.…….…"News From The Camp"…….….

Colonel Ben Caudill’s Camp #1629

2003 February Issue

http://www.bencaudill.com.

The last Salute

An empty chair now and forevermore will sit at our table in remembrance of those that have gone before.

Commander’s Tent

Another exciting year awaits the camp. Many adventures loom in the future as we begin to diversify and become more active in dedications, reeactments, public relation programs and educational activities within the schools and community. Currently we have set 522 stones, held 104 dedications, located a total of 634 grave sites, have 13 stones on the ground to be set and 30 stones on order! We are in the planning process for a presentation to the Mt. Heritage Committee for consideration of a reenactment of the Battle of Whitesburg. We are meeting with Mr. Peck to discuss the Annual Battle of Leatherwood this month. I am asking for a representative to talk directly with John Peck, attend the meetings held at the Leatherwood Fire Department and report back to the camp regarding the progress and status of the reenactment during our monthly meeting. I am asking you all to contact brother camps and inform them of our reenactment plans and to solicit their support. We also need to contact sutlers and begin planning our sales of our materials through the camp. We will be planning dedications in the near future to honor those men that we have located but not yet dedicated their memory. I wish to remind you that the State Commander of the Kentucky Sons of Confederate Veterans will be at our March meeting and it will be held on the 3rd Saturday at Breedings Conference room. The Lee/Jackson Dinner at Campton is being rescheduled and the future date will be announced. Mr. Edward Guerrant (direct descendant of Dr. Guerrant-Confederate Officer) will be the guest speaker.

Private Henry H. Caudill

The skit is ready to be presented. Letcher High School and Cowan is ready for a performance. Hopefully, we will be able to begin this month. As a reminder, the skit portrays Pvt. Caudill (played by Richard Smith, a direct descendent of Henry Caudill) returning from the battle of Leatherwood and stops at an old farmers house (played by Danny Taylor) to ask for water and a bite to eat. While resting, the two men discuss the Civil War from a unique eastern Kentucky prospective. Plans are being made to make a short film in the fall to be made available as an educational tool for schools across the state.

My Kepi & Me

My Kepi & Me is a series honoring camp members and their ancestors. The purpose is to share their ancestor’s history as well as the current son occupying the seat of honor. This month let us tip our Kepi to our historian and genealogist Buford Caudill. Buford is a man dedicated to preserving the vast history of our county. He has preserved thousands of pictures, articles and materials pertinent to our heritage. He has been influential in collecting data and compiling it for future use. His skills at rediscovering our heritage has been instrumental in finding obscure data and information about men who served in Colonel Caudill’s Army. He is a member of the Letcher County Historical Society and works diligently at preserving our history. He is an avid Nascar fan and enjoys gardening. He enjoyed softball and collected sports cards. He graduated from Letcher High School in 1974 and regularly attends the Millstone Methodist Church. He is the son Buford Caudill Senior and Clara Haddix Caudill (Breathitt County). He has four brothers and three sisters. He worked at Hall Equipment as a machinist and is currently working as a mechanic for Cook and Sons. He entered the Sons of Confederate Veterans on the lineage of Colonel Ben Caudill. He entered the camp in March of 1995. Ladies and gentleman let us tip our kepis and offer a rebel yell to our friend, our neighbor and comrade: our own Buford Caudill.

The Hunley Report

At the time of this publication, we are still deliberating on requesting to be honor guards over the remains of the eight-crew members of the Hunley in the year 2003. Richard Brown will be revisiting the area soon (March 16-18) and will report back to us an acceptable date in which we can honor those brave men of the Hunley.

The Battle of Whitesburg is published in the February edition of East Kentucky Magazine. We are continuing to show the community our efforts in the preservation of our rich heritage. We salute all camp members!

Monthly Communications

Our official website’s (proposed logo above) address is listed above and will be updated monthly. We have encountered several problems in reorganizing the website but John (webmaster) has been diligent in his efforts to update and upgrade it. Please note the additions, especially the Commander’s Corner and stone set by county. John is working on reformatting our site. The monthly newsletter will be added after each camp meeting to keep all members informed. Also, the discussion page is being revamped to make it user friendly. A counter is being added to assist in a detailed assessment of the number of hits we are getting. We will also link it to other War Between the States sites to enlarge our audience. This will be an excellent recruitment tool for our camp. Also it will offer other camps insightful glances into our organization and broaden our base of communication with the world. IF you are interested in REENACTING with us, please contact us at the addresses listed through out our website. If you are a member living away from our immediate area, feel free to email any information that you think we need to share with the camp. Email addresses are http://www.bencaudill.com or dchaltas@letcher.k12.ky.us.

We welcome our guests and give a Rebel Yell to the newest members of the proud decedents of the men who rode with the 13th Kentucky Calvary!

Terry "Rocky" Yonts

Benjamin Bailey

Noble Ellis

Noble Ellis, what a grand name for an old steamer! When I first encountered this wonderful story of how a boat saved an army, I was simply amazed. There they were, driven to the very shore of a swollen river, with their back to that river and an overwhelming force ready to pounce upon the men in gray. As darkness came, for whatever reasoning other than the divine hand of the Creator, the enemy stops but plans to end it all tomorrow. Suddenly, out of the evening dusk, a ray of hope shines upon the waters as a little steam driven darling comes to the huddled masses and beckons them aboard. How the men scamper to her as she strains to take her cargo to the safety of the other shore! The shells of the enemy cannot stop her as she steams her way back and forth meandering throughout the night, bringing the rag tag army to the haven of safety across the watery divide. By morning, she let out a scream of defiance to signal that her mission was accomplished. But the enemy was not satisfied with what she had done and they sought her to do their bidding. So she offered herself to the cause that had driven her all night as she burst into flame and slowly sank into the depths of the abyss. The Noble Ellis, true to her name, unselfishly gave her all for the boys in gray. May her legend live on through the annals of time! Oh Noble Ellis, my Noble Ellis, a grateful nation thanks you and will remember.

Noble Ellis

By

David Chaltas

7/26/02

Old man what can you tell us

About the Noble Ellis

That we don’t already know?

He stared into the distance

But gave up his resistance

When his tears began to flow.

I witnessed General Zollie

As you say, "meet his folly".

I watched as that brave man died.

I felt the cannons pound us,

As they tried to surround us.

I saw men buried alive.

Stubbornly, we retreated

I heard we were defeated.

The army will be no more.

But somewhere in the night

There came a guiding light.

Hope springs from the other shore.

As she carried us from harm;

We were nestled in her arms.

Shells explode to light her way.

Little steam driven beauty;

All night she did her duty.

She worked to the light of day.

Though she had saved the army,

There’s sorrow in our parting.

We could never set her free.

Because the Yanks are jealous,

We burnt the Noble Ellis.

The one who sank her was me.

Each day I seek forgiveness,

For the thing I have witnessed.

Nobel Ellis fades away.

The young men softly mumbled,

For their hearts had been humbled

By the boy of yesterday.

Gods and Generals premiers on February 21, 2003!