The Missouri Confederate The Official Newsletter of the Missouri Division - Sons of Confederate Veterans Volume V - Issue I January 2003

Transcription

1 The Missouri Confederate The Official Newsletter of the Missouri Division - Sons of Confederate Veterans Volume V - Issue I January 2003 Report on the Division Commander s Summit Conference Page 2 Camp News...Pages 3&4 IN THIS ISSUE: The Massacre at Lone Jack..Page 5 News & Views.Page 6 Missouri Division Camps Page 7 The Annual Lee/Jackson Day Dinner will be held on Saturday, January 18 th 2003 at the Lenoir Community Center, Columbia, Missouri Special Guest Speaker...Ron Wilson, Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Mark your Calendars and get your registration forms in early for this premier annual Missouri Division event. The Lenoir Community Center is located in Columbia, Missouri, just four miles South of the intersection of Highways 70 and 63. Take Highway 63 South to the junction of Highway AC then follow the East access road (Lenoir) to #1 Hourigan Drive. It is an elegant setting befitting this auspicious occasion. Commander-in-Chief Wilson will share his vision of the future of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and will answer any questions you might have. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet your Commander-in-Chief and share your views with him. Social hour begins at 6PM. There will be a brief Missouri Division Executive Council Meeting at 5PM. All Camp Commanders and elected Division officers are requested to attend Yes...I will be attending the Annual Lee/Jackson Day Dinner on January 18 th 2003 at 6PM NAME GUESTS Cost of the dinner is $20.00 per person. Make checks payable to Missouri Division SCV and mail to Adjutant; Richard Perry, 504 E. Cherry Street, Apt. #11, Springfield, Missouri, 65806

2 Report on Division Commander s Summit November 2, 2002 Elm Springs, Tennessee As one of his first acts after taking office, Commander-in-Chief Ron Wilson gathered all of the Division Commanders together at Elm Springs, Tennessee for a Summit conference. The ideas shared were very useful, and will be aired in a series in The Missouri Confederate Newsletter for the next few issues. Chaplain-in-Chief, John Weaver was the first to address the assembly. Chaplain Weaver indicated that the Heritage Defense problems that have cropped up over the past few years were caused by a cultural shift that has taken place in our country since the 1960's. Furthermore, this cultural change was preceded by a shift in attitudes about religion. Secularism, materialism, liberalism, and a host of other isms have replaced the basic religious philosophy upon which our Republic was founded. We must return to our basic religious roots as an organization, and spread our patriotic moral convictions throughout our communities. Given the cultural climate today, even if the anti-american bigot Morris Dees were to be silenced, fifty more would crop up to take his place tomorrow. We must help our country to return to its basic religious culture. Camp and Division Chaplains must do more than open and close meetings. They should be contributing editors to newsletters and take their message to the community as well. An excellent video was made during the Chaplains Summit, which is available from Roi Crapse at (912) National Field Representative, Jack Marler, gave an excellent presentation on recruiting and will be available for seminars at Camp and Division meetings. His job is also to solicit funding for the SCV from corporations and philanthropic organizations. Some of the basic recruiting tips he gave included: [1] Insist that every Camp member bring a guest (who is a potential member) to every meeting. [2] Encourage ambitious members, or those who may be relocating, to start a new Camp [3] Hold Special Recruiting Meetings, which are open to the public. Compile a list of potential members and make sure they attend. Do a slide presentation of Camp activities. Have testimonials by Camp members explaining why they joined the SCV [4] Get the Confederate Veteran Magazine into as many public and school libraries as possible. IMPROVING YOUR CAMP is the key to retention [1] Make EVERYONE feel welcome at meetings. [2] Wear a name tag (on your right pocket) and introduce yourself to everyone at every meeting. [3] Have a greeter at the door of every meeting and sign everyone in. [4] Get members to come to meetings. Easier said than done, but these few tips might help: [a] Announce the meeting in your Camp newsletter. What! You don t have a Camp newsletter? Shame on you. (More on this later) [b] and call everyone the week before the meeting to remind them. When you call, offer them a ride if possible, let them know who the speaker is and his field of expertise and get them interested in attending. [c] Send out periodic questionnaires (with selfaddressed stamped envelopes included) and ask why people don t attend meetings. Solicit recommended changes that would cause folks to come to meetings. The Missouri Division has samples of these questionnaires available. [d] Some folks will never be able to attend meetings because of their job, the long distances involved, a medical condition and sundry other reasons. Don t neglect these people! They are often just as dedicated as those who are able to attend meetings. Keep in touch with them by phone and your Camp newsletter. What! You don t have a Camp newsletter? Shame on you. ( a lot more on this later) [5] Communicate with each other at times and places other than Camp meetings. and an interactive Camp website are great venues, but personal phone calls are best. [6] Ok here is the Camp newsletter tip: GET ONE! You MUST have a Camp newsletter even if it is only one page, and does nothing more than announce Camp meetings. If members don t receive any kind of communication from their Camp, and they start feeling left out of everything...guess what? When it comes time to renew their membership, there will be one more vacant chair. These are just a few of the tips that can improve

3 Camp News The Capt. William T. Anderson Camp #1743, of Huntsville, Missouri has once again been featured in Blue and Gray Magazine. This time it was for their monument dedication in Kirksville, Missouri this past April. The Camp was also pictured on page 56 of the recent (Volume 5, 2002) Confederate Veteran Magazine. Blue and Gray had done a previous article on the Anderson Camp and their efforts in Palmyra, Missouri. The Camp has helped get the Old Palmyra Jail placed on the list of National Historic Places and Tours. Good publicity like this goes a long way toward getting the recognition that Missouri deserves for its part in the War for Southern Independence. On October 18-20th, 2002, the Anderson Camp took part in the 140 th Anniversary Re-enactment of the Palmyra Massacre. They also participated in the parade, conducted a very successful recruiting booth and held memorial services for Lt. Morris Gibbons at Crane Cemetery just west of Palmyra that weekend. The Col. John T. Coffee Camp #1934 of Stockton, Missouri has been very active with memorial services, tours and raising funds for a Missouri Brigade Monument. To date, they have collected more than 2/3's of the money necessary to place this granite monument at Osceola, Missouri, and have set the dedication date for November The Camp joined with the Vernon County Historical Society on October 5 th to dedicate a new grave marker for Lt. Wesley L. Ball near Dederick, Missouri. Joining them was Compatriot Royal Cooper from the M.M. Parson s Camp in Jefferson City. Mr. Cooper is the Greatgreat-grandson of Lt. Ball. The dedication was followed by their annual picnic in Dederick. The Camp also participated in a memorial service on September 14, 2002 at Dry Valley Cemetery for Privates Harris, a father and son. The father served in the War of 1812 and the son served with the 11 th Missouri Infantry CSA. TV channels 12 and 16 from Joplin, Missouri covered the event. Earlier that day Camp members had participated in a tour of the Ritchey House at Newtonia. This house and several acres were recently purchased by the Newtonia Battlefield Preservation Association, and is a valuable addition to our Missouri history during the War. On November 9, 2002 the Coffee Camp dedicated a stone to Major Musgrave in Jerico Springs, Missouri. Major Musgrave was a Master Mason and a member of the Jerico Springs Lodge. Masonic Services will be performed at this memorial. The M.M. Parsons Camp #718 of Jefferson City, Missouri held Camp elections on November 21, 2002 and Compatriot Charles E. Workman was elected Commander to serve for the next two years. Darrell Maples will serve as Lt. Commander and Stan Myers will continue as Camp Adjutant. Mike Wilson was appointed Color Sergeant, Henry Strother will assist as Camp Historian, and compatriot Columbus Craft will serve as Chaplain. Also at this meeting, Compatriot Craft was awarded the Sons of Confederate Veterans War Service Medal for his service in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. Commander Workman has done an excellent job as our Missouri Division Historian for the past few years, and will be an excellent commander for the Parsons Camp. General J.O. Shelby Camp #191 of Warrensburg, Missouri has been monitoring the Lone Jack Battlefield preservation efforts and report that negotiations are still going on with local property owners to obtain parts of the original battlefield. The battle has not been lost to land developers yet and efforts to preserve this valuable WBTS site are ongoing. Camp Adjutant, Bill Brown has done some extensive research on the Six-Man Massacre Site, just South of Lone Jack and his findings are reported on page 5 of this issue of The Missouri Confederate. The Col. Emmett MacDonald Camp #1846 of Mountain Grove, Missouri erected a beautiful granite monument on the town square of Mountain Grove on October 12, Dr. Gary Tyrell, Mt. Grove School principal and local historian presented the keynote address. The well attended event was complete with artillery and a Blue Grass Band (the Missouri Boat Ride) from Branson. Commander Rod Shetler and Compatriot Dave Simpson conducted the memorial service commemorating the March 1862 skirmish in Mt. Grove and memorializing the soldiers who died there. The monument was unveiled by the great grandchildren of one of those soldiers. -3-

4 Report on Division Commander s Summit November 2, 2002 Elm Springs, Tennessee your Camp. Division members will be made available to conduct seminars at your Camp meetings. Contact Commander Gene Dressel for more information.

5 Camp News Continued... The Major James Morgan Utz Camp #1815 of Florissant, Missouri, held their September Camp meeting and annual picnic at Bridgeton, Missouri this year. On the 28 th of September the Camp helped support the United Daughters of the Confederacy at their St. Louis Convention. On the 13 th of October Utz Camp members set up a recruiting booth at the Florissant Fall Festival, and on the 19 th met at Memphis Best Barbecue Restaurant in St. Charles for their monthly meeting. The Camp is steadily growing and this month they welcomed Compatriot Norman A. Rogers to the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Mr. Rogers ancestor is Drury Frank Rogers, Company C, 3 rd Kentucky Cavalry. Compatriot Robert H. Bayne received an award from the Utz Camp for his dedicated service and unselfish devotion to duty as a member of the Utz Camp. He and Compatriot Robert Arnold have been working with the state of Minnesota in an effort to get them to return the Virginia battle flags in their possession. The General James H. McBride Camp #632 of Springfield, Missouri held elections for Camp officers at their November 15 th meeting with the following results: Commander, John Wolfe; 1 st Lt. Commander, John Christensen; 2 nd Lt. Commander, Garry Lisenby; Adjutant, Rick Perry; Chaplain, James Jarvis. The Camp will hold their annual Christmas party at Burr s Restaurant on December 20 th. On December 7 th Camp members set up a recruiting booth at the 140 th anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove reenactment. The Camp expressed their appreciation to Western Brigade Commander John Christensen for his recognition of the high school students in Neosho, Missouri who painted the Battle Flag on Senior Hill, and stood behind what they believed in. The four young men were given Certificates of Appreciation by Commander Christensen on behalf of the Missouri Division SCV. The Colonel Elijah Gates Camp #570 of Fulton, Missouri traveled to St. Joseph, Missouri on July 13 th 2002 to dedicate a new grave marker for Colonel Elijah P. Gates, the camp s namesake. The Colonel s grave is located in historic Mount Mora Cemetery where numerous Confederate soldiers are buried, including General M. Jeff Thompson. Martin Northway gave the opening address, followed by Robert C. Mershon, grandson of Colonel Gates. The flag used to cover the grave marker was presented to the Mershon family by past commander Mark White. The St. Joseph News-Press was there and did an excellent article with photos in the Sunday, July 14 th edition on the memorial services. The Fulton Sun also published an article on the event the following week. On July 14 th the Gates Camp honored Compatriot Marshall Flippen. Mr. Flippen is a long time member of the Camp, and its oldest member at age 95. A ceremony was held at the Presbyterian Manor Home where Marshall resides, and a special medal, struck by Compatriot Mark Douglas, was presented as a tribute to his years of SCV service. The Callaway County Council proclaimed July 14 th, Marshall Flippen Day and presented him with a framed proclamation outlining his many years of community service. ***************************************** A brief Biography of Waldo Porter Johnson Waldo Porter Johnson was born on September 16, 1817 in Bridgeport, Virginia. He graduated from Rector College in 1839, and set up Law practice in Harrison County, Virginia. In 1842 he moved to Osceola, Missouri where he continued his Law practice. During the Mexican War Mr. Johnson served with the 1 st MO. Regiment of Mounted Volunteers. In 1847 he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, served as Circuit Attorney in 1848, and was elected Judge of the 7 th Judicial Circuit in He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1861 and left shortly thereafter, as did Sen George Graham Vest. Johnson served in the Missouri State Guard at Oak Hills and Elk Horn Tavern. He later joined the Confederate Army, serving as Lt. Col.of the 4 th Missouri Infantry. He was subsequently appointed to serve in the Confederate Congress. He rejoined his unit just prior to the surrender in Louisiana, and briefly went to Canada till he was pardoned in Johnson returned to Missouri and resumed his Law practice. In 1875 he served as Chairman of the Missouri Constitutional Convention. Waldo Johnson is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, MO across from Gen. J.O. Shelby. He is the ancestor of James W. Coonce who submitted this biography. -4-

6 The Massacre at Lone Jack, Missouri by William K. Brown II On Sunday morning, September 6, 1863, Captain Charles F. Coleman and a squad of the 9 th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry were tracking the signs left by hundreds of horses leading back into Missouri. Coleman had spent many days chasing and skirmishing with Quantrill s raiders during their flight from the devastating raid on Lawrence, Kansas on August 21 st. Captain Coleman had retraced Quantrill s route to a location four miles Southeast of Lone Jack, Missouri. A month earlier (August 19, 1863) Quantrill s men had camped here at the Benjamin Potter Farm. The men had been well fed from Ben s smokehouse, and neighbors had brought food and well wishes for the young warriors. The horses were fed a stack and a half of oats and at sundown they proceeded on their way to camp for the night on the Middle Fork of the Grand River before entering Kansas. When Coleman s men arrived the residents of this area were making preparations to evacuate the area in compliance with General Ewing s infamous Order #11" which had been issued on August 25 th. The order would de-populate most of Jackson, Bates and Vernon Counties. Coleman and his squad approached from the east on what is now Boswell Road. Before he got to the crossroad of the modern day Outer Belt he arrested David Hunter. Looking westward up a slight incline he saw the Rice Family loading their wagon. Coleman sent his Sons of Kansas [sic] to arrest Martin Rice, his son Isaac, and son-in-law William Tate. Martin presented Coleman with his Loyalty Papers that he had received the previous day from the garrison at Pleasant Hill. Undeterred, Coleman arrested them anyway. Coleman now had four prisoners (all noncombatants). He called his pack to heal and wheeled back east to the crossroads where he turned South on today s Outer Belt Road. A few hundred yards down the road, young Andrew Owsley was taken prisoner. He had been riding from his grand father s farm to see Martin Rice about borrowing one of his wagons to help his grand parents move. Coleman s gang then stopped at the home of John Cave. He arrested Mr. Cave and William Hunter here and added them to his list of captives. As they were leaving, 75 year old Benjamin Potter rode up and was arrested also. Ben had been out looking for his son and grand son who had been sent to gather a team of oxen to haul their wagon load of household goods. As the Kansans and their prisoners rode past the Potter farm, Ben s daughter and grand-daughter stood on the porch watching. Ben stared straight ahead so as not to give the Kansas Captain the satisfaction of seeing his pain. The prisoners were marched about a half mile further, to the camp of Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Clark, and ordered to sit next to a fence row. Colonel Clark appeared and took the name of each prisoner and the loyalty papers belonging to Martin Rice. After a brief interlude Colonel Clark spoke briefly with Captain Coleman and returned the loyalty papers to Martin Rice. Coleman then released Martin Rice and his son Isaac, after retrieving a hat that had been stolen from Isaac by one of Coleman s gang. As Martin and Isaac Rice were leaving, a series of shots was heard...a volley followed by scattered reports. Returning home, Martin assured his family that the shots were probably just some soldiers killing chickens for their breakfast. Later that day Miss Jane Cave and Miss Amanda Potter left from Rice s to look for the horse that John Cave was riding when he was captured. When they arrived at the camp where the prisoners were held the girls found the bodies of six men, murdered by the Kansans. Some of the men were riddled with bullets. David Hunter, who had broke and run, was found several yards away, shot in the head many times after he had been killed. 75 year old Ben Potter had been gut shot and left to die slowly. Andrew Owsley was killed as he tried to jump the fence, and was left hanging there. The girls rushed home to relate the scenes of horror that they had just witnessed. Martin and Isaac Rice went to John Hunter s farm to get help burying the men. The three dug a shallow trench and gathered the scattered remains from the site. They placed the victims shoulder to shoulder, facing west, and covered them with blankets and then dirt. Elderly John Hunter ( 75 years old) had just buried his only sons, a son-in-law, grandson and two -5-

7 The Massacre at Lone Jack, Missouri by William K. Brown II other relatives. * continued on page 6... * Synopsis* Should they arise in grand elation; On Sunday morning, September 6, 1863 a squad of They would bid us to restore their nation. the 9 th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry commanded by A grander nation could never stand; Captain Charles F. Coleman, arrested and executed: Than what they built upon this land. [1] Benjamin Potter, aged 75 years The Major James Morgan Utz Camp #1815 [2] John S. Cave, aged 60 years mourns the loss of Charter Member Lonnie Charles [3] John D. Hunter, aged 32 years Gammill. Lonnie passes away October 22, 2002 and [4] William C. Tate, aged 32 years was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. [5] William J. Hunter, aged 18 years He had served as Lieutenant Commander of the Utz [6] Andrew W. Owsley, aged 17 years Camp and was a staunch supporter of Heritage The reason given was that these men had aided and defense. The Missouri Division extends their abetted Captain William C. Quantrill and his partisan condolences to the Camp and family of Lonnie rangers who on Wednesday August 19, 1863 had Gammill. camped at the Potter farm while on their way to **************************************** Lawrence, Kansas. The six Southern men were unarmed non-combatants in the process of moving GEORGIA BOOTS BARNES... from their homes in the Southeastern corner of Excerpts taken from a Washington Times article Jackson County, Missouri in compliance with General by Robert Stacy McCain. Thomas Ewing s Order #11. A rock and concrete wall now encloses the burial site which is located just South of Lone Jack on the Osborn Farm. A single marble obelisk lists the names of the six victims. The author, Bill Brown, serves as aide-de-camp for the Missouri Division and is the Adjutant for the General J.O. Shelby Camp #191 **** ON HOLY GROUND **** by Compatriot Thomas Guinn, Headquarters Camp I stood this day in fire and blood; On honored fields of grass and mud. This, our land where valor rests; Southern glory stood the test. I walked among those stones of grey; Where gallant warriors here they lay. Into the battle bold and loud; Confederate Legions like a cloud. With pike and saber into the fight; Dixie men with all their might. Passing ages day by day; Southern Knights all clad in grey. -5- In 2001 Democratic Governor Roy Barnes changed Georgia s flag. In November 2002 the Georgia voters changed governors. Barn s redesign of the state flag infuriated many Georgians who scorned the new design as the Barnes rag. With a $20 million war chest, most people thought that Barns was unbeatable as governor, but experts knew that the flag issue would be his undoing. Georgians won t just whine and moan...they will go out and do something about it Members of the Georgia Division of the SCV followed Barnes to campaign stops, displaying the old Georgia flag and anti-barnes signs. One activist started project wave erecting hundreds of 24 foot flagpoles flying the old flag around the state. Mr. Perdue, the new governor elect, has promised a referendum on the flag issue that would allow the people to choose what they want. Voters across the South are proclaiming their Confederate Heritage. In South Carolina, Governor David Beasley was defeated after he pushed a measure to remove the Confederate banner from atop the Statehouse in Columbia. In April 2001 Mississippi held a referendum in which 66% voted to retain that state s Confederate-themed flag. November % of voters elected to retain the

8 Confederate flag display at the beach in Biloxi. Georgia hasn t had a Republican Governor since 1868! Editor s note... I sincerely hope that Missouri s politicians are taking note of what happens when government officials try to steal a Southerner s heritage and cram political correctness down their throats. **************************************** -6-

9 Major General Sterling Price Camp #145, St. Louis, Missouri Major General J.O. Shelby, Camp #191, Warrensburg, Missouri General Elijah Gates Camp #570, Fulton, Missouri General John T. Hughes Camp #614, Independence, Missouri General James McBride Camp #632, Springfield, Missouri General M. M. Parsons Camp#718, Jefferson City, Missouri Colonel Solomon Kitchen Camp#1731, Dexter, Missouri Captain Wm. T. Anderson Camp#1743, Huntsville, Missouri Major James M. Utz Camp #1815, Florissant, Missouri Colonel Emmett MacDonald Camp #1846 Colonel James Searcy Camp #1923 Colonel John Coffee Camp #1934 Missouri Sons of Confederate Veterans Division Camps James England Keith Daleen Richard Williams Lew Saunders John Wolfe Charles E. Workman Larry Sanders Neil Block Billy Ed Bowden Rod Shetler William Berry Gary Ayres The Missouri Confederate is the official publication of the Missouri Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans. It is published quarterly and provided free of charge to our members. Non-members may subscribe at the rate of $10 per year. Permission to reprint is granted to all Sons of Confederate Veterans Camps only. Unsolicited items will not be returned. Please direct all inquiries to: Gene Dressel;editor, State Highway Y, Jonesburg, Missouri, or