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336 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
of bloodshed operated as no deterrent to men of Cavalier antecedants.—"Georgia's
Landmarks, Memorials and Legends," L. L. Knight, Vol. I.
GEORGIA'S OLDEST MILITARY ORGANIZATION.—On May 1, 1786, before the adop
tion of the Federal Constitution, the martial enthusiasm of Savannah asserted itself
iti the organization of the oldest military company in Georgia: the Chatham Artillery;
and the initial appearance of the newly organized command was made some few days
later at the funeral obsequies of the illustrious soldier, Maj-Gen. Nathanael Gfreene.
On Independence Day following the company participated in the patriotic exercises;
and, attired in full uniform, lent picturesque and dramatic interest to the occasion.
Among the original members were several veterans of the Revolution; but, even in the
faces of the youthful members, there glowed the defiant and intrepid spirit of '76.
Capt. Edward Lloyd, a one-armed Revolutionary soldier, was the first commandant.
The visit of President Washington to Georgia, in 1791, marked another important
event in the life of the Chatham Artillery; and, so impressed was the nation's
chief magistrate with the splendid appearance of the • organization that, when he
returned to Philadelphia he ordered two handsome bronze field-pieces to be forwarded
to the Chatham Artillery with the compliments of the President of the United States.
These proved to be sis-pounders, both of which were trophies of war captured from
the British; and, on one of them was inscribed these words: "Surrendered at the
capitulation of York Town, October nineteenth, 1781. Honi soit qui mal y pense—
G. R." It was cast in 1756 during the reign of George II; and, besides the inscrip
tion, it bore the stamp of the imperial crown. Though no longer used in actual
service the "Washington Guns" are still treasured among the most precious keep
sakes and mementoes of the ancient organization. The Chatham Artillery participated
in the War of 1812 and in the war between the states. When hostilities with Mexico
began in 1845 the services of the company were offered to the United States Govern
ment but they were not needed.
During the first week of May, 1886, the centennial jubilee of the Chatham Artillery
was celebrated. Visiting companies from various states of the Union enjoyed the
lavish hospitality of Savannah; fetes and tournaments were held in compliment to
the city's distinguished guests; and round after round of merriment imparted an
endless charm of variety to the historic festival. Serious business of every kind
was suspended. Old soldiers held reunions; the hatchet was buried; and both the
blue and the gray met in fraternal converse around the same camp-fires. It will
ever be a source oif the keenest satisfaction to the people of Savannah that they were
privileged to entertain at this time the great leader of the los,t cause. He was then
an old man, near the end of his long life of four score years; and it marked one of
the very few occasions, after the war, when the recluse of Beauvoir consented to
appear in public. With him was Winnie, the beloved and only "Daughter of the
Confederacy,'' whose birth in the White House at Richmond, during the last year
of the war, gave her this peculiar and exclusive title of honor.—"Georgia's Land
marks, Memorials and Legends," L. L. Knight, Vol. I.
GEORGIA'S OLDEST ORGANIZATION OF CAVALKT.—Emulous of the brave deeds of
men like Screven. and Stewart and Mclutosh, the sons of these men and of those
who fought with them, met together and organized—either in 1791 or in 1792—the
Liberty Independent Troop. It survives to the present day—the oldest cavalry
organization in Georgia. With the single exception of the Chatham Artillery, it is
the oldest military organization of any kind: a distinction of which the county.may
well be proud. In the various state tournaments which have been held from time
to time, the Liberty Independent Troop has seldom failed to win the trophies. Its
record in this respect is phenomenal. In 1845 another .company was organized in
the upper part of the county, viz., the Liberty Guards, an organization which likewise
exists today. To quote Doctor Stacy: "These companies have never failed to make
the offer of their services when needed by their country, and they have won laurels on
every knighted field."—"Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends," L. L.
Knight, Vol. I.