In June 1861, the city of Dahlonega, Georgia sent their second group of volunteers, the Blue Ridge Rifles to the Civil War front under the command of Capt. Joseph E. Hamilton. The unit was organized as Company E, Phillip’s Legion Infantry. In 1864, the time for which the Rifles' enlistment expired, they did not disband, but re-enlisted for the remainder of the war. Following the war all units of the Confederacy were disbanded. The members of the Blue Ridge Rifles continued to meet on a social basis. The men of the Blue Ridge Rifles were known for their "lofty" character.
In 1950, a drill platoon was formed for use in Spring parades at North Georgia College and State University. The team was named the Honor Platoon. The name was later changed to the Drill Platoon. In 1958, the Drill Platoon was renamed the Blue Ridge Rifles in honor of the Dahlonega volunteer unit.
Since its early beginnings, the Blue Ridge Rifles Drill Team has earned state and national recognition. The Rifles became recognized in 1971 with their winning First Place in the East Tennessee State University Drill Meet in Tennessee, and have since won First Place honors at the nationally recognized Mardi Gras Invitational Drill Meet in New Orleans, Louisiana, hosted by Tulane University.
The Blue Ridge Rifles won their first National Championship for precision drill teams at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in 1982, while commanded by cadet CPT Harden Hopper. The Drill Master was cadet MSG Lewis Lockett. The faculty advisor was MAJ Charles Clarkson. EKU was an invitational drill meet that included the Pershing Rifle national championship as a sub element. The Blue Ridge Rifles took first place overall, beating all teams competing, to include the Pershing Rifle champion team from St. Peters College, commanded by cadet CPT George Santana. Also in 1982, the Blue Ridge Rifles took first place at the Mardi Gras invitational drill meet at Tulane, and first place at the Georgia Tech invitational. Overall they have won 16 out of 24 Mardi Gras Appearances since then.
Today, the Blue Ridge Rifles performs year round for North Georgia College and State University events, high schools, parades, sporting events, as well as 21 gun salutes and flag folding for military and police funerals.
The Rifles motto is "Blue and Gray All The Way!"
The Blue Ridge Rifles Hymn
In eighteen hundred and sixty one, hurrah, hurrah, The Blue Ridge Rifles had just begun, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains they came, It was the mountains that gave ‘em their name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
They wore the uniforms of Grey, hurrah, hurrah, Their banner was the C.S.A, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains they came, It was the mountains that gave ‘em their name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
At First Bull Run they gave ‘em hell, hurrah, hurrah, All you could hear was the rebel yell, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains they came, It was the mountains that gave ‘em their name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
They all marched off to Chancellorsville, hurrah, hurrah, They cocked their weapons and gave a yell, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains they came, It was the mountains that gave ‘em their name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
At Gettysburg they fought and bled, hurrah, hurrah, Some were wounded and some were dead, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains they came, It was the mountains that gave ‘em their name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
They fought on the slopes of Kennesaw, hurrah, hurrah, Their clothes were ragged, their hands were raw, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains they came, It was the mountains that gave ‘em their name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
Around Atlanta they made a stand, hurrah, hurrah, But Sherman's army was much to grand, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains they came, It was the mountains that gave ‘em their name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
They fought and bled for 4 long years, hurrah, hurrah, When one would die they’d all shed tears, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains they came, It was the mountains that gave ‘em their name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
Well Appomattox was the end, hurrah, hurrah, But now we’re back to march again!, hurrah, hurrah,
And from the Blue Ridge Mountains we came, It is the mountains that give us our name, And they all turned out when the Rifles came marching home.
The ability of any society to work together toward the accomplishment of a common goal has been a major factor in shaping the course of history. When a group of individuals has perfected unified action, combining their talents and skills into a single coordinated action, they have accomplished a task of significance.
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