December 2006
Commander’s Column – By Nick Posey
Looking back, as another year comes to a close, it has been a very busy year and also a good year for the camp. Our camp’s membership has grown this year, and I’m hoping next year will be an even better year for recruiting and bringing in new members.
I want to thank all of the camp’s officers and members for their hard work and dedication during the past year. We’ve been involved in a good number of events and projects that have been a success because of your persistent efforts, and I sincerely appreciate your sacrifices of personal time and all the hard work you have so selflessly performed throughout the year.
We have a new slate of officers for the 2007-2008 term that were nominated at the November 9th meeting (They’re listed in one of the following sections and in the meeting minutes.) I appreciate their commitment to serve for two years, and I’m looking forward to working with them during the next term, which starts after our Lee-Jackson Banquet on January 13th. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of officers than I had for the 2005-2006 term. They really worked hard and are responsible for making our camp the active and successful organization that it has been during the past two years. (They have made my job much easier, too!) And I am truly grateful and honored to have served with this fine group of Southern gentlemen and absolutely dedicated SCV members during the last term.
At our meeting this Thursday night, our program speaker will be Commander-in-Chief Christopher M. Sullivan. I hope all of you will make a special effort to come out to see and hear our CIC, which is a rare opportunity.
I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season with your family and friends as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Camp #158 welcomes its three newest member who were accepted for membership into the Sons of Confederate Veterans at our November 9th meeting.
¦ John Thomas Key was accepted for membership through his 3rd Great Grandfather, Private Thomas Jefferson Connell of Company B, 4th Battalion, Georgia Sharpshooters.
■ Jesse Wade Key was accepted for membership through his 4th Great Grandfather, Private Thomas Jefferson Connell of Company B, 4th Battalion, Georgia Sharpshooters.
■ Orie A. Malin was accepted for membership through his 3rd Great Grandfather, Private William N. Oden of Company K, 20th Georgia Volunteer Infantry.
Camp #158 also welcomes recently transferred member Curtis Carter, a descendant of Major General William H.T Walker. He’s a former member of the Major General Ambrose R. Wright Camp #1914 in Evans.
B/G E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 Website: http://www.eporteralexander.homestead.com/Index.html
Georgia Division SCV Website: http://www.georgiascv.com/
SCV National Website: http://www.scv.org/
Camp News & Events…
Camp #158 members attended or participated in the following events:
Saturday, October 21st - the camp’s re-enactors participated in the Raid on 1810 West Inn & Rendezvous re-enactment in Thomson, Georgia, hosted by the 5th Georgia Infantry.
Sunday, October 29th - The Massing of the Colors and Remembrance Day ceremony, sponsored by the Augusta Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, was conducted at the Good Shepherd Chapel, Fort Gordon, Georgia. Lt. Commander Ron Udell, dressed-out in his Confederate uniform, attended the ceremony with the camp’s Confederate Artillery flag representing the SCV in memory of our Confederate ancestors who fought in the War Between the States.
Friday, November 3rd, & Saturday, November 4th – We had Magnolia Cemetery Workdays. Camp members cut grass and raked magnolia leaves in the three Confederate sections, at the graves of the seven Confederate generals, and at Miss Mary Hall’s gravesite.
(The 3 items above were not included in the November Wig Wag.)
Friday, November 10th – A Veterans Day Observance Ceremony was conducted at 11:00 a.m. at the All Wars Monument located at 4th and Broad Streets. Camp #158 members attended and placed a wreath in honor of Confederate soldiers who fought in the War Between the States.
Saturday, November 11th – Camp #158 re-enactors participated in the Battle of Secessionville that was held at Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston, SC.
Saturday, November 25th – Camp #158 members setup a booth at the Barnyard Flea Market of Augusta to sell camp store items and Confederate memorabilia. Camp #158 re-enactors gave living history presentations, and re-enactors of the 32nd Georgia Artillery had a cannon on display and gave living history presentations also.
Saturday, December 2nd & Sunday, December 3rd – Camp #158 re-enactors participated in the Battle of Waynesborough that was held at Stonebrier Plantation near Girard, Georgia.
Saturday, December 9th – Four Camp #158 re-enactors served as honor guard at an Iron Cross Dedication Service for Confederate Corporal Edward Hubbard Grayson, a member of Company D, 24th South Carolina Infantry, Gist’s Brigade. The service was held at Long Branch Baptist Church Cemetery near the small community of Elko, SC, in Barnwell County.
***Announcements***
■ Thursday, December 14th – The next Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 Meeting will be held at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant at 7:00 p.m. Our program speaker will be Sons of Confederate Veterans Commander-in-Chief Christopher Sullivan. He’ll speak on "The State of the Confederation of the SCV."
■ Saturday, December 16th – Camp #158 members will setup a booth at the Barnyard Flea Market of Augusta to sell camp store items. Camp #158 re-enactors will be on hand to give living history presentations to patrons of the flea market. Re-enactors of the 32nd Georgia Artillery unit will have a cannon on display and give living history presentations also.
■ Saturday, December 16th – We will have a Magnolia Cemetery Workday, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., to clean up the Confederate sections before the Christmas Holidays when there will be multitudes of visitors riding through the cemetery. We want our sections to be immaculate so that the visitors will know and understand that these Confederate soldiers are not forgotten! We need lots of people with rakes and leaf blowers – yes, this means you!
■ Saturday, December 23rd – We will have our final Adopt-A-Highway Litter Pickup for this year. Camp members will meet at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot across the street from the Miyabi Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse Restaurant on Augusta West Parkway to perform our cleanup, which usually takes less than an hour.
■ Thursday, January 11th – Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 will meet at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant at 7:00 p.m. Our program speaker will be Dr. John Chandler Griffin from Lancaster, SC. He’ll give a slide presentation and speak on his book, "A Pictorial History of the Confederacy."
■ Saturday, January 13th – Camp 158’s annual Lee-Jackson Banquet will be held at American Legion Post #63 located on 90 Milledge Road in Augusta. (The American Legion is diagonally across the street from the Julian Smith Barbecue Pit and next door to the National Guard Armory.) The banquet will start at 7:00 p.m. Stan Clardy, Southern musician, songwriter and author will provide the entertainment. He will perform his musical and storytelling act "Soldiers in Gray." Men are encouraged to wear their Confederate uniforms and ladies that have them can wear period dresses. Tickets will be sold in advance (not at the door) and will be available at the meeting on December 14th.
Camp Officers for the 2007-2008 Term:
SCV Membership Certificates will be presented to the following members at this Thursday’s meeting:
Mark Gay
Joe Poteet
Keith Walker
Marty Weaver
Barry Whitney
A Note of Thanks…
The camp appreciates and gives a big thanks to Shannon Herron (wife of Adjutant Perry Herron) for placing a new bouquet of colorful fall flowers on the grave of Miss Mary Hall in Magnolia Cemetery on Sunday, November 5th.
Scripture for thought…
The Birth of Jesus: King James Bible –
Book of Luke, Chapter 2
[7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. [15] And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. [16] And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. [17] And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. [18] And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. [19] But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Quotes about the South …
"Like most war leaders, he [Lincoln] grossly distorted and exaggerated the motives of his enemy. He constantly insisted that the South wanted to "destroy" the Union, when it merely wanted to withdraw from it. He called honorable men like Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee "traitors," though they never betrayed anyone in their lives. He accused the South of "aggression," when it was the South that was being invaded, and truly destroyed, by the Union armies. Having assured the country that he had neither the power nor the inclination to disturb slavery, Lincoln made the destruction of slavery his lofty war aim in the middle of the war." ---Joseph Sobran ( Journalist)
"We are engaged in an important cause, the cause of a brave, loyal and enlightened people asserting their rights, and I trust that, with the help of God, they will be able to carry them out." – Spoken at the Louisiana Secession Convention on January 26th, 1861, by Alexander Mouton (1804-1885), who was president of Louisiana’s Secession Convention; he was a former U.S. Senator.
"May any Grandson who fails to honor these Southern Patriots who sacrificed everything and lost, meet a different hereafter, for he would not be worthy of their reception." Elijah S. Coleman – a member of Chattahoochee Guards Camp #1639 in Mabelton, Georgia
It's here to stay, Y'all have a nice day! – Bumper sticker in reference to the Confederate Battle Flag
"Every time I look at Atlanta I see what a quarter of a million Confederate soldiers died to prevent." – John Shelton Reed
"If we were wrong in our contest, then the Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a grave mistake and the revolution to which it led was a crime. If Washington was a patriot; Lee cannot have been a rebel." –General Wade Hampton
"The principle for which we contend is bound to reassert itself, though it may be at another time and in another form." – Confederate President Jefferson Davis
A Letter to the editor – an excellent defense of the Confederate flag…
**Values Same in Confederate & U.S. Flags**
Dear Editor:
The Confederate flag represents limited federal government, states’ rights, resistance to tyranny, and Christian values and principles. Thus it represents the same principles as the Betsy Ross U.S. flag -- the principles America was founded upon. As America experiments with globalism, socialism, and secular humanism it is important for patriotic Americans to fly the Confederate flag as a reminder of these basic principles. America has two choices: reclaim our heritage or eventually surrender our constitution and sovereignty to the New World Order -- a godless, socialist United Nations. Many black Americans have been indoctrinated by northern liberal Marxist socialists to view the Confederate flag as a symbol of racism and bigotry. They are being used for political purposes to assist in the conversion of America to socialism and secular humanism. The infamous communist Karl Marx said, "A people separated from their heritage are easily persuaded". This is the real reason they want to destroy and ban Confederate heritage and symbols, which are 180 degrees diametrically opposed to socialism and secular humanism. The communist Lenin coined the term "useful idiots". Many white liberals fit this category as well as Southern politicians who are helping destroy Confederate principles, heritage, and symbols. White Southern Christians who fly the Confederate flag are not the enemy of black Americans. It is true that KKK and other groups have misused, misrepresented, and abused the flag but this should not invalidate the true meaning of this honorable flag in the minds of educated, knowledgeable Americans.
James W. King, commander of the Lt Colonel Thomas M. Nelson Camp #141 in Albany, Georgia, authored and submitted this letter.
This letter was printed in the Tuscaloosa News in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on November 23rd, 2006.
Meeting Minutes for November 9th, 2006
Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Augusta, Georgia
Camp Commander Nick Posey called the monthly meeting of Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 to order at 7:10 p.m., and welcomed visitors and members. Mike Milford gave the Invocation and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag. Commander Posey then led the Pledge of Allegiance to the "Real" Georgia State Flag, the salute to the Confederate Flag, and the salute to the Christian Flag. He then read the "SCV Charge."
Commander Posey
introduced 28 guests in attendance.Commander Posey
was the program speaker and spoke on "Mary Hall – An Augusta Legend." Mary Hall was born in Augusta Georgia, in 1840. During the war she worked in Augusta’s Confederate hospitals providing care and assistance to wounded soldiers. After the war she was active in the Ladies Memorial Association and was instrumental in helping to establish the Confederate Dead and Confederate Survivors’ sections in Magnolia Cemetery. She died in 1922.Applications for Membership
■ John Thomas Key was accepted for membership through his 3rd Great Grandfather, Private Thomas Jefferson Connell of Company B, 4th Battalion, Georgia Sharpshooters.
■ Jesse Wade Key was accepted for membership through his 4th Great Grandfather, Private Thomas Jefferson Connell of Company B, 4th Battalion, Georgia Sharpshooters.
■ Orie A. Malin was accepted for membership through his 3rd Great Grandfather, Private William N. Oden of Company K, 20th Georgia Volunteer Infantry.
The camp accepted the three applicants by a unanimous voice vote.
Miscellaneous Announcements - Upcoming Events
■ Ms. Betsy Bloomer
, a visitor and member of Berry Benson UDC Chapter #2584 in North Augusta, SC, announced that she had recently finished compiling a book on SC Confederate soldiers in Aiken, Edgefield, Saluda and Greenwood counties. The book lists the units in which they served, their burial locations and pension records. She offered this newly published book and another book for sale, stating that the proceeds from these books would be donated to Oakley Park, the South’s only Red Shirt Shrine, located in Edgefield, SC.■ Commander Posey announced that the Living History School Day Program, hosted by the 32nd Georgia Artillery, would be held on Friday, December 1st, at the Big Buckhead Church in Burke County off of US Highway 25.
■ Commander Posey also announced that the Battle of Waynesborough would be held on Saturday, 12/02, and Sunday, 12/03, at Stonebrier Plantation in Burke County off of Buck Lane.
Reports of Officers
1st Lieutenant Commander Ron Udell
reported that the booth we had setup for the camp store at the "Raid on 1810 West Inn" re-enactment did very poorly due to low attendance at the event. The camp store made only $21.00. He reminded everyone about the Veterans Day Observance Ceremony that would be conducted on Friday, November 10th, at 11:00 a.m. at the All Wars Monument located at 4th and Broad Streets. He also announced that Camp #158 would have booths setup at the Barnyard Flea Market on Saturday, November 25th, which is during Thanksgiving weekend.Treasurer Lee Herron
provided the Camp’s Finance Report for the month of October.Commander Nick Posey
reported on the following items:1) Status of Membership Renewals: Camp currently has 108 members on the roster, and eight members did not renew.
2) Read a thank you card received from the family of Samuel Lucas Weaver, infant son of Luke & Michele Weaver. The card was a note of appreciation to the camp for all of our thoughts, concern and prayers during their loss and time of grief.
3) Thanked the 15 camp members, and 5 friends and family members that were involved with the Magnolia Cemetery Workdays on November 3rd & 4th.
4) Announced that we would not have a Magnolia Cemetery Workday on Saturday, December 2nd, however, we will have a workday one Saturday before Christmas to cleanup the Confederate sections before the holidays.
5) SCV Recruiting Signs are ready to be picked up by those who ordered them.
6) Our Lee-Jackson Banquet will be on Saturday, January 13th, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at American Legion Post #63 on 90 Milledge Road in Augusta.
7) Inquired if anyone had a picture of the flag that was attached to the Confederate Powder Works Chimney before it was replaced with the aluminum flag sign in July. Member Kenneth Kitchens responded that he had a picture of the flag.
8) Informed the membership that Past Commander Woody Highsmith had gone to Afghanistan to work for one to two years.
9) Camp #158 T-Shirts are available for purchase.
Nominations of Camp Officers for the 2007-2008 Term
Commander Posey
stated that several months ago he had appointed 2nd Lt Commander David Powell to seek commitments from members to fill each of the camp officer positions. The purpose of this was to have a nominee for each of the officer positions before nominations in order to ensure that we would have at least one person committed to run for each position for the new term. The following members listed below had previously committed before the meeting to accept the officer positions, and were on the Nominations List prior to nominations being taken from the floor.Commander – Nick Posey
1st Lieutenant Commander – Ron Udell
2nd Lieutenant Commander – Lee Herron
Adjutant – Perry Herron
Treasurer – Henry Gilmer
Chaplain – Mike Milford
Historian & Webmaster – Terry Bowers
Judge Advocate – Allen Johnson
Quartermaster – Ben Creech
Surgeon – John Baxley
Sergeant-at-Arms – Stan Scritchfield
Recording Secretary & Newsletter Editor – Philip Miller
After reading the Nominations List of members pre-committed to run for each of the camp officer positions, Commander Posey asked for nominations from the floor for each of the twelve positions. There were no nominations of officers received from the floor. Since there was only one nominee for each officer position, Commander Posey declared the slate of officers presented on the Nominations List to be elected by acclamation for the 2007-2008 term of office.
New Business
■ A Vote was taken by ballot to select the Christmas Parade in which the camp would participate this year. The vote tally was 22 votes for the Harlem parade on 12/09, 5 votes for the Hephzibah parade on 12/09, and one vote for the parade in North Augusta on 12/03. The camp will march in the Harlem Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 9th, at 11:00 a.m.
■ Selection of a caterer was needed for the Lee-Jackson Banquet on January 13th, 2007. Commander Posey presented prices to the membership from three food caterers:
Piccadilly Cafeteria for $11.00 per person
Mrs. Sammie Arrington for $11.00 per person
Very Vera for $13.00 per person
After a brief discussion a motion was made and seconded to select Mrs. Sammie Arrington as the caterer for our Lee-Jackson Banquet. The motion passed by a voice vote. Commander Posey announced that tickets would be $12.00 per person and $6.00 for children 12 years old and under.
Announcements
Commander Posey
reminded everyone to consult the Meeting Agenda for a list of upcoming events. These events, as listed in the agenda, are repeated here:■ Friday, November 10th – A Veterans Day Observance Ceremony will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. at the All Wars Monument located at 4th and Broad Streets.
■ Friday, December 1st through Sunday, December 3rd – The Fourth Annual Olde South Christmas in Abbeville, SC. http://www.sccsc01.com/AOSC-2006-2.htm
■ Thursday, December 14th
– The next Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 Meeting will be held at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant at 7:00 p.m. Our program speaker will be Sons of Confederate Veterans Commander-in-Chief Christopher M. Sullivan.Door Prize Drawing
The monthly prize drawing to provide funding to the Southern Legal Resource Center and our and Lee-Jackson Banquet Fund was conducted by Treasurer Lee Herron.
Adjournment
There being no objection to adjourn the meeting, it was so declared by general consent by Commander Posey. Camp Historian Ben Creech gave the Benediction, and this was followed by our usual resounding rendition of Dixie.
Respectfully submitted,
Commander Nick Posey
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158
P. O. Box 3694, Hill Station
Augusta, GA 30904
"Truth crushed to the earth is truth
still and like a seed will rise again."
-- President Jefferson Davis
*****
Next SCV Camp #158 Meeting *****Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant - December 14th, 7:00 pm
Wig Wag
– December 2006 EditionThe Official Monthly Newsletter of
Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Augusta, Georgia