FORT GAINES GUARDS

    Over a half a century ago, in 1836 to particularize the date, in the town of Fort Gaines, Clay County, Georgia, a military company was organized, known as the Fort Gaines Guards. Long before the murmurs of discontent were heard through the land to finally culminate in the din and carnage of war between the states, the grandsires of many who today from the rank and file, fired with patriotic zeal, enlisted; a company was formed and christened with the name which its successors bear to this day.

     Soon after the company was formed the Indian War broke out and under the command of its first organizer, Col. J. E. Brown it went to fight the red men. Returning home after some loss and many hardships, it was not long afterward enlisted in the war against Mexico and figured prominently and gallantly in the campaign that resulted in the defeat of the Mexicans.

     Although for years after this no call was made upon this company to go into active service with commendable pride and zeal the company kept intact, the Southern states seceeded from the Union in 1861 and the Guards went into the great and bloody struggle for which the experience with the Indians and the Mexicans had been a training school.

     On the 11th of June, 1861, with R. A. Turnipseed as their Captain (he was replaced by J. G. Webb) with full ranks composed of the best young men in every respect that this section afforded, the company rendevoused at Atlanta and then with one-hundred and twenty-one men marched away to the front and was mustered into service as Company D, in the 9th Georgia Regiment of Tige Anderson's Brigade Longstreet's Corps. There it remained through the war until at last, the Cause, not lost but the war ceased-for surrender was necessary. Banners were furled and the heartsick and footsore, only thirteen of the original one-hundred and twenty-one remained to tell the tale. Following their colors into the thickest of the fight at the Second Battle of Manassas, enduring the hardships of the Yorktown campaign in the three battles of Suffolks -- through the Seven Day's fight around Richmond under iron storm at Malvern Hill -- at the battle of Seven Pines -- through Maryland campaigns -- at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Sharpsburg, Fairfax Gap, on to Winchester, Gettysburg, Funkstown, Hagerstown, Brandy Station and Culpepper Court House.

     They were in the campaign of East Tennessee, London, Knoxville, Bean Station: back to Virginia they went and were in the second Battle of the Wilderness, Spottsvania Court House, Cold Harbor, the charge of Fort Harrison, Derbytown Road, Bermuda Hundred, New Market Heights, Petersburg, Farmville and at Appomattox when bravery and endurance could no longer sustain this immortal regiment the remnant of their once gallance company, overpowered but not defeated -- laid down arms and returned in sorrow to their desolate homes, sick and disheartened over the downfall of their cherished land of liberty.

     (Mrs. B. C. Brown states that T.E.M. Brown, born July 10, 1846, left with this group before his 15th birthday, was one of the 13 original 121 to surrender at Appomattox. After four years of war he returned home before his 19th birthday.)

     In 1868 the Fort Gaines Guards were reorganized under the same name and with Col. R. A. Turnipseed as their Captain. Five years later in 1873, Capt. E. A. Morris commanded and served until his death which occurred in 1874.

     J. G. Webb was then elected and served until 1877, at which time he resigned and was succeeded by James Mandeville, who after a short term of office also resigned. In the spring of 1884 Col. J. D. Rambo was elected to the Captaincy, resigned and was followed by Dr. C. T. Morris, elected in the spring of 1885, served until January 1886, when moving to another state he was succeeded by T. J. Morris, who was elected in Sept. 1886 and served until March 1888. He moved to another state and was succeeded by G. R. Sutlive. In 1889 Capt. Sutlive tendered his resignation and was followed by R. M. Dillard who had in the meantime returned to Fort Gaines. He is the present commander and, in point of age and service there is not a more famous record that that of the Fort Gaines Guards. The fact that as the years roll on and time with its changes gives new material to the rank and files, the old name that it bore during the days that tried men's souls is still held and claimed as a sacred heritage and is strong evidence to prove that the name was never dishonored by the old Guards and the new are proud to bear it.

     Though the present command and company has had no opportunity of displaying its valor on the battlefield, and we fervently trust it may never do so, yet in honorable discharge in competition in camps and at home, it has shown evidence that it has the same spirit as of yore and the sons at the call of duty would anser as promptly as did their fathers before them. At present the company numbers 33 men officered by T. J. Morris, Capt. and Geo. D. Speight, 1st Lieut. Geo. Brown, 2nd Lt.

     The above copied by Mrs. Kirby-Smith Anderson, Historian Ga. Div. U. D. C., Madison Ga. from an article dated 1929.

     Following the above period E. A. Greene on his return from college was elected 1st Lt. and Lewis Cohen, 2nd Lt. It was decided to organize a detachment at Bluffton, which was done and Lt. Greene made weekly trips to train them.

     When the Spanish-American War broke out a detachment of more than twenty volunteers with Lt. Green joined Company A, 1st Ga. Volunteers. They saw service at Chickamauga, Part, at Knoxville, Tenn. and were mustered out in the fall of 1898.

     Captain Morris was promoted to Lt. Col. and was succeeded as Captain by B. T. Castellow, who later resigned and was succeeded by John Burnett who remained as Captain until 1909 or 1910 when the Guards disbanded.

"History of Clay County, Georgia" - pages 34-35

Fort Gaines Guards
Photo taken 1896-1897

For a close up of the men's faces you can click on the image below
it is divided into 4 parts.
For the full large image (1.08mb) you can Click here

The Fort Gaines Guards (1896-1897?)

This image is from a scan of a 5x8 inch photograph that I inherited from
a collection of Col. Edward A. Greene's personal effects. I was never
before able to view this picture in detail without the aid of a
magnifying glass. It is best viewed with an imaging program that has a
zoom capability.

1st Lieutenant Edward A. Greene, (my great uncle), is seated in a chair
front and center.

Clifford C. Greene, his brother, is viewed standing left of same chair
holding an ammo belt.

William J. Greene, Jr., another brother, is viewed standing behind and
left of the Sergeant (with insignia on shoulder). Willie Greene, Jr.
died on June 16, 1897 at 17 years of age, therefore, this photograph was
taken shortly before his death. He drowned in the Chattahoochee river in
an attempt to save his 14 year old cousin, Fred Towns Morris, who also
drowned. Fred Morris may also be pictured in this group. Could he be the
boy with the pistol in his belt viewed standing to the left of Willie
Greene?

The gentleman at the extreme right (leaning against the tree) looks very
much like my great grandfather, William J. Greene. He would be 51 years
of age at the time of this picture.

Morris H. Greene, another brother, is probably also pictured in this
group. I don't have any separate photo to verify this. He would have
been about 13 years old. He may be the boy viewed standing left of
Clifford Greene.

Lewis Cohen, 2nd Lieutenant, is most likely the man seated in the other
chair to the right. It is possible that his brothers are also pictured
standing behind him and to the left as viewed.

I can see more groups of brothers, maybe someone can help identify
others in this guard group.

Chester Gavin III
I would like to Thank Chester on behalf of all the Clay Co.
Researchers for sharing this wonderful old Photograph.
Thanks Chester!!

*If you can identify someone in this photo please let
Chester or the Webmaster know.

FORT GAINES GUARDS

Fort Gaines Guards Photo taken 1896-1897

Fort Gaines Guards
Photo taken 1896-1897