COMMANDER'S COMMENTS

April is a special time of year for  those  of  us  who  are
fortunate  enough  to  have  ancestor's  that fought for the
Confederacy.  April has long  been  considered  History  and
Heritage  Month  for  the  members of the Virginia Division,
SCV.  The reasons are very obvious.  It was in April,  1861,
that the conflict that would turn our landscape red with the
spilled blood of many a Southern soldier would begin in  the
port  city  of  Charleston,  SC with the bombardment of Fort
Sumter.   Ironically  the  only  casualty  of  that   battle
occurred  after  the  bombardment  was over and the Fort had
been surrendered.  The departing Yankee's  wanted  to  honor
their   flag   as   they   were  lowering  it  by  firing  a
military-style salute with some of the cannon located on the
grounds of the Fort, and one of the muzzles exploded killing
a Union soldier standing nearby.  Of course four years later
on  April  9th saw the surrender of what remained of General
Lee's vaulted Army of Northern Virginia to  General  Grant's
Union forces around Appomattox Courthouse.                  

I am fortunate to have hanging on my wall by my desk  at  my
workplace  a  calendar  of  works  done  by the artist, Mort
Kunstler.  This month's image is  especially  poignant.   It
shows  General  Lee  atop  Traveler trying to rally what was
left of his forces after the debacle at Sayler's Creek.  The
General  is  sitting on Traveler holding a battered and torn
Confederate Battle flag, and  the  remnants  of  his  tired,
dirty,  worn-out,  starved  army  are  gathering  around him
looking to him for leadership and  inspiration.   I  realize
that  those  calendars  are copies of painted images of what
the artist believed to have possibly occurred at  or  around
the  time  that  they  are  attempting  to capture.  I often
wonder though of what type of man could inspire  men  to  do
such things as the men of the Army of Northern Virginia did.
What type of leaders these men were - General Robert E. Lee;
General    Thomas   "Stonewall"   Jackson;   General   James
Longstreet; General J.E.B.  Stuart - when they were able  to
time  and again inspire, lead and drive their men to do what
many considered to be the impossible.  The  men  that  these
Generals  led  into  battle  after battle did so not because
they were looking for glory or some sort of  medals  -  they
did  so  out of self-sacrifice.  They were defending against
an invading force.  These men did what they did because they
felt  and  believed  they  were doing the right thing - they
were defending their homes, their families, their farms, and
their  very  existence  as a society.  That is why I believe
that we need to remember them and honor  them  -  especially
this month, but year-round as well.                         

Recently the Virginia Division, SCV, held its  annual  State
Convention  - this year in Richmond at the Sheraton Richmond
West Hotel.  A new slate of officers were elected  to  serve
all  the  members  of the Virginia Division for the next two
(2) years, and also a new 2nd Brigade Commander was  elected
-  Rob  Millikin chose not to seek re-election to that post.
His leadership  will  be  missed  by  everyone  in  the  2nd
Brigade,  as  well  as the Virginia Division, SCV.  Our camp
Adjutant, Walter Tucker,  attended  the  Convention  as  the
Longstreet  Camp  representative,  and  his comments will go
into further details on the goings-on of the Convention.  If
you  have  any questions once you have read Walter's report,
please feel free to bring it up at our  next  Camp  meeting.
Walter  and  I  both can also be reached by email for anyone
who isn't able to make this month's meeting.                

I'm sure that Walter will mention this as well,  but  please
try  to  volunteer  your  time,  if  possible,  on  the road
clean-up coming on the 19th of April.  The  more  people  we
get to help, the quicker it can go for everyone.            

As  I  have  mentioned  in previous newsletters, I have been
asked by a member of the UDC to see if the  Longstreet  camp
would  be  interested  in  assisting  with  the planning and
coordination of the upcoming  Children  of  the  Confederacy
Convention  that  will  be  held  in July.  I hope to have a
member of the Convention Committee present  at  one  of  our
up-coming  Camp  meetings  to discuss what assistance we can
provide them and to also  provide  more  details  about  the
Convention itself.                                          

Remember -
"Longstreet is the Camp boys - Longstreet is  the Camp!"

I look forward to seeing everyone at our next camp meeting -
April  15th!   Remember  -  show  your  Confederate Heritage
proudly this month!                                         

Deo Vindice!                                                
					Mike

ADJUTANT'S REPORT

We note with sadness  the  March  8  passing  of  Compatriot
Julian  Edward  "Ed" Thornton and extend our sympathy to his
family.   Ed's  health  had  prevented  him  from  attending
meetings  in  quite  some  time.   He  and I had a number of
pleasant  telephone  conversations.   Ed   transferred   his
membership  to  our  Camp  several  years ago because of his
friendship with our late past Camp Commander  Chuck  Walton.
The  two  of  them grew up in West Point, VA and shared many
stories about the home town  of  Chesty  Puller.   It  could
become  very  interesting  when  Chuck  and Ed had different
opinions about something.  Ed's Confederate ancestor  served
in  the 26th Virginia Infantry, as did Chuck's, the immortal
Buck Hurtt.                                                 

Several members, listed elsewhere in this  newsletter,  have
made  generous  donations  to  the  Hurtt  Scholarship Fund.
Beginning in 2003, our Camp has made  annually  a  one  time
scholarship grant to the outstanding senior history student,
chosen by the history faculty, at Douglas S.   Freeman  High
School.  The award is presented at senior awards night, when
our Camp's name is printed in the program and mentioned from
the  stage  when  the  award is given to the student.  Chuck
Walton was the original presenter.  After  Chuck's  untimely
death in July, 2003, we named the award the Buck Hurtt Award
in memory of Chuck's Confederate ancestor who  died  at  the
infamous Yankee prison camp at Elmira, NY.                  

The  Virginia  Division annual convention was held April 4-6
at Richmond's Sheraton West.   Outgoing  Division  Commander
Frank Earnest reminded us that 2008 is the year of Jefferson
Davis and encouraged us to attend the June  7  commemoration
of his birthday at Hollywood Cemetery.  Davis's postwar home
Beauvoir,  damaged  so  badly  by  Hurricane   Katrina,   is
scheduled to reopen June 3.                                 

New  Division  officers,  listed separately, were elected to
serve for the next two years.  There was  no  opposition  to
the  candidates  submitted  by  the nominating committee, so
they were  elected  unanimously.   Brigade  commanders  were
elected  by  only those camps in the particular brigade.  We
extend our  congratulations  to  our  associate  member  Joe
Wright on his election as treasurer.  We also thank outgoing
2nd Brigade Commander Rob Millikin for his support of  camps
in his brigade.                                             

The  Convention  passed  several  amendments to the Division
constitution.  The  office  of  treasurer  was  created,  as
separate  from  adjutant.   The office of judge advocate was
abolished in this same  amendment.   The  Division  Heritage
Officer,  appointed  by  the  Division  Commander  with  the
approval of the Division Executive Council (DEC), will be  a
voting member of the DEC.  A resolution was passed canceling
the Confederate Heritage Parade  unless  1,000  participants
will participate.                                           

A  modification  will be made to the Division's central dues
billing system for the fiscal year beginning August 1, 2008,
which will benefit greatly camps and individual members. The
bill will be mailed to each camp member by the Division, but
payments  will  be  made  to camp adjutants.  Thus, the camp
will have its portion of dues upon receipt from the  member,
and  the  adjutant will know at all times which members have
paid and which have not.  National and Division dues will be
mailed  to  Division.   Division  will mail dues to National
every two weeks.                                            

The Division has retained the services of  attorney  Patrick
McSweeney  to  get  the  City  of  Richmond to allow upright
markers in the Confederate section of Oakwood Cemetery.  Lee
Hart  of  the Division's Oakwood Cemetery Committee reported
that the Cemetery permitted an upright  marker  and  a  flat
marker   on   the  grave  of  a  Confederate  soldier  whose
descendants came from South Carolina for  a  ceremony.   The
City  removed  the upright marker some time after the family
returned home.  Lee has the marker.  The Confederate section
is  the  only  part  of  Oakwood that does not allow upright
markers.  Lee reminded us that  in  1906  Congress  declared
Confederates  to be American soldiers and therefore entitled
to grave markers from  the  government.   Congress  approved
upright  markers  in  February 1929 and in 1930 approved the
Confederate cross of honor.  Lee has a wealth  of  knowledge
about Oakwood and about grave markers.                      

Several   candidates   for  national  offices  spoke.   Some
Division members spoke on behalf of national candidates  who
did not attend our convention.                              

Thanks  to  several members who have volunteered to clean up
Longstreet's section of Studley Road  (Route  606),  Hanover
County  Saturday  April  19.  It's never too late, so if you
wish to help, please let Lewis Mills or me know.            

Look forward to seeing you at  our  next  meeting,  Tuesday,
April 15.                                                   

					Walter

GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET CAMP #1247

NEXT MEETING - TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2008

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
MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 PM

APRIL PROGRAM

Our speaker for the April meeting will be Emerson  Williams.
He is the author of two historical novels: Roaring Creek and
Sinkhole Justice.                                           

Both books are based on the amazing war experiences  of  two
of  his  ancestors  who  were from what became West Virginia
during the War of Northern Aggression.                      

Mr.  Williams will tell us about his  Confederate  ancestors
and  his  books and will have copies of both books available
for purchase at the meeting.                                

MARCH PROGRAM

Hugh  Campbell,  a  lifelong  resident  of  Hanover  County,
enlightened  us  at  our  March  meeting  by  discussing the
1804-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition.                       

President Thomas  Jefferson  was  concerned  about  American
access  to  the port of New Orleans and sent James Monroe as
Envoy Extraordinary to  France  to  join  Ambassador  Robert
Livingston   in  negotiating  for  its  purchase.   Napoleon
offered the entire Louisiana Territory, which they accepted.

Wanting to acquire more knowledge  of  what  we'd  acquired,
Jefferson  appointed  his  neighbor  and  personal secretary
Meriwether Lewis, an Army captain,  to  attempt  to  find  a
northwest water passage to the Pacific Ocean.               

Lewis  said  he  would  need  assistance  in leading such an
expedition.  In response to Jefferson's  question  "Whom  do
you  want?"  Lewis picked his capable friend Army Lieutenant
William Clark.  Clark was supposed to be  promoted  Captain,
but  the  paper  work  never  came  through.   Lewis  always
referred to him as Captain and treated him as such.         

In order to maintain discipline, the expedition was an  army
unit with 31 members.  Amazingly, only one, Sergeant Charles
Floyd, died during the journey, presumably from  a  ruptured
appendix.  He was buried at Sioux City, Iowa.               

The  expedition  made  its  way  up  the  Missouri River and
wintered at Fort  Mandan,  North  Dakota.   Here  they  were
joined  by  Frenchman  Toussaint  Charbonneau  and  his wife
Sacagawea.  Indians believed that a war party would not have
a woman with them, so this made the expedition acceptable to
tribes encountered.                                         

Sacagawea told Lewis and Clark that the Shoshones, of  which
her brother was chief, had horses, which they gave or traded
to the expedition.                                          

After nearly starving to death in the Bitterroot  Mountains,
the  expedition  reached  the  Pacific  Ocean  and spent six
months at Fort Clatsup, Washington.   There  were  very  few
clear days during this six months stay.                     

Sacagawea gave birth to a child named Jean Baptiste, who was
called "Pompy" by Lewis.  Lewis promised to educate the lad,
which he did.                                               

On  the  return  trip,  Sacagawea  and  Charbonneau left the
expedition at Fort Mandan.                                  

Clark had estimated the total mileage within 40 miles!      

This remarkable journey  paved  the  way  for  our  nation's
further westward settlement.  Lewis suffered from depression
after the return and died in 1809, an apparent suicide.     

					Walter

2005-2008 CAMP OFFICERS
LONGSTREET CAMP #1247
Commander: Michael Kidd	                     270-9651
1st. Lt. Cmdr.: Taylor Cowardin              359-9277
2nd Lt. Cmdr.: Thomas G. Vance	             282-6278
Adjutant/Treasurer: Walter Tucker            360-7247
Judge Advocate: Harry Boyd                   741-2060
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                  200-1311

LONGSTREET'S FIRST CORPS

The following is a listing of contributors to the upkeep  of
"The  Old  War  Horse" from July, 2007.  through the current
month.  As you know, our cumulative listing starts  in  July
of each year and we do not meet in August.                  

Lloyd Brooks*
Brian Cowardin
Clint Cowardin*
Gary Cowardin
Taylor Cowardin
Ray Crews
Jerold Evans
Kitty Faglie
Richard Faglie
Michael Hendrick
Michael Kidd
Peter Knowles,II
Lewis Mills
Conway Moncure
Robert Moore
Joe Moschetti
John Moschetti
Peyton Roden
Bill Setzer
Rufus Sarvay
Will Shumadine
Austin Thomas
John Vial
Jerry Wells
David Ware
Harold Whitmore
Bobby Williams
Hugh Williams 
Keith Zimmerman

In memory of Robert Mahone-Raymond Crews
In memory of Hef Ferguson and Chuck Walton-Walter Tucker

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

HURTT SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The fund is alive and well thanks to the donations  received
from the following members:                                 

Brian Cowardin   
Clint Cowardin   
Michael Hendricks
Bob Moore        
Preston Nuttall  
Waite Rawls      
Rufus Sarvay     
Walter Tucker    
Tom Vance        
Will Wallis      

This is a monetary award for the best history scholar of the
graduating class of Douglas Freeman High School.  The winner
is selected by the History Department.                      

VIRGINIA DIVISION NEWS

We now have newly elected Division officers at the  helm  of
the Virginia Division.  They are:                           
 COMMANDER 
 JOHN N. SAWYER
 FIRST LT. COMMANDER 
 GRAYSON R. JENNINGS
 2ND LT. COMMANDER 
 MARK CRAIG
 ADJUTANT 
 MICHAEL A. ROSE
 INSPECTOR 
 THOMAS BANKS
 QUARTERMASTER 
 TIM ROACH
 CHAPLAIN 
 CURTIS BUTTERWORTH
 TREASURER 
 JOSEPH WRIGHT
 ARCHIVIST 
 ARTHUR WATSON

Note: An amendment was passed to eliminate the  position  of
Judge   Advocate   and  replace  it  with  the  position  of
Treasurer.  The position  of  Adjutant/Treasurer  no  longer
exists.                                                     

GOOD NEWS FROM GETTYSBURG!!!

The new museum and visitor's center will open at  8:00  a.m.
on Monday, April 14!                                        

This is a culmination of almost 12 years of planning and the
expenditure of million of dollars.                          

April 13th is a partial opening, not  every  thing  will  be
available  for viewing.  The Grand Opening will be September
26 thru 28th.                                               

The Cyclorama painting has been fully restored  at  enormous
cost  and will be available for viewing starting on the 26th
of April.                                                   

The new Center will have 24,000 sq.  ft.  of space  with  12
exhibit galleries.                                          

CALENDAR OF VIRGINIA EVENTS

APRIL 18-20 12th Biennial Stonewall Jackson Symposium at the
Stonewall  Jackson  House,  Lexington.   Brochures with full
schedule  of  lectures   and   tours   available.    Contact
development@stonewalljackson.org

APRIL   18-20  4th  Annual  Skirmish  at  Jeffersonville  at
historic Crab Orchard Museum,  Tazewell.   Friday  education
day   &   night   artillery  fire.   Living  history  camps,
demonstrations, battles 2 p.m.  each  day.   Saturday  night
ball,  Sunday church service.  Admission adult $5 daily, $10
week end including ball; ages 7-12 $3 daily, $5 weekend. For
info, (276)988-6755 or info@craborchardmuseum.org

APRIL 19 Soldier-led walking tours at Fort Ward, Alexandria,
10 a.m.  & 2 p.m.  Union Civil War soldier -guided one  hour
tours.            Free.            For          information,
(703)838-4848;www.fortward.org

MAY 2-4 Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
will  sponsor  special several tours in commemoration of the
145th Anniversary of the Battle  of  Chancellorsville.   For
info, (540) 373-6122 or (540) 373-5167

"Because I was born in the South, I'm a  Southerner.   If  I
had  been born in the North, the West or the Central Plains,
I would be just a human being."                             
                                                Clyde Edgerton