History

The Old Guard of the Gate City Guard of AtlantaOldGuard ln order to understand The Old Guard and what they stand for, you must know something of the founding
of The Gate City Guard of Atlanta. By the mid-1850’s, Atlanta was a small but fast growing town that had formed around the nexus of three railroad lines; the Western & Atlantic, the Georgia, and the Macon & Western. Because these three railroads crossed one geographical spot, a person or a product standing at
the railroad station hub- or “terminus” in Atlanta could travel in any direction to any other city or destination of consequence in the South, and indeed to any other populated region of the country touched by the railroad system – hence, Atlanta became known as “The Gate City” of the South.

In the late 1850’s, with the population growing rapidly, the city Police and Firemen were few, and if any unusual situation occurred that might tax their ability to maintain security or handle an emergency, there was no fallback. As a result, a number of the most prominent men in the City came together and formed a local militia, not unlike the Minutemen of our Revolution, who would have their own arms and would eventually have a Charter from the State of Georgia granting certain immunities and privileges to its members. This original unit was comprised of 100 Officers and Privates, commanded by Captain George Harvey Thompson, and was officially organized on January 8, 1857. The heart of these volunteers came from the fledgling Atlanta Fire Department. They called themselves “The Gate City Guard”.

The Gate City Guard received its original state Charter from Georgia Governor Joe. E. Brown on
December 4, 1859. It is also known that the Guard first met on the second floor of the Georgia Railroad Bank building at the corner of Wall and Peachtree Streets, later destroyed by Sherman’s troops as they departed Atlanta for Savannah in November of 1864.

The Gate City Guard During the Civil War
In early 1861, Georgia voted with other Southern states to secede from the Union, and the Guard was the first militia company of the state to offer their services to the Governor, Joe Brown. From this we took the first part of our motto, “First in War…” Traveling to Macon, they joined what was called The First Georgia Regiment. In short order they were sent to Pensacola, Florida, helping to strengthen fortifications at Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island. They were then sent to Virginia to participate in the Western Virginia Campaign of 1861, fighting at the Battle of Laurel Hill, and later in the Cheat Mountain Campaign under General Robert E. Lee.

In early 1862, the Guard’s original enlistment period with the Confederate Army of 12 months expired. However, many of these same men subsequently joined other Confederate units and served with distinction until the end of hostilities.

COL Joseph F. Burke
When Reconstruction after the Civil War (The War Between the States) ended and the South was allowed to reconstitute military organizations, The Gate City Guard reformed in Atlanta. The most famous member of the post-war Gate City Guard of Atlanta, and later The Old Guard, was Joseph F. Burke. He was born in Charleston, S.C. in November of 1845, and at the age of 16 was in uniform as a cadet of the Charleston Zosave Corps at the Military Academy of South Carolina, now known as The Citadel, when War broke out with the bombardment of Ft. Sumter.

Beginning in 1877, Joseph Burke began a distinguished 50 year career with first The Gate City Guard of Atlanta as the unit’s commander, and some years later as the Colonel commanding the Old Guard
of the Gate City Guard. [n addition to his service to both Guard organizations, he was an active member of the Atlanta Association of Charities, The Atlanta Benevolent Society (which later became
Grady Hospital), served for 20 years as the President of the Atlanta Humane Society, and also served as the President of the Young Men’s Library Association, the forerunner of the Atlanta Public Library. In short, he gave a lifetime of service to his nation, region and community.

History
As the late 1870s arrived, Atlantans looked back on nearly two decades of traumatic experiences. The
city lay in ashes at the end of The War Between the States and worse was still to come in the long hard years of military occupation called “Reconstruction”. Passions engendered by the war were slow to subside, but, finally, the American sense of fair play and traditions of law and humanity began to reassert themselves, and in l877lresident Rutherford Hayes withdrew the last federal troops from the South. But the violent antagonisms which had been aroused were still strong. An enduring peace between the sections seemed to require that some positive steps be taken to bring about a permanent reconciliation of North and South.

The “Friendly Invasion”
In Atlanta, a “Peace Mission” to the Northern states was proposed. Captain J. F. Burke, Commandant
of the reactivated Gate City Guard, led the movement. The Guard had been the first military company in Atlanta to volunteer for the war; now it would be the first to volunteer to secure the peace (“First in War, First in Peace”).

To the surprise of some, the Atlantans found a hearty welcome for their “peaceful invasion” of the
North. Thousands turned out in major cities to cheer the “best drilled company in the world”. The
national press followed the Guard’s friendship tour closely and it became known to people all over the
country. Its mission was pronounced a great success everywhere and described as the first real move to reunite the states. Soon, veterans of both sides would form the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and the United Confederate Veterans (UCV), and these former foes began to meet and recognize they were yet still brothers and Americans, all.

March of the Gate City Guards – CLICK TO PLAY –

 

Formation of The Old Guard in 1893
The older members of The Gate City Guard, most of whom were Confederate veterans, decided that they were too old to assume any military duties if called upon, and separated themselves into “The Old Guard” of The Gate City Guard. These comprised about 140 of the old timers, and the youngsters
remained as “The Gate City Guard”, still subject to state service as militia or National Guardsmen.
Both groups, The Gate City Guard and The Old Guard, remained very active and participated in the
Atlanta International Cotton Exposition of 1895, entertaining the many visiting units of The Centennial Legion (composed of historic military organizations from the original 13 states) that had hosted them in their home cities and states in 1879.

The Peace Monument, Piedmont Park
In 1909, Col. Burke conceived and presented an idea to The Old Guard that remains one of his, and our, most significant achievements, that of erecting a monument in Atlanta to commemorate the “Peace Mission” of 1879. A monument committee was created, and the “Old Guard Peace Monument” was dedicated in Piedmont Park at the 14ft Street entrance on October 10, 1911. Many of the Northern
military units visited by The Guard in 1879 came to Atlanta for this dedication, and it is estimated that 50 to 75,000 people were present for the ceremony, including Mayors of 5 major cities and 5 state Governors. To this day, The Old Guard rededicates this monument every October, and in 201I celebrated the 100th anniversary and re-dedication of this monument. It remains one of our central duties in remembering our past and what The Old Guard stands for – Peace and the reunification of our country after that well known “late unpleasantness”.

The Old Guard has hosted many Inaugural Balls for incoming Governors of Georgia as they have taken office. Also, The Old Guard has erected many historical markers around the State, among them several in Atlanta. The Guard has also accumulated a number of historical and valuable military relics over the years, which for some years were on loan to and maintained by the Atlanta History Center. In 201I many of these relics were accepted for permanent display in The Southern Museum in Kennesaw, where the famous locomotive “The General” is housed, for the public to appreciate.

In Conclusion
The motto in our armorial Old Guard emblem is “ln Bello, Paceque, Primus“. In Latin this means “First in War, First in Peace”. The story of the “Gate City Guard” and its more recent organization “The Old Guard of the Gate City Guard” is representative of the national legacy of service by our citizens in uniform, who have answered the call of their county both in times of war and in times of peace. The spirit of The Old Guard and the very best and highest ideals of the Old South we hold dear are stated in our “Pledge of the Old Guard of The Gate City Guard” which we recite at the beginning of every meeting:

I pledge to commemorate and
preserve the virtues of the Old South;
to pass on to posterity the heritage of
her chivalry; and to perpetuate an
appreciation of her traditions and ideals.

We thus seek to remember and preserve the very best traditions of the South, Old and New, in chivalry, duty, honor, and patriotism to the United States of America. We honor all our uniformed service men and women, current and past, and in our recognition of the future leaders of these services through the JROTC and ROTC organizations in Atlanta schools and Georgia Colleges and Universities. We are proud to present the Old Guard medal to those young men and women who have excelled in these programs.