USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 40
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"Signed, Win. S. Basinger, Major Commanding Savannah Volunteer Guards; George W. Stiles, Captain Co. A., S. V. G .; T. F. Sereven, Capt. Co. B., S. V. G .; John R. Dillon, Capt. Co. C., S. V. G. ; John Flannery,
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Capt. Commanding Irish Jasper Greens; S. Yates Levy, Capt. Johnston Light Infantry; Jolm F. Wheaton, Capt. Chatham Artillery; Geo. W. Lamar, Jr .. Capt. Phoenix Riflemen; A. F. Butler, Capt. Oglethorpe Light Infantry : John W. Anderson, Capt. Savannah Cadets.'
The communication was referred to the committee of council on parks . and trees, and a striet search of the minutes reveals the fact that there was no record made of any report on the subject by the committee. The matter has remained since then entirely unsettled, the only incident in connection with it by which an opinion may be formed being the fact that in the consideration by couneil. on the 17th of August, 1891, of the subjeet of paving Hall street through the Forsyth Park extension, Judge Samuel B. Adams advised council that in order to accomplish the work. consent must be first obtained from the military ; and the paving was not done.
Unsettled though the question may be as to any actual formal title by which the military can hold to the elaims of ownership. it does seem to be by common consent both of the council and the military, backed by the eitizens generally, a settled fact, that the plot of ground in which stands the monument erected in memory of the Confederate dead. ealled sometimes, Park Extension, but almost universally known as the "Parade Ground," is the proper place for all military displays and reviews; and, in evidence of this let it be distinctly understood that for such purpose no one ever thinks of asking the consent of eouneil to its use. and the people believe. almost unanimously. that it belongs to the volunteer companies of Savannah and do not see any reason why there should be doubt on that point. No one in council will probably ever again spring the question against the will of the people, and it is very doubtful whether that body will ever attempt to plant trees in the place or otherwise attempt to make it like the other part of the park.
On the 5th of November, 1833, in consideration of the sum of $12,000, the city of Savannah, through council, transferred to the United States the piece of land bounded by Liberty, Bull, Harris and Drayton streets, and on that land Oglethorpe Barraeks were built, and troops were quar- tered there from 1834. on their completion, until 1853, when they were removed to Fort Pulaski. The old Cantonment Oglethorpe having been abandoned for many years, the seeretary of war. Chas. M. Conrad, on the 22d of February, 1853, by virtue of a joint resolution of congress (ap- proved Jan. 20. 1853) relinquished all interest of the United States in that tract to the city of Savannah. The resolution was in these words: "That the Secretary of War be and he is hereby anthorized to convey to the City of Savannah, Georgia, the site of the old Oglethorpe Barracks adjacent to said City which said site has long been abandoned by the Government, and, in consideration of the liberality of said City in sur- rendering to the Government heretofore certain lands now known as the new Barraeks in said city." The description of the old Cautomnent Oglethorpe site in the deed of transfer as well as in the deed from the eity to the United States. April 3. 1827. is in these words: " All the north- ern half part of that lot or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Chatham and State of Georgia near the City of Savannah known as farm lot No. 1. bonnded north by the Commons of the City of Savannah
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and garden lot, west by farm lot No. 2, south by farm lot No. 5, and east by the road leading from White Bluff district to the City of Savannah, the said lot containing in the whole fifty-six acres, three roods and four- teen perches."
On the removal of the United States troops from the new Oglethorpe Barracks, in the year 1854 the city arranged to have the police force quartered in the recently deserted premises, and Mayor James P. Sereven, in 1851, recommended to council the practicability of purchasing the honses on that land for the use of the police force who had used them "since 1854, through permission of the goverment, the troops having been removed to Fort Pulaski."
MILITARY HEADQUARTERS OF CONFEDERACY
At the commencement of the War of Secession the Confederate States government took possession of the property which then became the mili- tary headquarters of this military district and remained so until Sher- man's entry into the city on the 21st of December, 1864. At the time the Confederates took possession of Oglethorpe Barracks, the police force moved to quarters prepared for them in the City Exchange, remaining there until the erection of the city police barracks at South Broad [now Oglethorpe avenue] and Habersham streets.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TAKES OGLETHORPE BARRACKS
Again the United States government took possession of Oglethorpe Barracks through the result of the war, and held such possession until 1879, and then finally abandoned the property forever, and later on sold all interest in it.
For reasons deemed sufficient it was determined that Savannah should no longer be used as a military post, and all troops were taken out of the city.
Although somewhat out of regular chronological order, the following account of the manner in which the United States lost possession of the property is quoted at length. a place for the same being made at this point, mainly for the purpose of showing just what the property con- sisted of :
"WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, May 22, 1880 .- The Secre- tary of War has the honor to inform the Senate that the military post of Savannah, which was established about 1834, and which is known as 'Oglethorpe Barracks.' located in the City of Savannah, Ga., having been no longer needed for military uses, was abandoned in April, 1879, and to recommend such legislation by Congress as will authorize the sale to the highest bidders, after public advertisement, of the site and buildings occupied by said barracks.
"Inclosed is a transcript from the official records, giving a descrip- tion of the property referred to.
" (Signed) ALEX RAMSEY, Secretary of War.
"THE PRESIDENT of the United States.
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"Post of SWANNAHI (Oglethorpe Barracks) GEORGIA. ( Established about 1834). Information given by G. A. De Russy, Major Third Artil- lery, April. 1870. commanding officer at the time.
"Location-In the city of Savannah, Ga.
"Quarters-One barrack. 130 by 30 feet. two stories, built of brick. Two companies could be crowded into the garrison. or two companies could be easily provided for, if laundresses were otherwise quartered.
"Officers quarters-One building. 63 by 33 feet. two stories, built of brick, and containing one room for quartermaster and commissary stores. There is at the post one stable, built of brick. also one small building built of brick. used as the commanding officer's office.
"Hospital. guard-house. etc .- Two-story building, built of brick and wood; foundation and first story. 59 by 24 feet : second story, 79 by 42 feet. Accommodation for sixteen patients.
"Guard-house .- Two stories, built of wood, with one room for guard. one room for sergeant of the guard. large room for prisoners, and four
SCENE IN THE PRISON PARK AT ANDERSONVILLE
cells. The second story contains one room, used by company tailor.
"Oglethorpe Barracks. Savannah, Ga .- Garrison withdrawn April 18-23. 1879, and post left in charge of Ordnance Sergeant Charles A. Campbell.
"Buildings .- See preceding transcripts. from Description of Mili- tary Posts and Stations, prepared in Quartermaster-General's Office.
"Supposed to be in good condition. General Sherman, in June. 1879. reported that they could not be built for mich less than $60,000 or $80.000.
"April 22, 1879. application for use of by First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia refused by Secretary of War. Fol. 1-21
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"May 8, 1879, application from president Young Men's Christian Association of Savannah. Ga., also declined by Secretary of War.
"Applications also made to vest the title in the City of Savannah, but, upon recommendation of the General of the Army, the Secretary decided to recommend sale of buildings at next session of Congress.
"The use of one building by the engineer assistant to General Gill- more has been anthorized.
"Reservation .- Land ceded to the United States by the City of Savannah, November 5, 1833."
HISTORY OF FIRST GEORGIA VOLUNTEERS CONTINUED
Referenee having been made to the first regiment of Georgia volun- teers, we will now enter into an explanation of the organization of that command. We have heretofore mentioned the Chatham Artillery, the Savannah Volunteer Guards. the Republican Blues and the Georgia Hussars as Savannah military companies, and we at this point add the Phoenix Riflemen, organized in 1830; the Irish Jasper Greens, founded in 1843; the German Vohmteers dating their beginning in 1846; and the De Kalb Riflemen, dating in 1850. In January, 1856, the Oglethorpe Light Infantry began its useful and honorable career; and the Savannah Cadets, a company of youths, was organized for service in the War of Secession in 1861. These all belonged to the first regiment, being ad- mitted at various dates as parts of the organization. There were other companies which were admitted at some time, but their existence was only temporary, and we do not bring them into this history. The Phoenix Riflemen, and De Kalb Riflement, after making a good record, have passed cut of history. On the 20th of Jannary, 1852. the governor of Georgia approved "an act to organize a volunteer Battalion in the City of Savannah, to be called the 'Independent Volunteer Battalion of Savan- nah'," by which it was enacted :
"1. That the volunteer companies now existing in the City of Savan- nah, and belonging to the First Regiment. First Brigade. First Division, Georgia Militia, be and the same are hereby organized and erected into a separate Battalion, which shall be called the Independent Volunteer Battalion of Savannah and be no longer a part of the said First Regiment.
"2. That any other volunteer companies, of foot, which may here- after be organized in the City of Savannah shall be attached to said bat- talion until the number of companies in said battalion shall be eight (8), when the said companies shall be organized and erected into a regiment which shall be ealled the Independent Volunteer Regiment of Savan- nah,' and said regiment shall not consist of less than eight (8) or more than fourteen (14) companies,
"3. That the said battalion shall be commanded by a Lieutenant- Colonel who shall be elected by the members of the companies composing said battalion, in the manner prescribed by the Militia Laws of this State, and commissioned by the Governor, and the said Lientenant- Colonel shall be entitled to a staff as full and complete as if the said battalion were a regiment,
"4. That the Provost Marshal and Clerk of said battalion shall
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be elected and sworn. and perform the duties, exercise the powers, and be subject to the instructions preseribed by the Militia Laws now govern- ing the First Regiment, First Brigade, First Division, Georgia Militia. "*5. That the said battalion should be attached to the First Brigade, First Division, Georgia Militia.
6. That the said battalion shall be regulated by the Militia Laws of this State, so far as the said laws are compatible with the provisions of this Act; except. in addition to the regular annual parade, it shall be subject to the orders of the commanding officers at any and such other times as he may deem necessary or expedient, and the said bat- talion shall be exempt from the effect of all such laws as militate against the provisions of this Act."
At the time that law was enacted the first division of Georgia Militia was composed of the companies in the counties of Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn. Liberty, Melntosh and Wayne, and the volunteer companies of Savannah were a part of the first regiment of the first brigade in the division.
Upon the organizing of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry and its be- coming a part of that military organization the law providing for a regiment became effective, and, with eight companies the First. Inde- pendent Volunteer Regiment of Savannah was formed. Then the law was amended so that under the first section the regiment became "The First Volunteer Regiment of the State of Georgia, authorized to consist of as many infantry corps formed in Savannah as might choose to accept the conditions attached to the joining of the regiment. Under the second section the full field and staff were provided for. Section 3 pro- vided that the rights and privileges accruing to the regiment should not fail through the consolidation of two or more companies, or the with- drawal or dissolution of one or more companies, but that the same should vest in and be enjoyed by the corps comprising the Volunteer Regi- ment. And Section 4 took the regiment from the First Brigade of Georgia Militia, placing it under command of its own officers.
MAYORS AND ALDERMEN, 1826-1834
Col. Joseph W. Jackson was Savannah's mayor in 1826, and he was ably supported by a board of aldermen composed of Messrs. Charles Harris, James Proctor Sereven. Edward Harden, A. J. C. Shaw, Charles Gildon, John Spellman. Thomas Clark. Michael Brown, William Clifford Wayne, William Thorne Williams, Moses Sheftall, George Shick and James Morrison.
Colonel Jackson was again chief magistrate in 1827 with Thomas Clarke, J. P. Sereven, A. J. C. Shaw. G. Shick, and W. T. Williams of the old board, while the places of the other aldermen were filled by Messrs. Geo. W. Anderson. L. S. D'Lyon, J. P. Henry, Wm. P. Hunter, HI. McLeod, I. Minis, Geo. W. Owens and Sammel B. Parkman.
Col. William Thorne Williams became mayor in 1828, with a board of aldermen whose names follow: Richard R. Cuyler, William R. War- ing, Geo. W. Owens, William Law; A. J. C. Shaw, Moses Sheftall, Thos. Clarke, J. P. Sereven, A. J. C. Shaw, G. Shick, and W. T. Williams .
Wayne, Jos. W. Jackson and F. H. Wehnan.
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Again in 1829 Col. W. T. Williams was elected mayor, backed by Aldermen W. R. Waring, J. B. Gaudry, G. W. Owens, M. Brown, Geo. W. Anderson, Geo. Shick. R. R. Cuyler, F. H. Welman. Thos. Clarke, Chas. Gildon. Samuel Miller Bond, Jacob Shaffer and Moses Sheftall.
Savannah honored Dr. Wm. R. Waring in 1830 by placing him at the head of the city government, and his colleagues were Aldermen Thos. Clarke, G. W. Owens, Geo. Shick, I. Minis, J. B. Gaudry, A. J. C. Shaw, F. Densler, James Eppinger, Wm. Morel, Jno. H. Ash, Amos Scudder and F. H. Welman.
For the second time Dr. Waring served as mayor in 1831, when the aldermanie board comprised Messrs. Geo. Shick. Jas. Eppinger, Geo. W. Owens, Richard Dennis Arnold, Jacob Shaffer, F. H. Welman, I. Minis. Thomas Clarke, A. J. C. Shaw, J. B. Gaudry, F. Densler, Amos Scudder and John H. Ash.
Mr. Geo. W. Owens succeeded Mayor Waring in 1832 with a board composed of Aldermen Geo. Shick, Thos. Clarke, Jas. Eppinger, Jno. H. Ash, Jacob Shaffer, F. Densler, W. T. Williams, Amos Scudder, A. J. C. Shaw, Thos. Purse, Win. Robertson, E. De La Motta and Richard D. Arnold.
Col. William Thorne Williams was again called to the mayoralty in 1833, when services were rendered as aldermen by the following named gentlemen : Jacob Shaffer, Jas. Eppinger, Wm. Washington Gor- don, Jos. W. Jackson, Thos. Purse, Thos. Clarke, Phineas Miller Kollock. A. J. C. Shaw, Nicholas J. Bayard, Win. Robertson. Geo. W. Owens and Jno. II. Ash.
Mayor William Washington Gordon sat at the head of the board of city fathers in 1834, with co-laborers of some experience, most of them having served before, namely, Thos. Clarke, Jacob Shaffer. Robt. Mil- ledge Charlton, Geo. W. Owens, Wm. H. Cuyler. Thos. Purse, Adam Cope, Henry MeAlpin, Amos Seudder, Chas. S. Henry, P. M. Kollock, A. J. C. Shaw, and Matthew Hopkins.
CHAPTER XXV
CENTRAL RAILROAD OF GEORGIA
SURVEY FROM SAVANNAH TO MACON-MACON DEPOT OPENED FOR BUSI- NESS-WILLIAM W. GORDON, FIRST PRESIDENT-FIRST YEAR'S OPERA- TIONS-CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION TO MACON-CONNECTING SAVANNAH WITH AUGUSTA-OCMULGEE AND FLINT RIVER RAILROAD- THE MONROE RAILROAD-STATUS OF RAILROADS IN 1842-MEMORIAL TO W. W. GORDON-THE SAVANNAH HOSPITAL.
Georgia was not slow in giving encouragement to the building of railroads, and the Central Railroad of Georgia was among those built at an early date in America. The account of the early history and building of that enterprise given in the "Statistics of the State of Georgia" by the Rev. George White, is so well done that it is here given as it appears in that work:
SURVEY FROM SAVANNAH TO MACON
"In the report of L. O. Reynolds, Esq., Chief Engineer of the Cen- tral Railroad, there is much information in regard to this work achieved in a comparatively short period 'under the most discouraging circum- stances and in the face of a doubting public.'
"In the summer and fall of 1834, an experimental survey was made under the direction of Colonel Cruger, at the request and cost of the City of Savannah, to ascertain the practicability, and approximate the cost of constrneting a railroad from this City to Macon. The survey was made and the practicability of the road demonstrated. In April, 1836, the company was formed, and preparations made for commencing the road without delay. The line leaves the depot in the southwestern part of Savannah, and continues straight N. 77 deg. 10 min. W. for 13 miles-then enrving slightly to the left. on a radius of 150,000 feet, it approaches within a mile and a half of the Ogeechee, then bending to the right, on a curve of 5,000 feet radius, it follows the general direction of that river, and at a mean distance of about three miles from it, through the flat lands of Effingham County, until it reaches the County of Sereven; then taking the hammocks bordering on the river swamp, it follows them to Brinson's Mill Creek; then takes the valley of this creek which leads out from the river; having passed around Paramore
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Hill, and aeross Buck Head Creek, the line again resumes the river flats, and continues over them through the County of Burke, crossing the Ogeechee at the point before mentioned about 12 miles from Louisville. From this point it follows the valley of Williamson's Swamp, and crosses that stream near the Double Bridges, then taking the southernmost of the two southern prongs ascends the summit of the ridge separating the waters of the Ogeechee from those of the Oconee, which ridge it crosses about 216 miles south of Sandersville. Having passed the sun- mit, the line goes along the valley of a prong of the head branches of the Ohoopee for a short distance; then along the head of Sand Hill Creek by which a descent is made to the Oconee river. This river is gained near a spot ealled ' Rag Point,' three miles above the mouth of Commissioner's Creek, and 16 or 18 miles below Milledgeville. The river swamp is here about one mile wide on the E., and two miles on the W. The grade is here supported at a mean height of about 16 feet above the level of the swamp for about three miles: one-third of this distance is of trestle work, and the remainder of embankment.
"The river is crossed by a bridge 266 feet long, supported by stone abutments and a pier in the center. Having passed the Oeonee river. the road proceeds near the mouth of Commissioner's Creek, and then crosses the south side of this ereek, and follows its valley for 26 miles : then leaving it, the road passes, by a eut of 31 feet, the highest point of land it crosses being about 500 feet above tide water, into a prong of Big Sandy Creek; following this stream about two miles it crosses it. and takes another branch of the same creek which it keeps for about the some distance ; then crossing the main branch of Sandy Creek, it ascends to the summit between the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers; then fol- lowing a branch of Swift Creek for a mile and a half, it crosses the main creek; then taking another branch of Swift Creek, it reaches Boggy Braneh which leads it to the Valley of the Ocmulgee. After reaching the river valley about three miles below the city of Macon, it keeps along the low grounds, and enters the river swamp near the great mound, and terminates at East Macon, the whole distance being 190 miles 3,900 feet.
MACON DEPOT OPENED FOR BUSINESS
"The road was extended to Macon on the 13th of October, 1843, and the Maeon depot was opened for regular business on the 1st of November following.
."The superstructure of the road for the distance of one hundred miles is laid with the common plate rail. This has become much worn by the heavy increase of tonnage which the road has sustained for the past year, and the Directors, availing themselves of the present low price of iron, have ordered a sufficient quantity of heavy rails to re-lay the whole of this part of the road.
"A considerable quantity of the new iron is already received and is now being laid down. When this shall have been accomplished the efficiency and capacity of the road for business will be much improved.
"The work on this road is done in a superior manner. The arrange- ments for the comfort of passengers are surpassed by few roads in the United States.
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"The conductors, some of whom have been in the service of the company from its commencement. have acquired an enviable reputa- tion for their courtesy and attention to passengers.
WILLIAM W. GORDON, FIRST PRESIDENT
"The first President, William W. Gordon, Esq., is justly entitled to the gratitude of the citizens of Georgia for the great interest which he took in this enterprise. With industry which nothing could weary; with a spirit undaunted by opposition; and with talents which eminently qualified him for the direction of a work of this character, he devoted his whole time to the duties of his office.
"Richard R. Cuyler, Esq., the present President of the company, is a gentleman to whom much credit is due for his indefatigable attention to the interests of the road.
"We cannot, in justice to another officer of this company, conclude this notice without mentioning the name of L. O. Reynolds, Esq., Chief Engineer, who has faithfully performed his duty to the company from its very beginning.
The work from which the above account is taken was published in the year' 1849.
FIRST YEAR'S OPERATION
The following account of the beginning of the road is taken from the first report of Mr. L. O. Reynolds. engineer-in-chief :
"SAVANNAH, May 10, 1838-To Win. W. Gordon, Pres't: Sir: It is one year since the charge of the operation of this department was committed to me, and I now have the honor to present you a report of the same.
"It is proper that I should first state the progress that had been made, and the condition of the work at the time it was placed under my direc- tion.
"In the summer and fall of 1834, an experimental survey was made under the direction of Col. [ Alfred] CRUGER, at the request and cost of the city of Savannah, to ascertain the practicability, and at a moderate cost, of what we have since denominated the 'Northern Route.' A full report has been published, with which you and the public generally are well acquainted.
"In April, 1836, this company was organized, and preparations made for commencing operations without delay. A chief engineer was ap- pointed, and under his order a more minute and careful examination of the 'Northern Route' was commenced at Macon on the 15th of Sep- tember of that year, by a party under my direction. The Board of Di- rectors as well as the stockholders were by a large majority in favor of this Ronte, in preference to one further South, provided it could be pursued without too great a sacrifice of distance and expense.
"The general features of the Route of this second survey were sim- ilar to the first, with such variations as a knowledge of the county, gathered from the first examination, suggested.
Further on in his report he said :
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"In the southwestern part of the City is our Depot, a tract of five acres, which was bestowed on the Company by the City Council of Sa- vannah."
At the time of the agitation of the question of building the road Mr. Win. W. Gordon was mayor of Savannah. and was deeply interested in the project. On account of his interest and his investment in the stock of the company he was elected not only a director but the first president of the corporation. As mayor he was, on the 10th of January, 1835, authorized to learn from capitalists on what terms the city could "bor- row money based on its good faith and its interest in the undertak- ing." A resolution was offered in council on the 19th of February of the same year, pledging the city to a subscription for 5,000 shares of stock ; and the citizens of Macon, in public meeting, authorized the city council "to transfer all the title and interests and control which the corpora- tion of Macon has in and to a charter for a railroad or canal granted by the legislature of Georgia in the year 1833, to the corporation of the city of Savannah, provided that should the city authorities of Macon offer to and secure to the city of Savannah within eighteen months from the time of said transfer a good and sufficient security, to be ad- judged so by the city authorities of Savannah, for stoek in said rail- road or canal to the amount of $200.000, then and in that event the city authorities of Macon shall become and be entitled to all the rights, bene- fits and privileges to which the corporation of the city of Macon would have been entitled under the before recited Act as though no such trans- ter had been made." The city council of Savannah did not agree to that proposition, but did secure the rights controlled by Macon without such restrictions as were proposed. A report was made to the Savannah city council by a special committee to which belonged Mayor Gordon and aldermen Thomas Purse, Wm. H. Cuyler and Amos Scudder. show- ing a most prosperous condition of Savannah's affairs, and that the time was ripe "for undertaking work which, although involving a heavy ex- penditure in the first instance, cannot fail to place this city in a high rank and to give the citizens of this state those facilities to a marked de- gree which are so much needed. Macon is not in a condition to partici- pate, and Savannah is thrown on its own resources. It can offer to capi- talists disposed to a safe investment of money such security as will make a loan of the same which the city is pledged to subscribe. If books are opened this committee felt assured many citizens would subscribe and sufficient soon be taken to authorize the commencement of the work." On opening the subscription book it was required that the sum of five dollars a share should be paid on all shares taken at the time subserip- tions were entered. Mayor Gordon was authorized to enter the city as a subscriber for 5,000 shares. A charter was obtained for the com- pany, and at first opposition was made to the granting of banking pow- ers to the concern. but finally the legislature passed the requisite meas- ure, and on the 14th of December, 1835, a meeting of council was held to hear a letter from the mayor giving the joyful news of the passage of the aet, and the Exchange was that night illuminated in honor of the event.
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