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THE OLD WAR HORSE
THE VOICE OF GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET CAMP #1247, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS VOLUME 13, ISSUE 11, November 2011 longstreetscv.org |
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I find it hard to believe that it is already November! Thanksgiving is less than a month away and Christmas is less than two months away. We're already seeing Christmas ads on TV and Christmas merchandise is now in stores. Two weekends ago the weather also sent us a reminder that winter will soon be upon us. Luckily we received only wind and rain but the north had a devastating snow storm. 150 years ago our ancestors were constantly out in the elements braving the cold rain and snow often without shoes and warm coats. We must never forget the suffering they endured and the sacrifices they made to fight for their homeland and way of life. The next time you have to be out in the cold and start to feel miserable, remember your ancestor who couldn't escape it. He not only had to fight in it. He had to live in it. We sure are fortunate today with all of our modern amenities! Don't forget to send in your RSVP form to Walter for the Christmas Banquet. Waite Rawls will be our guest speaker and dinner at the Westwood Club never disappoints! Deo Vindice! Taylor
We were pleased to induct at our October meeting new member Richard L. Chenery, III, whose ancestor Thomas J. Stiff served in the 24th Virginia Cavalry, the same unit in which Charles Mills, ancestor of our Camp member Lewis Mills, served.Gary Cowardin was elected Camp Quartermaster at our October meeting. 2nd Brigade Commander Doug Pruiett then installed our officers for the current year.
Hats off to Paul Sacra who was part of the volunteer group searching the North Anna Battlefield Park Area for Robert Wood, Jr., the eight year old autistic boy who was missing for six days and was found Friday 28 October. Pat Sweeney is recovering nicely from surgery, but is not driving yet, so he's not sure that he can be with us at the November meeting. Rain postponed our scheduled 29 October semi-annual cleanup of Studley Road, Hanover County, until Saturday 12 November. Most who signed up are available for the new date. Good news on the preservation front came from Washington Tuesday 1 November as President Obama signed a proclamation designating Fort Monroe as a national monument. Energetic preservationists worked hard for this significant step in having a good portion of the Fort becoming a national park. Presidents Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant (as General), Woodrow Wilson, and Dwight D. Eisenhower (as General) had connections with the Fort. Famous soldiers serving at the the Fort were Sergeant Major Edgar Allan Poe, Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, Benjamin Butler, and Emory Upton. Matthew B. Ridgway of World War Two and Korean War fame was born at Fort Monroe. Famed Indian warrior Black Hawk was imprisoned at Fort Monroe. With the deadline for membership renewals without reinstatement fees passing on 31 October, Longstreet Camp remains strong with 75 regular and five associate members. Reservaions are coming in nicely for our 6 December Christmas Banquet/Ladies Night at the Westwood Club. The Club always has excellent food and service. We look forward to this festive occasion with our own Camp member Waite Rawls as speaker. William C. "Jack" Davis and Jame I. "Bud " Robertson, Jr. have edited a series of books titled "Virginia at War" with one volume for each year of The War. Essayists in the 1861 volume in addition to Davis and Robertson are Craig Symonds, Joseph Glatthaar, John Coski, Ervin L. Jordan, Jr., Michael Mahon, and C. Stuart McGehee. All five books are in the Library of Virginia. Surprisingly, only 1864 is in the Henrico County Public Library. All five are available for purchase from Amazon.com Respected War historian Gary Gallagher spoke at the Jepson Leadership Institute of the University of Richmond on Friday 4 November about command relationships in The War, focusing on Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant and Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee. Gary's most recent book is "The Union War." Gary believes that we should read history forward and not backward, understanding the times in which people lived, rather than viewing history through our 21st century perceptions. Be sure and thank a veteran on Veterans Day. Walter Click here to goto THEN PRINT the December dinner/program RSVP form, Must be in by 11/30/11
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
Kelly Hancock, Manager of Education and Programs MOC"Captain" Sally Tompkins This talk will highlight the life of "Captain" Sally Tompkins, focusing on her wartime work in Richmond. What was so special about Robertson Hospital? Why was Sally commissioned a captain? And why did her hospital face closure on more than one occasion? These questions and more will be explored. Andy
SunTrust Mortgage retiree (before the crash!) and Chartered Financial Planner John Phillips gave an interesting power point presentation about coins, currency, and tokens likely to be found in a soldier's pocket during The War. The first American dollar was based on the Spanish coin "ocho (eight) reales." One fourth of this coin would be two reales; hence the origin of the phrase "two bits" for a quarter. John showed us the following images: 1/2 cent 1857 Flying Eagle cent 1851 silver 3 cent piece which would buy a three cent postage stamp 1842 seated Liberty half dime (There was no such thing as a nickel then) 1834 capped bust quarter 1851 and 1854 gold dollars 1851 Liberty quarter Eagle 1852 $10 Liberty Eagle 1851 $20 double Eagle Currency: Tokens issued by merchants. Confederate currency included a $1 Corporation of Richmond, VA dated 19 April 1861. Much was printed by Heyer and Ludwig at 8th and Broad Streets. John also showed us state notes, city notes, and bank notes of the period. It is impossible to describe adequately in writing the impact of this presentation. Walter September meeting attendance: 43
2011-2012 CAMP OFFICERS LONGSTREET CAMP #1247
Commander: Taylor Cowardin 359-9277 1st. Lt. Cmdr.: Andy Keller 270-0522 2nd Lt. Cmdr.: Paul Sacra 270-1292 Adjutant/Treasurer: Walter Tucker 360-7247 Judge Advocate: Harry Boyd 741-2060 Quartermaster: Gary Cowardin 262-0534 Chaplain: Barton Campbell 794-4562 Chaplain Emeritus: Henry LangfordPUBLICATIONS
War Horse editor & Webmaster: Gary Cowardin cowardin@juno.com 262-0534 Website: longstreetscv.org
Longstreet Camp Donors to Virginia Division Special Funds, Old War Horse, Hurtt Scholarship Fund, and Longstreet Camp General Fund. As you know, our cumulative listing starts in July of each year and we do not meet in August. 1 July, 2011 through 2 November, 2011 Marian and Walt Beam Richard Chenery Brian Cowardin Lee Crenshaw Ray Crews Michael Hendrick Crawley Joyner Jack Kane Glenn Mozingo Peter Knowles,III Lewis Mills Conway Mocure Bob Moore Joe Price Waite Rawls Peyton Roden,Sr. Cary Shelton Chris Trinite Walter Tucker Hugh Williams
NOVEMBER 1861
(Sesquicentennial match dates, including meeting to meeting) 1 Major General George B. McClellan succeeded aged, obese, ailing Lieutenant General Winfield Scott as commanding general of the U S Army. 4 Stonewall Jackson took command of the new Shenandoah Valley District. 5 General Robert E. Lee was named commander of the new Department of South carolina, Georgeia, and East Florida. 6 Jefferson Davis was elected to a six year term as President of the Confederate States of America. 7 Yankees occupied the Port Royal-Hilton Head area in South Carolina. Yankees under Grant captured Belmont, MO, but had to get on their vessels and retreat in response to a Confederate attack led by Leonidas Polk. 8 Yankee ship USS San Jacinto seized Confederate delegates Slidell and Mason from British mail packet Trent. 9 Yankees from their new base at Port Royal seized Beaufort, SC. 11 Near Fort Monroe Professor Thaddeus sent up observation balloons from "balloon boats." 14 USS San Jacinto with captured Confederate delegates Slidell and Mason arrived at Fort Monroe. The Confederate Navy Department called for offers for ironclad men-of-war. 16 Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts and Postmaster General Montgomery Blair protested the capture of Mason and Slidell and urged their surrender at once. 18 In Kentucky soldiers of the Confederate Army adopted an ordinance of secession, making it like Missouri with two state governments. 19 Major General Henry W. Halleck assumed command of the Union Department of Missouri in St. Louis. 21 Jefferson Davis named Judah P. Benjamin Secretary of War. 25 Confederate Navy Department accepted a shipment of armor plate for the ironclad CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack). 26 A convention at Wheeling adopted a constitution for a new state to be called West Virginia. 28 The Confederate Congress officially admitted Missouri to the Confederate States of America. 30 Great Britain's government informed the U. S. government that the seizure of the Trent was an act of aggression and would be the cause of harsh measures taken by Britain.DECEMBER 1861
1 Lincolm expressed to McClellan his displeasure at the inaction of the Union Army. 4 The U. S. Senate unaminously expelled John Breckenridge of Kentucky. 9 The U. S. Senate created the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. This was approved by the House the next day. 13 Both armies retreated after a battle at Camp Alleghany, western Virginia. 26 The U. S. agreed to release Mason and Slidell. 30 The U. S. government and some leading banks suspended specie payment This suspension continued until 1879.JANUARY 1862
3 Stonewall jackson embarked on the Romney campaign. 10 Jackson's army entered Romney, which had been evacuated by Yankees. Brigadier General William W, Loring went over Jackson's head with a complaint that Jackson had mistreated his soldiers. Jackson submitted his resignation, which was wisely not accepted. 11 Yankees under Brigadier General Ambrose Burnside sailed from Hampton Roads for the coast of North Carolina. Lincoln accepted the resignation of Secretary of War Simon Cameron. 13 Burnside's force arrived at Hatteras. Landing was delayed by lack of low draft vessels and landing craft.. Lincoln nominated Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War. 15 The Senate confirmed Stanton's appointment.
COMING EVENTS
Visit Virginia 150 Sesquicentennial Eventswww.virginiacivilwar.org/events.php
Visit the The Museum of the Confederacy Online www.moc.org and their Events Calendar for MOC Events Calendar
Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier www.pamplinpark.org and their Special Events Calendar