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In
June 1861, the city of Dahlonega sent their second group of
volunteers to the Civil War front under the command of Joseph
Hamilton. The unit was organized as Company E, Phillip’s
Legion Infantry- The Blue Ridge Rifles. 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.
In 1950, a drill platoon was formed for use in Spring parades
at North Georgia College. 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 Eastern
Tennessee State University (E.T.S.U.) Drill Meet in Tennessee,
and have since won First Place honors at the nationally recognized
Mardi Gras Invitational Drill Meet in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Blue Ridge Rifles are the 2001 and 2002 National Champion
Precision Drill Team.
In
June 1861, the city of Dahlonega sent their second group of
volunteers to the Civil War front under the command of Joseph
Hamilton. The unit was organized as Company E, Phillip’s
Legion Infantry- The Blue Ridge Rifles. 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.
