"Following the lead of four of her sister States Georgia passed an ordinance of 'Secession,' Jan. 19, 1861. Gov. Brown ordered the seizure of all Federal property within the limits of the State, and on Jan. 24 the volunteer companies of Augusta, consisting of the Oglethorpe Infantry, Clinch Rifles, Irish Volunteers, Montgomery Guards, Washington Artillery, Richmond Hussars, and two companies of 'Minute Men,' afterwards organized into the Walker Light Infantry, with a company of infantry from Edgefield, So. Ca., and two hundred mounted men from Burke county, marched up to the Augusta Arsenal and demanded its surrender. Capt. Elzey, afterwards a Brigadier General in the Confederate Army, was in command, and having only a small force in the barracks, he promptly complied with the demand. ORGANIZATION OF FIRST GA. REGIMENT. The efforts to secure a peaceable separation from the Union having failed, the Augusta companies promptly offered their services to the Confederacy. The Oglethorpes and Walker Light Infantry were the first two accepted. On March 18, 1861, the lists for the Oglethorpes were opened at their armory on Reynolds street. Sterling C. Eve was the first to enroll his name, and Virginius G. Hitt was the second. As the Company had in its ranks a larger number than would be accepted, married men were excluded, except as commissioned officers. In the closing days of March, orders were received from the War Department for these two companies to rendezvous at Macon, Ga. On April 1st they were escorted to the Central R. R. Depot by all the volunteer companies of Augusta, while the entire city, apparently, turned out to witness their departure and to bid them God speed on their mission. On April 3rd the First Volunteer Regiment of Ga. was organized with the following corps of field officers: Colonel, James N. Ramsey, Columbus, Ga. Lieut. Colonel, James O. Clark, Augusta, Ga. Major, Geo. H. Thompson, Atlanta, Ga. Adjutant, James W. Anderson, Newnan, Ga. Quartermaster, Andrew Dunn, Forsythe, Ga. Commissary, Geo. A. Cunningham, Augusta, Ga. The enlistment dated from March 18, '61, and the regiment was composed of the following companies: A. Newnan Guards, Capt. Geo. M. Hanvey. B. Southern Guards, Capt. F. S. Wilkins. C. Southern Right Guards, Capt. Jno. A. Hauser. D. Oglethorpe Infantry, Capt. Horton B. Adams. E. Washington Rifles, Capt. S. A. H. Jones. F. Gate City Guards, Capt. W. L. Ezzard. G. Bainbridge Independents, Capt. Jno. W. Evans. H. Dahlonega Volunteers, Capt. Alfred Harris. I. Walker Light Infantry, Capt. S. H. Crump. K. Quitman Guards, Capt. J. S. Pinkard.