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THE OLD WAR HORSE
THE VOICE OF GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET CAMP #1247, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3, APRIL, 2004 |
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Quick jump to some of the many articles:
Commander's Comments, Adjutant's Report, Last Program, Next Program, Camp Officers,
Units of the Month, Raffle Winners Heritage Parade, Upcoming Events
COMMANDER'S COMMENTS
It is often noted that the War Between the States is marked by the similarity of the opposing sides. Brother was pitted against brother, family against family and state against state. Both armies employed essentially the same weapons and tactics, and prayed to the same God for guidance. Even the political ideologies of North and South, their very justification for war, were based on a common doctrine handed down by the Founding Fathers. It is quite obvious that the similarities between the Confederacy and the Union far outnumbered the differences. This was clearly on the mind of General Lee when he was considering his options at Appomattox. Lee had several choices open to him during those first few days of April 1865, including a tactic that had been used successfully for thousands of years, namely guerilla warfare. If Lee had agreed to have the Army of Northern Virginia disperse and continue fighting (as supported by a number of his advisors) he would have virtually ensured a Southern victory. So why then did he choose to meet with General Grant and discuss surrender rather than fight on? For the same reason that Grant was so lenient with the terms and conditions for the South to lay down its arms. Neither side viewed the other as a "foreign" enemy. If the South had been at war with Prussia for example, Lee would have continued the fight to the last man, but as he observed to his staff, "We must consider the effect which our actions will have upon the country at large. If the men can be quietly and quickly returned to their homes, there is time to.begin to repair the ravages of war." Robert E. Lee had hit upon the greatest common element evident between both sides during the War. Whether supporters of the Confederate States of America or the United States of America, they were all Americans. But perhaps the post-war relationship that best typifies just how alike defenders of the North and South really were, is that of John Mosby and U. S. Grant. The pair struck a friendship when Mosby was introduced to the then President Grant in 1872. That friendship was to last a lifetime. The former "Gray Ghost" was subsequently appointed United States Consul at Hong Kong by President Hayes, and it was there that the two former adversaries last met. "It was in 1879 that I last saw him. I went in a boat out to meet him.As I went up the gangway I recognized him with his wife and eldest son standing on the deck. It did look strange that I should be then representing the (U.S.) government, while General Grant was (now) a private citizen. Next morning the general paid his respects to me at the American Consulate. He was the guest of the governor for about 10 days. On several days I breakfasted with him, and we had many free and informal talks. I went with the general.in a launch to the U. S. man-of-war which carried his party up the China Coast, and bade him my last farewell.General Grant lifted his hat, and we responded. I never saw the great soldier again." Upon learning of Grant's death, Mosby wrote, "I felt that I had lost my best friend." "Unconditional Surrender" Grant and the Gray Ghost of the Confederacy, best friends. And there were many such relationships forged between former warriors of the Blue and Gray. So while there are Southerners who still look upon the North with considerable disdain and who omit no opportunity to disparage those who fought for the Union, I prefer to focus upon those qualities which distinguished the men and women of both North and South as heroic champions of their respective Causes. It does no disservice to the memory of our ancestors nor does it diminish in the slightest their valor and sacrifice to acknowledge their one-time foes as ladies and gentlemen of honor and duty, thereby worthy of our respect. Quite the contrary. That being the case, if men such as Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet and John Mosby could reconcile themselves to a United States of America, so then shall I. DEO VINDICE. Harry
ADJUTANT'S REPORT
April was a significant month in history long before The War Between The States. The received date of the most important document in Scottish history is 6 April, 1320. The Declaration of Arbroath reads: We have been freed from so many great evils by the valour of our Lord and Sovereign, Robert Bruce. Like Judas Maccabeus or Joshua, he gladly endured every danger to save his people and kingdom from their enemies.our common and just consent have made him our King, because through him our salvation has been wrought. If he should give up our cause and yield us to England, we would cast him out as the enemy of us all, and choose another king, who should defend us. For so long as only a hundred of us remain, we will never yield to the dominion of England. WE FIGHT NOT FOR GLORY NOR WEALTH NOR HONOURS, BUT FOR FREEDOM ALONE WHICH NO GOOD MAN SURRENDERS BUT WITH LIFE ITSELF. The last sentence of the Declaration is certainly descriptive of our ancestor, the Confederate soldier. Taking care of the medical needs of wounded Confederate soldiers in Jackson Hospital, Richmond, was Surgeon Armstead Nelson Wellford, an uncle (several times removed) of our newest member Christopher P. Jewett. Welcome, Chris, to the Longstreet Camp. Special thanks are due to Gene Golden, Lewis Mills, and Wally Scott for their back-bending work in cleaning up the roadside of Longstreet camp's one-mile section of Route 606 (Studley Road), Hanover County, near Enon United Methodist Church. Lewis is to be specially commended for handling the logistics of this effort. The Hanover Dragoons Camp had scheduled a Confederate grave marker ceremony at the small Confederate cemetery Saturday, April 3, so the cleanup occurred at an opportune time. How many times have you had people ask you, "Why do you care about something that happened 140 years ago?" Among other reasons, we can learn that our ancestors endured many hardships and, in most cases, overcame them. Several years ago a young man remarked to me, "We're going to be the first generation in America to be worse off than our parents." Suggested to him was reading of War Between The States and Reconstruction history. This was brought to mind recently by reading William J. Cooper, Jr.'s Jefferson Davis, American. As if he didn't have enough to contend with as President of the Confederate States of America, his 24 post-war years were filled with imprisonment, uncertainty, and numerous other difficulties. Compatriots, April is our month. Let us celebrate our heritage, our history, and our freedom. It's the least we can do for our valorous ancestors. Walter Tucker THE KEY TO HAPPINESS You may speak of love and tenderness and passion, but real ecstasy is discovering you haven't lost your keys after all!
MARCH PROGRAM
JAMES L. HUTTON, III James L. "Skip" Hutton, III, a Jungian therapist and an Episcopal priest, enlightened us at our March meeting in discussing Southern males. Skip said that we are still in The War, and we have not been reconciled. We have been desecrated from the outside and still feel slighted. Respect and regret are part of our heritage. Something happened which will not go away. As a wounded people, we tend to be more religious and have a warrior culture. Skip described Gone With the Wind's Ashley Wilkes as an over-refined defeatist. As in post World War I England, mothers became more dominant because of the huge loss of young men in the post War Between The States South. Southerners are much into the power of memory, as expressed in William Faulkner's writing that we are "stuck in memory." Southerners understand suffering in ways that others don't. Loss is accompanied by guilt. Oppression began after the War. We need to remember history as it was, not as someone would like it to be. Southerners have a strong sense of honor. Southerners are portrayed in the entertainment media in less than flattering terms, often as scapegoats. People who are scapegoating are weak. This different type program was reassuring and thought-provoking. Walter Dunn Tucker
GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET CAMP #1247
NEXT MEETING-TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2004
ROMA'S RESTAURANT 8831 STAPLES MILL RD. LOCATED ON THE RIGHT IN THE WISTAR SHOPPING CENTER (JUST PAST THE 2ND STOPLIGHT AFTER THE AMTRAK STATION.) DINNER- SOCIAL 6:00 PM BE SURE TO COME AND BRING A PROSPECTIVE MEMBER OR GUEST!
LONGSTREET'S FIRST CORPS
The following is a cumulative listing of contributors to the upkeep of “The Old War Horse” for the period July, 2003 through the current month. Ben Baird Lloyd Brooks Richard Campbell Gene Carty Earl Carwile Phil Cheatham Brian Cowardin Gary Cowardin* Taylor Cowardin Lee Crenshaw Raymond Crews* John Deacon Jerold Evans Shirley Ferguson† David George David Harris Pat Hoggar Jack Kane* Michael Kidd* Roger Kirby Frank Marks Lewis Mills* Joe Moschetti* John Moschetti* Preston Nuttall Ken Parsons* Rufus Sarvay* Wally Scott Bill Setzer John Shumadine Austin Thomas Walter Tucker* John Vial* Patricia Walton†† David Ware Jerry Wells§ Harold Whitmore Hugh Williams Bobby Williams* Legend * - Multiple contributions † - In Memoriam- Commander “Hef” Ferguson ††- In Memoriam- Commander “Chuck Walton” § - Visitor Donation From July to date, 61% of our members have made a donation to the upkeep and well-being of “The Old War Horse!!” Thanks to all of you for your help.
2003- 2004 CAMP OFFICERS LONGSTREET CAMP #1247 Commander: Harry Boyd 741-2060 1st. Lt. Cmdr.: Taylor Cowardin 356-9625 2nd Lt. Cmdr.: Michael Kidd 270-9651 Adjutant/Treasurer: Walter Tucker 360-7247 Quartermaster: R. Preston Nuttall 276-8977 Chaplain: Henry V. Langford 340-8048
APRIL PROGRAM
Our speaker for April will be Charles Peple, Director of
Research and Development for Henrico County.
Mr. Peple will make a slide presentation on using GPS and
other modern technology, along with aerial photographs and
Civil War maps, to define the extent of the battlefield of
New Market Heights.
This is sure to be an interesting presentation.
Taylor Cowardin
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
THROUGH 2004 "The Confederate Nation" at the Museum of the Confederacy. The government, the people , the original Provisional Constitution (on public exhibition for the first time,) artifacts, all great exhibits. A must see! For info, (804) 649-1861 or www.moc..org APRIL 17, 18 World premiere of "Robert E. Lee: Shades of Gray," at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond. Full length play written and performed by Tom Dugan. Performances Saturday 8 pm and Sunday 2 pm. Special hotel rates and museum discounts available. For info: (804) 262-8100 or www.ticketmaster.com APRIL 17, 18 8TH Annual "Civil War Weekend" at Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, Petersburg. Tactical demonstrations of infantry, cavalry and artillery, take part in infantry drill, hands-on activities for family members. For info: (877) PAMPLIN or www.pamplinpark.org APRIL 24 Civil War Music and Dance at Endview Plantation, Newport News. Learning how to dance to the music of the Civil War. Time and place to be announced. For info: (757) 887-1862. APRIL 25 Col. Ken Purks speaks on "Jed Hotchkiss and other maps of the Brandy Station area during the Civil War," At the Graffiti House, Brandy Station, 2-3:15 pm. Sponsored by the Brandy Station Foundation. All proceeds benefit the Foundation's efforts to preserve the battlefield and Graffiti House. For info and registration, Jim Flanagan (540) 439-3549. APRIL 30-MAY 1 Battle of the Wilderness 140th Anniversary Civil War Weekend. Battlefield and house tours, seminar, dinners, auctions, authors, unveiling of a new art work. Attendees include James Lighthizer, David Jordan, Gordon Rhea, John Paul Strain. Sponsored by Friends of Wilderness Battlefield. For info: (540) 972-4782. MAY 1,2 "Where Pelham Fell: The Cavalry Battle at Kelly"s Ford and Chancellorsville," at Kelly's Ford, Culpeper. 141st Chancellorsville reenactment Saturday; 5th annual Kelly's Ford battle reenactment Sunday. Horse races, concerts by 97th Regimental String Band. Public hours: Saturday 9-9, Sunday 9-3. $5 over age 6. Hosted by Inn at Kelly's Ford and Brandy Station Foundation. For info:(540) 399-1779 or kellysfordinn@aol.com MAY 6-9 "Footsteps of Jackson, Part 2-Stonewall in the Valley," seminar and tour based in Lexington. Historians Ted Alexander and Dennis Frye plus Robert Tanner, Ron Maxwell, Keith and Patricia Gibson, Holt Merchant, Frank O'Reilly, John Schildt, Mike Cavanaugh. Lectures, panel, walking tours to Lexington landmarks, full day tour of 1862 Valley Campaign sites. For info: (717) 264-7101 or chaden@chambersburg.org MAY 7-9 140TH Reenactment of the Battle of Spotsylvania. Battles, educational programs, talks by historians. Quarter mile of authentic earthworks. Adults $20 one day, $35 both, ages 6-12 $10, $18. Education day $10. Sponsored by Spotsylvania County. For info: (540) 891-8687 or www.fredericksburgvirginia.net MAY 10-13 An Ed Bearss First: "The James Taylor Sketch Book," Bearss, John Heatwole and Dana McBean 3-day tour covering Sheridan's 1864 Valley Campaign and Mosby's Confederacy, visiting sites sketched by Taylor. Sponsored by the Blue and Gray Education Society. Fee. For info: (888) 741-2437 or www.blue-and-grayeducation.org
2004 HERITAGE PARADE IN RICHMOND
Sunday, April 4th was bright and breezy, a good day for a parade. One that kept our Confederate flags proudly waving. In spite of the Governor's refusal to declare Confederate History and Heritage Month, the Virginia SCV declared it so on its own and proceeded to start it off with a parade from the Boulevard to Hollywood Cemetery.Longstreet Camp was ably represented by its members, among whom were Cmdr. Harry Boyd, Dave Thomas and son, Austin Waters Wingfield Thomas, our perky and precocious Confederate. Austin did his share and more, as you can see from the photo above, to add to the grand occasion!
The parade started at the Boulevard, proceeding to the Jackson monument, then turned East on Monument.
Cmdr. Boyd and Dave Thomas carry our flags proudly.
In full swing down Monument Avenue
Marse Robert was surely pleased to see The Battle Flag once more!
Some of the troops take a break at Hollywood.
ANCESTOR'S UNIT OF THE MONTH
THE RICHMOND AMBULANCE COMPANY
The Richmond Ambulance Company was organized in early 1862
by a group of 50 Richmond men as the "Richmond Ambulance
Committee." The company's primary purpose was to meet the
needs of the Confederate wounded. Most of the men involved
were exempt from military duty. Unlike the Federals, the
Confederates did not have a well funded and organized method
of retrieving its wounded from the battlefield. Wounded
soldiers had great difficulty getting to where they could
receive the necessary care and treatment. Many wounded
Confederates laid out in the battlefield for days before
they were removed to the hospital or given any care. Many
perished before they were retrieved. The Ambulance Company
not only rescued the fallen from the battlefield in a timely
manner, but helped to provide them with the necessary care
and attention they so desperately needed. The Richmond
Ambulance Committee's first service was at the Battle of
Seven Pines. The June 12, 1862 Richmond Daily Examiner gave
the following account:
During and after the battles of Saturday and Sunday, the
value of the committee was first manifested. Under their
direction, and with their assistance alone, two-thirds of
our wounded were removed from the field.Throughout the
terribly dark night, the first squads of the committee,
lantern in hand, traversed the woods and swamps for miles
around Seven Pines, hunting up the fallen and bearing them
to the roadside hospitals, where even the candles by which
the surgeons plied their profession were furnished by the
forethought of the committee.
The Company also served during the battles of
Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Frayser's Farm,
and most of the other battles the Army of Northern Virginia
fought until its surrender in April of 1865. The company
served without any pay and furnished supplies and
necessities for the wounded with their own funds. These
selfless men truly deserve our respect and admiration as
they saved many lives and contributed greatly to the
Confederate cause.
Taylor Cowardin
THE ANGEL OF MARYE'S HEIGHTS
ANOTHER NEW COMPATRIOT!
1st. Lt. Cmdr. Taylor Cowardin administers The oath to Henry Franklin Bahen Please , if you have not already done so, make it a point to introduce yourself to Compatriot Bahen at the May meeting and welcome him into our "band of brothers."
RAFFLE WINNER #1
WAITE RAWLS By one of those strange quirks of statistics and chance, one of our newest Compatriots, Waite Rawls, Executive Director of the Museum of the Confederacy, copped the cash prize for April. He informed us, to our appreciative applause, that he was going to donate it to the MOC! He also spoke to us briefly about the Museum and its treasure trove of incunabula and artifacts within its vaults, stating that he was honored to be chosen to head up such a prestigious institution. RAFFLE WINNER #2 Due to the confusion (and to the fact that we had 40, yes, FORTY!!), members and guests at the meeting, your editor did not get a photo of the second winner, JEB Stuart VI, who was promised a book by Walter Tucker. Congratulations, JEB! Your luck is holding up very well!! If we're not mistaken, that's two meetings in a row!!
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS
To render abandoned cannon useless to the enemy, retreating artillerymen "spiked" their guns by driving iron spikes into the barrel vent (where the primer went) And, if they had time , breaking the spike off and hammering it down.
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION OF THE DEATH
OF
LT. GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET
On May 2, 2004, Blue Ridge Rifles Camp 1860, SCV of Dahlonega, Georgia will host a recreation of the funeral procession and graveside services of Lt. General James Longstreet to mark the 100th Anniversary of his death. The program will begin at 1:30 PM at the Hall County Courthouse Mall, near the Gainesville town square, with a recreation of the funeral. This will be followed with the procession down Jesse Jewel Parkway to Alta Vista Cemetery complete with horse drawn hearse, honor guard, band and others, just as it took place on January 6, 1904. Re-enactors are invited to attend and participate in the procession and the honor guard firing of the 100 gun salute at the grave site at 3:30 PM. There will be Commemorative Programs and Medallions available for $5 each. Ancestor Memorial Listings and advertising spaces are available in the Commemorative Program. The event will be video taped and the tapes will be made available shortly after the event. Those interested should watch the website, www.longstreetfuneral.org for further details.
"SHADES OF GRAY"
TOM DUGAN Another Confederate World Premiere comes to the fair city of Richmond on April 17th and 18th! This time it is a two-act play written and performed by Tom Dugan, a film and television actor of 20 years experience. The play is a one man reenactment, actually, of General Robert E. Lee as he sat in the parlor of Wilmer McLean's house at Appomattox, alone, on April 9, 1865, waiting for General Ulysses S. Grant to arrive and accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Dugan gives us insight into Lee's thoughts at what, for Lee, must have been the most heart-rending time of his life. Graphics and period music add to the setting of the play. There are two performances scheduled at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, Saturday, April 17th at 8:00 PM and Sunday, April 18th at 2:00 PM. Longstreet Camp was asked to coordinate this effort on the behalf of the Virginia Division of the SCV and members of your Camp Executive Committee will be on hand meeting and greeting guests at both performances. There will also be period displays in the lobby of the Carpenter Center. Tickets may be purchased at the box office or by calling (804) 262-8100. Hotel and museum discounts are available for out of town members.
45TH ANNUAL CONVENTION VIRGINIA DIVISION, SCV
April 23, 24 &25 The Best Western, South Hill, VA Registration- Friday, April 23, 4-9 pm $25 per attendee Friday night Commander's Reception- $12 per person Saturday Night's Social Hour & Grand banquet- $20 per person Room Rate- $51.95 per night + tax. (434) 447-3123 or (800) 296-3123 for reservations Located at intersection of I85 & US 58 (off I85 at Exit 12) For more convention info: Jimmie Cox, (434) 636-3900 or jncdoc@buggs.net Tracy Clary, (434) 848-4556 or brunswickreb@aol.com Sponsored by The Armistead-Hill-Goode-Elam Camp 1624 & The Old Brunswick Camp 512Return to the top of this newsletter
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©2004 James Longstreet Camp, #1247, SCV - Richmond, Virginia