Vol. XXVIII                                No.3                           March  2007                                       Editor: Art Green

 

        The Admiral’s Log

Sons of Confederate Veterans

P.O.  Box 414, Mobile, AL 36601-0414

Raphael Semmes Camp 11

 

 

 

 

1211 Government Street Mobile, AL 36604
 
 
 
  

 

Our regular February meeting was held at Admiral Semmes Hotel on February 26, 2007.  It was well attended by members and guests.  Compatriot Joe Ringhoffer presented the camp with an update and requirements for the upcoming Reunion/Convention in July.

Attention: OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE ADMIRAL’S

HOME AT 802 GOVERNMENT STREET at 7 p.m. on March 26, 2007.

 This is a first for us, and the camp may henceforth meet regularly at the home.  Here is your opportunity to visit this historic dwelling purchased by the people of Mobile and presented to the Admiral in 1871.   You will find adequate parking in the Baptist Church parking lots and lot adjacent to the home.

We will have a VIP guest speaker, and we will provide uniformed (Confederate) escorts into the Semmes home for his presentation.  He is a very busy man who only comes to speak to us because he heard he would be among friends.

            Volunteers for a color bearer and armed men in uniform (at least two) are requested by our commander.

            

From the Commander’s Desk

 

Gentlemen of Raphael Semmes Camp 11:

 

We live in a wonderful part of Alabama with regard to our Confederate-American History.  All of us are intimately familiar with Forts Morgan, Gaines, Powell, Blakeley and Johnston.  Sadly these memorials to heroism under fire are being destroyed on an ongoing basis. 

            Having withstood armed conflict and siege, these icons to the War Between the States face a future that is slowly fading into the dust and sandy soils of Mobile and Baldwin Counties.  Perhaps one day there will remain a mere sign or stone to mark the sites where these once important places stood, defended by heroic men of a vanished age.

            Not by bulldozers or vandalism do these important Alabama and American historical sites face im-minent destruction.  It is a destruction that is advancing and certain.  It is simply the destruction caused by NEGLECT.  This neglect is sometimes intentional, as at Fort Blakeley, with hiking paths and oak trees growing on rare Confederate entrenchments.  It is by lack of funding, as at Forts Morgan and Gaines.   It is the loss of an economic battle with the State of Alabama at Fort Johnston, and it is the loss to nature at Fort Powell.

 

A simple editorial such as this cannot come close to stopping the loss we face daily of our local Confederate history and heritage.  It is the rising up of men such as us to go to the halls of government, to those that generate grants and aids, to those that will aid in our fight to save our history for our sons and daughters that follow us.  And it is up to those that claim a love of Confederate American history to stop this neglect NOW.  Or it will simply be too late.  The choice is simple.  It is up to us, and if we every plan to take action, NOW is the time.

 

                                                                                                                  Best regards,

                                                                                               Phil Law, Commander

                                                                                                Raphael Semmes Comp 11, Mobile, Alabama

-------------------------------------------------------

Announcements

 

Count down is at four months to prepare for the 07 SCV Annual Convention and Reunion, which our camp will sponsor.  Volunteers are needed for all tasks.  Please see Joe Ringhoffer, and let him know how we can count on you. Keep the dates of July 25-28, 2007, open so that you can assist at this momentous reunion.  It will take good effort from all of us to make this a memorable and successful convention.  For the first time you can register on line at www.scvsemmes.org.   

Members are urged to solicit ads from area businesses for the souvenir program.  The cost is $200 for a full-page ad, $100 for half page, $50 for quarter page and $25 for business card size.  Please obtain artwork, and payment and forward to Mr. Joe Ringhoffer.  

Camp dues are now due.  If you have not paid, please remit $49.50 to Paymaster Charles Christmas at 1954 Old Government Street, Mobile, AL 36606 for re-instatement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

April 12-15 2007, Battle of Selma Re-enactment. 

April 14, 2007, Vicksburg, MS - 15th Annual Civil War Show, Battlefield Inn.

April 14, 2007, Kennesaw. GA – The story of the Great Locomotive Chase, at the museum

April 27-28, 2007, Atlanta, GA – Norcross, Atlanta International Military Show

April 28, 2007, Mountain Creek, AL - Grand Opening of Confederate Memorial Park.

April 28-29, 2007, Corinth, MS – Fight for the streets of Corinth.

May 5-6, 2007, Blountsville, AL – Forrest/ Streight Raid Re-enactment. 

May 11-13, 2007, Rutledge, TN – Re-enactment of the Battle of Beans Station.

May 18-20, 2007, Resaca, GA – Battle of Resaca, 143rd Anniversary.

May 19-20, 2007, Bay Minette, AL - Gulf Coast Civil War and Antique Expo.

May26-27, 2007,Tannehill State Park, AL – The Skirmish at Tannehill Furnace.

June 25-29, Richmond, VA – Robert E. Lee – The Museum of the Confederacy.

July 13-14, 2007, Norcross, GA – Norcross, The Atlanta International Military Show.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Featured Alabama Infantry Regiment – 37th Alabama Infantry Volunteers

 

            The 37th Alabama Infantry was organized at Auburn in the spring of 1862, sent to Columbus, MS, and from there to Tupelo, MS.  With General Sterling Price at Iuka, September 19–20, 1862, it began its long roll of battles.  Forty-three men and Colonel J. F. McDowell and Lt. Colonel A. A. Green were wounded in this fight.  Its Division Commander, General Little, was killed at Iuka.  At the battle of Corinth, October 3-5, 1862, it lost heavily, and General Martin, its Brigade Commander, was killed.  It spent the winter of 1862-63 in Mississippi brigaded under General John C. Moore.  They took part in Chickasaw Bayou, Port Gibson, Baker’s Creek and were part of the garrison at Vicksburg until captured on July 4, 1863.  After ex-change, it was in parole camp in Demopolis and later transferred to the Army of Tennessee and fought at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.  They wintered at Dalton and were in the battles of the Georgia campaign at Rocky Face Mountain, Resaca, New Hope Church and Atlanta. The regiment was sent to gar-rison duty at Spanish Fort but returned to the Army of Tennessee in early spring and fought at Bentonville. 

The regiment was remarkable for the large number of officers killed and wounded.  Captain Marion C. J. Searcy was wounded at Corinth and killed at Missionary Ridge.  Captain W. W. Meadows was killed and Captains Moses B. Greene, John O. Davis and S. M. Robinson were wounded at Corinth; Captain J. C. Kendrick was wounded at Corinth an Atlanta; Captain J. J. Padgett was wounded; Captain Joel G. Greene at Atlanta; Captain C. Pennington at Resaca; Captain J. M. Leach was killed at New Hope Church; Captain C. E. Evans was wounded at Resaca and Atlanta; Captain James H. Johnson was wounded at Atlanta.  Colonel James F. Dowell was captured at Vicksburg; Lt. Colonel A. A. Greene was wounded at Iuka and at Missionary Ridge and killed at Atlanta; Lt. Colonel W. F. Stanton was wounded at Corinth and captured at Lookout Mountain, as were Majors John P. Amorine and Joel C. Kendrick.

Taken from Confederate Military History – Alabama Vol. III by Lt. General Joseph Wheeler)

------------------------------------------

Items of Interest

 

From The Mobile SCV Bivouac of Jefferson Davis Camp 1206 [Forerunner to SCV Admiral Semmes Camp No. 11] No. 1 Vol.1, April 9, 1961.

The regular monthly meeting of Jefferson Davis Camp 1206 will be held this Thursday night August 13 at Korbets Restaurant, 7:30 p.m.

            Martin Johnson, the golden tongued orator, will M. C. the program with the honorable Dan McCall and Judy Rayford the speakers. Compatriots Sidney Phillips and Robert Taylor will display their “Lumsten’s Alabama Battery” in full Confederate regalia for the first time to the Mobile public.

            Camp officers shown are J. Gordon Bennett, Commander, and L. D. Brasell, Adjutant –Treasurer.

-------------------------------------

Fort Morgan again is on the endangered list of Civil War sites.

            The Civil War Preservation list of ten most endangered Civil War Battlefields (in alphabetical order) are Cedar Creek, VA; Fort Morgan, AL; Gettysburg, PA; Harpers Ferry, WV; Iuka, MS; Marietta, GA; New Orleans Forts, LA; Northern Piedmont, MD, PA & VA; Petersburg, VA; Spring Hill, TN.

 

 

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 Soldier’s good name, the guardianship of his history.”   Lt. General S. D. Lee 

Confederate Prisoners that died and were buried at Ship Island, Mississippi.  (This is the remainder of deaths from listing last month)

Pvt. Benjamin Edwards – 21st Ala.; Pvt. John Hall – 21st Ala.; Pvt. Jesse Hays – Lock’s Battery; Pvt. Daniel Carroll – 1st Ala.; Pvt. W. H. Stone – Lock’s Battery; James O. Guymor – Lock’s Battery; Pvt. Charles Clements – 21st Ala.; Pvt. E. W. Kennedy – 21st Ala.; Pvt. A. W. Smith – 21st Ala.; Pvt. G. W. Hill – 1st Ala. Artillery; Pvt. John T. Poittat – 21st Ala.; Pvt.  Wm. Garris p 1st Ala. Artillery; Pvt. Phil Howell* (shot by sentry) – 21st Ala.; Pvt. J. C. Bunelon – Lock’s Battery; Pvt. John Fortenbery – 20th Miss.; Pvt. Samuel Chesnut – Lock’s Battery; Pvt. Daniel Crosby – Engineers Crop.; Pvt. S. W. Deloach – 21st Ala.; Pvt. W. Kennedy – Lock’s Battery; Pvt. S. B. McElrath – Lock’s Battery; Pvt. G. W. Mathews – Lock’s Battery; Pvt.  John Chason – Fla. Mil.; Pvt. C. F. Coleman – Lock’s Battery; Pvt. Edwin Motley – 21st Ala.; Pvt. D. K. Evans – 2nd Fla.; Pvt. William Lee – 1st Ala. Artillery; Pvt. S. R. Kennedy – 21st Ala.; Pvt. B. Hudson – 21st Ala.; Sgt. J. W. Swearinger – 21st Ala.; Pvt. H. M. Caldwell – 21st Ala.; Pvt. W. S. Philen – 21st Ala.; Pvt. W. J. Kirby – Culp’s Battery; Pvt. J. B. Dunn – 1st Ala. Artillery; Pvt. W. W. Goodwin – 1st Ala. Artillery; Pvt. Simon Maples – 21st Ala.; Pvt. W. T. Chapman – 21st Ala.; Captain Charles Ward – 21st Ala.; Pvt. A. K. Taylor – 1st Ala. Artillery; Pvt. T. B. Severance – Culp’s Battery; Pvt. G. T. Grace – 21st Ala.; Pvt. W. H. Fisher – 1st Mo. Battery; Pvt. J. D. Graham – 21st Ala.; Pvt. S. D. Boone – 21st Ala.; Pvt. Henry Davidson – 21st Ala.; Pvt. A. J. Parten – 21st Ala.; Sgt. J. B. Fulford – 21st Ala.; Pvt. A. T. Taul – Lock’s Battery; Sgt. S. Thompson – 21st Ala.; Pvt. J. Austin – Fla. Mil.; Pvt. S. Stinson – 21st Ala.; Pvt. O. W. Turner – 21st Ala.; Pvt. James Grenshaw – 21st Ala.; Pvt. P. F. Abercrumbie – Fla. Mil.; Lds. Robert Bailey – Steamer Selma; Pvt. W. J. Dillard – Signal Corps; Pvt. William Meeks – Fla. Mil.; Citizen T. Albritton – Clinton, La.; Pvt. J. B. McDougal Power’s Cav.; Pvt. A. R. Lilly – 3rd La. Cav.; Lds J. W. Smith – Steamer Tenn.; Lds. Dennis Fynn – Steamer Tenn.; Pvt. J. H. Bethia – 20th Confed.; Pvt. James Stanfield – Hundon’s Battery;  Sgt. Wm. L. Robinson – Homes La. Battery; Lds. James McCann – Steamer Selma; Pvt. W. D. Rogers – 15th Confed. Cav.; Pvt. S. P. Lynch – 1st La. Cav.; Pvt. James Shipman – 6th Fla. Cav.; Pvt. S. A. Busby – 62nd Ala. Vols.; Pvt. David Hendriks – 8th Ala. Cav.; Pvt. Robert French – Cage’s Regt.; Sgt. Edwin H. Inzer – 9th TX Cav.; Pvt. James Rogers 19th La. Inf.; Pvt. R. H. McDonald – 2nd Ala. Inf.; Pvt. W. J. Vernon – 8th Ala. Cav.; Pvt. Frank Bryant – 1st Ala. Reserves.  (This is the second half of the 153 burials.)  These graves are not marked nor is the graveyard marked.  Most or all have washed into Mississippi Sound.