Camp Cresset Finley s Brigade Camp #1614 Havana, Florida Recipient 2011 and 2012 Dr. George R. Tabor Most Distinguished Camp Award "To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish." Memorial Service for Private James B Watts May 16 th 3pm at Oakridge Cemetery, Madison, Florida On Saturday, May 16 th at 3pm, Finley s Brigade Camp 1614 and The Anna Jackson Chapter 224 UDC will host a Headstone dedication service at Oakridge Cemetery in Madison Florida. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm8621_oak_ridge_cemetery_madison_florida_usa James Bell Watts was born April 22, 1838 in Madison County, Florida. Before the War Between the States, James was a farmer in Madison. In July of 1857, he enlisted in Willard s Company of the 1 st Regiment Florida Mounted Volunteers and served at Fort Brooke, near Tampa, in the Third Seminole War. After his first war service he returned to Madison and resumed raising his family and farming. Then, on Feburary 15, 1862, James B Watts joined Company C 1 st Florida Infantry, CSA at Monticello, Florida. Private Watts saw action at the battles of: Perryville, Kentucky, Murfreesboro, the Vicksburg Campaign, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and the Atlanta Campaign where he was captured at Resaca on May 16, 1864. After his capture, James was sent to the union prison camp at Alton, Illinois. Then on December 7, 1864, he was sent to the prison at Rock Island, Ill. and was there until June 22, 1865. After the War, James Watts returned to Madison and once again, resumed raising his family and farming. At some point after the War, James became a Minister of the Gospel. James B Watts is an ancestor of Mrs. Carolyn Windsor, member of the Mary Ann Harvey-Black, Confederate Rose Society. After discovering that Private Watts grave was not properly marked; Mrs Windsor ordered a headstone from the Veterans Administration. We will be dedicating that stone on May 16, 2015. Hope to see you there. 1
Private James Bell Uncle Jim Watts (on right) 2
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Celebration in Selma, Alabama May 23rd There will be a celebration at Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama on May 23, 2015. The celebration is for a couple of reasons: The bronze bust of Lt General Nathan Bedford Forrest that was stolen, has been replaced; a security system has been installed; and the United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter 53 has aquired the deed to Confederate Circle in the Old Live Oak Cemetery. The celebration is hosted by UDC Chapter 53 and the Friends of Forrest. There will be a guided tour of the cemetery at 9:30 am and the Memorial Service will be at 1:00pm CST. There will also be a twilight Rollcall of Honor at the cemetery at 6:00pm. Recommended lodging for the event is the Quality Inn at 334-874-8600. Miller Gravestone Dedication May 23, 2015 On Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 11am there will be a gravestone dedication service for Pvt William Henry Milton. The service will be at Mothers Home Baptist Church in Miller County, GA. Click the link for map: http://www.findagrave.com/cgibin/fg.cgi?page=crmap&crid=35476 The physical address of the church cemetery is 62 Mothers Church Rd, Colquitt GA 31737. William Henry Miller is an ancestor of Compatriots JR and Chris Miller SCV National Sesquicentennial Celebration May 30,2015 On May 30, 2015, SCV-IHQ will host the final heritage rally of the Sesquicentennial in Shreveport, LA. There will be a marching parade that mourning beginning at noon at the Shreveport Methodist Church and ending at the Confederate monument in front of the Caddo Parish Courthouse. There are only two SCV Camps in Florida who have been represented at all 5 of these Sesquicentennial Heritage Rallys; Finley s Brigade Camp 1614 and Kirby Smith Camp 1209. For more info on the event, click on the link http://confederate150.com/2015.html or call Commander Crocker at 850-339-3051 4
Don t forget about Mama Mother s Day is May 10, 2015. A time set aside to recognize the Mothers in our life. It should be a time of joy, love, celebration, and respect. But, I recently read two very disturbing articles about the down-side of Mother s Day. It seems that many Mothers dread their Day, because they feel that they will be forgotten. Often Mothers feel like they are taken for granted. Some Mothers are more likely to forgive their husbands for slighting them on Valentine s Day, than ignoring them on Mother s Day. Being a little slow in the romance department is not near as serious as disrespecting the woman who carried your children for nine months and has been raising them ever since. The most disturbing article stated: that more married women join a dating site, the Monday after Mother s Day, than any other day of the year. I was floored to hear this. Men, we must do our part. As Southern Gentlemen, it should be part of our character to honor and respect all women and especially Mothers. Motherhood fulfills the Divine Law of God. (Gen 1:28) We are told to honor our Mothers and we will be blessed (Eph 6:1, 2).We must admit that Mothers are the glue that holds families together. Fathers are often away from home and the Mother is the one who nurtures the children. My Grandmother used to say a man works from sun to sun; but a woman s work is never done. This is especially true for Mothers. One of our heroes, General Robert E Lee, had an absentee father and was raised by his Mother, who he loved dearly. I would say that he turned out pretty good. The last words of many a Confederate Soldier, dying on the battlefield, contained the word Mother. So make an extra effort this Mother s Day. Go see your Mother if you still can. Do something special for the Mother of your children or grandchildren. You could call, send a card, or have flowers delivered. Remember ALL the Mothers in your life: Mama, Grandma, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Mother-in-law, Daughter-in law, Sister-in law, or any Mother that you know. I pray blessings on all of our Mothers. Y all think about it. Kelly Short Notice!!! Find-a-Grave class 7 May 2015 Mrs. Helen Strickland of the Wakulla County Historical Society will be conducting a training class on the web-site: Find-a-Grave. The class will be at the Wakulla County Library at 4330 Crawfordville Hwy Crawfordville, Florida at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 7 th. http://www.bing.com/local?lid=yn179x3362380&id=yn179x3362380&q=wakulla+county+public+ Library+Crawfordville+FL&cp=30.1242~-84.3858 Mrs. Strickland is an expert on the use of Find-a-Grave. Find-a-Grave can be a valuable research tool. 5
Welcome New Member Joe Daniel Murphee Joe joins Finley s Brigade on the service of his Great-Grandfather Private William Preston Murphee of Company B & C of the 8 th Mississippi Cavalry. Private Murphee enlisted September 8, 1864 at Concord, Mississippi at the age of 17. One card in his record says that he was in several days skirmishing before enlisting. Private Murphee served in Mississippi, Mobile, and Pollard, Alabama. He served in the battles around Mobile and Fort Blakeley. This Month s meeting is dedicated to the honor and memory of: Abram Garo, C S Navy, CSS Spray Florida a Hundred and Fifty Years Ago from Florida a Hundred Years Ago compiled by the Florida Library and Historical Commission May 5, 1865 Confederate Colonel J. J. Dickinson has issued Special Order 64 today from his Waldo Headquarters to Captains E. J. Lutterloh and L. Williams: In taking leave of his fellow soldiers, I feel a deep sympathy for them. It is, however, our duty to be cheerful and hopeful with the consolation and satisfaction that we are not whipped, but overpowered by the vastly superior forces. You will go home, my brave men, with unconquered hearts and honorable names. May the blessings of God protect you forever, is the farewell wish of your Commander. May 16, 1865 A Confederate Officer, writing from Madison says, Quite a number of persons went down to Jacksonville some days ago to claim their property It is said that the place is filled up with yankees..it will be a worse yankee hole than ever. I would not live there again for anything Have you determined upon any Country to move to? My friends as well as myself think that Brazil offers greater inducements than any other. May 21, 1865 General McCook (union) has sent the following communication to the Reverend W. J. Ellis of St John s Episcopal Church of Tallahassee: Sir: I would call your attention to the fact that in your religious services today you omitted the usual prayer for the President of the United States. Although it may be inconsistent with your personal feelings to offer this prayer, yet as it is part of the formula prescribed by the bench of bishops, I must request that in the future you either include this customary prayer or the church be closed. I should think your own sense of Christian propriety might have suggested that as the professed vice-regent of Him who taught peace on earth and good will toward men, you are in duty bound to soothe any feeling of irritation existing in your community, instead of endeavoring to keep it alive by so unwise and unchristian a course as you pursued this morning. Editors note: The yankee occupation force even demanded who and what you prayed for! 6
West FL Seminary Cadet Henry Ware DeMilly Mar 26, 1852 Jan 9, 1930 Henry W DeMilly was born in Tallahassee, Florida and was the younger brother of Cadet Prospere DeMilly. H. W. DeMilly stated that he joined the West Florida Seminary On January 1, 1864. It is unclear if he served at the Battle of Natural Bridge or if he was left to guard prisoners in Tallahassee. What is clear is that Henry Harry DeMilly went on to be a productive citizen of Leon County, Florida. As a young adult he worked as a clerk the family owned store. He then attended Emory University and returned to Tallahassee to practice law. Soon after college he married Miss Kate Graham of Orion, Alabama. Henry and Kate had two children: Catherine and Henry. He soon gave up law to teach school. He taught at many schools in the area, and finally became Principal of the Tallahassee School He was principal for 14 years and then he retired in 1911. After his retirement, the DeMilly s lived in South Florida and Valdosta, GA. The DeMilly s returned to Tallahassee and resided at 629 West Jefferson Street, near the College for Women. Henry applied for and was granted his Confederate Pension in 1929. (at the age of 77) https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/173145 Cadet DeMilly had drawn his pension for less than a year when he was struck with paralysis and died in his home. Mrs. DeMilly drew his pension until the time of her death in 1941. The DeMilly s are buried in the Old City Cemetery in the DeMilly Family plot. A Nation without monuments, is a Nation without memories The Florida Confederate Memorial Wall in the Florida Capitol. The Wall was in the Capitol Courtyard the last week in April. We received many positive comments from visitors. I know that some lawmakers took time to come see the wall. Thank you all who assisted with our display. Photo left: Jane Thomas explains the purpose of the Wall to some Legislative pages. 7
Compatriot Larry Thomas speaks with visitors. 8
Compatriot Marshall Carroll with an interested visitor 9
Photos from Confederate Memorial Day at Soldiers Cemetery in Quincy Photos: Finley s Brigade Color Guard and the Mary Ann Harvey-Black Confederate Rose Society 10
Above: Miss Jessica Sizemore President of the Children of the Confederacy Left: Paul Kirby and Gillian Harrell Right: Jim and Carolyn Windsor 11
A Little Confederate 12
Confederate Memorial Day in Crawfordville Left: Compatriot Scott Sutton and his Mother Merry Sutton Right: L-R Merry Sutton, Barbara Witt, Jessee Howell, and Karen Goodlin Below: Finley s Color Guard 13
Confederate Memorial Day at Old City Left: Finley s post the colors Right: Carolyn Windsor prepares to lay the wreath Bottom Left: Marshall Carroll and Sue Cowger discuss events 14
A Nation without monuments, is a Nation without memories Finley s Brigade is still collecting printer ink cartridges, old laptops, and old cell phones. If you are not recycling or refilling your ink cartridges already, please bring them to the next meeting and we will recycle/dispose of them for you. The Camp has found a source that will pay us a small fee for old cartridges, laptops, and phones. Show me the manner which a nation or a community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender sympathies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals." Lord Gladstone. Help Wanted Newsletter editor and contributing writers, Contact Commander Crocker for details Heritage Opportunities May 7 Find-a-Grave training at the Wakulla County Library 6:30pm May 16 Headstone dedication for Private James Watts at 3pm Oakridge Cemetery, Madison, FL May 23 Grave stone dedication for Pvt William H Miller at 11am Mothers Home Church Colquitt GA May 23 Dedication of Forrest Circle in Historic Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama 1:00pm May 30 Sesquicentennial Heritage Rally in Shreveport, LA http://confederate150.com/2015.html Jun 5-7 Florida Division SCV Reunion in Ocala, Florida Jul 15-18 SCV National Reunion in Richmond, Virginia Sept 26 Memorial for Pvt James C Branch at Mount Olive Cemetery in Altha, Florida time TBD For times, locations, and details for the following events please contact Commander Crocker at kvcroadking@yahoo.com or 850-339-3051. Our meetings are always held on the second Tuesday of each and every month at the Golden Corral restaurant on North Monroe Street across from Lake Ella. The program will start promptly at 6:45 so be sure to arrive early (6:00) to enjoy a fine meal and socialize before the meeting starts. The Camp Cresset Newsletter is the official publication of Camp 1614, Finley s Brigade Sons of Confederate Veterans. No content may be reproduced in part, or in whole, without the expressed written authorization from the Editor-in-Chief. All parts herein remain the sole property of SCV Camp 1614. 2014 15