Chatham Artillery records

Descriptive Summary
Repository:	Georgia Historical Society
Creator:	Georgia. Chatham Artillery of Savannah.
Title:	Chatham Artillery records
Dates:	1786-1986
Extent:	19.6 cubic feet (45 boxes, 1 microfilm roll)
Identification:	MS 0966

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Biographical/Historical Note

The Chatham Artillery is the oldest military organization in the State of Georgia, form on May 1, 1786. It has always been, and continues to be, an important unit of the State Militia and participated in every war fought by United States forces with the exception of the War with Mexico, 1845-1848, at which time another Savannah military unit was chosen by lot. The company was called upon for both festive and solemn occasions, such as escorting President George Washington in 1791, the Marquis de Lafayette in 1825, and the funeral of General Nathanael Greene in 1786. In earlier days, the Chatham Artillery was known for its colorful dress uniform, worn for parades and celebrations. It still exists as a separate corporation and still celebrates its anniversary in May of each year. Its present military designation is Battery B., 1st How. Battalion, 118th Artillery and Headquarter and Headquarter Battery, 48th Armored Division Artillery.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of the records of the Chatham Artillery and includes account books and other account records, minute books, correspondence, orders, muster rolls and payrolls, rosters, enlistment records, rules and regulations, and a large number of miscellaneous records. It includes accounts of the Quartermaster stores, 1862-1865, an undated copy of Civil War Centennial Manual for Georgians, and Report of A.C. Ulmer, Mayor of the Town of Tybee, 1890 and 1891.

Also included in the collection is a roll of microfilm containing Chatham Artillery muster rolls, 1793-1865; returns, July 1863-December 1864; a register, 1861-1865; and enlistment records, 1894-1900. These records were microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The cashbooks for 1896-1904 are located outside of the boxes. The minute books for 1893-1940 and January 14, 1942 are located outside of the boxes. A register, 1861-1865, is located outside of the boxes. Service and enlistment record book, 1894-1900 is located outside of the boxes.

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Index Terms

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Physical and Technical Access Restrictions

A microfilm reader is required to access portions of the collection.

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

Material was deposited by creating body in 1950; it was gifted in 2002.

Preferred Citation

[item identification], Chatham Artillery records, MS 966, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.

Acquisition Information

Deposited by the Chatham Artillery Corporation, 1950, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1993. Gifted 2002.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

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Separated Material

Artifacts were separated and cataloged with the Georgia Historical Society Artifacts Collection. View digital images of artifacts at the end of this collection inventory or search the Digital Image Catalog for further information.

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Sponsorship

Encoding funded by a 2012 Documenting Democracy grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

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Container List

 

Box

1

Accounts, 1860-1880

Audits, 1860, 1900, 1940-1946; bank statements, 1913-1952; bills, receipts and cancelled checks, 1860-1880.

 

Box

2

Accounts. Bills, receipts and cancelled checks, 1881-1890

 

Box

3

Accounts. Bills, receipts and cancelled checks, 1891-1953

 

Box

4

Accounts, 1860-1933

Council books, 1925-1933; dues, fines, donations, 1860, 1903-1917, March 1, 1949; payrolls, 1863-1865, 1922-1930.

 

Box

5

Accounts. Payrolls, 1931-1937, 1942 July 1

 

Box

6

Accounts, 1813-1972

General, 1813, 1873-1878; promissory notes, 1914-1921; Quartermaster stores, 1862-1865; stocks, 1901-1972; Treasurers' reports, 1860, 1938-1952; vouchers, 1925-1956.

 

Box

7-8

Accounts. Cashbooks, 1872-1892, 1894-1916, 1924-1952 ( 7.0 volumes )

 

Box

9

Minute books, 1841-49, 1872-1942 ( 5.0 volumes )

 

Box

10

Anniversary and other celebrations, circulars, communications, correspondence, 1791-1972

Circulars, 1862, 1898-1938; communications, 1909-1928-1938; correspondence, 1812-1972; correspondence, Centennial Legion, 1928-1949; correspondence, Tennessee Corps; correspondence, Republican Blues, 1860-1877.

 

Box

11

Correspondence books and miscellaneous, 1921-1955 and undated

Correspondence books, 1921-37; Cuyler (Telamon) gifts; business and official directory, Savannah and Chatham County, n.d. (includes table of Courts in all Georgia Counties) pp. 17-18, 22-32, 3 unnumbered; flags, 1931; map of Savannah, 1940; blank forms (2 Civil War pd); manuals of arms, etc.; correspondence re medals and badges, 1926-32, 1955; Regimental Insignia, 118th Field Artillery.

 

Box

12

Charters, by-laws, resolutions and miscellaneous, 1813-1935 ( 1.0 p. )

Charters, by-laws, resolutions; citation, 1961; memorials, 1848; newspapers, 1813, 1847, 1886, 1933, 1935, 1952; Philadelphia Sesquicentennial, 1926; poetic tributes, 1854, 1916; rules and regulations, 1797, 1808, 1811, ca. 1812-1815, undated ms., 1842, 1849, 1860, 1895, 1908; letter from George V. presented officers of A.E.F. during World War I, April 1918, 1 p. photocopy.

 

Box

13

Orders. Battery and Company, 1841-1939

Battery and Company, 1841-1849, 1872-1889, 1875-1886, 1904-1939.

 

Box

14

Orders, 1786-1948 ( 2.0 p. ) (photostat.)

Special, 1862-1865, 1910-1936; General, 1795, 1861-1865, 1891-1895, 1923-1948; Arrangement of Militia of Chatham County, 1786-1790

 

Box

15

Personnel, 1812-1939

Attendance records, 1860-1889; clothing accounts, 1861-1865, Henry S. Colding; Courts martial, 1812-1939; dependency claims (alphabetical), 1832-1840; elections, 1912, jury duty exemptions, 1911-1951; Edward Lloyd, 1st Captain; membership applications, 1812-1813, 1860; reports: drill and instruction, 1935; reports: duty, 1915, 1923-29; reports: duty, 1930-1932.

 

Box

16

Personnel, 1786-1937

Reports: duty, 1933-1937; reports: morning, 1861-1937; reports: sick, 1861-1937; returns: 1863-1913; rosters, muster rolls and payrolls, 1786-1860.

 

Box

17

Personnel, 1836-1972

Rosters, muster rolls, and payrolls, 1861-65, 1886-1926, 1932-1939, 1962-72, 1836-1940 (typed copies in binder).

 

Box

18

Personnel. Service and enlistment records, A-Q

 

Box

19

Personnel, 1907-1940

Service and enlistment records, R-Z; service and enlistment record book, 1907-1912; service and enlistment records, 1907-1913, 1911-1932, 1934-1940; staff assignments, 1928-1931; strength of returns; record of events diary, 1923-1938; uniforms, designs, insignia.

 

Box

20

Property, 1853-1946 View online.

Online Inventory Contains Digitized Items

Armory, 1860, 1913-18, 1933-35; armory, leases rentals mortgages, 1889-1946; armory, photographs; gas and oil allowances, etc., 1934-1936; horses and stables, 1853-1934; inventory and inspection reports, G.N.G., 1924-39; memo receipts; ordinances, 1862-1864, 1898-1937.

 

Box

21

Property, 1812-1939

Radio, 1936-37; receiving reports, 1934; requisitions, purchase orders, 1924-1937; returns, 1812-1895; returns of clothing, etc., 1863-1937; shipping tickets and correspondence, 1876-1939; transfers, 1924-1938; typewriters, 1932-1937; vehicles: reports of surveys, etc., 1934-38; Washington guns.

 

Box

22

Training, 1860-1937

Army extension and other courses, 1929-37; drill schedules, 1927; maps and problems (Camp Jackson and Gettysburg, Antietam); memos: encampments (National Guard, etc.) 1860, 1909-1931.

 

Box

23

Training, 1878-1944

Memos: encampments (National Guard, etc.), 1932-1944; target practice, 1878-1937.

 

Box

24

History. Official history emblems; references to and records of the collection

 

Box

25

Photographs

 

Box

26-27

Books and Pamphlets

Duncan, Roll and legend of Georgia Hussars; Jones, Historical Sketch of Chatham Artillery during the Confederate struggle for Independence (2 copies); Wheaton, Reminiscences of the Chatham Artillery (3 copies); Report of Adjutant and Inspector General of the State of Georgia, 1892; Georgia Historical Quarterly, XIII, No. 1 (March 1929), containing references to Chatham Artillery, p. 20-23; Chatham Artillery 175th Anniversary Celebration, 1961 (2 copies); Chatham Artillery 184th Anniversary Celebration, 1970 (2 copies); By men and deeds: Know your Chatham Artillery, n.d. (2 copies); Civil War Centennial Manual for Georgians, n.d.; Report of A.C. Ulmer, Mayor of the Town of Tybee, 1890 and 1891; World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing, State of Georgia, prepared by the Adjutant General, 1946; Program of Central of Georgia Railway Centennial and Pageant, 1935; Seven Georgia Centennial Tours, prepared by Georgia Department of Commerce, n.d.; City Builder: Georgia Bicentennial (ed. Atlanta Chamber of Commerce), XVII, No. 6 (November 1933); Historical Sketch of the Savannah Volunteer Guards..., 1886; Hicks, French Military Weapons, 1717-1950. J. Duncan Campbell and Edgar M. Howell, American Military Insignia, 1800-1851; The Field Artillery Journal (ed. The United States Field Artillery Association), XXII, No. 1 (January-February 1932); The Belgain People's War, a violation fo international law, translations by the Official German White Book (ed. The Imperial Foreign Office, 1915); The Optimist, XLI, No. 1 (January 1961), Chatham Artillery reference p. 15-17; Centennial Celebration of the Washington Light Infantry, 1907; The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and the Washington Light Infantry, February 22, 1944; Washington Artillery Souvenir, n.d.; Interesting Moments with the State, Lanard, Fencibles of Philadelphia, 1813-1937; Hallowell and Company, History of the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, 1774-1874; Brink, Kosciuszko: Forefather of American Artillery (Military Intelligence Division, General Staff), n.d.; The Commander (The Commander Hotel); McLellan, Instructions to mariners in Case of Shipwreck, with information concerning the Life Saving stations upon the Coast of the United States, 1888; Steuben, Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, 1803; The Oglethorpe Light Infantry.

 

Box

28

Books and Pamphlets ((2 copies))

Guest Book, 1954 Banquet and ?; Army of the U.S.; 2nd W.W. History, "On the Way", 230th; National Guard Annual, 1930s?

 

Box

29

Minute book, scrapbook, and invitations, 1867-1969

Minute book, 1939-1969; scrapbook, invitations, 1867-1893.

 

Box
30		200th Anniversary
			Meetings
			Budget
			Schedule of events
			Publicity
Box	Fldr
31	6		Memorial, dedication
	7		First Day Issue
	8		Mantovani (public event)
	9		Monument
	10		Ladies' event
	11		Daufuskie boat trip
	12		Stamp, first day
	13		Photography
	14		Olustee participation
Box	Fldr
32	15		Awards and medals
	16		Private banquet
	17		Grand ball
	18		Misc. printed materials
	19		Resolutions, etc
	20		Misc. notes

 

Box

33

200th Anniversary

Medals. Separated from collection and cataloged with Artifacts collection.

 

Box

34

200th Anniversary

Proclamation by Governor Joe Frank Harris; charts; Mantovani playbills.

 

Box

35

Trip to Philadelphia, 1976

 

Box

36

Scrapbook, 1886-1898

 

Box

37

Scrapbook, 1874-1883

 

Box

38

Scrapbook, 1883-1886

 

Box

39

Invitations, 1886-1938

 

Box

40

Scrapbook, 1901-1917

 

Box

41

Scrapbook, 1917-1922

 

Box

42

Scrapbook, 1917-1933

 

Box

43

Scrapbooks (2), 1930-1956

 

Box

44

Register, enlistment book, and cashbook, 1861-1896

 

Box

45

Minute books, 1893-1941

 

roll

1

X-0966-01. Chatham Artillery muster rolls returns, register, enlistment records, 1793-1900

Chatham Artillery muster rolls 1793-1865; returns, July 1863-Dec. 1864; register, 1861-1865; enlistment records, 1894-1900.

 

Artifacts

A-0966-002 Chatham Artillery Gold Award Medal View online.

A-0966-003 George Washington medal presented to the Chatham Artillery for guns captured at Yorktown View online.

A-0966-004 Chatham Artillery 1886 centennial anniversary medal View online.

A-0966-005 Chatham Artillery 200th anniversary souvenir medal View online.

A-0966-006 Chatham Artillery 200th anniversary souvenir medal View online.

A-0966-007 Chatham Artillery 200th anniversary name badge View online.

A-0966-008 Chatham Artillery 200th anniversary name badge View online.

A-0966-009 Chatham Artillery past president medal from the 1986 bi-centennial View online.

A-0966-010 Chatham Artillery past president medal from the 1986 bi-centennial View online.

A-0966-011 Chatham Artillery 200th anniversary medal View online.

A-0966-012 Chatham Artillery 200th anniversary medal View online.