty per day, which is more than all of the other Hotels in the city combined.

Proprietors Of The

The Proprietors have leased and newly furnished the Isaacs House. It is the most central Hotel in the city. The Tables are unsurpassed. Rates of board more moderate than any other.

W. M. Good

A Specialty made of the WHITE, believing it to be the best Machine. It runs perfectly light and quiet, and is so simple that a child can operate it.

Southern Depot

VerticaiEngines.with or without; wheels, very convenient, economical anf complete in every de tail, best and ! cheapest Vertical in the world. Fig.

Liqtjoe Meechant

He is always PROMPT and RELIABLE. DON'T FORGET HIM. Also with MEGRATH you will find W. J. TOTTEN. Mr. Totten, for years has been a general dealer in North Carolina and Virginia Tobacco. He handles nothing but reliable goods. Try him.

Fine Wines, Liquors, Cigars, Tobacco

Never fails to cure, stops the Chills and Fever, increases the appetite and strengthens the system, and enables it to ward off subsequent attacks. This is no catchpenny advertisement. The medicine will do all that is claimed for it. Prepared and sold by

Chartered, February 28, 1876

Mount De Sales, delightfully situated on the Heights of Macon, is acknowledged to be the cheapest First Class Boarding School in the States.