NEWSLETTER OF STATE OF DADE CAMP NO. 707 THE SILVER GRAY

Transcription

1 NEWSLETTER OF STATE OF DADE CAMP NO. 707 THE SILVER GRAY Vol. 15 June 2010 No. 6 Statue of President Jefferson Davis with his white son and adopted black son, Jim Limber. The finished statue was dedicated at Beauvoir on April 19, 2010.

2 The New Intolerance by Patrick J. Buchanan Friday - April 9, 2010 "This was a recognition of American terrorists." That is CNN's Roland Martin's summary judgment of the 258,000 men and boys who fell fighting for the Confederacy in a war that cost as many American lives as World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq combined. Martin reflects the hysteria that seized Obamaville on hearing that Gov. Bob McDonnell had declared Confederate History Month in the Old Dominion. Virginia leads the nation in Civil War battlefields. So loud was the howling that in 24 hours McDonnell had backpedaled and issued an apology that he had not mentioned slavery. Unfortunately, the governor missed a teaching moment at the outset of the 150th anniversary of America's bloodiest war. Slavery was indeed evil, but it existed in the Americas a century before the oldest of our founding fathers was even born. Five of our first seven presidents were slaveholders. But Virginia did not secede in defense of slavery. Indeed, when Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated, March 4, 1861, Virginia was still in the Union. Only South Carolina, Georgia and the five Gulf states had seceded and created the Confederate States of America. At the firing on Fort Sumter, April 12-13, 1865, the first shots of the Civil War, Virginia was still inside the Union. Indeed, there were more slave states in the Union than in the Confederacy. But, on April 15, Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers from the state militias to march south and crush the new Confederacy. Two days later, April 17, Virginia seceded rather than provide soldiers or militia to participate in a war on their brethren. North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas followed Virginia out over the same issue. They would not be a party to a war on their kinfolk. Slavery was not the cause of this war. Secession was--that and Lincoln's determination to drown the nation in blood if necessary to make the Union whole again. Nor did Lincoln ever deny it. In his first inaugural, Lincoln sought to appease the states that had seceded by endorsing a constitutional amendment to make slavery permanent in the 15 states where it then existed. He even offered to help the Southern states run down fugitive slaves.

3 In 1862, Lincoln wrote Horace Greeley that if he could restore the Union without freeing one slave he would do it. The Emancipation Proclamation of Jan. 1, 1863, freed only those slaves Lincoln had no power to free those still under Confederate rule. As for slaves in the Union states of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri, they remained the property of their owners. As for "terrorists," no army fought more honorably than Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Few deny that. The great terrorist in that war was William Tecumseh Sherman, who violated all the known rules of war by looting, burning and pillaging on his infamous March to the Sea from Atlanta to Savannah. Sherman would later be given command of the war against the Plains Indians and advocate extermination of the Sioux. "The only good Indian is a dead Indian" is attributed both to Sherman and Gen. Phil Sheridan, who burned the Shenandoah and carried out Sherman's ruthless policy against the Indians. Both have statues and circles named for them in Washington, D.C. If Martin thinks Sherman a hero, he might study what happened to the slave women of Columbia, S.C., when "Uncle Billy's" boys in blue arrived to burn the city. What of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, at whose request McDonnell issued his proclamation? What racist deeds have they perpetrated of late? They tend the graves of Confederate dead and place flags on Memorial Day. They contributed to the restoration of the home of Jefferson Davis, damaged by Hurricane Katrina. They publish the Confederate Veteran, a magazine that relates stories of the ancestors they love to remember. They join environmentalists in fighting to preserve Civil War battlefields. They do re-enactments of Civil War battles with men and boys whose ancestors fought for the Union. And they defend the monuments to their ancestors and the flag under which they fought. Why are they vilified? Because they are Southern white Christian men none of whom defends slavery, but all of whom are defiantly proud of the South, its ancient faith and their forefathers who fell in the Lost Cause. Undeniably, the Civil War ended in the abolition of slavery and restoration of the Union. But the Southern states believed they had the same right to rid themselves of a government to which they no longer felt allegiance as did Washington, Jefferson and Madison, all slave-owners, who could no longer give loyalty to the king of England. Consider closely this latest skirmish in a culture war that may yet make an end to any idea of nationhood, and you will see whence the real hate is coming. It is not from Gov. McDonnell or the Sons of Confederate Veterans

4 Remembering Jefferson Davis' Birthday By: Calvin E. Johnson, Jr West Mill Drive Kennesaw, Georgia Phone: "Never teach your children to admit that their fathers' were wrong in their efforts to maintain the sovereignty, freedom and independence which was their birthright." Jefferson Davis Free people are those who remember their past! In 1931, a bronze statue of Jefferson Davis, sculptured by Virginia's Augustus Lukeman, was given to the National Statuary Hall at our nation's capitol in Washington, D.C. by the State of Virginia. June 3, 2007, is the 199th birthday of an American Hero Jefferson Davis of Mississippi. Please share the following story with your family. Take a look at the calendar and see what dates are shown for June 3rd. You will more than likely see that the birthday of Jefferson Davis is excluded. The birthday of Abraham Lincoln is shown for February, but no mention for Jefferson Davis in June. This is more than a shame and we should write these calendar folks and let them know that Davis' birthday should be included. Jefferson Davis was born on June 3, 1808, in the horse racing (Derby State) of Kentucky. Birthday observances are annually held in Richmond, Virginia, Irwinville, Georgia, Montgomery, Alabama and other places throughout the USA.

5 Is our nation's history still taught in public schools? The time is long overdue for America's educators to teach the historical facts about Abraham Lincoln but also about Jefferson Davis. Jefferson Davis, who would become the first and only President of the Confederate States of America, was a strong Unionist but also a strong defender of the United States Constitution. Our founding fathers believed in the sovereignty of the states and so did Jefferson Davis. There are some less scholarly people who have called Davis a traitor. Here are a few of his accomplishments that dispel such myths of political correctness thinking. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Fought valiantly in the War with Mexico. Served as United States Senator from Mississippi. Served as US Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. Was first to suggest the transcontinental railroad to link Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, first to suggest Panama Canal Zone, suggested the purchase of Cuba and appointed Robert E. Lee as Superintendent of United States Military Academy at West Point. Visiting Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson Davis, would be a way to better understand this man Davis. It, however, was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in Efforts are underway to restore this splendid house and Jefferson Davis Presidential Library. This is where Davis wrote his book, "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government." You can learn more about Beauvoir at: Jefferson Davis' last marriage was said to be a good one to Varina, who gave him two sons and two daughters (Jefferson, Margaret, Winnie and Billy). Winnie was nicknamed (Daughter of the Confederacy) as she was born during the time of the War Between the States. Billy was killed by an accidental fall at the Confederate White House in Richmond and in 1864, an abused black child named Jim Limber was adopted by the Davis family. Jefferson Davis died between 12:30 AM and 1:00 AM on December 6, The news of his death hit the front page of most Southern newspapers. The praises and tributes read similar to that of a New Orleans paper that read: "Throughout the South are lamentations and tears; in every country on the globe where there are lovers of liberty there is mourning; wherever there are men who love heroic patriotism, dauntless resolution, fortitude or intellectual power, there is an sincere sorrowing. The beloved of our land, the unfaltering upholder of constitutional liberty, the typical hero and sage, is no more; the fearless heart that beats with sympathy for all mankind is stilled forever, a great light is gone Jefferson Davis is dead!" The Heritage of the South is part of America's proud past.

6 Message from the Commander By Freddie Parris I wish to thank all members who came out and helped make the State of Dade Heritage Festival a success. The camp did well on sales and we met a lot of potential new members. This event has the potential for being a great annual activity in the local area. And our attendance should be greater nest year. We were forced to cancel the scheduled event in Ringgold on their 1890s Days Festival due to lack of cooperation on the part of the Ringgold officials.

7 Color Guard at the State of Dade Heritage Festival. The State of Dade camp 707 was formed May 11, Freddie Parris, Commander, State of Dade Camp 707 (423)

8 The Chaplain's Corner When June 6th comes around again, we need to remember what happened on this day in This was to become known as "The Longest Day" and it's 24 hours would save the World as we know it today. There were men in all branches of our military service that were involved in this as well as British, Canadians, French and all of the Allied Forces. This invasion of Nazi Europe was known as Operation Overlord. Men took heroic actions in Normandy that literally saved the day. Some never got the chance to do what was expected of them, being killed in the landings on the beaches or losing their lives in the battles in the immediate countryside. Never the less, their names are etched in stone above their earthly remains to provide evidence of their contributions. There are some who simply disappeared, their bodies and souls having vanished in the haze and hell of the battle on June 6th and they must be credited in absentia. They are all responsible for the success for the success of Operation Overlord. Their efforts and sacrifices are why the world as we know it today exists. Let us remember to thank the veterans who may still be alive for the sacrifices they went through to save us. 1 Chronicles 28:20 Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God--my God-- will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Prayer List: Phillip Croft had hip surgery and was well enough to help us at the booth in Trenton at the Dade County Heritage Ceremony. Let's remember him in our thoughts and prayers for a full recovery. May God Bless, James Fletcher, 1st Brigade Chaplain Ph jdfletcher@stateofdade.com

9 UPCOMING EVENTS. June 2-9: Annual Reunion of the Mechanized cavalry. The annual reunion of the SCV Mechanized Cavalry will be held in the King s Mountain Military Park in South Carolina, on June 3-7, June 5: Tennessee Confederate Memorial Day will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at the Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery. June 12: Annual Reunion of the Georgia Division. The annual reunion of the Georgia Division, SCV, will be held June 12, 2010 at Milledgeville, Georgia. Our camp will be represented. June 12: Camp members not going to the State convention are invited to attend a grave stone dedication at the Trenton Cemetery on Hwy 11, near the American Legion at 2:00 PM on June 12, June 15: Camp Meeting: The June 2010 meeting of the State of Dade Camp 707, Sons of Confederate Veterans will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at Randy s Restaurant in Trenton. We will meet to eat at 6:00 P.M. there will be no retreat! Call for directions. STATE OF DADE CAMP No. 707 Sons of Confederate Veterans Larry D. Wheeler (Adjutant) 639 Canyon Park Dr. Trenton, Georgia HONORING OUR CONFEDERATE HERITAGE