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." The Mary Ann Harvey Black Confederate Rose Society-Presents an Equipment Trailer to the Camp! President Libby Smith and the MAHB Confederate Rose Society present a newly wrapped trailer to Finley s Brigade. The Ladies worked hard to raise funds for the trailer. The wrap features artwork by John Paul Strain, along with the Camp name, information, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans logo. The trailer will house items used for memorials and special events. We are expecting the trailer to be a recruitment tool as well. The new trailer was unveiled at the Pvt Allen Scott Memorial at Rhodes Cemetery. We extend a special thank you to Libby and all the Roses. Pictured L-R: Michelle Kirby, Carolyn Windsor, Annette Harrell, Virginia Carroll, Libby Smith, Barbara Witt, Jane Thomas, and Bonnie Nunley (Not pictured Karen Goodlin) 1
Color Sergeant Richard Witt receives Medal Compatriot Richard Witt was recently recognized by the United Daughters of the Confederacy at their annual Florida Division Convention. The UDC bestows War Service Medals to Veterans who served in time of War, and who are descendants of Confederate Veterans. Richard was awarded his medal based on his service in Vietnam. Congratulations Richard! Thank you for your service. Pictured L-R: Michelle Kirby, Richard Witt, Barbara Witt, Jane Thomas, Karen Goodlin, Bobby Goodlin, and Annette Harrell Picture made after the bestowal Ceremony in Jacksonville, Florida Chaplains Comments Adversity vs. Opportunity Chaplain John Howell The Bible teaches us that God puts Adversity in our paths to learn to overcome our problems so we can grow stronger under his guidance and teachings. It seems to me, that those who claim to believe His Word have deep-rooted doubts and often sink into a state of depression. This, to me, looks as though the devil has his warped mind involved and is sitting off in the corner of this persons mind, Gloating! On the other hand, if this person takes charge of their belief and recognizes the devil s dirty work; tells the devil to get out of the mind and leave, then that person will begin to realize there are an Opportunity awaiting them. Because, this is what God intended from the beginning. Look around you! Actively look for Opportunities. Now, God gave you a mind to use, so use it. Go to God in prayer and ask for His guidance. Do not be afraid, God loves you and wants you to succeed. So, you have two choices: You can choose to follow the conniving of the devil, who wants you to fail, OR you can make the choice to follow God who wants you to succeed, and more importantly, you can now realize that the road you now follow leads to salvation. The choice is yours; which one will you choose? 2
Thanksgiving Fundraiser Finley s Brigade is selling Johnston s Meat products for Thanksgiving again this year. Many of you asked about hams last year, so we are selling picnic hams and smoked sausage. The hams weigh 6-61/2 pounds and the sausage boxes are 5 pounds each and can be ordered hot or mild. The hams and sausage will be available for pick-up on Saturday November 22 from 4-7pm at the Johnson s Meat Shack located at 3497 Mahan Drive near Costco s. The product will cost $30 per package this year. You can help the Camp and your spouse by purchasing a ham or two for Thanksgiving dinner. The sausage freezes very well and makes a great gift for friends and family. Pick up your tickets by contacting Commander Crocker at 850-339-3051 kvcroadking@yahoo.com or Adjutant Grissom at mikieg1383@yahoo.com we will need to collect tickets and money at our November Camp meeting. Memorial Service November 9, 2015 Andersonville, Georgia The Americus camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) organization will host an annual Memorial Service for Civil War Andersonville Prison Commandant Capt. Henry Wirz on Sunday Nov. 9, 2014 at the Wirz Monument in Andersonville, GA. The musical group, "A Joyful Noise," from Leesburg, GA will play and sing Southern Confederate songs and Gospel Hymns from 2 to 3PM followed by a formal memorial service. The public is invited to join the SCV and pay tribute to a Southern hero and martyr. The guest speaker will be Congressman Paul Broun from Athens, GA. Dr. Broun, a native of Athens, practiced medicine in Americus many years ago. Confederate Re-enactors "The Muckalee Guards" will provide Honor Guard duties during the Service. The Memorial Service will commemorate the 149 th anniversary of Captain Wirz s death. Captain Heinrich H. Wirz was the Swiss born Confederate officer who was the Commandant of Camp Sumter, the prison camp more commonly known as Andersonville. After the War, Captain Wirz was arrested by the United States Government for what they called War crimes. The US wanted blood, and Henry Wirz became the scapegoat. He was brought before a kangaroo court and his trial was filled with false testimony by the United States. He avowed his innocence until the end. He was offered amnesty if he would implicate President Jefferson Davis; he refused to do so. Captain Wirz was hanged on the gallows at the Old Capitol Prison on November 10, 1865. The United Daughters of the Confederacy erected a monument in Andersonville, GA in Captain Wirz s honor on May 12, 1908. 3
Private Allen Scott Honorably Re-interred Finley s Color Guard with Private Scott L-R; Jim Windsor, Anthony Harvey, Ellis Harvey, David Cline, Chris Miller, Larry Thomas, and Paul Kirby (not pictured Richard Witt) Nearly 90 Southerners came out to witness the re-interment of Allen Scott on October 25, 2014. Finley s Brigade and the MAHB Confederate Rose Society conducted the Service, along with help from re-enactors across the State and some from Georgia. Many of those who attended were from the local community. Most gratifying however, was the large number of the Scott/Rhodes Family in attendance. Allen Scott was laid to rest beside his wife Martha Ann Hand Scott in the Rhodes Family Cemetery. Finley s also re-interred three of Allen and Martha s daughters; Sarah, Sallie, and Minnie, who all died as children; and their granddaughter, Martha Mae Scott was also re-interred. Finley s Brigade has put in hundreds of hours on this project since we located the Scott Family about two years ago, buried in an abandoned cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida. Great effort was required to: determine who the Scotts were and where their Family went to, finding living relatives, gaining permission to exhume the Scott Family, getting permission to rebury them in the Rhodes Cemetery, revitalizing the Rhodes Cemetery, building period caskets, the actual exhumation and reburial, and then the Memorial Service. There are still a few final details to be taken care of. To all who took part in this project; Thank you. 4
Pictures from the Scott Memorial Upper Left: Ladies in mourning and Soldiers following casket Upper right: Private Scott s casket over grave Center left: Libby Smith recites Dear Ancestor poem Center right: Ladies place flowers on the casket Lower left: Color Guard place buttons on casket Lower right; Pall bearers prepare to lower Pvt Scott 5
Above: Archie McCallister Jr. Great Grandson of Pvt Allen Scott and David McCallister G-G-Grandson Right: Finley s drummer Bobby Goodlin and Compatriot Carlon Dilmore on mandolin Below: Nephew Bricey Rhodes receives the Battle Flag that adorned Private Scott s Casket All photos courtesy of Compatriot Graham Smith 6
Commanders Comments Thank you all who helped make the Scott Re-interment a success. If you weren t there, you missed a beautiful tribute to a Confederate Soldier. I would be remiss if I didn t tell you that our dear friend Wayne Grissett played an integral part in the process. Before Wayne s death, he directed us toward the cemetery where the Scott Family was buried. Wayne and his brother Roy cut the wood that was used to build the 5 coffins for the Scott Family re-interment. Thank you, Wayne. November 11 th will be a busy day for the Camp. Finley s Color Guard will march in the Tallahassee Veterans Day Parade and the Ladies will adorn the Camp float. We will also have our regularly scheduled meeting at the Golden Corral. We will have some special guests who will be there for a presentation. Please do not forget about the Johnston s Meat sales. When you buy or sell the products you are helping Finley s Brigade. We need funds to maintain our level of involvement of Confederate awareness. To all of our members who are Veterans; I say thank you! In the bonds of the South, Kelly Lee and Jackson Southern Heritage Event January 24, 2015 Tickets are on sale now for Finley s Brigade annual Lee and Jackson event! Finley s boasts of having the BEST Event around and this next one will be no exception! Our guest speaker this year will be Danny Buckner of Tennessee who portrays Lt General Thomas J Jackson. We expect the General to be joined by a couple of surprise guests. I promise you that you will enjoy an evening filled with good company, good food, and good Southern entertainment! Contact Commander Crocker or Libby Smith if you have any questions! Letter to the Editor- Should Chirstians Love the Confederate Battle Flag? By Lunelle Siegel, Temple Terrace, Florida First they banned prayer in schools. Then they removed nativity scenes on courthouse grounds. Then they removed the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Supreme Court. Next came the War on Christmas involving the omission of the word Christmas from office and Government calendars to be substituted with Holiday. According to Wikipedia The expression War on Christmas has often been used to denote Christmas-related controversy in the media. The term gained notability due in part to its use by conservative commentators such as Peter Brimelow and Bill O'Reilly beginning in the early 2000s. 7
The claim among Brimelow, O'Reilly, and some other prominent media figures and personalities was that any specific mention of the term "Christmas" or its religious aspects was being increasingly censored, avoided, or discouraged by a number of advertisers, retailers, government (prominently schools), and other public and secular organizations. 1 Rightfully, these attacks have enraged and equally neutered Christians throughout the Country. Just when you think they ve gone as far as they can but wait - there s more. Today I read that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (www.ffrf.org) agreed to defend a Pennsylvania teenager who is facing criminal charges after posting pictures to Facebook of himself thrusting his pelvis into the face of a praying statue of Jesus Christ, supposedly simulating fellatio. 2 The criminal charge, which will be heard in family court, consists of Desecration of a Venerated Object. Pennsylvania law defines desecration as Defacing, damaging, polluting or otherwise, physically mistreating in a way that the actor knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the action. In fact, the group, with spokesman Ron Reagan, son of President Ronald Regan, is calling all non-believers to come forward and challenge the so-called privileges granted to Christians. It seems the attackers have won the argument in blurring the lines between the 'establishment' of religion by the Federal Government and the freedom to worship with the spin sound bite of 'freedom from religion'. This is an example of where ignorance of history is allowing the revision of it. The founders simply believed that it would not be a good idea for government to create, or establish, a faith. They clearly believed that was not a responsibility of the Federal Government and wanted to limit that potential power. Have you noticed that these attacks on other Christian symbols have been with the same force and velocity of the attacks on the Confederate Battle Flag ( CBF )? First it was t-shirts in schools, then it was flags in County Seals and State Flags. Next came removal of Confederate Veteran monuments. What do these attacks on Christians and the Confederate Battle Flag have in common? One simple thing. Christ. Let me repeat that. Christ is the common element. The Confederate Battle Flag nicknamed the Southern Cross is a Christian symbol. So it doesn t surprise me that it, too, is being attacked. This concept first entered my consciousness by words used in a speech I heard HK Edgerton make in Tampa, when he referenced the CBF as the Christian Cross of St. Andrew. Later I heard a sermon by former Sons of Confederate Veterans Chaplain-in-Chief Rev. John Weaver entitled The Truth About the Confederate Battle Flag. I was so impressed by this sermon that I purchased duplicates of it and provided a copy of it to all the members of my lineage society. 8
The evidence is overwhelming. First, the population of the South was prominently Scottish. The patron Saint of Scotland was St. Andrew, one of Jesus disciples, who was crucified on a diagonal cross Patras, (Patrae), in Achaea. Use of the Cross in Scotland dates to 1180 in the Kingdom of William I. 3 Secondly, the Chi or X the 22 nd letter in the Greek alphabet is often used to abbreviate the name Christ, as in the holiday Christmas (Xmas). When fused within a single type space with the Greek letter Rho, it is called the labarum and used to represent the person of Jesus Christ ( ). Thirdly, documentation at the origin of the flag itself states the connection. Confederate States of America Congressman Porcher Miles, of Chairman of the Standards Committee in Congress wrote in a letter to Samuel Barrett of Georgia, upon completion of the design in the summer of 1861, The flag should be a token of humble acknowledgment of God and be a public testimony to the world that our trust is in the Lord our God. According to Encyclopedia of Arkansas After the Battle of First Manassas, Virginia, on July 21, 1861, General P. G. T. Beauregard ordered a new design for a battle flag to avoid confusion of the Stars and Bars with the Stars and Stripes. Confederate representative William Porcher Miles of South Carolina is credited with designing this new flag, which became the standard battle flag for Confederate troops. This flag was patterned after the national flag of Scotland, which consisted of a field of blue with a white saltire; however, the color of the field was changed to red with a blue saltire bordered in white. The Southern states, being a common destination for Scottish immigrants, easily accepted this design as a Confederate battle flag. 4 So why do Christians not wince when the CBF is disparaged? Some say non-confrontation. Others say it s not my problem. Others buy into the misguided belief that the CBF was a flag that represents the perpetuation of slavery. Personally, I believe its ignorance, plain and simple. Most contemporary Christians and are unaware that this embattled emblem is a Christian symbol. Remember the Ru Paul CBF dress controversy at the Museum of the Confederacy? Most people didn t even know it was happening, or that they should be upset. Surprisingly many critics of the CBF, themselves are descendants of Confederate military or civilian officials and don t understand the link to their heritage and history. But either way, I m reminded of the words of Benjamin Franklin on the momentous day that he and the other patriots penned their signature on the Declaration of Independence from King George and the British Empire. We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. Pastor Theron Chewing of Fowler Avenue Baptist Church in Tampa, FL frequently lectures about the 'nasty now 'and how evil surrounds us constantly. I believe Satan is working constantly using ignorance to his advantage...even the ignorance in good, God-fearing Christians allowing them to unknowingly persecute Christ. By judging the CBF to be a hate symbol they are themselves attacking their brethren in Christ and Christ himself. 9
The Bible says Christ and his followers will be persecuted. It also says we will be acknowledged for defending Christ. 1 Peter 4:16 states Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. I don t know about you, but on Judgment Day, I want to have a CBF in my hand showing my love and respect for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I would like to commend to you Rev. Weaver s sermon which can be obtained at http://georgia12thbrigade.scvcamp.org/. Listen to it and become empowered with knowledge and information. I was able to convince three ministers of music that the Battle Hymn of the Republic should not be considered a Christian hymn by simply directing them to information on Julia Howe and her humanist views and the history of the so called hymn. Let us replicate this success by educating our clergy and help them understand that an attack on the Southern Cross is more serious then that pious disdain for those supposedly seeing to perpetuate slavery based on ignorance...it is an attack on Christ himself. Deo Vindice 1. 2. 3. 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/christmas_controversy http://ffrf.org/news/blog/item/21351-christian-privilege-and-the-desecration-of-a-jesus-statue http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/flag_of_scotland http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryid=5783 West Florida Seminary Cadet Charles Locke Beard Cadet Charles L Beard has left us more information about the role of the Cadets at Natural Bridge and other Cadets, than any other Cadet. Unfortunately, he wrote very little about himself. Charles was the son John Beard of North Carolina and Maria William Beard of the West Indies. He was born in Leon County on August 3, 1849. His father was the State Registrar of Lands. John Beard served as a delegate from Leon County at the Convention of the People when Florida seceded from the Union. After the War, John served as State Comptroller. Charles attended school at the West Florida Seminary for at least two years. Charles wrote that on March 5, 1865, the Cadets were assembled at noon, marched to the Capitol and were sworn into Confederate Service. Later that day the Cadets arrived at the bridge at Newport, Florida. Cadet Beard recalled that, the youngsters ran, two at a time, into the trenches as Union troops fired at them across the river. It was here that the cadets received their baptism of fire. Cadet John DuBose fell while entering the trenches and his comrades thought he had been shot, but they were relieved to discover that he had simply fallen in his 10
haste to reach safety. Skirmishing between the two sides continued until darkness ended the fighting. The cadets remained in their trenches most of the night, while their commanders waited to see if the Federals would resume the action the next morning. The following day the Cadets moved up the Plank Road and entrenched themselves to the left of Captain Patrick Houston s battery of Kilcrease Artillery. Cadet Beard wrote We were lined up with the troops that were already there and at once began throwing up some kind of breastwork. We polished our bayonets beautifully in the soft sand and soon had each man a hole and a small pile of dirt in front of it. Cadet Beard would write about the fighting saying We were looking for our fun when the niggers came out of the woods, but the gallant boys in front held them back, & so we failed to get a shot. Though the cadets were not heavily engaged, their position remained under Union artillery and musket fire. Occasionally a load of canister would come along and remind us of the gun the enemy had got from our outpost Their aim was high and only leaves & limbs would rattle down upon us We suffered no harm except in the way of anxiety. After the Union retreated, Cadet Beard was among the detail that escorted Union prisoners back to Tallahassee. After the War Charles Beard is employed as a Clerk in a store. There is no record of him ever marrying. In 1880 he is in Baltimore, MD working as a bookkeeper. By 1885, Charles Beard in back in Tallahassee employed as a bookkeeper. At some point after this he moves to Nassau County, Florida. We find him applying for entrance to the Old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home near Jacksonville in 1914 at the age of 65. His application states he was living in Nassau County, FL and he was a Justice of the Peace there. His application was dated July 24, 1914. Witness for the application was Frank P. Damon, a former cadet. In a few short months on November 12, 1914 Mr. Beard would be dead and another kernel of Florida s seed corn would return to the soil from which he came. Cadet Charles Locke Beard was laid to rest in St. John s Episcopal Church Cemetery in Tallahassee, FL. He is buried in the Beard Family plot. Left: Photo of Charles Beard s Cadet uniform blouse that he donated to the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, VA. Those who have seen the jacket say that it appears to be made of jean cloth. The buttons have the Louisiana State emblem of a pelican embossed on them. The origin of the heart shaped locket is unknown at this time. 11
Help Wanted Newsletter editor and contributing writers. Contact Commander Crocker for details. The Camp also needs a Quartermaster. Someone who will be responsible for our equipment and having it ready for each event. Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/235023710735/ Heritage Opportunities Nov 11 Regular Camp Meeting Nov 11 Tallahassee Veterans Day Parade, we will have a marching unit and float Nov 22 Pick-up of Johnston s Meat sales Dec 06 The play A Southern Christmas; 1864 at Crawfordville First Baptist Church at 3pm. Dec 09 Regular Camp meeting Jan 24, 2015 Lee Jackson Heritage Event at Mission San Luis Guest Speaker Lt Gen Thomas J Jackson Feb 13-15, 2015 Olustee, Florida - Memorial, Parade, and battle Re-enactment Feb 28, 2015 Adopt-A-Road clean-up on Natural Bridge Road. 9am Mar 6-8, 2015 Natural Bridge Re-enactment and Finley s recruiting booth Apr 11, 2015 Confederate Memorial Day ay Soldiers Cemetery in Quincy, Florida 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 12