Milledgeville Conference Looks At War In Georgia

Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, the Adjutant General of Georgia delivered a luncheon address on Georgia born, and southern lawyer, judge and politician Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar.

An audience of about 50 heard relic hunter Johnny Mack Nickles describe the Griswold gun factory which turned out pikes and revolvers for the Confederacy. Nickles illustrated the difference between the Griswold revolver and the Union manufactured Colt Navy revolver by displaying the weapons and pointing out the characteristics of each. He also displayed a variety of relics from the pistol factory to demonstrate the revolver manufacturing process employed there.

Dr. Ann J. Bailey, scholar and author of six books on the Civil War, followed with an interesting talk on Sherman's march through Georgia, including the Atlanta campaign. She also discussed some of the personalities who comprised the leadership of the Union and Confederacy.

Professor William Bragg followed Dr. Bailey with a 45-minute slide presentation on the background and the battle of Griswoldville in which Georgia Militia took on Union forces.

Maj. Gen. Poythress, in his address noted that after moving to Mississippi, Lamar rose to become that state's firs Democratic congressman since Radical Reconstruction, and later went on to serve as President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of the Interior and as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Prior to the Society conference, Georgia National Guard historians from across the state attended a workshop at Milledgeville's Georgia College and State University where they discussed the state of military history and learned skill-enhancing techniques. About 30 Army and Air Guard historians heard Brig. Gen. Scott Hammond, chief of staff for the Georgia Air National Guard speak of the importance of recording the history of their units during these changing times. Other speakers included CW2 Steve Reece, who spoke to the group on the significance of unit lineages and keeping them current, and Command Historian SSgt. Gail Parnelle, who explained the proper handling of documents for historical purposes. An archivist from the special collections department at the library of the University also gave a brief presentation on the handling rare books.