History of the Macon Volunteers, 1825-2025: Early History

By Major William Carraway

Historian, Georgia National Guard

 

Establishment of the Macon Volunteers

The Macon Volunteers as a military organization has a history almost as old as that of its namesake city. Among the first Macon men admitted to its ranks at t the company’s first muster were those who had been present for the Macon’s incorporation.[1]

In March 1825, Lafayette, the last surviving major general of the American Revolution visited Georgia as part of his tour of the United States. On reaching Savannah March 19, Lafayette was received by the governor and an escort of the militia companies of Savannah. Reaching Macon March 30, Lafayette made a tremendous impression on the citizens of the young city, and “what was wanting in style in honor to accomplished French scholar, philanthropist and soldier was supplied with patriotic ardor and genuine hospitality.”[2] Within weeks, that patriotic ardor would contribute to the organization of a military company to rival those who had marched out to welcome Lafayette to Savannah.

 

April 20,1825: Georgia Journal and Messenger

On Wednesday, April 20, 1825, a notice, printed in the Georgia Journal and Messenger of Macon advised that an election of officers to command an independent company of volunteers would take place at Commissioner’s Hall in Macon, Ga. Saturday, April 23, 1925, at 4:00.[3] At the appointed time, leading citizens of Macon assembled, swore a pledge of fidelity, and were mustered in as the Macon Volunteers.[4] A partial roster of the original Macon Volunteers follows:[5]

 

Wright, Edward W., Captain

Dannelly, William J., 1^st Lieutenant

Birdsong, Robert L., 2^nd Lieutenant

Chain, John, Ensign

Coolidge, Samuel J., Orderly Sergeant

Rose, Simri, Clerk

Bryan, George

Childers, John

Chisolm, Murdoch

Corbett, John

Cumming, William

Gillespie, Samuel

Gillis, Angus

Lamar, John T.

McClesky, Thomas J

McLaughlin, Alexander

Newcomb, Samuel

Norman, W. S.

Poe, Washington

Ross, Henry G.

Slade, Marmaduke J.

Smith, Jerry

Tyland, Keeland

Wallis, M.R.

Wardlaw, George B.

Washington, Charles

Washington, Robert

 

In addition to their leadership roles in the Macon Volunteers, Wright, Dannelly, and Birdsong served as city commissioners.[6] Upon organization, the Volunteers moved swiftly to adopt a set of bylaws establishing criteria for membership and decorum expected of all those invited to join what was to be the elite military formation of Macon.

 

Drill and Ceremony

The first drill of the Macon Volunteers took place May 28 when the company was called to appear in formation at the Market House appareled in blue coat, white pantaloons, and vest, with black cravats and boots. Over the years, the uniform would become more ornate adding white-plumed shakos and tailcoats with officers distinguished by white epaulets and crimson sashes. Membership in the Volunteers was by invitation only and admission required unanimous consent. Those accepted into the Macon Volunteers were required to pay their one-dollar initiation fee the day before drill, whereupon they were issued their muskets and certificates of membership.[7]

 

Returning to the Market House June 10, with orders to bring “six blank cartridges,” the Volunteers conducted battalion drill and parade.[8]

Georgia Journal and Messenger June 29, 1825.

 

First Mobilization

Barely two months passed before the Volunteers were called out for their first of
many mobilizations. On Wednesday, June 29, 1825, Governor George Troup ordered militia companies to assemble to form regiments for defense due to increasing tensions with the Creeks. Captain Edward Wright’s Macon Volunteers was among the units that mobilized to Perry, Ga. July 6 following the murder of Gen. William McIntosh at Broken Arrow.[9] The Volunteers formed part of two regiments raised for the contingency though ultimately, military action was not required.

 

Returning to Macon, the Volunteers set about a quarterly drill schedule in which members assembled for business, training, and marksmanship competitions. On February 22, 1826, the Macon Volunteers’ drill culminated with a shooting competition firing at targets at a range of 70 yards, an admirable distance for musket fire.[10]

 

The Macon Volunteers assembled in full summer uniform with knapsacks in front of the Market House April 1, 1826, for inspection and for the recording of a muster roll for the governor.[11] The Volunteer’s convened April 29 in celebration of the unit’s first muster.[12] The May drill was held May 25 at the courthouse. The meeting convened promptly at 7:00 pm.[13]

 

New Leadership and Challenges

With the promotion of Capt. Wright to major, the Macon Volunteers elected William J. Dannelly as their new commander. Dannelly received a captain’s commission on May 29, 1826, and led the Volunteers for five years.[14]

 

July 1826 was a busy month for the Macon Volunteers. The company drilled July 1 and led a procession through Macon on July 4. [15]^,[16] One week later, the Volunteers convened for business and again gathered on July 22 for an election of company non-commissioned officers.[17]

 

The Soldiers received their notices to assemble through advertisements placed in the local paper. These notices encouraged punctual attendance with meeting times varying from 7:00 pm to “candlelight.” If called to form under arms, the Soldiers were advised how many cartridges they should bring as they were responsible for their own ordnance. On the occasion of the October 23, 1826, assembly the Soldiers were ordered to report, fully equipped, at 10:00 am with three ball cartridges where they would “contend for the plume,” that is, hold a marksmanship competition.[18]

 

The Volunteers paraded and fired a salute in honor of George Washinton’s birthday February 22, 1827.[19] That month, in response to the federal government’s refusal to enforce the Treaty of Indian Springs, the Macon Volunteers were among the units ordered to be prepared “to repel any hostile invasion of the territory of this State.”[20] The Volunteers dutifully pledged to “stand by arms,” but were not called to service.

 

For the next three years, the Volunteers mustered, trained, and attended to social events. In celebration of their second birthday, the Soldiers mustered at the courthouse April 23, 1827, where they were celebrated by an oration and gathering of citizens. Attendance was strictly enforced with Capt. Danelly ordering fines of five dollars for any commissioned officer not in attendance while noncommissioned officers and privates were subject to fines of three dollars and one dollar for nonattendance.[21]

 

The Volunteers became fixtures at celebrations marking Georgia Washington’s Birthday and Independence Day. The birthday of the Macon Volunteers was marked by speeches and grand balls attended by Macon’s residents.

 

Dannelly died in command June 27, 1831. The Volunteers did not initially hold an election to replace him. A reorganization of the Volunteers October 8, 1831, brought new leadership with Capt. Lamuel Newcomb assuming command.[22] Later that month, the Volunteers, 80 strong, procured new muskets from the state arsenal at Milledgeville.[23]

 

The January 7, 1832, drill of the Macon Volunteers culminated with a shooting competition with George W. Price taking first place. He received a gold medal which was produced in Macon for the occasion.[24]

 

The Emergence of Annual Training Camps

In May 1831, the Monroe Musketeers held the first summer military training camp in Georgia. The camp provided the opportunity for the unit to conduct military training in a field setting without town distractions. Learning of the camp, The Macon Volunteers proposed to host a meeting of militia units for joint training the following year. The unit dispatched invitations to nearby units and were joined by the Georgia Guards of Milledgeville and the Monroe Musketeers for an encampment May 8, 1832. The training site was named Camp Newcomb after Capt. Lemuel Newcomb, in honor of the host city’s military unit commander.[25] The camp, which lasted four days, was visited by Governor Wilson Lumpkin.[26]

 

The 1832 encampment was so well received that the units resolved to conduct a second encampment the following year. In May 1833, the Macon Volunteers joined the Washington Guards and Georgia Guards at an encampment near Milledgeville. The training at Camp Cuthbert ended on May 18, with those in attendance resolved to continue the practice of annual collective training.[27] That resolution came to pass with the 1834 encampment which was held in May 1834.

 

The Macon Volunteers marched to Saundersville, Ga. for encampment in May 1835. On the fifth day of training, Private West of the Macon Volunteers won the marksmanship competition featuring shooters from the Georgia Guards and Washington Guards. The Volunteers returned to Macon May 11, 1835, escorted by the Bibb Cavalry.[28]

 

With the success of the annual encampments of 1832-1835, the Georgia Militia drew up plans for a camp of instruction in 1836. These plans never came to fruition due to mobilization of the Macon Volunteers for the Second Seminole War.

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[1] John C. Butler, Historical Record of Macon, (Macon GA: J. W. Buke, 1879), I80.

 

[2] John C. Butler, Historical Record of Macon, (Macon GA: J. W. Buke, 1879), 87.

 

[3] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, April 20, 1825, 3.

 

[4] Edge R. Reid, “Macon Volunteers to Celebrate Birthday with Anniversary Ball,” The Macon News, Sunday, March 25, 1928, 15.

 

[5] Gordon Burns Smith, History of the Georgia Militia: 1783-1861 Volume 4: The Companies, (Milledgeville, GA: Boyd Publishing, 2001), 227.

 

[6] John C. Butler, Historical Record of Macon, (Macon GA: J. W. Buke, 1879),

 

[7] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, May 25, 1825, 3.

 

[8] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, June 8, 1825, 3.

 

[9] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, June 29, 1825, 3.

 

[10] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, February 15, 1826, 3.

 

[11] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, March 29, 1826, 3.

 

[12] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, April 26, 1826, 3

 

[13] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, May 24, 1826, 3.

 

[14] Gordon Burns Smith, History of the Georgia Militia: 1783-1861 Volume 4: The Companies, Milledgeville, GA: Boyd Publishing, 2001), 228.

 

[15] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday, June 21, 1826, 3.

 

[16] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, Tuesday, July 11, 1826, 2.

 

[17] Georgia Journal and Messenger Macon, Georgia, Tuesday, July 11, 1826, 3.

 

[18] Georgia Journal and Messenger Macon, Georgia, October 17, 1826, 3.

[19] The Weekly Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, March 5, 1827, 3.

 

[20] Gordon Burns Smith, History of the Georgia Militia: 1783-1861 Volume 4: The Companies, (Milledgeville, GA: Boyd Publishing, 2001), 219.

 

[21] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, April 10, 1827, 3.

 

[22] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, October 22, 1831, 3.

 

[23] The Weekly Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, October 29, 1831, 2.

[24] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, January 14, 1832, 3.

 

[25] John Butler Campbell, "Historical record of Macon and central Georgia, containing many interesting and valuable reminiscences connected with the whole state, including numerous incidents and facts never before published and of great historical value / by John C. Butler." 1879. November 17, 2024. https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/georgiabooks/do-pdf:gb0025, 109.

[26] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, May 05, 1832, 3.

 

[27] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, May 23, 1833, 3.

 

[28] Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, May 14, 1835, 3.