Reunion of The Banks County Guard

The Gentlemen Fall in Like a Line of Taters

and Rehearse the Old Days

From the Athens, Ga. Banner and reprinted in The Atlanta Constitution issue date Nov. 30 1883.

Tuesday dawned bright and beautiful after the past rain which, had been falling for several days past, and the highways and byways of Banks county was lined with the good people of Banks, who went to the appointed place to pay tribute to those gallant few who marched out of Homer on a beautiful April morning in 1861 to battle for what they believed to be right. The Banks County Guard were formed on the 4th day of July, 1860, and elected Captain D. G. Chandler as their commander, little dreaming at that time that they would ever be called upon to defend their country’s honor. Their uniforms were not very costly, but consisted of bullet buttons and six yards of blue cotton jeans with a yellow strips down the pants, about three inches wide. None but the wealthiest could afford this uniform, and the company, after forming into line, resembled a group of school boys more than a band of heroes. This gallant company left for the scene of action with nearly a hundred of the best young men in the country-men who could knock a squirrel’s eye out with a rifle from the tallest tree. Where are they now? The little remnant of sixteen that formed on the hillside at Pruitt’s Mill last Tuesday, are not all that is left. A few moved out west, and several could not be here, but the most of them are now sleeping their last sleep on the slope at Malvern Hill. On the plains of Manassas several of these heroes are waiting for the eternal morn, for them to again reunite with their friends. Gettysburg holds in her bloody fields a few who we will never meet again. Fredericksburg and the woods and fields around Richmond claim several as their own. The sixteen who answered to the roll call, on Tuesday are near about all that is left, and many of them can show the scars of several hard contested battles. Lieutenant Ash being the senior lieutenant, took charge of the reunion and had the roll called, and formed this little band into one of Captain Candler’s famous lines of “git into line like tater rows.” The people of Banks county had a splendid barbecue prepared, and two long tables were laden with the good things of the mountains. Prominent among all the good things were the famous Banks county ginger cake. This county is said to excel all others in the manufacture of this celebrated bread. Fried chicken was in abundance, which generally satisfies your reporter, for if there is anything we do like it is a good fried chicken. The boys had went out hunting and caught two large ‘possums, which were barbecued especially for the handsome captain, but he did not make his appearance, and Walter Brock, the spy that Captain Candler sent into Washington city, took them in charge, and we think he and Sergeant House managed to get away with them. The crowd regretted very much that Captain Candler was not present. After dinner a couple of boxes of fine cigars were brought out, which had been sent up to the “gentlemen of the Banks County Guard” by the Talmadge Bros. Of Athens. Rev. G. H. Cartledge seemed to take a great interest in the soldiers of Banks county; and he, too, produced a box of fine cigars, which most of the company put in their pockets to smoke after they got home. The greatest thing needed was some one to make them a speech. Many thought that probably General Toombs would be there and they would have a chance to listen to their old comrade once more.

The people up there believe in General Toombs, as most of them have followed him on the field of battle, and know that he never turned his back on an enemy. There was no one present that could make a speech, so they had to satisfy themselves with telling over their mainly hairbreadth escapes in the days when they were soldiers. We met several who went out with the Banks County Guards as young men who have now silver locks, and children who are large enough to be soldiers. After dinner a meeting was called, and M. L. McDonald elected chairman. Upon motion of Mr. Cartledge a committee was appointed from each company who left Banks county; who should meet some time next year and prepare a big barbecue at Homer, and also to get up a full and complete roll of all the companies, the number of killed and all other particulars, and have the roll filed in the clerk’s office, so that future citizens can see who wore the gray.

Transcribed 2005 by Jacqueline King