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; he then read the "SCV Charge."

Commander Posey introduced eighteen guests in attendance. These included: our 5th Brigade Commander, Michael Mull of the Ogeechee Rifles Camp #941, Statesboro, Georgia, and representatives from the Berry Benson Chapter 2584 of the UDC from North Augusta; Maj. Gen. Ambrose Ransom Wright Camp #1914 of Evans; Wilson Tigers - Company I 48th GA Camp #245 of Hephzibah; Sergeant Berry Benson Camp #1672 of North Augusta; and Major Morgan/Hart's Battery Camp #1674, Springfield, SC. Also in attendance were representatives of the 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment Re-enactors.

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

Commander Nick Posey presented the Confederate History Moment. Nick spoke about "Rockets in the Confederacy." General Winfield Scott's forces launched rockets in the Mexican War, the first such use by Americans. The first recorded use of rockets in the War Between the States came in 1862, when Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's Confederate cavalry fired rockets at Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Union troops at Harrison's Landing, Va. The only successful use of rockets was at Charleston, S.C. in 1864. Union troops used rockets at night to drive off Confederate picket boats. One myth is that the Confederates launched a rocket from Richmond in an attempt to target Lincoln's White House over 100 miles distance.

Commander Posey introduced Captain David Shockey of the 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment Re-enactors, the evening's guest speaker. Captain Shockey presented the history of the "Clinch Rifles," Company A of the 5th Georgia. The unit began in Augusta as a militia company in 1851 and was more a social club than a military unit. It boasted the slogan, "Charge Again!" Wearing green uniforms, the men had fun and games for their first 9 years. Then in 1861 the unit made of whites and free blacks was called upon to occupy the Augusta Arsenal. It was mustered into Confederate service May 11, 1861 as Company A of the 5^th Georgia and sent to Florida. There, on October 9^th, the "Clinch Rifles" had their first taste of battle at Santa Rosa Island. In 1862 the "Clinch Rifles" were in Tennessee and Mississippi, where they saw limited action at Shiloh. Traveling through Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee, it was not until Murfreesborough that they engaged in their second battle. At Chickamauga, the company suffered 55% casualties. After Lookout Mountain, they were made part of Walker's Division. From Resaca, the unit was sent to Charleston where it served on prison duty. It fought at Broxton Bridge and then at Bentonville in NC where it made its last charge before surrendering on 26 April 1865.

Commander Posey thanked Captain Shockey and presented him with a framed photograph of the Confederate Powder Works Chimney taken at its 140th anniversary in April 2002.

Brigade Commander, Michael Mull, invited all to March in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah on the 17th. Also he invited everyone to come to the re-enactment at Ft. Wallace Wood on March 17 - 19. He then announced that he would be running for re-election to the post of 5th Brigade Commander.

David Powell announced that help is definitely needed at the planned workdays at Magnolia Cemetery in preparation for the Confederate Memorial Day Service on 29 April. See the announcements in this meeting's agenda and check the camp web page for current dates and times.

1st Lieutenant Commander Ron Udell reported that our camp was the major contributor to the "Burning of Columbia" re-enactment. Camp 158 had seven re-enactors on the firing line. He plans to have a booth at the Barnyard Flea Market on March 25th; see the announcements.

Treasurer Lee Herron provided the February camp financial report.

Commander Nick Posey reported on the following:

■ On February 11, 2006, Georgia Division Commander Jack Bridwell asked the SCV General Executive Council for funds to restore the Powder Works Chimney. One million dollars has recently been donated to the SCV Historic Preservation Fund for such projects. The Powder Works Chimney should be awarded a hefty portion of those funds.

■ On February 10th a 15 year-old reenactor was killed in a tragic gun accident. Five members of Camp 158 in full Confederate uniform dress acted as pallbearers.

■ Sam Davis Youth Camp is July 31st - August 6th. The Camp should sponsor a youth to attend for $395.

■ The Georgia Division Reunion is June 16 - 18.

■ National Reunion in New Orleans is August 2nd – 6th.

■ Oral arguments regarding the Augusta flag removal lawsuit are to be heard on March 29th.

■ Our Confederate Memorial Day Service is Saturday 29 April.

■ The camp should consider a second donation to The Georgia Confederate.

■ We are at 90 members and should try to get to 100+ members this year.

■ Tom Smith's transfer from Evans Camp 31914 is now final.

■ E.P Alexander is to be inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame on April 29th.

Adjutant Perry Herron & Commander Nick Posey presented membership certificates to Carl Mixon, Elliot Walker and Joe Winstead.

■ Woody Highsmith suggested that we hold a dedication ceremony for the flag mounted on the Powder Works Chimney to make it officially recognized. (A motion was not presented.)

■ Motion was made to reimburse Woody Highsmith $279.37 for concrete and other materials he provided for the erection of the flagpoles at the Georgia Division Headquarters. This passed by voice vote.

■ Motion was made to approve the funds totaling $325.00 needed to pay for costs associated with our upcoming Confederate Memorial Day Service on April 29th:

• $85.00 to Portable Services for Handicap Bathroom Unit
• $120.00 for two police escorts at $60 each
• $50.00 for gunpowder for cannons ($25 each) and miscellaneous expenses
• $25.00 for chair rental
• $45 for paint (butternut & gray) for base of Speakers Platform

• 1^st Prize – Rifle or Shotgun: allow up to $450.00
• 2^nd Prize – $200 cash
• 3^rd Prize – $100 cash

■ Motion was made to make a $250.00 donation to The Patrick Cleburne Society to fund the cost of a new statue being erected in the wayside park in Ringgold Gap, GA.

■ There will be a memorial service this Saturday, March 11th, at 2 p.m. in Blitchton, Georgia, in Bryan County, for a soldier who served in the 25th Georgia Infantry.

■ Commander Posey reminded all to consult the Meeting Agenda handout for a list of upcoming events. These events as listed in the agenda are repeated here:

■ Saturday, March 25th – Camp #158 members will have two booths at the Barnyard Flea Market of Augusta for living history presentations by the camp’s re-enactors, to sell Confederate memorabilia & raffle tickets, and recruit new members.

■ Saturday, April 8th, 2006 - Fifth Annual National Confederate Memorial Service inside Stone Mountain Memorial Park in front of the Memorial Carving.  The speakers will be Rev. John Weaver, former Chaplain-In-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Fred D. Taylor, Executive Director of the Sam Davis Youth Camp Program. The service will begin at 10:00 a.m.

■ Thursday, April 13th – The next Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 monthly meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant. Our program speaker will be Mr. Randy Burbage from Charleston, South Carolina. He’ll give a presentation on

"The History, Recovery and Restoration of the Confederate Submarine Hunley."

■ Saturday, April 22nd – Magnolia Cemetery Workday, 9:00-11:00 a.m. This workday is in preparation for our Confederate Memorial Day Memorial Service on April 29th.

■ Saturday, April 29th – Camp #158 Confederate Memorial Day Memorial 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 Confederate Dead section starts at 12:45 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Mrs. Betty Jane Miller, past president of Bratton-Jenkins UDC Chapter #1782 in Ehrhardt, SC.

The monthly door prize drawing to provide funding to the Southern Legal Resource Center and our Lee-Jackson Banquet Fund was conducted.

There being no objection to adjourn the meeting, it was so declared by general consent by Commander Posey. Camp Historian Ben Creech provided the Benediction; this was followed by our usual resounding rendition of Dixie.

Respectfully submitted,

Conscripted Secretary

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, the salute to the Confederate Fag, and the salute to the Christian Flag. He then read the "SCV Charge."

The Confederate History Minute was a tribute to the Color Guard of South Carolina Volunteers. Commander Posey read a poem, circa 1878-1880, "The Old Canteen" dedicated to Corporal Mark Maddox, an ancestor of Chaplain Tony Carr, of Vaucluse, SC, who was wounded and lost a leg at Gettysburg.

Commander Posey introduced a total of 32 guests in attendance. These included: our 5th Brigade Commander, Michael Mull of the Ogeechee Rifles Camp #941, Statesboro, Georgia, the South Carolina Division Commander Randy Burbage, Barry Whitney, great-grandson of E. Porter Alexander, and representatives from: the Jeanie Benson Chapter #884 of the Children of the Confederacy from North Augusta, SC; the John James Jones Chapter #989 C of C from Waynesboro, GA; the Berry Benson Chapter 2584 of the UDC from North Augusta; Margaret Jones Chapter 27 of the UDC from Waynesboro, GA; the Bratton - Jenkins Chapter #1782 of the UDC from Ehrhardt, SC; the Wilson Tigers - Company I 48th GA Camp #245 of Hephzibah; Brigadier General John C. Carter Camp #207 of Waynesboro, GA. Also in attendance were representatives of the 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment Re-enactors.

Commander Posey introduced Randy Burbage, Commander of the South Carolina Division of the SCV the evening's guest speaker. Commander Burbage presented a Power Point presentation titled, "The History, Recovery and Restoration of the Confederate Submarine Hunley." This was an educational, entertaining and captivating look at the first submarine to sink an enemy warship, its predecessors and its salvage and restoration process.

Commander Posey thanked Commander Burbage and presented him with a framed photograph of the Confederate Powder Works Chimney, taken at its 140th Anniversary in April 2002.

Mrs. Brenda Lackman, president of Margaret Jones UDC Chapter 27 reminded all of their Confederate Memorial Day Service at Magnolia Cemetery in Waynesboro at 11 a.m. this Saturday, 15 April.

Mr. Barry Whitney thanked Camp 158 members for attending the funeral of his mother, Mrs. Anna Alexander Whitney, granddaughter of General E. Porter Alexander. He also invited all to the induction ceremony of his great-grandfather into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame on 29 April in Warner Robins.

Allison and Josh Herron presented SCV Camp #158 with a 5ft x 8ft Confederate Battle flag on behalf of Jeanie Benson Chapter #884 Children of the Confederacy in North Augusta, SC. The flag is to be used to replace the current flag flying in the Confederate Survivors’ section in Magnolia Cemetery before the upcoming Confederate Memorial Day Service on April 29th.

1st Lieutenant Commander Ron Udell reported that our camp’s booth sold 60 raffle tickets and $172 of goods at the Barnyard Flea Market on March 25th. On April 15th there will be a Living History presentation at the Interpretive Center at the Enterprise Mill on Greene Street.

Treasurer Lee Herron read a thank you note to the camp from the family of Barry Whitney for attendance by camp members at his mother’s funeral. He then provided the month of March camp financial report.

■ Suggested Camp #158 sponsor a youth to send to the Sam Davis Youth Camp in June

■ Commented that the camp should attend the upcoming GA Division Reunion in June with a full compliment of nine delegates

■ An update on the Augusta Riverwalk Flag Removal lawsuit was given stating that the judge did not make a ruling, and that the case will now have to go to the Georgia State Appellate Court in order to get a ruling.

■ Everyone was reminded of our Confederate Memorial Day Service on Saturday, April 29th

■ Commented that the camp was very well represented at the funeral at Magnolia Cemetery on March 28th of Mrs. Anna Alexander Whitney, granddaughter of Confederate Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander.

■ Informed camp that we purchased a ½-page advertisement for $45.00 in the Beech Island Heritage Day Program, which is being held on April 29th.

Application for Membership - None

Perry Herron stated that the Magnolia workday schedule in preparation for Confederate Memorial Day had changed. It is now set for Friday the 14th & Saturday the 15th at 9 a.m.; the "Old Men’s Crew" will work on the 27th.

Adjutant Perry Herron and Commander Nick Posey presented membership certificates, and administered the SCV membership pledge to new camp members Joe Winstead and Brad Poteet.

Lee Herron announced that William McAlhany's wife found an original picture of the Powder Works Chimney and had it restored. Copies are available at $55 each if an order for 5 or more is made.

■ Motion was made to donate $250 to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame to help support the E. Porter Alexander display. This passed by voice vote.

■ Motion was made to move the $332 presently in the SLRC escrow fund earmarked for Richard Smith to the General Fund, as it will no longer be needed in the case. This passed by voice vote.

■ Motion was made to provide Nick Posey with an advance of $160.50 to cover printing expenses. This passed by voice vote.

Commander Posey reminded all to consult the Meeting Agenda handout for a list of upcoming events. These events as listed in the agenda are repeated here:

■ Saturday, April 15th – Confederate Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m., hosted by Waynesboro’s Margaret Jones UDC Chapter #27. The service will be at the Magnolia Cemetery in Waynesboro.

■ Saturday, April 15th – Living History Presentation at Augusta Canal Interpretive Center located in Enterprise Mill at 1450 Greene Street in Augusta. Confederate Re-enactors from Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 will give living history presentations, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

■ Saturday, April 15th – Magnolia Cemetery Workday, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., in preparation for our Confederate Memorial Day Memorial Service on April 29th.

■ Saturday, April 22nd – Confederate Monument Dedication at 3:00 p.m. hosted by Major General Ambrose Ransom Wright Camp #1914. The new monument is in the Memorial Gardens at the new Columbia County Public Library in the government complex in Evans. The library is located at Ronald Reagan Drive and North Belair Road, and the monument’s exact location is on the left side of the newly completed library not far from the amphitheater and in the rear of the Columbia Co. Justice Center.

■ Sunday, April 23rd – Brigadier General John C. Carter Camp #207 will have their annual Confederate Memorial Day Service at the Waynesboro Memorial Confederate Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

■ Saturday, April 29th – 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 Confederate Dead section starts at 12:45 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Mrs. Betty Jane Miller, who is the Edisto District Director of the SC Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

■ Sunday, April 30th – Wilson Tigers Camp #245 in Hephzibah will hold their annual Confederate Memorial Day Service at the Hephzibah-Vance Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

■ Thursday, May 11th – Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 Meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant. Our program speaker will be Commander Nick Posey. He’ll speak on "The Life of Edward Porter Alexander."

The monthly door prize drawing to provide funding to the Southern Legal Resource Center and our Lee-Jackson Banquet Fund was conducted.

There being no objection to adjourn the meeting, it was so declared by general consent by Commander Posey. Camp Historian Ben Creech provided the Benediction; this was followed by our usual resounding rendition of Dixie.

Respectfully submitted,

Conscripted Secretary

***** Next SCV Camp #158 Meeting *****

Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant - June 8th, 7:00 pm

Come join us at 6:30 to eat Bar-B-Que before the meeting

The Official Monthly Newsletter of

Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158