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." Confederate Currency Expert to speak at Finley s Brigade January Camp Meeting!!! Mr. Paul Sampson of Capitol Coin and Diamond will speak at our January 12 th Camp meeting. Capitol Coin and Diamond is Tallahassee s oldest Coin shop. Mr. Sampson has agreed to come and bring some examples of Confederate notes. If you have any of your own you would like to bring; Mr. Sampson can render a professional opinion on your notes. He may have some Confederate notes with him that are available for purchase. This will be a very educational program that you will not want to miss! See you on the 12 th!!! This Month s meeting is dedicated to the honor and memory of: Private Joseph B Holly Company G 7 th Florida Infantry. 1
Finley s Brigade Adopt-a-Road Members of Finley s Brigade conducted our quarterly clean-up of our two miles of Natural Bridge Road on December 5, 2016. Our next clean-up day will be on February 20,2016. We try to clean-up the approach to the Natural Bridge Battlefield Park, right before the annual re-enactment. Those of you who have participated in our clean-ups may recognize a different sign in this picture. About six months ago, the Finley s Brigade SCV sign was removed from the west end of our assigned area, and the Leon County part of the sign was victim to several bullet holes. The County was notified of our findings and we were assured that it would be taken care of in a couple of weeks. Well, a couple of weeks turned in to four months, but the County did come through and installed new signs on both ends of our commitment. The east end of our area ends at the Battlefield Park. Park Ranger Mark Stevens commented that the new green signs were an improvement over the old blue ones. Photo L-R: Jim Windsor, 2LT Larry Thomas, and Doug Moon. (not pictured: Adjutant Mike Grissom) Thank you for your commitment. 2
Finley s Brigade Camp 1614 24th Annual Lee and Jackson Southern Heritage Event Mission San Luis 2100 West Tennessee Street Tallahassee, Florida January 23, 2016 $45.00 per Person Come and join us for a wonderful evening celebrating our heritage and the birth of these two Christian Generals. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Cecil Williamson of Selma, Alabama. The event begins at 5:00 PM with a social hour and supper beginning at 6:00 PM. The evening will consist of appetizers, a fine Southern supper, items for auction and sale and door prizes. You can expect an event that will make you proud to be a Southerner. For further information on the event or to order tickets, please contact Commander Kelly Crocker at 850 339-3051, Libby Smith at 850 877-9183 or Marshall Carroll at 850 576-9551 or 850 545-6804. 3
Confederate Ancestor Memorial Request Form Please include a $15.00 donation per Ancestor Memorial. Please print name, rank & regiment/unit of your ancestor(s). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Request made by: Your Confederate Ancestor s name will be published in the 2016 Lee/Jackson Event Program. Thank you for honoring your Confederate Ancestor. You may bring this form to the next Camp meeting or you can mail to: Virginia Carroll 4315 Lonnie Gray Road Tallahassee, FL 32305. You can also e-mail to Commander Crocker at kvcroadking@yahoo.com. 4
Tallahassee-Marine s Toys-for-Tots. worthy causes. On December 13, 2016 Compatriots Bob Bushong and Kelly Crocker, represented the SCV Mechanized Cavalry in the Annual Marine s Toys-for-Tots Motorcycle Toy run. This is the fifth straight year that we have supported this toy-drive. Finley s Brigade also supported the St. Marks Volunteer Fire Dept. toydrive for the sixth straight year. Both of these charities are More Natural Bridge News As you may recall, the University of West Florida has been conducting archaeological surveys of the Natural Bridge Battlefield over the last year or so. These surveys have been a partnership with the UWF, Florida Park Service, and the Natural Bridge Historical Society. Finley s Brigade is a member of the NBHS. The latest survey was conducted the week of December 7-11 on the east side of the river, on the Gerrell Purchase. It was hoped that artifacts would be found along the yankee retreat route. Commander Crocker spent Monday, December 7 th, with the survey crew. No military artifacts were found that day; although we did find a lot of barbed wire fence and turpentine cups. Later in the week, the team found one Confederate round and a small grouping of cannon shot. There was one special non-battle artifact found that week: a 1908 British gold sovereign coin in really fine condition. It was about 8 or 9 inches deep in the mud. We may never know how it got here! The Park Service and the NBHS are trying to get permission from the Mormon Church to survey their property that was part of the battlefield. Overall, the UWF surveys have uncovered nearly 1000 artifacts at Natural Bridge. We will keep you all informed of any new developments. 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 5
Finley s Brigade Adds More Life Members Over the last few months, Finley s Brigade has added 8 Life Members to our ranks. This brings our Life Membership total to 22; nearly 25% of our total membership. Congratulations to our newest Life Members: Lamar Cox, William Connell, Doug Moon, Joel Sapp, Graham Smith, Scott Sutton, Larry Thomas, and Richard Witt. Black-eyed peas and hog jowl I am sure that many of you will enjoy the New Year s Day tradition of eating black-eyed peas and hog jowl. Some of you will substitute some other cut of pork for the jowl. I have heard many explanations on the symbolic meaning of the pork and peas. Some stories include cabbage in their reasoning on why this meal is supposed make you lucky all year. Here is the Confederate version of the New Year s meal of black-eyed peas and hog jowl. The city of Savannah, Georgia was invaded by Union General Sherman and his bummers around Christmas Day in 1864. The yankees had raped, pillaged, and burned their way through north Georgia on their way to Savannah. Sherman even bragged that his bummers could kill, dress, cook and eat a hog without breaking ranks. The yanks continued their pillaging ways while in Savannah. However, there were stores of dried peas for what little livestock that remained. The bummers left the peas, because they thought that they were too good to eat cow feed. The yanks were also too good to eat the head of the hogs that they had slaughtered. So the hog jowl became a meat source for the people of Savannah. So Southerners ate those dried peas and hog jowls around New Year s Day 1865. Eating that food was a matter of survival instead of eating them for luck. A Southern tradition was born out of necessity. We eat this meal to honor our Southron ancestors: not for luck. Friends, we don t need luck: we need God. The Bible tells us that Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, who does not change. (James 1:17) The Bible also says in 1 Peter to Humble yourself under God s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. And cast all your worries on Him because He cares for you. So, when you sit down to eat on New Year s Ask God to bless those peas and pork, and remember the hardships that our ancestors endured. Y all think about it Kelly 6
From the Commander in Chief: The situation in New Orleans Fellow Southerners, As you all know by now, the City of New Orleans voted to remove the Confederate monuments from the city on a "nuisance complaint." This isn't over, so do not overreact to the situation. A lawsuit seeking to permanently enjoin and prevent the removal of the Confederate monuments was filed in federal court only hours after the vote was taken in the city council. The federal judge has let everyone know to cool it for now. There will be a hearing in January with the New Orleans City Attorney and the attorney for the plaintiffs present and an injunction will be decided after that. For now, what we need to do is let the legal system work. We have a very strong case that has been in the making for months now. We all knew that this day was coming, so preparations were made and have now been implemented. The time for phone calls and writing has passed. The judge wants all sides to calm down and that is what I am asking all of you to do. It will do no good to aggravate the legal system when we aren't losing anything. The monuments still are where they have always been. What we will need is financial help. Like the doctor said when Lincoln was born, "This is gonna get ugly." It is also going to be expensive. The plaintiffs, of which the Beauregard Camp No.130 is one, have raised money for legal fees and the Heritage Defense Fund has helped so that we are even money with the attorneys for now. That won't last. Please send whatever you can because come January the fight will be on. The address to send to is: Beauregard Camp 130 P.O. Box 145 Arabi, LA. 70032 Please put in the memo line of your check "Monument Defense" Gentlemen, I know that you all want to storm the gates but please let the people who have handled this awful situation since August continue to do so. They have all proven to be quite competent. I want to thank the P.G.T. Beauregard camp for taking the lead in this. I also thank CIC Kelly Barrow and the GEC for their leadership and support. Thanks to all of you. Keep praying for justice. Thomas E. Taylor Commander, Louisiana Division Sons of Confederate Veterans 7
National Legislative Update on Confederate Issues There have been no changes since last month on these bills in Congress Please call your Senator and Congresswoman if you have not already. Senate Bill 1689 Reduces Highway funding for States that have a SCV License plate Actions/Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works June 25, 2015 House Resolution 3007 Bans flags from Graves of Confederates buried in National Cemeteries Actions/Status: Referred to a sub-committee on August 5, 2015. House Resolution 344 - Urging the discontinued use of the Confederate battle flag, including the State Flags of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi Actions/Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, June 25, 2015 State of Florida Legislative update on Confederate Issues Senate Bill 310: Replace statue of General Edmond Kirby-Smith in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the US Capitol. Last action: 11/18/2015 in Fiscal Policy Committee Senate Bill 154: Prohibited displays the of Confederate Flag or Emblem: Prohibiting the display of flags and emblems associated with the Confederate States of America on any publicly owned or leased property, etc. Last Action: 9/9/2015 Senate - Referred to Judiciary; Community Affairs; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules Committees House Bill 243: Same language as the Senate Bill 154 Last Action: 10/07/2015 Sent to Subcommittee on Local Government Affairs The Florida Legislature will be in session soon. Please be ready to make your voice heard. You know how things can happen in the middle of the night! I will do my best to let you know when these come up. 8
Help Wanted Newsletter editor and contributing writers, Contact Commander Crocker for details. Sam Davis Youth Camp Coordinator - Someone to help select and transport youth to the Camp. H. L Hunley JROTC Award Coordinator Someone to coordinate awards, presenters, photographers, with the local JROTC Units. Official Appointment Effective immediately, Compatriot Charles Smith is appointed to the position of First Lieutenant Commander of Finley s Brigade. Lt Smith is a Southern man with strong convictions. His leadership will be a valuable asset to Finley s Brigade. Welcome aboard! Tallahassee Veterans Village Hey Confederates, The Tallahassee Veterans Village sends us a big Thank you! for all of our support. Some individual Camp members pooled together and presented the TVV with a Publix Gift Card. This, and our donation of can goods helped them make it through the holidays. They are also thankful for all the clothing items that you all donated to the Veterans. The TVV has let us know that they could use some laundry detergent and blankets, as well as nonperishable food items. Two of our members are working on the blanket issue now. If you can help with can goods or detergent, it would be appreciated. Thanks again for all of your support! Deo Vindice, Chris Miller (Q)Who was the first (and only) slave trader to be executed under Federal law? (A) Nathaniel Gordon of Portland, Maine in 1862 9
Check out our web-site at: http://www.finleysbrigadescv.com/ Like us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/235023710735/ "History shapes culture. Culture makes greatness. Greatness attracts growth--which changes culture unless it is brought into history." Heritage Opportunities Jan 12, 2016 Regular Camp meeting, Guest Speaker Paul Sampson-expert in Confederate currency Jan 14, 2016 Tallahassee Historical Society meeting at 6:30pm 1001 Desoto Park Dr. Deborah Dessilets will speak on the Dixie Highway project of the 1920 s. Jan 23, 2016 Lee-Jackson Event at Mission San Luis, Tallahassee, Florida 5pm Feb 9, 2016 Regular Camp meeting Feb 12-14, 2016 Battle of Olustee weekend Feb 20, 2016 Finley s Adopt-a-Road clean-up 9am at Old Plank and Natural Bridge Roads Feb 27, 2016 Woodville Founders Day all day at the Leon County Library in Woodville, Florida March 4-6, 2016 Battle of Natural Bridge weekend 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. 2015 10