http://www.bencaudill.com

It is with the deepest of gratitude that I offer my salutations to those that have seen the vision and followed the drum this past year while I attempted to lead the camp in an official capacity. I must reflect upon the accomplishments with deep satisfaction and say, "Men, YOU have done well, good and faithful servants." We have taken an obscure small camp and became the largest in the state. We have undertaken TWO major monuments that ‘could not be done’ and ‘done it’. Pound Gap is a tribute to all the country and is quickly becoming a national tourist site, as we continue to grow on that sacred mountain. We were told that we would not get the Whitesburg Civil War hospital cemetery but begged to differ in opinion and today there sets a beautiful 6’ marker testifying to our ancestors’ fortitude and tenacity of spirit. We have set over 159 markers honoring our ancestors and held over sixty-seven dedications during my tenure as commander this year. Our Caudill’s Army flag flew at 17 events this year alone and we continue to lead the state in our research. We are now published authors and are working on other forthcoming material. We purchased a cannon and refurbished it with the guidance of the east KY Blacksmith group. The cannon has performed admirable at several dedications, reenactments and living histories. We have participated in several parades, reenactments, school presentations (18 in Letcher County alone), Television appearances, Radio talk shows, dedications/memorial, funerals and we yield to none in our devotion to the cause. We have developed a newsletter that is second to none and I have attempted to make it YOUR paper. We have kept a three-year journey that chronicles the events of the camp. Our website has caught the attention of a national audience and continues to record hits that we thought impossible a few short years ago. We have picked up over 500 bags of garbage in our Adopt a Highway project since joining the PRIDE movement. Wherever I go and continue to tread, I will sing the praises of our ancestors, for their feats are not faded laurels but rather beacons of inspiration.

The Bible states that, "Where there is no vision the people perish". We must remember our calling. We must remember our mission. We must remember our Charge. We must remember that WE are the last strong hold of our Southern Heritage and it our very acts of courage that will determine if our children’s children will be allowed to recall the deeds of their ancestors, and I do fear, the deeds of the grandfathers. Make no mistake about it. We are in a war as desperate as the ones that our grandfathers fought. And the enemy is outside these very walls. That enemy is ignorance and apathy. The only weapon against such a foe is knowledge and truth. Let us resolve ourselves to take the torch of freedom and pass it on to future generations, as we recognize the cost is personal: self-denial and commitment even when it means sacrificing our weekends to share our heritage with others. Will you continue to follow the banner? Will you stand and follow another as he leads the charge?

I pray that we can embrace the calling and put aside all animosities, as we become united southern men with a common goal. I am reminded of a time it April of 65 when a much wiser man than I knew that his time was over, heard a higher calling, and became a Christian icon for his work. "Let us put aside our animosities and become true Americans once more." R.E. Lee Merry Christmas! Old General…Laus Deo

Upcoming Local Events; Back to School Bash-July 27, 2007-Living history at the Whitesburg City Park, Whitesburg, KY. There will be a Living History at LCCHS this spring. This will be a great opportunity to recruit and share our heritage. Fiscal Court/Jenkins City Council: Presentations at LCCHS-January/February. Dates to be arranged and posted on the Website as well as the newsletter. It doesn’t get anymore local than this!

The Colonel Ben E. Caudill Camp No. 1629 currently has 64 members paid. Our roll from the National Headquarters still shows us at 101 members but many of these will be purged soon.

The Camp’s Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 17, at the Letcher County Extension Office went very good. A crowd of approximately forty people attended the event. Our thanks to the ladies for a job well done on the preparation of the food. The auction at the end of the event raised almost $300 for the camp. The facilities at the Extension Office are second to none. It is a very beautiful and accommodating facility. It was a pleasure to be in the company of so many wonderful people. The rent for the building for our event was $100.

The Wise County Historical Society has requested help with the monument to be placed in the Wise Cemetery in the town of Wise. This monument will be in honor of the dozens of Kentucky and Virginia troops that died and were buried in unmarked graves. Several of these men were from the 5^th Kentucky Infantry and the 13^th Kentucky Cavalry. Help in funding and designing the monument is needed. The monument is hoped to be in place by the re-enactment of Gladeville scheduled for July of 2007. At that time we will be asked to dedicate the monument. All ideas for the design and for fundraisers are encouraged.

The family of Stiller Bill Caudill of Blackey has asked for the camp to do a dedication of his gravesite this spring. If possible, we could arrange to do several more while in the area. Please help us schedule a day full of dedications in the Blackey area. We should also start planning the dedication of the new monument at the Sandlick Cemetery as well. I believe that dedication would be well attended. Also, if anyone has a cemetery that they would like to see the camp clean up, please let me know.

As this is the last meeting of the year, I would like for everyone to look back and see how much our camp has accomplished. I know I can’t remember them all to list but will try. How many camps do you know that has their own cannon, not to mention a great cannon crew? The Caudill Army flag now hangs in Lincoln Memorial University. The camp’s book, Confederate Kin, was published and tells the story of several Rebel mountain warriors. The monument at the Sandlick Cemetery is beautiful and very informative, which will provide the history of our area long after we are all dead and gone (not to mention the tombstones which will always mark a soldier). The additions and improvements to the Pound Gap Monument are very inspiring and educational. It also will tell our ancestor’s history for many years to come. We have a section on the War Between the States placed in the Letcher County Military Museum located in Whitesburg. Last but not least, remember all of the new Confederate tombstones that now mark the place of a southern hero, insuring that they will always be remembered. Adjutant Brown

Merry Christmas from Mark Carroll, Webmaster: The strength of the Caudill Camp, I think, is in working together and in individuals coming forth to sacrifice their time and energy to serve where they can for the camp. Humility and service of our folk serves the camp well. Strength through camaraderie, and a common vision given to us so eloquently by SD Lee, which has and will stand the test of time, are the key ingredients in keeping the charge alive and well. May your son and mine one day follow in our footsteps to protect the honor of the Confederate soldier.

Stone Total: 853 with 214 Dedications

Chaplain-in-Chief Fayard’s Christmas Message

As we enter into this truly blessed time of year there are some things that we need to remember.  One is that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus.  John 1:4 says, "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

We need to be reminded that we celebrate Christmas not just the Holiday Season.  We have a right to celebrate the birth of our Saviour and King, to celebrate Christmas.  Our ancestors had no problem with the word Christmas, nor the celebration of Christmas.  Today we have a group of folks who live to be offended!  They are offended by our Battle Flag and now they are offended by the very word Christmas. 

Go with me to the years gone by when our ancestors sat around the fires of the camp and sang the very Christmas Carols that you and I sing each Christmas.  Could it be that we lost more than we can ever imagine when we lost the War of Northern Aggression? 

Satan is at war today as he was in 1861-1865.  He wants every thought of Christ removed from our land, every Bible ripped from the public schools and every moral standard thrown out. 

Never forget the true meaning of Christmas.  Christmas says that a babe was born to die in our place, to pay the penalty we owed for our sin, to satisfy the justice of Almighty God.  "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 1:11) In Christ, Chaplain Fayard

November 16, 2006

The regular scheduled meeting for November 16, 2006, was held at the Letcher County Vocational School in Whitesburg at 6:30 P.M. The following members were present:

Richard Brown, Johnny Pearl Back, Brett Eddington (guest), Willie Cornett, Manton Ray Cornett, Willis Strong, Wayne Whitaker, Gary Begley, Garland Kiser, Leathan Whitaker, Danny L. Wright, Wayne Watts, Quenton Childers.

1. Gary Begley opened with prayer.
2. Gary Begley led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Richard Brown led the salute to the Confederate Flag.
4. Gary Begley made a motion to accept the minutes of October’s meeting as read by Richard Brown, seconded by Willie Cornett, motion passed.
5. It was announced that the Camp’s Christmas Dinner was to be held at the Letcher County Extension Office on December 17, 2006, at 6:30 P.M. The meats will be turkey and ham. Each member is asked to bring something to be auctioned. The cost of the meal is $5.00.
6. Johnny P. Back read Commander’s Comments (Commander Chaltas was not present).
7. Wayne Watts made a motion to combine the Treasurer and Adjutant officer, Danny Wright seconded, motion passed.
8. Wayne Watts made a motion to amend the Camp’s By Laws regarding the number needed for a quorum. It was noted that many of our members are from out of state and do not attend the meetings. The percentage required to be present would be hard to meet. The motion would be to change the percentage to 10% of members present with a minimum of ten members present. Gary Begley seconded, motion passed. Need to check how the proper way is to change By Laws, read twice etc.
9. Richard Brown read the Adjutant Report.
10. Rhonda Robertson of Wise County Historical Society and Kathy Dotson of Appalachian Children’s Theatre gave report on progress of the re-enactment scheduled for Wise (Battle of Gladeville and Cranesnest) for July of 2007. Church services to be held on Sunday morning. Battles on Saturday and Sunday. Dedication of monument to soldiers that died in Wise. They asked for suggestions such as music, cannons, and wanted us to look over any proposed schedules. We thanked them for coming. (they then visited with ladies group)
11. Johnny P. Back reported about the Confederate flag issue in Franklin, Tennessee, where Mayor doesn’t want flag flown during dedication of battle of Franklin. Commander Chaltas has asked if anyone would accompany him for the protest scheduled for November 30.
12. Discussed obtaining ISBN Number for Confederate Kin book, no action taken, will discuss at later meeting.
13. Richard Brown announced that the Christmas Parade at Fleming Neon will be held on December 9^th at 6:00 P.M. Call Kenny Cantrell for details if interested in marching in it.
14. Announced that 823 tombstones had been set, and that the last Amburgey that had served in the 13^th Kentucky Cavalry was set.
15. The next meeting will be held at the Letcher County Vocational Center on December 21^st, at 6:30 P.M. Everyone reminded not to forget the Christmas Dinner.

Call Business meeting to order-Sgt. At Arms

Prayer-Chaplain Tabby Back

Welcome-Recognition of new SCV & Associate Members

Pledges

Scripture Reading-Chaplain Tabby Back

Ancestral Roll Call-All members

State if there is a Quorum present

Reading/Approval of Minutes-camp member

Commander’s comments regarding election

Lt. Commander’s comments

Heritage Issue

2^nd reading of the Bylaws

Form committee to update website mission/goals

• Wise County Reenactment Presentation
• Events Committee-Kenny Cantrell-FN-Jenkins
• Bench at LCCHS
• Confederate Kin-ISBN=$150.00
• Stone Reports-853 set with 214 dedications to date
• Dedication of Whitesburg Cemetery Monument-set date
• Trash Pickup
• Trivia-Richard Brown
• PRESENTATION:
• Adjourn by Prayer