Departure

The time is now at hand.  Orders have been received.  In communities across Georgia, the companies selected to become part of the First Georgia Volunteer Infantry are packing up their traps and making ready to depart their homes, families and friends as they begin the great adventure.  Newspapers cheer for their home-town troops and, betraying a hint of sadness, wish them Godspeed as they go.

Newnan Banner, March 29, 1861.

ORDERS TO MARCH.—The Newnan Guards have orders to march immediately and rendezvous at Macon. Destination Fort Pickens.—They will leave here on Monday next. The Guards will muster between sixty or seventy brave men, well officered, and all prepared to take a hand in the work of ridding Southern soil and forts of the presence of the old Federal Troops of Lincoln. If a fight is necessary and nothing else will satisfy the Black Republicans, we guarantee a good account from the Guards when the ball opens.

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Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel, March 29, 1861.

Under Marching Orders.

It is doubtless well known to most of our citizens, that the Oglethorpe Infantry, Capt. J. O. Clarke and Walker Light Infantry, Capt. S. H. Crump, tendered their services in aid of the Confederate States, which tender was accepted, and they were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march upon official notice. That notice was received by the two companies yesterday morning, and they have been ordered by Adj. Gen Wayne to rendezvous at Macon on Tuesday next. They will leave this city, therefore, on Monday, at half-past 2 P.M., on the Wayneboro train. Their destination has not been announced, but it is presumed that Pensacola is the post for which they are mustered.

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Columbus Daily Enquirer, April 2, 1861.

Departed—Company D, of the Southern Guards, Capt. Wilkins, took the afternoon train for Macon, the place of rendezvous of the Georgia troops, yesterday. They were escorted to the depot by all the other city companies, and platoon salutes fired on the eve of their departure. They are a fine looking body of men, well advanced in discipline for so short an organization, and will no doubt very creditably represent our city.

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Sandersville Central Georgian, April 3, 1861.

Gone to the Wars.

Our town wears an appearance of gloom. The “soul-stirring drum and ear-piercing fife” are no longer heard in our streets. Yesterday, the “Washington Rifles,” Capt. S. A. H. Jones, acting on orders received from the Executive of Georgia, took their departure for Macon, thence to Pensacola. The “Rifles” number eighty men. They are good citizens—gallant men and true, and if there is fighting to be done around and in Fort Pickens, we predict that this gallant corps will share largely in it.

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Atlanta Daily Intelligencer, March 26, 1861.

GATE CITY GUARDS,--We understand that this excellent company of citizen soldiery, has been called into the service of the Confederate States Government. They will probably leave this city about the last of this week for Pensacola. Military companies from Newnan and Forsyth will accompany the Guards to their destination.—The Gate City Guards, has always been one of the crack companies of Atlanta, and should they be called into actual service, to make a reputation at the cannon’s mouth, we have strong faith that they will acquit themselves with honor to Atlanta, the State of Georgia, and the Government of the Confederate States.