April is a historically significant month for Georgia and the old Confederacy. April 26th marks the anniversary of the end of the War Between the States for Georgia. It was on this day in 1865 that Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's surrender to General William Sherman in North Carolina became official. Johnston had been in charge of Georgia's defense, so this day marked the end of the War for Georgia. April 26th was declared Confederate Memorial Day in our beloved state in 1874 by the Georgia General Assembly, and was designated a state holiday. Those of us who still appreciate and value our Southern heritage continue to commemorate this special day. Although most politicians in Georgia don’t acknowledge our special day, it’s our duty to see that it’s not forgotten and that the cherished memory of our noble Confederate ancestors is perpetuated and kept alive, even after 140 years.

Camp members are currently working to get Magnolia Cemetery prepared for the service and ceremony. There’s lots of work yet to be done and if you can volunteer some time to help, it would be much appreciated.

Something else of the utmost importance is also going to be happening on Saturday, April 23rd, and that’s the Special Called SCV National Convention to be held in Concord, NC. Several important and crucial resolutions must be passed to amend the SCV Constitution. This will enable the SCV national organization to freely operate and function without fear of another hostile takeover by the rogue Past Commanders-in-Chiefs. Camp #158 will send a delegate to this one-day convention to cast our eight votes on behalf of the camp. (We get 1 vote for every 10 members.) We’ll discuss these proposed resolutions at our next camp meeting on Thursday, April 14th, at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant.

Our program speaker will be Mr. Gene Barron from Brigadier General Barnard E. Bee Camp #1575 in Aiken, SC. He’ll discuss the "Confederate Veteran Grave Registration Program." This is an important subject that all of us should become more familiar with. I look to forward to seeing all of you at Sconyers on the 14th!

Saturday, March 19^th, the Georgia-Carolina Boy Scout Council hosted their 2^nd annual Augusta History Walk. Re-enactors, members and family members of Camp #158 participated in this event.

Saturday, April 9^th – The annual National Confederate Memorial Day Service at Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, GA, under the carving on the Memorial Lawn.

Thursday, April 14^th – Next Camp #158 Meeting at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant, 7:00 p.m. The program speaker will be Mr. Gene Barron from the B/G Barnard E. Bee Camp #1575 in Aiken, SC, speaking on the "Confederate Veteran Grave Registration Program."

Saturday, April 16^th - Beech Island Heritage Day, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Granville Plantation on SC Highway 125 between Beech Island and Jackson, SC.

Saturday, April 23^rd – Camp #158 Confederate Memorial Day Service at Magnolia Cemetery in Augusta. The Heritage March from the Confederate monument on Broad Street to Magnolia Cemetery will begin at noon. The memorial service at the cemetery starts at 12:45 p.m.

Sunday, April 24^th – Wilson Tigers Camp #245 Confederate Memorial Day Service at Hephzibah City Cemetery, 1:00 p.m. For more information call Lt Commander Kenneth McGahee at 706-790-1400.

Sunday, April 24^th – B/G John C. Carter Camp #207 Confederate Memorial Day Service at Waynesboro Memorial Confederate Cemetery, 3:00 p.m. For more information call Commander David Moncus at 706-554-4944.

Sunday, May 1^st – 20th Annual "A Day in the Country" Festival that features cars, crafts and country music. The festival will be at the Augusta Riverfront Marina from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 12^th – Camp #158 Meeting at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant at 7:00 p.m. The Program Speaker will be Commander David Moncus of the B/G John C. Carter Camp #207 in Waynesboro.

The builder of the stadium, in 1948 (or about), said he moved the remains, but only moved the headstones. Greed was what it was all about I guess or he just didn’t care. People looked the other way. I found out about this re-interment service from one of the old Hunley Honor Guard members at the Battle of Aiken. He said they were having trouble getting enough folks, so I said I would be there for whatever they needed me to do. Getting there that Saturday morning I was told to leave my musket in the truck, that I might not need it. Well I didn’t, they were short two pallbearers, and so I got the call. It was an honor and a good feeling that I was to take part. I had to learn from others and learn quickly. They had trained the day before. I just hoped that I could learn enough to do well, so I said a quick prayer.

After the service of prayers and remembrances, we folded the 21 flags and they were presented to 21 ladies in mourning dresses. We then carried the small, precious caskets to their final resting place, 6 in one grave, 4 in one, 4 in another, 4 more still in another and finally 3 in the last grave. My fellow pallbearer and I had casket number "57". We then lowered one at a time into the grave. Words were said; black powder and cannon salutes and tears were next. Then it was over . . . almost.

We were dismissed and I left to talk to a couple of folks and just look at some of the other graves. After a while something drew me back over by the graves of the 21. The pallbearers were starting to cover the caskets with earth. We all took turns with the shovel, to fill the graves. We did this, who else but us, Sons of Confederate Veterans… then it was over.

I will remember . . . .let us all remember, and honor our ancestors.

You can honor them this Confederate Memorial Day . . . for those that served.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. - Galatians 6:9

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. - 1 Peter 5:6

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 2:1-2

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. - Proverbs 13:15

Camp Commander Nick Posey called the monthly meeting of Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 to order at 7:00 PM. Chaplain Tony Carr 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 and the salute to the Confederate Flag. Past Commander Woody Highsmith then read the "SCV Charge."

Commander Posey introduced over a dozen guests in attendance, including representatives from the Berry Benson UDC Chapter 2584 in North Augusta and several SCV Camps (Confederate Memorial Camp #1432 of Stone Mountain, M/G Ambrose Ransom Wright Camp #1914 of Evans, Sergeant Berry Benson Camp #1672 of North Augusta, and Major Morgan/Hart's Battery Camp 1674 of Springfield, SC).

There being no additions or corrections, the meeting minutes of the February meeting were approved as published in the March newsletter.

For our moment to reflect upon historical facts about the Confederacy and the Southern Cause, Lee Herron read "The Charge" by Rick Veal [1996], an interpretation and personal challenge to uphold the SCV Charge.

Commander Posey then introduced the evening's special guest, Mr. Barry Whitney, great grandson of our namesake, Brigadier General Edward Porter Alexander. Mr. Whitney briefly spoke on some of the family heirlooms of the general, which he possesses, and his memories of Alexander as related to him by his grandmother.

Commander Nick Posey presented Mr. Whitney with a framed picture of Alexander when he was a young general.

Marion Roscoe Jenkins, Jr. was presented for membership through his Great Grandfather, Private Daniel Twiggs Jenkins, Sr., who served in Company D, 54th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry; a motion to accept Marion was made and approved. Paul Vernon Stampley was presented for membership through his Great-Great Grandfather, Sergeant Robert Toombs Cullars, who served in Company G, Georgia 15th Infantry Regiment; a motion to accept Paul was made and approved.

Treasurer Lee Herron provided the February camp financial report.

Lieutenant Commander Ron Udell reported the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup on February 19^th went quickly with 9 members participating. At least 8 camp coffee mugs remain for purchase; more may be ordered if there is interest for at least 36, which is the minimum number that can be ordered.

Commander Nick Posey provided a brief status of the recent takeover of the SCV General Executive Council; the camp will send at least one delegate to a called Special Convention to be held on April 23rd.

Commander Posey expressed for the camp our regrets and sorrow at the passing of our long time member Walker McWee on 20 February. A memorial service for Walker on February 22nd was well attended by Camp #158 members, and 13 camp members were dressed in their Confederate uniform; at the graveside service the next day at Magnolia Cemetery nine re-enactors from the camp gave a Black Powder Salute.

Commander Posey expressed concern regarding our decision to support the Major General Ambrose R. Wright Camp's request by participating in the Georgia-Carolina Boy Scout Council's annual Augusta History Walk on March 19th. It was decided that if details of our activities were not forthcoming by Thursday, 12 February that we would not be able to adequately prepare for the assignments and that the camp would not participate.

Our Confederate Memorial Day service will be on 23 April and plans need to be completed soon. Camp #158 T-shirts and Confederate History Calendars for 2005 are still available. There will be no drawing for the Southern Legal Resource Center at the end of this meeting.

In preparation of our Confederate Memorial Day Service and Heritage March the following recommendations made by the camp officers were considered:

1. A motion to allot $100 for portable toilettes was made and passed by voice vote.
2. A motion to allot $120 for two motorcycle police escorts was made and passed by voice vote.
3. A motion to allot $210 for radio ads was made and passed by voice vote. These ads are to be distributed as follows: 1 on Austin Rhodes program; 1 on Harley Drew morning show; 5 on country stations. (Note: an additional $300 by member donations was offered to obtain additional advertising.)

A motion was made to allow for up to $25 to be spent each month for prizes, if necessary, to ensure that at least 3 satisfactory prizes are available each month to be given away for the drawing. This is to supplement the SLRC Drawing, which raises funds through donations from camp members. The motion was passed by voice vote.

A motion was made to rescind last month's motion to have magnetic ribbons made which resemble a Battle flag and would be similar to the Yellow or Red, White and Blue magnetic ribbons which encourage us to "Support Our Troops." Two hundred and fifty of these were to be obtained at $1.99 for a total cost of $497.50 plus tax. The motion to rescind was defeated, 10 Yea to 12 Nay by a standing vote. A two-thirds majority vote was needed to rescind. The ribbons are to be ordered.

A motion was made to make an initial donation of $250 to the Southern Cultural Foundation, Inc. to assist in renovation of the Napier-Hoffman House (GA Division HQ) for adding flagpoles. This was passed by voice vote.

Lee Herron announced the camp had received several invitations to festival events: one for the festival in Mitchell, GA, and Reenactment on April 15th through 17th, and a second for the Day in the Country Festival on May 1st.

A motion was made and passed by voice vote to rent a booth for $55 at the Day in the Country Festival.

Beech Island Heritage day is April 16th, and a League of the South meeting on March 31st in Aiken.

Perry Herron announced that new headstones had arrived for the Levy brothers in Magnolia Cemetery.

The Joe Wheeler Camp in Aiken is having their Confederate Memorial Day Service on Tuesday May 10th.

No drawing was held.

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; this was followed by our usual resounding rendition of Dixie.

Respectfully submitted,

Conscripted Secretary

CONFEDERATE

THIS SERVICE IS IN HONOR OF THE BRAVE CONFEDERATE AMERICANS IN GRAY WHO FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THE SOUTHERN CAUSE

The memorial service starts at 12:45 p.m.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE