Since our last meeting the camp has participated in some type of event almost every weekend. I sincerely appreciate the dedication and hard work of the members, their wives and family members who made these events a success. There’s nothing on the horizon in the near future for the camp to take part in, and that’s good, because those that have been working hard every weekend need a well-deserved break.

As I said in the last issue of the Wig Wag, the most important issue before us at this time is the payment of annual SCV membership dues and the renewal of our current members. It’s very important to the SCV that all of our members renew. We can’t afford to lose any more members. Each and every member is needed. If you haven’t sent in your annual dues, please do not delay in getting them paid on time.

Annual membership dues are payable starting August 1st and must be received by SCV National Headquarters and the Georgia Division SCV by November 1st. If you are going to mail in your dues, they need to be received by October 22nd. The Adjutant and Treasurer need to receive dues by this date in order to give them adequate time to complete the required paperwork and submit payment for dues to SCV National Headquarters and the Georgia Division SCV Adjutant.

NOTE: Dues not paid in time to be processed by November 1st, or dues paid after November 1st will require the payment of a $5.00 reinstatement fee.

*Regular Membership Dues are $41.00 ($20-SCV National + $12-GA Division + $9-Camp #158)

*GA Division SCV Life Members pay $29.00 ($20-SCV National + $9-Camp #158)

*SCV National Life Members pay $21.00 ($12-GA Division + $9-Camp #158)

*SCV National & GA Division SCV Life Members pay $9.00 ($9-Camp #158)

Dues can be paid at the camp meeting on October 13th, or make checks payable to SCV Camp #158 and mail dues to:

Camp News & Events

Saturday, September 10th - SCV Camp #158’s Adopt-A-Highway Litter Pickup: Members met at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot across the street from the Miyabi Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse Restaurant on Augusta West Parkway for the litter cleanup, which took about 45 minutes.

Monday, September 12th – Four members of Camp #158 permanently mounted a 5ft. X 8ft. Confederate Battle Flag at the base of the Confederate Powder Works Chimney on the west side facing the canal and Broad Street. The flag looks like a natural part of the chimney. Make a special trip today to see it!

Friday, September 16th – The annual Stephen D. Lee Banquet was held at the North Augusta Country Club. The Keynote Speaker was Dr. Edward J. Cashin. He spoke on "Berry G. Benson, After War Years." The Sergeant Berry G. Benson Camp #1672 in North Augusta hosted the banquet.

Saturday, September 17th – Magnolia Cemetery Workday in the Confederate sections of the cemetery.

Saturday, September 24th – Hephzibah September Fest: Camp #158 had a booth set up to sell camp merchandise. Our members, along with members of the 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment marched in the parade winning first place for best entry.

Saturday, October 1st – Oliver Hardy Festival in Harlem: Camp 158 had a booth set up to sell Confederate memorabilia and camp merchandise. Camp #158 members and members of the 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment marched in the parade.

Saturday, October 8th & Sunday, October 9th – Raid on 1810 West Inn & Rendezvous, hosted by the 5th Georgia Infantry Re-enactors: This event was held at the 1810 Country Inn and Winery in Thomson, Georgia. Camp #158 re-enactors participated in the battles, other camp members assisted with the event, and we also had our booth set up to sell camp merchandise.

A big thanks goes to Jeff Rowe and Keith Neal for erecting two of our SCV Recruiting Signs (back-to-back) on Friday, September 23rd, in Hephzibah near the intersection of Highway 88 and Windsor Spring Road. We appreciate Jeff placing the signs on his property on this very busy thoroughfare. Hopefully these signs, with the camp’s local phone number listed, will result in some new SCV recruits.

On Saturday, September 24th, members of Camp #158 and re-enactors of the 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment marched in Hephzibah’s September Fest Parade. It was unusually hot with very little breeze at parade time, but we all hung in there and made it. Also marching with us in period dress and uniform were family members of several camp members.

The good news is, that of all the numerous participants in the parade, we received first place. We also had a booth at the festival and did fairly well with merchandise sales. Considering the lower than usual crowd turnout, this wasn’t too bad.

Thanks to all who participated, for giving up your Saturday and braving the heat to support our camp! - Lieutenant Commander Ron Udell

This is official previous notice for consideration of rescinding a motion previously passed by the camp membership. A few years ago the camp voted to contribute $50 a month to the Southern Legal Resource Center. At our next meeting on Thursday, October 13th, under New Business we will discuss rescinding this motion. If the motion is rescinded, the membership can then decide with a new motion whether or not to use the money for our Lee-Jackson Banquet fund.

Thursday, October 13th – Our next Camp #158 Meeting will be held at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant at 7:00 p.m. Our Program speaker will be Mr. Judd Smith, Park Manager of A.H. Stephens State Historic Park in Crawfordville, Georgia. He will speak on "The Life of Alexander H. Stephens," who was Vice President of the Confederacy.

Saturday, October 15th – Magnolia Cemetery Workday from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., to cut grass and rake leaves in the Confederate sections.

Monday, October 17th - There will be a meeting at 7:00 p.m., at Magnolia Springs State Park on US Hwy 25, north of Millen, to look into the feasibility of launching an effort to charter a Sons of Confederate Veterans camp. If you have any relatives, friends or know of someone in the Millen area who might qualify for membership in the SCV, please get this information to them.

Saturday, October 22nd - Parents and children are invited to the 2nd Annual Southern Heritage Youth Day at Barkers Mill, near Sycamore, SC.  This free event is sponsored by Rivers Bridge Camp #842 Sons of Confederate Veterans to present the "True History of our Confederate Ancestors." Saturday's schedule is 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., with lunch provided by the camp at 12:00 noon. (Several Camp #158 members participated in this event last year.)

Activities include: Presentation on "The Hunley" by Randy Burbage, member of the Hunley Commission, Blacksmith, Re-enactors camping & drilling, cannon firing drill, Southern history lesson, period religion, South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary outdoor cooking presentation and plenty of food provided by the camp.

See Camp #842’s Website at http://www.geocities.com/scv842/index.html

This event will be at Barker’s Mill at Tuten's Pond, located on Highway 321 about 1½ miles past Sycamore, SC, going towards Fairfax. The building is located at the curve in the road by the bridge. Look for the signs. Email Ed Floyd efloyd@collumlumber.com if you can attend. Your response is needed ASAP in order to have an accurate count of the number of people that the camp will need to prepare lunch for.

Thursday, November 10th – Camp #158 Meeting at Sconyers Bar-B-Que Restaurant, 7:00 p.m. Our Program speaker will be Georgia Division SCV Commander Jack Bridwell.

Saturday, January 21st, 2006 - Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 Lee-Jackson Banquet, 7:00 p.m. (Location to be announced later.)

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Sunday, November 13th, 2005 – 29th Annual Captain Henry Wirz Memorial Service in Andersonville, Georgia, at the Pavilion near the Depot. The speaker is Dr. Fred Ruhlman. The service will begin at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 4th, 2006 - Alexander H. Stephens Birthday Jubilee in Crawfordville, Georgia, inside the park at the group shelter next to the Ranger’s office.  The speaker will be Mrs. Debra Denard. Mrs Denard is the current President of Atlanta UDC Chapter # 18.  Bar-B-Que will be served at 11:00 a.m., with the speech at noon.

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. This event will begin at 10:00 a.m., and will conclude with a cannon and rifle salute. Dinner on the grounds will follow the event.

Saturday, June 3rd, 2006 - President Jefferson Davis Birthday Celebration to be held in Irwinville, Georgia, at the Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site.  The speaker is to be announced. The speech will be at 11:00 a.m., and lunch served afterwards.

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Grovetown – Saturday, December 3rd, 12:00 p.m.

Martinez – Sunday, December 4th, 2:00 p.m.

North Augusta – Sunday, December 4th, 3:00 p.m.

Harlem – Saturday, December 10th, 10:00 a.m.

Hephzibah – Saturday, December 10th, 1:00 p.m.

Commander Posey,

Please pass on to the members of Brigadier General E. Porter Alexander Camp #158 our appreciation and gratitude to all the Compatriots and family members that joined with us in celebrating our Southern Heritage at our camp’s annual Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee Banquet.

Again this year, as in previous years, your camp's support and dedication to the cause has ensured that our banquet was a successful venture and we offer our sincere thanks for sharing the evening with us in Southern friendship.

With Warmest Regards,

Commander John H. Harris

Sergeant Berry G. Benson Camp #1672

North Augusta, SC

Dr. Russell K. Brown’s answer to a question…

When I spoke at your camp’s August 11th meeting, one of the questions I received was "Who shot Union General John Sedgwick?" ("Don't worry boys, they can't hit an elephant from here.") I answered that the soldier was probably unknown and he may not have known the identity of the officer he was shooting at.

While doodling around on the Internet, I found that a soldier named "Kansas Tom" Johnson, of Co. E, 10th Georgia (Clayton Sharpshooters), was given credit for the shot. He was called Kansas Tom because he had been in Kansas during the disturbances there. Supposedly, General Longstreet had formed a detachment of sharpshooters and Johnson was one of them. Johnson was killed himself a few days later. The author of the article was Fred Ray who may be the same Frederick L. Ray who wrote "Shock Troops of the South" for America's Civil War.

I tried to identify Johnson in Lillian Henderson’s, Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia, 1861-1865, but could not. There was no soldier named Johnson in that company who was on duty in May 1864. But the Civil War Soldier and Sailor System (on line) has a Thomas Johnson in Company I, 10th Georgia.

Russell

"I can whip any man who doesn’t know his headquarters from his hindquarters." Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson’s response to Yankee General Pope’s bragging comment in 1862 that "My headquarters are in the saddle."

"History as written, if accepted in future years, will consign the South to infamy." From The Southern States of the American Union, published in 1895 by J.L.M. Curry (1825 – 1903).

"The disposition to make money out of the war accounts for much of the zeal in the North, which was mistaken for political ardor or the temper of patriotic devotion." Statement made in 1862 by Edward A. Pollard (1831 –1872).

"The tyranny of an unbridled majority, the most odious and least responsible form of despotism, has denied us both the right and the remedy. Therefore we are in arms to renew such sacrifices as our fathers made to the holy cause of constitutional liberty." –Excerpt from the inaugural speech of President Jefferson Davis in Richmond on February 22,1862.

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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:

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

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

-- President Jefferson Davis

Wig Wag - October 2005 Edition