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THE OLD WAR HORSE
THE VOICE OF GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET CAMP #1247, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS VOLUME 11, ISSUE 8, September, 2009 |
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The "dog days of summer" are beginning to wind down for us all - although you might think it already has what with the damp and cool weather we have been experiencing lately. It sort of reminds me of the many letters and correspondents that I (and I'm sure many of you) have read over the years of the Confederate soldiers that fought here in Virginia during this time of year - how a lot of them had never experienced the oppressive heat, humidity and sometimes sudden weather changes that is a Virginia summer, and didn't know how to deal with it. Yet, these brave and hardy men fought to the very end to protect and defend their homes and their families. One such soldier was Sgt. John D. Clopton, Co. E 19th Mississippi Infantry. His story has been recently passed around the Longstreet Camp by our very own Lewis Mills. Lewis has worked tirelessly on trying to find and properly mark Sgt. Clopton's grave at Hollywood Cemetery. I know that the Clopton family has been very appreciative of Lewis's hard work - and in that spirit the General James Longstreet Camp will be hosting a grave-site dedication service of Sgt. Clopton at Hollywood Cemetery, Sunday September 20th at 3pm. I am asking that ALL LONGSTREET CAMP MEMBERS ATTEND THIS SERVICE! Sgt. Clopton's family will be in attendance, and I think it only fitting that each and every member of the Longstreet Camp - and any of the family and friends/neighbors that wish to attend do so. I know it would mean a lot to them. The State Fair of Virginia is just around the corner (by the time you will receive this), and once again Commander Rob Milikin has asked for volunteers to help man the SCV's booth at this year's Fair. I had the chance to participate again last year and definitely found it to be a very rewarding experience, and if my work schedule will allow for it - I hope to be able to lend my support to it again this year. I encourage any/all Longstreet Camp members to volunteer some of their time to assist Commander Milikin with this venture. I think you will find it as rewarding as I did. Don't forget to turn in your annual dues statement to Walter - you should have received a statement in the mail already. If you did not receive a statement and are in good standing with the Longstreet Camp and the Virginia Division-SCV, then please contact Walter Tucker or myself so we can get a payment form to you. If you know of anyone who was a Longstreet Camp member in the past, but may have let their membership expire - please let Walter or myself know so that we may contact them to see if they would be interested in re-joining (I would also encourage you to do the same). I will not be at our next scheduled camp meeting as I have a previous engagement to attend that night, but have asked Taylor Cowardin, Harry Boyd, and Tom Vance to help fill in and lead the meeting. I know they will do an outstanding job as it promises to be an excellent meeting. Remember - "Longstreet is the Camp boys - Longstreet is the Camp!" Deo Vindice! Mike
We have received from Headquarters the membership certificate of Cody Oliver and plan to induct him at our 15 September meeting. His ancestor Isom B. Osborn served in the 23rd Battalion Virginia Infantry. Gene Lyon has had several surgeries. Please continue to pray for him and his family as he recovers. Pat Hoggard had hip replacement surgery. With previous replacements of his other hip and both knees, Sarah refers to him as her Titanium Man. Pat and Sarah worked diligently on the Pat's Thomas Jefferson High School Class of 1949 60th anniversary reunion, which was held in June. Speaking of work, Gary Cowardin, Peyton Roden, and Bobby Williams devote their efforts to Field Days of the Past, a delightful fair to be held September 18-20 on Route 623 (Ashland Road) north of West Broad Street. More information, including directions, is available on the web site http://www.fielddayof the past.net. Last year a couple of SCV camps had booths at this enjoyable event. Congratulations and best wishes to Past Camp Commander Taylor Cowardin and Jodi Arnold, who were married 7 August. The wedding writeup and picture were in the Celebrations section of the 6 September edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Congratulations also to Barton and Madge Campbell as they celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary this month. Time marches on. We remember with pleasure the enthusiasm of the young J. E. B. Stuart VI when he began attending our camp meetings several years ago. He's grown up and is now a freshman at Virginia Tech. The response of our members in paying renewal dues has been outstanding. As of Saturday 5 September, 81.25% of our members have paid. Thanks to all who have paid and to those who made contributions to the Camp and to Virginia Division special funds. International Headquarters and Virginia Division have received their shares of dues on all who have renewed through 4 September. We have received a current roster from IHQ reflecting all payments received there as of 31 August. The Virginia Division made a gigantic improvement to this year's process by permitting camps to send International dues directly to Headquarters. Beginning this month, we shall publish one list of donors to Camp and Division funds, rather than separate lists for each of the four. The adjutant/treasurer continues to maintain a record of individual donations to the different categories. Thankfully, the proposed amendment to require 15 members to start a new camp was defeated at the SCV national convention. My wife Jackie, our 12 year old grandson Bryan, and I visited Monticello 2 September. The Visitor Center, opened last year, is a great addition and made this by far the best visit we've ever made to this international treasure. Our excellent docent had no answer to the question, "Why does President Thomas Jefferson's founding of the U. S. Military Academy (USMA) receive so little attention?" Prominent USMA 1947 graduate General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., President Ronald Reagan's Secretary of State, asserted that famed USMA Superintendent Sylvanus M. Thayer, Jr. was the founder of that illustrious institution. Wikipedia the Internet encyclopedia refers to Thayer as the "Father of West Point." That's absurd, since Thayer was appointed to West Point as a cadet by President Thomas Jefferson. Thayer 's impact on West Point was enormous, but to refer to him as either the founder or the father is preposterous. Lo and behold, the Monticello Museum Shop had for sale Thomas Jefferson's Military Academy: Founding West Point, edited by Robert M. S. McDonald, Associate Professor of History at USMA when the book was published in 2004. This book sets the matter straight. The Henrico County Public Library's circulating copy of this book is due back 2 October. My guess about Jefferson's founding of USMA receiving so little attention is that he did not request that it be put on his tombstone and that it was obscured by the many other great things that he did. Please attend our Camp's grave marker ceremony Sunday 20 September 3:00 PM at Hollywood Cemetery. The soldier to be honored is Sergeant John D. Clopton, Company E 19th Mississippi Infantry, who died of wounds in the spring of 1862. Our own Lewis Mills, a descendant of Sergeant Clopton, did the research, ordered the marker, and is primarily responsible for bringing this ceremony about. A number of Clopton descendants will be coming from out of town for this event. Lewis several years ago spearheaded the dedication of a grave marker ceremony at the church cemetery of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Beaverdam. We salute Lewis for his outstanding work. I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting Tuesday 15 September. Walter
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
Our speaker will be Mr. John J. Fox, III. He is is a member and past commander of Turner Ashby Camp #1567, Sons of Confederate Veterans, owner of Angle Valley Press and an award winning author. His book, Red Clay to Richmond has received considerable critical acclaim from fellow historians and book reviewers and recently won two book awards. His articles have appeared in Civil War Times magazine, America's Civil War magazine and numerous newspapers. He will speak to us about his his newest book, The Confederate Alamo: Bloodbath at Petersburg's Fort Gregg. Taylor
Our own Walter Tucker presented a slide show he has put together over the years of Fort Monroe giving this history and information: British invaders sailed by Old Point Comfort light house in the War of 1812. The British burning of Hampton and Washington were national humiliations. Coastal states clamored for an effective coastal defense system. Work started on Fort Monroe in 1819 and was completed in 1834. It was the largest moat encircled fort and mounted 412 guns. Brigadier General Abraham Eustis established the Artillery School of Practice at Fort Monroe. Many famous Americans served there: On 15 December 1828 U. S. Army soldier Edgar Allan Poe was assigned to Fort Monroe as an artificer. He was promoted to Sergeant Major 1 January 1829. President Andrew Jackson came to the Hygeia for 10 days in August 1829 to escape from the ruckus in Washington over the Eaton Affair. Army Lieutenant Robert E. Lee reported for duty to Fort Monroe 7 May 1831. Several years later after their marriage, Mary Custis moved to Fort Monroe to join him. Their first child, George Washington Custis Lee was born at Fort Monroe 16 September 1832. Indian leader and warrior Black Hawk spent some time at Fort Monroe leaving on 4 June 1833. President John Tyler sought the seclusion of Old Point Comfort upon the death of his first wife Letitia Christian Tyler September 1842. President Millard Fillmore Visited Fort Monroe 21 June 1851. Confederates were unable to capture Fort Monroe, which was a valuable base from which several Union amphibious operations were launched. Benjamin F. Butler assumed command of the Union Department of Virginia headquartered at Fort Monroe 18 May 1861. Confederate officer John B. Cary entered the Fort to ask for return of fugitive slaves. Butler refused, declaring them "contraband of war." Cary became Richmond superintendent of Schools in the 1880s and tripled the budget for the education of blacks. The famous battle of the ironclads between CSS Virginia and USS Monitor took place within sight of Fort Monroe 9 March 1862. President Abraham Lincoln came to Fort Monroe 6 May 1862. Having been given command of all Union armies 15 March 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant arrived at Fort Monroe 1 April to discuss a spring offensive with General Ben Butler. On 3 February 1865 aboard USS Delta Queen at Fort Monroe, Lincoln and Secretary of State William H. Seward met with Confederate commissioners Vice President Alexander H. Stephens, Confederate Senate presiding officer Robert M. T. Hunter, and Assistant SECWAR John A. Campbell. Stephens and Hunter had been U. S. congressmen; Campbell had been a U. S. Supreme Court justice. President Jefferson Davis was brought to Fort Monroe 22 May 1865 and kept in a cell shackled with ankle irons. Word got out, and northern indignation caused removal of the shackles 28 May. After 4 « months, he was moved to Carroll House. In May 1866 his wife Varina was permitted to stay near him. Later she was allowed to move in with him. New York lawyer Charles O'Conor defended Davis at no charge. The Yankees were unwilling to risk a trial because they feared he would be acquitted. Colonel Emory Upton served as an instructor (and briefly temporarily as CO) in the Artillery School at Fort Monroe from March 1877 until January 1880. He had been a great Union hero in the 1864 Spotsylvania Campaign. Matthew B. Ridgway (later General) a famed outstanding soldier of World War Two and the Korean War, who served as U. S. Army Chief of Staff October 1953-June 1955, was born at Fort Monroe 3 March 1895. His father Thomas Ridgway was an artillery officer stationed at the Fort. President Woodrow Wilson during World War One would come by boat to Fort Monroe and would worship in the Chapel of the Centurion, which had been built in 1858. General (later President) Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mamie's son John was married in the Chapel of the Centurion in 1947. Our Camp member Clint Cowardin was stationed at Fort Monroe for three years in the 1970's. Hugh Williams spent six weeks there in the 1940's, firing 12 inch recoiling guns and other artillery.
Threat to Fort Monroe today
The Army is scheduled to leave in 2011. What happens then will be largely influenced by the Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority, an organization of 18 members, seven of whom are from the City of Hampton, some of whom favor real estate development. This dominance by one political subdivision is unfair to all Americans, who are the owners of this priceless historic treasure.
2007-2009 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 474-1978PUBLICATIONS
War Horse editor and Webmaster: Gary F. Cowardin 262-0534 Website: longstreetscv.org
The following is a listing of Longstreet Camp Donors for Virginia Division Special Funds, Hurtt Scholarship Fund, Camp General Fund, and the upkeep of "The Old War Horse" for July and August 2009. As you know, our cumulative listing starts in July of each year and we do not meet in August. Walt Beam Lloyd Brooks Brian Cowardin Taylor Cowardin Lee Crenshaw Dale Harlow Michael Hendrick Crawley Joyner Jack Kane Peter Knowles, II Lewis Mills Bob Moore Joe Moschetti Joseph Sterling Price Waite Rawls Cary Shelton Chris Trinite Walter Tucker David Ware Harold Whitmore Legend: * - Multiple contributions
Another New Member Joins Our Ranks
New member James N. Pitts
COMING EVENTS
3pm Sunday, September 20th, Hollywood Cemetery Dedication Ceremony will take place in Hollywood Cemetery for Sgt. John D. Clopton Company E, 19th Missippii Infantry (Lewis Mills has set this up and the grave marker is already in place)
Pamplin Historical Park September 15-October 4, 2009, Virginia Stage Company, Norfolk, VA "ALIVE AND WELL" In this funny new play by VSC favorite Kenny Finkle, our country's continuing struggle between the North and South is on full display as a heartbroken Civil War re-enactor and an emotionally desperate New York journalist search for the oldest living Civil War veteran. Trekking through the heart of Virginia, they find more than they bargained for in this irreverent take on modern America. This is the second play in VSC's American Soil series, a new play project exploring the cultural and historical foundations of Hampton Roads. Box Office: (757) 627-1234 www.vastage.com/plays
THE MUSEUM of the CONFEDERACY Visit the The Museum OF THE Confederacy Online Events Calendar for MOC Events Calendar: www.moc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=visit_cal
Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier Special Events Calendar: http://www.pamplinpark.org/events.html