 | The Admiral’s LogRaphael Semmes Camp 11 Sons of Confederate Veterans 1211 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36604 |  | |
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The regular monthly meeting was held March 28, 2005, at the Admiral Semmes Hotel on Government Street with members and guests attending. The program was a member “show and tell” with many interesting articles displayed. Our next monthly meeting will be held on the second floor of the Admiral Semmes Hotel in downtown Mobile at 7 p.m. on April 25, 2 005.
From the Commander’s Desk
The participation the camp members have shown this month has been inspiring. From researching the generals for Confederate Memorial Day to all the landscaping and flag placing that went on at the cemetery and the wonderful items shared in our last meeting of show and tell, the 38th reunion, the Fort Morgan event, it could go on and on. I appreciate all of your hard work making our camp successful in our endeavors and impressive in the public eye.
This month’s speaker will be the GG granddaughter of General Joe Wheeler, Mrs. Lucy LeGrand Walser. She was instrumental in the Governor’s visit to Pond Spring, the generals home, that led to an audit of the Alabama Historic Commission, a report I suggest you all read.
A special convention has been called by the commander-in-chief to attempt what failed in Dalton. That is to remove most of the former CIC’s from the GEC. I see no reason this can’t wait until the scheduled reunion in Nashville and believe that all those so passionately involved with the political agendas expressed should evaluate the reason we exist.
I joined this organization because of its ability to honor those that fought without concerning itself with those influences that drag one into a negative light. On the occasion that necessity calls on us to be in the public eye, we have done so without evasion of hesitation and the public service we have done for this community is boundless. I see no need to change the positive impact we have to mire ourselves in the politics of others. Our strength comes from our numbers and the way in which we cast our votes. I hope we can continue to do as so many before us have done in honoring our ancestors.
For the Cause,
Joe
Announcements
We express our condolences to the family of Compatriot Edward “Eddie” Cox upon his death. Eddie was an exceptional storyteller and avid Confederate contributor. He will be sadly missed.
A Confederate Memorial Service was held on Sunday, April 10, 2005, at Confederate Rest in Magnolia Cemetery. Many flags were placed on known Confederate veterans throughout the cemetery. All veterans within Confederate Rest were marked. The ancestors of members of Camp 11 who fought at Spanish Fort and Blakeley were recognized and special recognition was given to CSA General Officers buried at Magnolia. A brief biography of each officer was presented by members.
A special reunion of descendants of the 38th Alabama Infantry was held at Grove Hill with several members of Camp 11 attending. Guests were from as far as Florida, Minnesota and Texas. The great granddaughter of Colonel Charles T. Ketchum, Harriet Ketchum of Canyon, TX, was in attendance.
A re-enactment of the campaign at Fort Morgan and living history day was held on April 15-17 at Fort Morgan. It was hosted by the Confederate Marine Corps Co. D, Port of Mobile, and sponsored by Fort Morgan National Historic Landmark and Alabama Division of re-enactors, Inc. The program was a successful and a well-attended function.
April 29-30, 2005 - Alabama, Kushla, Magee Farm, 140 Anniversary Taylor–Canby Last Surrender East of Mississippi. Contact Jim Golden at (251) 675-1863.
April 29-May 1, 2005 – Alabama – Battle of Long Springs re-enactment. Sequoyah Caverns, Valley Head. Contact Roy Jones 1-800- 843-5098.
May 7, 2005 – Tennessee – Shiloh Spring Civil War Relic and Coin Hunt. Sponsored by Freeman’s Battery Forrest’s Artillery Camp 1939 SCV, 10 a.m. Contact Riley Gunter (713) 925-7962.
May 13-15, 2005 – Alabama – Battle for Cane Creek Furnace, Ohatchee, AL. Contact Brandy (205) 467-7579.
May 14-15, 2005 – Tennessee – 7th Annual Nashville Summer Civil War Antique Arms, Military Antiques & Collectibles Show and Sale, Agricultural Building and Banquet Hall Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville. 350 tables of Military collectibles. Contact Robert Overstreet 1-800-638-1994.
May 27-29, 2005 – Georgia – Andersonville, Georgia Battle Re-enactment.
Featured Alabama Infantry Regiment 15th Alabama Infantry Volunteers
The 15th Alabama Infantry was organized at Fort Mitchell, Alabama, in 1861 and served in Virginia in General Isaac R. Trimble’s Brigade. They were in Stonewall Jackson’s army and fought with distinction at Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys, Gaines’ Mill, Malvern Hill and Hazel River. It encamped at Huntsville until October when they were ordered to Virginia. They fought and lost heavily at Second Manassas and were in the battles of Chantilly, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Suffolk and Gettysburg. The regiment was ordered to join Braggs’ army and fought at Chickamauga, Brown’s Ferry, Wauhatchie, Knoxville, Bean’s Station, then returned to Virginia. There they saw action at Fort Harrison, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Hanover Courthouse, Second Cold Harbor and were engaged at Petersburg and before Richmond. At Deep Bottom on August 14 to 18, 1864, one- third of the regimental men engaged were killed. Among officers killed were Captain R. Hl Hill and Lt. W. B. Mills at Cross Keys; Captain Weams was mortally wounded at Gains Mill; Captain P. V. Guerry and Lt. A. McIntosh at Cold Harbor; Captains J. H. Allison and H. C. Brainard at Gettysburg, and Captain John C. Oates died of wounds received at Gettysburg; Captain Frank Park was killed at Knoxville; Captain Glover at Petersburg and Captain B. A. Hill at Fussell’s Mill.
William C. Oates served as a field officer with the regiment. He later served as a member of congress and as Governor of Alabama. Colonel James Cantey became a brigadier general.
[From Admiral Raphael Semmes]
As quoted in History of the Confederate States Navy by J. Thomas Scharf.
As to the resignation of officers serving in the army and navy.
“It must be admitted, indeed, that there were some little nerve required on the part of an officer of the regular (US) army or navy to elect to go with his State. His profession was his only fortune; he depended upon it for the means of subsisting himself and his family. If he remained where he was, a competency for life, and promotions, and honors, probably, awaited him; if he could not possibly better his condition, if he went with the South, a dark, uncertain future was before him; he could not possibly better his condition, and, if the South failed, he would have thrown away the labor of a lifetime. The struggle was hard in other respects. All professions are clannish. Men mutually cling together who have been bred in a common pursuit, and this remark is particularly applicable to the army and navy. West Point and Annapolis were powerful bonds to knit together the hearts of young men. Friendships were there formed which it was difficult to sever, especially when strengthened by years of after-association in common toils, common pleasures, and common dangers. Naval officers, in particular, who had been rocked together in the same storm, and had escaped perhaps the same shipwreck, found it very difficult to draw their swords against each other. The flag, too, had a charm which it was difficult to resist. It had long been the emblem of the principle that all just governments are founded on the consent of the governed, vindicated against our British ancestors in the War of the Revolution; and it was difficult to realize the fact that it no longer represented that principle, but had become the emblem of its opposite; that of coercing unwilling States to remain under a Government which they deemed unjust and oppressive.”
Lest We Forget
“To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will submit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate Soldiers’ good name, the guardianship of his history.”
Lt. General S. D. Lee
There are a number of Alabama men buried at Confederate Rest, Camp Randall, and Madison, Wisconsin. These men were imprisoned after capture at Island No. 10. There are 140 Confederates buried here. A, T, M, Regiment is the Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi Regiment. (Partial Listing)
John Bowers, Co. D, 1st Alabama Regiment.
David Rives, Co, C, 1st Alabama Regiment.
J. H. Barber, Co. B, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
Joel Lodwick, Co. D, 1st Alabama Regiment.
E. C. Sissorly, Co. C, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
J. F. Patrick, Co. H, 1st A, T. M, Regiment.
William Ham, Co. F, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
Ed Bates, Co. G, 1st Alabama Regiment.
T. C. Adams, Co. K, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
N. Hollister, Co. K, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
N. J. Wicks, Co. C, 1st Alabama Regiment.
N. T. Reardon, Co. I, 1st Alabama Regiment.
W. M. C. Mathews, Co. E, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
W. A. Drinkard, Co. B, 1st Alabama Regiment.
H. Infinger, Co. D, 1st Alabama Regiment.
George Larron, Co. E, 1st Alabama Regiment.
John Wilks, Co. I, 1st Alabama Regiment.
Richard Kelly, Co. I, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
F. N. Hood, Co. I, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
Samuel Coon, Co. D, 1st Alabama Regiment.
T. T. Demmins, Co. I, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
J. H. Jones, Co. H, 1st A, T, M, Regiment.
[More Confederate Burials to follow in upcoming issues.]
Minutes of March 28, 2005, Monthly Meeting
The minutes of the March 28, 2005, meeting are attached. Those members receiving electronic mail versions can peruse a copy at the regular meeting or request a copy by e-mail from the editor.