Jubal Early Chapter #553 Newsletter Rocky Mount, Virginia Volume 10 - Number 5 www.jubalearlyudc.org May 2008 Chapter News Fourteen members were present at the May 10th meeting of the Jubal Early Chapter which was held at the Franklin County Library. Elections were held and the following is a list of the newly elected officers which will be installed at the June meeting: President - Paula Meador Vice President - Lisa Bradford 2nd VP - Barbara Speed 3rd VP - Sissy Chitwood Recording Secretary - Linda All Treasurer - Sissy Chitwood Registrar - Linda Nezbeth Historian - Gale Brown Custodian - Martha Hubbard Recorder of Military Service Awards - Linda All Due to a reenactment taking place on the same day, the New Market field trip was postponed. A new date will be set in the future. The Appomattox Tour is still scheduled for Saturday, June 7th. Those planning to attend should meet at 10:00 a.m. at McDonald s in front of WalMart on Rt. 460 in Bedford. The annual Jubal Early yard sale will take place at 220 Auto Sales on Rt. 220, north of Rocky Mount on Saturday, May 31st. Members should plan to be there by 8:00 a.m. Those wishing to donate articles for sale and are unable to attend should contact Paula Meador. The sixth annual Proclamation Signing took place on Tuesday, May 20th at the Franklin County Court House. Those in attendance to receive the proclamation from the Franklin County Board of Supervisors were; Martha Hubbard, Doris Eames, Lois Brown, Sissy Chitwood, Linda Stanley and Linda Nezbeth. The Jubal Early Chapter is proud to present the 2008 Scholarship to Luke McAllister. He is the son of Robert and Sue McAllister and the brother of our first winner, Isaac McAllister. Ditty Speed presented the check to Luke on Wednesday, May 21st at the awards ceremony at Franklin County High School. Luke will be attending Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke. Six members were present at the Veterans Memorial Day ceremony which was held on Saturday, May 24th at the Franklin County Courthouse. Also in attendance was Past Virginia Division President, Dolores C. Smith and past First District Chairman, Sue Anne Boothe. Ms. Smith laid the wreath for the UDC. The June meeting will take place at the home of Linda Nezbeth in Bedford. Members should plan to bring a covered dish. Drinks, paper plates, etc. will be furnished. Directions will be posted on the web site (under the Events tab) and may also be obtained by calling Linda. Members should plan to also bring materials to make the Hat pins and period pin cushions. Give Gale a call for a list of materials needed. Photos of the most recent activities of Jubal Early Chapter members are included on page four. Upcoming Events May 31-8:00 a.m. - Yard Sale, Rocky Mount June 7-10:00 a.m. - Appomattox Tour June Meeting Sat., June 14, 2008-11:00 a.m Linda Nezbeth s Home See you there!
Confederate Ancestor of the Month Each month the Jubal Early Chapter of the UDC features a Confederate Ancestor. The Ancestor of the Month for May 2008 is Robert Kyle Thurman. The Jubal Early Chapter is proud to present his story. Robert Kyle Thurman Born in Franklin County on 10 October 1841, Robert was the son of John T. and Wilmoth Dudley (Lumsden) Thurman. He was one of seven children born to this union. His siblings were: Dudley Lumsden, born in 1836 and married Ann B. Hurt; James M., born in 1844, married Mary Elizabeth Hurt; Louisa J. Alzie, born in 1847, married George W. Merriman; George W., born in 1853; Alexander W., born in 1855; and Charles H., born in 1857. The three youngest brothers died of diptheria in 1862, Alexander, at the age of 7 on 23 October; Charles L. died on 5 November. He was four years old. George W., aged 8, died on 13 November. The family lived in the Gills Creek area of Franklin County. On 24 July 1861, Robert and his older brother, Dudley, enlisted at Pasley s Store in Company E, 58th Virginia Infantry. The company was known as the Hale s Ford Franklin Guard and later as the Franklin Guard under the command of Holley, Brown and Turner. Robert enlisted as a Private, Dudley was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Robert was listed as being sick and was hospitalized in Staunton on 15 September 1862. He was absent until 1863. On 19 May 1864 he was captured at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House and confined to Point Lookout Prison in Maryland. From there he was transfered to Elmira, NY where he was finally released on 30 June 1865. The 58th was organized at Staunton, Virginia on 13 October 1861. The ten companies of volunteers came from Amherst, Bedford, Franklin, Patrick, and Rockbridge counties. The regiment saw service in western Virginia during the winter and spring of 1861-62. After joining Stonewall Jackson, the 58th was reorganized on May 1, 1862 and the company letters were changed to correspond with the dates of commission of their respective captains. In less than a week of the reorganization, the 58th saw its first action at McDowell on May 8, 1862. In the Valley campaign of 1862 the regiment saw heavy fighting at Winchester, Harrisonburg, Cross Keys, and Port Republic. Ordered eastward, the regiment served gallantly in the battles of Gaines Mill and Malvern Hill during the Seven Robert Kyle Thurman Days Campaign. Following Jackson, the 58th saw hard fighting at Cedar Run, 2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Harpers Ferry and Sharpsburg. - Robert J. Driver, Jr. Dudley applied for and received a pension in 1902 and Robert received his in 1904. He cited rheumatism as the cause of his disability. Robert married Lucy (?) about 1848. To this union, four known children were born: Charles Edgar, born 1869; Jonathan R., born 1847; Martha S. Mattie, born in 1875; and Hester D. Hessie, born in 1890. They are shown in the 1880 Census of Franklin County as living next door to Jonathan M. and Mary Elizabeth (Hurt) Thurman. Robert died on 29 September 1925. It is unknown as to when Lucy died. Her date of birth, death and marriage are still unknown.
The 58th Virginia Infantry Flag Restoration Project The colors you see above left the field at Spotsylvania Virginia in the wrong hands. Intense fighting in the 1864 campaign led to the capture of the banner by the 73rd NY Infy. Forty one years later the US War Department returned the flag to the State of Virginia and the Museum of the Confederacy in March of 1905. The Battle Abbey in Richmond took possession of the flag in the 1940 s and in an effort to preserve the flag from further deterioration, the Abbey laid the battle tattered remains of the banner onto a linen backing and stitched row upon row of thread across its face to hold it in place and help it keep its shape. This is known as conservation stitching. These rows are visible on the picture of the flag and are not part of the original piece. In the 1980 s the flag returned to the Museum Collections Storage and moved into the Flag Storage facility in 1995. For many, many years the flag was thought to be that of the 56th Virginia Infy and was marked as such when it left the field of battle. It was not until very recently that research at the Museum proved that this was indeed the flag of the 58th and we are grateful to the staff for there diligence in correcting the (yanks) mistake. The flag has had nothing done to it other than the conservation stitching and the protection the Museum provides. In 2004, the 58th Virginia Infantry, Co.s A-I, K Inc reenactors group took on the financial responsibility to have the flag photographed and evaluated by a conservator to help determine the necessary steps to restore and refurbish this invaluable piece of Civil War history. There is much damage from battle and time, but this is a very viable piece for restoration. Much work needs to be done, and done soon. This will no doubt be a lengthy and expensive project but we believe that we can not put a price tag on what this flag means to us as reenactors, historians and as people who are in awe of the sacrifices made by all who lived and suffered during the war, especially those valiant and brave men of the 58th, whom whom we portray. Many a man was wounded or died beneath this flag, marching straight into the enemy. In our hearts they have all marched into immortality. We have tried our best to honor them on the field of battle. Now we wish to take that one step further by restoring the banner they waved. Update: November 11th, 2007 - We are pleased to announce that we are now up to $17,000! February 7th, 2007 - Phase One Complete! We are pleased to announce that fundraising for Phase One of the 58th Virginia Battle Flag Restoration Project is complete. The $8,000 goal for Oct 31st, 2006 was met ahead of schedule. We are now over half way toward our goal of raising the total of $24,000 needed by our self imposed deadline of Feb 2008. We continue to be overwhelmed by the number of people supporting this project. We are now doubling our efforts to complete phase two of this very worthwhile task and preserve a piece of Civil War history. Contributions can be mailed our treasurer at: 58th Virginia Flag Restoration Program 17801 Sands Road Hamilton, Virginia 20158 Checks can be made payable to the 58th Virginia Infy A receipt for your donation will be return mailed. (or emailed at your request) The 58th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Companies A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I and K, CSA Inc. is a non profit organization. All donations will go directly to the 58th Va Flag Restoration Program. http://www.58va.com/
Activities in May Proclamation Signing, May 20, 2008 From left: Martha Hubbard, Doris Eames, Lois Brown, Sissy Chitwood, Linda Stanley and Linda Nezbeth receive proclamation from Board of Supervisors Chairman, Charles Wagner. Scholarship Presentation, May 21, 2008 From left: Linda Nezbeth, Mrs. W.O. Brooks, (Luke s maternal grandmother), Sue McAllister, Luke McAllister and Ditty Speed, presenting the check to our newest recipient. Veterans Memorial Day, May 24, 2008 From left: Dolores Smith, Paula Meador, Michele Chitwood, Linda Nezbeth, Sissy Chitwood, Linda Stanley, Lois Brown & Sue Anne Boothe. Veterans Memorial Day, May 24, 2008 From left: Paul Nezbeth and Anthony Chitwood at the Jubal Early monument.
J ubal Early Chapter # 553 Newsletter Rocky Mount, Virginia L o v e, L iv e, P r a y, T h in k, D a r e Editor Linda Nezbeth May 2008 1449 Carroll Rd., Goodview, VA 24095 Confederate Birthdays in May May 28, 1818 ~ Gen. Pierre G.T. Beauregard