COMMANDER'S COMMENTS

Last month the 2006 Virginia Division annual convention  was
held  at  the  Hilton  Garden Inn at Suffolk Virginia.  This
year, an election year  for  the  division,  candidates  for
leadership   and   four   amendments   to   the   Division's
constitution were voted on.  Below  is  a  report  from  the
convention so you can see what took place.                  

Candidates  for  Division  leadership  mostly ran unopposed.
Only  the  Commander  and  Judge  Advocate  positions   were
contested  and  the  candidates  proposed  by the division's
nominating committee won with a clear  majority.   Your  new
officers for the Virginia Division are as follows:          

Commander: Frank Ernest            
1st Lt. Commander: John Sawyer     
2nd Lt. Commander: Grayson Jennings
Adjutant: Christopher Evans        
Quarter Master: Keith Morris       
Chaplain: Timothy Manninga         
Inspector: Joseph Wright           
Judge Advocate: Richard Crouch     
Archivist: Mike Rose               

Four amendments to the Division's constitution were also voted on.

Amendment 1: Adding the Heritage Defense  Chairman  (who  is
appointed  by  the Division Commander) as a voting member to
the Executive Committee.  This was voted down by only  seven
votes.   Concerns  over the Heritage Defense member being an
appointee and not an elected member to the committee was the
main reason for opposition to the amendment.        (Failed)

Amendment  2:  The  creation  of  the Archivist position and
making him in charge  of  taking  minutes  of  all  Division
meetings (instead of the adjutant) and recording the history
of  the  division.   He  would  also  take  the   adjutant's
responsibilities  if something were to happen to the current
adjutant.  This amendment was passed by a  clear  majority. 
                                                    (Passed)

Amendments  3&4:  The  roles  and  responsibilities  of  the
division  regarding  the  care  and  preservation   of   the
Confederate  section in Oakwood Cemetery.  These were passed
with clear majorities as well.                      (Passed)

Roll call voting was requested for the amendments  and  each
camp  delegate  had  to stand and vote for the amendments in
turn.  Voting for the unopposed candidates  for  office  was
conducted  by  a voice vote and candidates for the Commander
and Judge Advocate positions were held by ballot vote.      

Longstreet  members  Michael  Kidd  and   Harry   Boyd   won
Distinguished  Service  Awards  for  their assistance to the
Division during the past year.  Congratulations!   You  make
the camp proud!!                                            

Please  make  an  effort  to attend this month's meeting and
bring a friend.  We have a great speaker lined up and should
be inducting our 80th member!                               

					Taylor

ADJUTANT'S REPORT

The membership application of L.  A.  (Andy) Keller, Jr.  has
been  certified and mailed to headquarters.  Andy's ancestor
Philip Nelson served first  in  Captain  Archibald  Graham's
Company  of  the Rockbridge Artillery and later in Company H
of the 49th Virginia Infantry.  Private Nelson was with  the
49th  on  that  fateful day in April 1965 at Appomattox.  We
welcome Andy to  the  Longstreet  Camp,  and  we  thank  JEB
Stuart, IV, for suggesting our Camp to Andy.                

Many  thanks  to  Clint Cowardin, Lee Crenshaw, Gene Golden,
and Lewis Mills for cleaning up our Camp's one mile  section
of   Studley  Road,  Hanover  County  near  Enon  Church  on
Saturday, April 15.  Lewis is to be  particularly  commended
for   chairing  this  and  coordinating  with  the  Virginia
Department of Transportation.  Early morning rain  gave  way
to  sunshine.   Only  thing  negative was the outcome of the
Battle of Haw's Shop May 28, 1864.  Yankees  led  by  Custer
defeated the good guys.                                     

A  leading  figure  in  historic preservation in our area is
John Marshall High School, Hampden-Sydney College and  Union
Theological  Society  graduate  Robert  Bluford, Jr.  Bob is
president  of  Historic  Polegreen  Church  Foundation   and
authored a book Living on the Borders of Eternity: The Story
of Samuel Davies and the Struggle for  Religious  Toleration
in Colonial Virginia.  Davies, a Presbyterian Minister, came
to Hanover County from Pennsylvania in the 1740's  to  serve
four meeting houses.  He received his license to preach from
Virginia Lieutenant Governor William Gooch and his council. 

He attracted many people to  the  services,  some  from  the
state  supported Anglican church.  Anglican minister Patrick
Henry, uncle of the "Give me  liberty"  orator  and  lawyer,
harassed  him  in  every  way possible and persuaded Gooch's
Council to deny a license to John  Rodgers,  who  came  from
Pennsylvania  a  year later to work with Davies.  Actions by
the  elder  Henry  and  his  ilk  contributed  much  to  the
anti-establishment    church   actions   of   the   Virginia
legislature after that war.  It is all  too  easy  today  to
take  our  religious freedom for granted and to overlook the
courage of the dissenters of  colonial  times  who  suffered
much, including spending time in jail, for their beliefs.  A
visit to the Virginia  Baptist  Historical  Society  on  the
campus  of  the University of Richmond will remind us of the
early struggles.                                            

I was delighted to be asked to give  my  slide  presentation
about  the  men  whose statues are on Monument Avenue at the
April meeting.  Frequently  someone  in  the  audience  will
bring to my attention information about these men of which I
was unaware.  Only recently did I  learn  that  Arthur  Ashe
served  in  the United States Army.  He was stationed at the
United States Military Academy and assisted the tennis coach
there  1966-68.   The  Army  allowed him to play in selected
tennis tournaments.  Athletes playing their sports while  in
the service?  Sure, but that's frequently been the case. The
1943  Chapel  Hill  Navy  Pre-Flight  School  baseball  team
included  Buddy  Hassett, Johnny Pesky, Johnny Sain, and Ted
Williams.  Playing for Mickey Cochrane's Great Lakes in 1944
were  Pinky May, Virgil Trucks, Billy Herman, Gene Woodling,
and Schoolboy Rowe.   Richmonder  Jim  Trexler,  not  a  big
leaguer, was a pitcher on that team.                        

The 1944 Bainbridge Naval Training Center team included Dick
Bartell, Elbie Fletcher, Buddy Blattner,  Dick  Sisler,  and
Bob Scheffing.  Virginia's 1941 All American halfback Bullet
Bill Dudley played football for Randolph Field.  Johnny Mize
asked  to be discharged from the Navy because the government
was losing money on him.  As first baseman for the New  York
Giants  in  1942  he  was paying more in income tax than the
Navy paid him in 1943.  Needless to  say,  his  request  was
denied.  A high school classmate of mine spent his two years
of Navy active duty playing baseball and basketball for  the
Norfolk  Naval  Station.   Sailors  on my first ship got TAD
orders to Little Creek to play baseball and football  during
those seasons.                                              

Bob  Feller  enlisted in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor
was attacked.  He played  baseball  for  Norfolk  Navy,  but
wanted to get into the war.  He served on the battleship USS
Alabama (BB 60) in the Pacific.  When asked if  he  had  any
regrets  about the time he spent in service, he said that he
was disappointed that some modern baseball record books make
no reference to military service.  Who's Who in Baseball and
Baseball Register published during active  careers  of  such
players  showed  "In  military service" in the chronological
career records.  Baseball encyclopedias list it at the  top,
where it is less noticeable.                                

Other players served in combat.  Before World War Two, Cecil
Travis was  a  hard-hitting  shortstop  for  the  Washington
Senators.   He  got frozen feet and never was the same after
the War.  A classic was Warren Spahn.  He had  no  decisions
in  four  games for the Boston Braves in 1942.  He spent the
next  three  years  in  the  Army,  earning  a   battlefield
commission.  He was 25 years old on April 23, 1946, the year
he won his first big league game.  He went  on  to  win  363
games,  fifth  on the all-time list and a figure unlikely to
be reached by any of today's major leaguers,  none  of  whom
spent  anytime  in  the service.  I realize that you younger
guys probably don't recognize some of the names above. Well,
they're part of history.  Let me know, and I'll tell you who
they were.                                                  

We've just returned from my ship's  reunion  in  Charleston,
SC.  We went one day early and went to Savannah for the day.
It's difficult  to  find  two  cities  more  enjoyable  than
Savannah and Charleston.  There are sights to see, places to
shop, and good food.  We ate at the Gryphon in Savannah  and
at Queen Anne's Revenge on Daniel Island in Charleston.  The
latter has pirate artifacts, original paintings by the likes
of  Howard Pyle and a magnificent model of its namesake ship
made by William G.  Thomas-Moore, who operates  Ship  Shapes
Maritime Gallery at 56 « Queen Street in Charleston.  Shoot,
we even had good food on the way,  stopping  for  supper  at
Maurice's Barbecue in Santee, SC.                           

Coming   back   to   reality   is   tough,   but  there  are
compensations.  I look forward to seeing you all at our  May
16 meeting.                                                 

				Walter

GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET CAMP #1247

NEXT MEETING-TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2006

ROMA'S RESTAURANT
8330 STAPLES MILL RD.
LOCATED IN "THE SHOPS AT STAPLES MILL"
TURN LEFT AT FIRST STOPLIGHT NORTH OF
THE WISTAR SHOPPING CENTER

DINNER - SOCIAL 6:00 PM

MAY PROGRAM

Our speaker for May will be Michael C.  Hardy of  Crossmore,
NC, who is coming up to speak to us on The Battle of Hanover
Courthouse.                                                 

This is the subject of  his  latest  book,  "The  Battle  of
Hanover Courthouse: Turning Point of the Peninsula Campaign,
May 27, 1862." This book grew  from  the  research  that  he
began  for  his  first  book,  the  acclaimed history of the
Thirty-Seventh North Carolina Troops.  He hopes, but is  not
sure,  that  it  will  be "off the press" in time for him to
bring some along on his visit to us.  Let's give Mr.   Hardy
a  great Longstreet welcome.  Come and learn more about this
local battle.                                               

APRIL PROGRAM

Longstreet's Adjutant Walter Tucker gave a very  interesting
slide  presentation on the monuments of Monument Avenue.  He
not only detailed the  history  of  each  monument  on  this
historic thoroughfare, but also gave us a brief biography of
each man depicted by those great edifices.                  

Walter was inspired to organize  this  program  after  being
asked   by   several  Yankees  why  Richmond  has  monuments
dedicated to "losers." His rebuke  to  this  question  is  a
simple  presentation of the facts.  All of these men were of
impeccable character and possessed qualities that made  them
great and which we should all aspire to.                    

Walter started with the monument dedicated to J.E.B.  Stuart
at Lombardy Street.  Stuart, a hero of the Mexican  War  and
War  of Northern Aggression, was sent with Robert E.  Lee to
take care of John Brown and his cohorts at Harpers Ferry  in
1859.   In 1863 Stuart was mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern
and buried at Hollywood  Cemetery.   Stuart's  monument  was
sculpted  by  Fred Moynihan was unveiled May 30, 1907.  Upon
Stuart's death, Robert E.  Lee said, "He never brought me  a
piece  of  false  information.   I can scarcely think of him
without weeping."                                           

Robert E.  Lee's monument at Allen Avenue was  next.   Honor
and duty to his home were the only things that prevented him
from taking command of the federal  army.   A  distinguished
veteran  of  the Mexican War and the only person to graduate
from West Point  without  a  single  demerit,  Lee  accepted
command  of  the Virginia forces in 1861 and the entire Army
of Northern Virginia in 1862.  After the war he accepted the
position  of  President  of Washington College in Lexington,
Virginia.  After his death, the college changed its name  in
his  honor  to Washington and Lee.  Today, you can visit his
tomb at Lee chapel on the grounds of the  historic  college.
It  has  been  said that Episcopalian churches are all named
after saints.  Well, this church is not an exception.  Lee's
Statue  was sculpted by Jean Antoine Mercie and was unveiled
May 29, 1890.                                               

The next statue, moving west  on  this  historic  avenue  is
dedicated  to  the one and only president of the Confederate
States of  America.   Jefferson  Finis  Davis  was  born  in
Kentucky and was a soldier and senator before being asked to
become president  of  the  CSA.   His  first  wife  was  the
daughter  of Zachary Taylor (13th president and a man who he
almost got in a duel with in the army) but  she  died  three
months  after  they were married.  In 1845 he married Varina
and on their honeymoon he took her to visit the grave of his
first wife.  How romantic!  He resigned from his seat in the
US Senate in 1861 and accepted the offer to be President  of
the CSA.  After the war he was imprisoned at Fort Monroe and
after released lived in Canada,  England,  and  France.   He
accepted  a highly lucrative position in the business sector
and stayed out of politics for the rest of his life.  He  is
buried  in Hollywood Cemetery.  His monument was sculpted by
Edward Valentine and was unveiled in June of 1907.          

Stonewall Jackson's Monument  at  the  intersection  of  the
Boulevard  was  sculpted by F.  William Sievers was unveiled
October 11, 1919.  Like many other  Confederate  greats,  he
attended  West  Point.  He was an instructor of artillery at
VMI and  showed  incredible  strength  and  bravery  in  the
Confederate army.  A bit of an eccentric, he was very pious.
In civilian life Jackson taught two Sunday  school  classes,
one  for  slaves,  and  the other for free blacks.  At these
classes he not only taught them about God.  He  also  taught
them   how   to   read.    Killed  by  friendly  fire  on  a
reconnaissance mission he obtained immortality  through  his
great leadership and genius on the battlefield.             

Matthew  Fontain  Maury  is  probably  the  least recognized
figure of all the great monuments.  A descendant  of  French
Huguenots  escaping  religious  persecution, Maury's love of
the sea was evident early in his life.  A midshipman in  his
youth,  he  never received any formal education.  His genius
in currents and  navigation  revolutionized  oceanic  travel
across   the   world.    He  is  considered  the  father  of
Oceanography and Marine Meteorology.  A  VMI  professor  for
four  years,  he  is  buried  in  Hollywood  Cemetery.   His
monument was unveiled November 11, 1929 and was sculpted  by
F.  William Sievers.                                        

The  final  monument  on the Avenue traveling west is Author
Ashe.  His statue was unveiled on July 10, 2006  after  much
controversy.  As the only 20th century figure, his statue is
seen by some to be out of place and  in  conflict  with  the
theme  of  the historic Avenue.  Ashe, a tennis champion and
human  rights  advocate,  served  the  US  Military  as   an
assistant  tennis instructor at West Point.  He is buried at
Woodlawn Cemetery.                                          

Walter's rebuke to those  who  criticize  the  monuments  is
undoubtedly  concrete.   It is obvious that the "losers" are
in fact winners and can teach us a lot if we only  take  the
time  to  learn  about  their  lives and the challenges they
faced.                                                      

				Taylor

2005-2007 CAMP OFFICERS
LONGSTREET CAMP #1247
Commander: Taylor Cowardin                   356-9625
1st. Lt. Cmdr.: William F. Shumadine, III    285-4044
2nd Lt. Cmdr.: Michael Kidd	             270-9651
Adjutant/Treasurer: Walter Tucker            360-7247
Judge Advocate: Richard B. Campbell          278-6488
Quartermaster: R. Preston Nuttall            276-8977
Chaplain: Henry V. Langford                  474-1978

PUBLICATIONS
Webmaster: Gary F. Cowardin                  262-0534
Website: longstreetscv.org                           
War Horse:  David P. George                  353-8392

LONGSTREET'S FIRST CORPS

The following is a cumulative listing of contributors to the
upkeep  of  “The  Old  War  Horse” for the period July, 2005
through  the  current  month. As you  know,  our  cumulative
listing starts in July of each year.                        

Ben Baird
Harry Boyd
Lloyd Brooks
Brian Cowardin
Clint Cowardin
Gary Cowradin
Ron Cowardin
Taylor Cowardin
Raymond Crews*
Jerold Evans
Kitty Faglie*
Richard Faglie
David George
Charles Howard 
Chris Jewett
John Kane
Frank Marks
Lewis Mills
Joe Moschetti
John Moschetti
Preston Nuttall*
Ken Parsons
Joey Seay
Bill Setzer
Austin Thomas
David Thomas
Walter Tucker*
John Vial*
David Ware
Harold Whitmore*
Hugh Williams

In Memory of Chuck Walton-Anonymous
In Memory of Chuck Walton-Ben Baird
In Memory of Hef Ferguson-David George
In Memory of Tom Lauterbach-Harold Whitmore

Legend:                                    
* - Multiple contributions                 
§ - Visitor Donation                       
+ - in memory of Past Cmdr. Tom Lauterbach 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THROUGH 2006
Confederate Navy Exhibit, featuring ships, commanders, naval
technology,   paintings   and   artifacts.   Museum  of  the
Confederacy,   Richmond.    For   info:   (804)649-1861   or
www.moc.org

MAY 19-21
North-South Skirmish Association 113th National  Competition
near  Winchester.   Uniformed  competitors  in  member units
competing  with  muskets,  carbines  breech-loading  rifles,
revolvers,  mortars  &  cannon.  Largest Civil War live-fire
event in US.  Free admission, sutlers, food.  For info:
spartan1@attglobalnet;  www.n-ssa.org

MAY 20
Two hour Brandy Station Battlefield Tour of Buford Knoll and
Yew  Ridge  from  Graffiti  House,  Brandy  Station, 10 a.m.
Fighting that took place later in the afternoon of  June  9,
1863  between  Gen.   John  Buford  and Gen W.  H.  "Rooney"
Lee's Brigade.  No advance reservation  required.   $5  over
age  12.  Sponsored by Brandy Station Foundation.  For info:
(540)            547-4106,             bsfjune91863@aol.com,
www.brandystationfoundation.com

MAY 20
The Battle of Chancellorsville Tour with Michael Moore  from
Lee  Hall Mansion, Newport News, 8-5.  Sites associated with
Lee's greatest victory & the loss of Stonewall Jackson.  $50,
for info: (757) 888-3371; w.w.w.leehall.org

MAY 20-21
142nd Anniversary of the Battle of New  Market  on  original
1864  battlefield.   Daily  battle, living history programs,
Saturday dance.  Infantry, cavalry,  medical  and  artillery
needed.   Registration  $10  12  and  up  before  April  30.
Walk-ons $20.  All proceeds to New Market Battlefield  State
Park.   For  info,  Event  Manager  Ron Paul, (717) 528-8761
until 1:00 p.m.; gawcs@superpa.net

MAY 27
Grand Illumination in the Fredericksburg National  Cemetery,
8-11  p.m.  Lighted candles for each of more than 15,000 men
and women buried in the cemetery.  Rain date  May  28.   For
info: www.nps.gov/frsp/vc.htm

MAY 29
Memorial Day Ceremony in Fredericksburg  National  Cemetery,
Fredericksburg, 11 a.m.  For info:www.nps.gov/frsp/vc.htm

JUNE 3
Two-hour Brandy Station Battlefield Tour of Beverly Ford and
St.   James  Church  from Graffiti House, Brandy Station, 10
a.m.  Early morning June 9, 1863,  fighting  between  troops
under Union Gen.  John Buford and Gen.  William E.  "Grumble"
Jones.  No reservations required, $5.  Sponsored  by  Brandy
Station Foundation.  For info: (540) 547-4106
bsfjune81863@aol.com; www.brandystatrionfoundation.com

JUNE 3-4
144th Anniversary of the Battle of  Gaines'  Mill  at  Dorey
Park,  Richmond.  Lee, with Jackson, Longstreet, A.  P.  and
D.  H.  Hill and Hood attacking Fitz-John Porter's V  Corps.
Both  days morning tactical, afternoon battle.  Southern BBQ
and dance Saturday  night.   Military  and  civilian  living
history.   $100  bounty  for  first  registered artillery on
arrival.  $100 for infantry  with  most  members  attending.
Registration   fee   13  &  older  $6  by  April  30,  final
registration May 15,$7, walk-ons, $8 with  no  meal  ticket.
Period sutlers welcome.  Spectator admission free.  Sponsored
by Henrico County Recreation  and  Parks.   Hosted  by  44th
Virginia    Infantry,    Company    I.    For   information,
registration, Rick Reed, (804) 590-3072, rreid30328@aol.com

JUNE 9
History at Sunset  "Under  the  Guns:  The  Bombardment  and
Looting   of   Fredericksburg:"   with   Fredericksburg  and
Spotsylvania National Park historian  John  Hennessy.   From
Market  Square  downtown  Fredericksburg,  7 p.m.  For info:
www.nps.gov/fsrp/vc.htm

JUNE 9-11
3rd Annual Dixie Days,  The  Battle  of  Shady  Grove  Road:
Prelude to Cold Harbor." At Pole Green Park, Mechanicsville,
part of original battlegrounds of battle at Bethesda Church.
Federal   participants   needed.    No   fee.    For   info:
www.dixiedays.com

JUNE10,11
"Chatham at War: Living History Week at Chatham  Manor."  at
Fredericksburg   and  Spotsylvania  National  Park.   Living
History presentation, demonstrations, special tours of  1771
manor house.  For info: www.nps.gov/frsp/vc.htm

JUNE 16
"History at Sunset: "The forgotten Plain at  Fredericksburg:
Bernard's  Slave Cabins and Latimer's Knoll," from South Lee
Drive with Fredericksburg  and  Spotsylvania  National  Park
historian Frank O'Reilly, 7 p.m.  For info:                 
www.nps.gov/frsp/vc.htm

JUNE 17
Two hour Brandy Station Battlefield tour of Kelly's Ford and
Stevensburg,  from  Graffiti  House, Brandy Station, 10 a.m.
Begins with discussion of Union crossing  at  Kelly's  Ford.
Follows  route of Union cavalry division to Stevensburg.  No
reservation required.  $5 over age 12.  Sponsored by  Brandy
Station     Foundation.      For     info:(540)    547-4106,
bsfjune91863@aol.com, www.brandystationfoundation.com

JUNE 17
The Bermuda Hundred Campaign Tour with  Michael  Moore  from
Lee  Hall  Mansion,  Newport  News.   9-5.  Bermuda Hundred,
Dutch   Gap,   Battery   Danzler,   Fort   Stebens,   George
McClelland's   Army   of   the  Potomac.   $45.   For  info:
(757)888-3371; www.leehall.org

June 24, 25
10th Annual Civil War Weekend at  Pamplin  Historical  Park,
Petersburg.  Battlefield demonstrations, Civil War Medicine,
music, encampment.  Special guided tours throughout the day.
For info: (804)861-2408, www.pamplinpark.org

A LITTLE HUMOR

In the 1948 presidential contest between Truman  and  Dewey,
the  latter  looked like a winner.  On election night, Dewey
asked his wife, "How will it be to sleep with the  President
of the United States?" She replied, "A high honor, and quite
frankly, darling, I'm looking forward to it." Next  morning.
at  breakfast, Mrs.  Dewey said "Tell me, Tom, am I going to
Washington or is Harry coming here?"                        

A  Confederate  soldier,  brought  before  General  Benjamin
Butler  to  take  the  oath  of allegiance at the end of the
Civil War, impudently remarked, "We sure gave  you  hell  at
Chickamauga,  General!"  The furious Butler warned him if he
did not take the oath immediately, he would be  shot.   With
some  reluctance,  the  rebel  duly  took the oath.  Then he
looked Butler in the eye and said, "General, I suppose I  am
a  good  Yankee  and  citizen of the United States now?" The
General replied benignly, "I hope so." "Well,  General,  the
rebels did give us hell at Chickamauga, didn't they?"       

THE WINNER OF THIS MONTH'S DRAWING!

Preston Nuttall was AGAIN the happy winner of  the  drawing.
The  Old War Horse was delighted also as Preston treated him
to another goodly portion of oats as a  result!   Again,  he
gave  an  appreciative  whinny  of  thanks  to  our resident
author.                                                     

National SCV Field Representative Visits Longstreet Camp

Jack Marlar dropped by our April meeting to fill  us  in  on
the  latest  concerning  our  SCV youth History Camps and to
show us of all of the publications and CDs available  to  us
from   National   Headquarters   on   the   subject  of  the
Confederacy, its citizens, its soldiers and leaders.        

If you haven't checked the SCV catalog lately,  revisit  its
pages.    There   are  some  great  reads  available  there.
Remember, we can't honor the history of our Nation  and  our
forebears unless we are knowledgeable about it!!            

EDITOR'S NOTE

Your editor and his wife are in the throes of moving!!!
As a result of this, the Horse  is  somewhat  shortened  in
length  this  month.   All of the reference books have been
packed and moved and we are surrounded by open spaces.   We
will be in our new quarters on the 15th of May.            

                                          Dave George