News from the Camp

February 2004 Issue

http://www.bencaudill.com.

 

The last Salute

 

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

 

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 Cavalry!

 

The Commander’s Tent

 

I'm very proud of the ongoing progress our camp continues to make in several areas of note.  First, our membership is at a record high.  For a camp based in an under populated area of the state to surpass the membership of camps in Louisville and Lexington is nothing short of amazing.  It is a testament to the respect and interest we continue to discover among descendants of Confederate soldiers from Eastern Kentucky.  For those that have long felt their unique mountain heritage was overlooked and overshadowed by the history of other parts of the state, it is a fresh opportunity to take pride in our region's fascinating, colorful, history.  Our area has a history created by countless strong families units that not only were well established by the time of the War Between the States, but most continue in tact in these same counties to this day 140 years later.

 

Unlike most anyplace in the country the vast majority of the surnames found in local phone books for our mountain counties are the exact same surnames that were here when shots were first fired in Charleston Harbor at Ft. Sumter.   A unique result is that most of our residents are directly tied to a Confederate ancestor who lived within a few short miles of their current residence. The popular names that made up the 13th Kentucky Cavalry including Combs, Caudill, Hall, Slone, Allen, Smith, Fugate, Noble and Johnson live on today all around us through their direct descendants.  I believe this is a great benefit for the continued growth of our camp.  We are literally surrounded on every street and highway by potential members and it makes the study of local Confederate regiments more relevant than it would for others without this local multi-generational history.

 

We need to do more in this coming year to recognize this unique advantage.  Even more we need to continue to promote Southern heritage issues and awareness through stone setting, dedications, reenactments and presentations for civic groups and schools.  We need also to find new ways to utilize the talents that are found in the Kentucky's largest SCV camp to keep the positive message alive.  Our member Mark Carroll is continuing to do an

outstanding job in keeping that message alive through his many improvements

and additions to our camp website at www.bencaudill.com.

 

Since our last meeting many new historical discoveries have been unfolding.  We are now more aware than ever before about the history of the officers who served with Colonel Caudill in his field staff.  We have traced Caudill's Ordinance Sergeant, Andrew J. Booth, from his birthplace in Gloucester County Virginia to Baltimore, Maryland where he worked as a hotel clerk, to his home and eventually final resting place in Paris, Kentucky.  We have traced Caudill's Sergeant Major, Christian Shultz Leach from his birthplace

of Maysville, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio where he worked just prior to the war in a drug store operated by his step-brother, future Major in the 13th, Thomas J. Chenowith, to St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans where he died in 1914, and to his burial site at the Maysville City Cemetery.  We've also gained new knowledge about the life of Major Chenowith who was the commander of the 13th Kentucky for some fourteen months.

 

Also within the past few weeks we've learned more of the lives of other officers in the 13th including Captain Archelous Hammonds who relocated in Greenbrier County West Virginia immediately after the war, Captain James Herd who moved to Washington County Virginia, Captain James Walker who moved to Lamar County Texas, and Captain James T. Rogers who moved to Greenwood County South Carolina.  Two weeks ago I visited the grave of Captain Rogers in the little town of Ninety-Six, South Carolina.  We've also learned within the past week the interesting story of the courier of the 13th Kentucky -

Robert Crutchfield - who was from Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Major Edward Crutchfield who served as Quartermaster for Generals Marshall and Preston.  A team comprised of Larry Combs, Steve Bowling, Jim Prichard and myself has collectively worked daily on this important research.  We have now located the burial sites of 660 men who served in Caudill's regiment. In conjunction with our historical research our stone setting mission continues.  We have set fifteen stones in the past three months and I am

especially appreciative to our member Tim Harp who has been there every time to help me set the stones.  At present we have thirty more on order.  I am grateful for the support we continue to receive with historical contributions as well as financial contributions through individual pledges and our camp auction.  This is an exciting time to be a part of the Sons of

Confederate Veterans.    Commander Faron Sparkman,

 

My Kepi & Me

(The Old General)

 

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 offer a salute and tip our Kepi to our own Michael R. Watts!  Mike is the son of Ruben and Odell Ison Watts.  He has two sisters by the name of Yvonne Caudill and Gwenda Day.  He married Donna Ison (the granddaughter of the late Cassell Caudill; passing from this world at the age of

102).  They live at Mill’s Branch and have two children by the names of Micca and Michael.  Micca is a speech therapist major and Michael is heavily involved with baseball and basketball.  Mike enjoys spending time with his family and is active in attending the sporting events that his son and daughter are involved with.  He is an avid fisherman and loves hunting.  His office attests to his fishing and hunting abilities as trophy fish adorns the wall.  Mike worked for the Fiscal Court after graduating from college with a degree in recreation and park administration.  Mike began working in 1987 as the Letcher County Court Designated Worker (through the District Judge’s Office) and deals with juvenile offenders.  He has won several awards for distinguished service to our young people and is noted for his fairness in dealing with the youth of our area.  He is also a member of the newly formed Drug Court in our county.  Mike entered the Ben Caudill Camp under the lineage on Private John Sumner, Company B.  He is also a proud member of the Southern Guard Battalion and reenacts with the 6th Kentucky, Company A under Captain Jack’s leadership.  He is very interested in rediscovering his ancestors’ history.  He is a member of the Letcher Independent Baptist Church located at Jeremiah, Kentucky.  He has been a friend in time of need for many and always greets everyone as a neighbor.  Mike’s genuine nature and persona with a smile has been a well-known attribute.  Ladies and gentleman let us tip our kepis and give up a hardy rebel yell for our brother Michael Watts!

 

The Chaplain’s Corner

(Chaplain Back/Chaltas)

 

When I first became involved in the Son's of Confederate Veterans I thought I knew quite about the War Between the States only to find that my public school education was woefully lacking. I was in awe of the amount of knowledge that had been researched and learned by our Camp Commander, Lt. Commander and the other members of our Camp. In Mark 7: 25-30 we learn that even Jesus learned from a humble Gentile woman. For it was at this point that Jesus learned that the Gentiles needed him also. Showing us a wonderful example of the simple fact that everyone has input. So, remember that no matter how simple a fact or idea you might have, it might be the fact or idea needed to conclude some difficult research or further the preservation of our Confederate Heritage. So always remember to take part because like the woman in Mark 7: 25-30, you might be the one that makes something wonderful happen. Chaplain Back

 

Talking with the General

(Dave Chaltas)

 

Congratulations Gentlemen!  We are the largest camp in the state and still growing!  Whatever we are doing lets keep it going!  If you have any ideas to help in recruiting or are interested in being a recruiter, please let me know and we will get you the applications. 

 

The School of the Soldier will take place the weekend of February 21, 2004.   It will be held at McNeil’s Crossing.  This will be conducted on the actual battlefield where on September 1, 1861 the first armed engagement occurred in Kentucky.  If you want to participate in the reenactment see Richard Brown, Danny Wright, Dale Wright, Wayne Watts, Matthew Chandler, Steve Richardson, Mike Watts, or myself.  The Southern Guard will host the training and by the end of the two-day event you should know the basic tactics of the Confederate soldier.   The reenactment schedule will be finalized during officer’s call.  We are proud to have Adjutant Brown’s article on the Unknown Confederate Soldier in 2004 edition of The Lost Cause newsletter.  The Leatherwood Committee met on February 15 and discussed the reenactment to be held on October 29-31, 2004.  A meeting has been scheduled with the mayor of Jenkins regarding the possibility of placing a monument to the men who fought in the Great War at the new Welcome Center.  This would also be a great time to approach him regarding what we can do to adopt the 23 to 119 highways from Virginia into Kentucky.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday at 6:00 on the 24th at Jenkins City Hall.  We have been asked to come speak at South Floyd in the coming month.  If you are interested in talking to the future generations about the past generations, this would be a golden opportunity to do so.  Please see past East Kentucky Lower Brigade Lieutenant Commander Smith and/or current Lt. Commander Taylor for details.

 

The eastern Kentucky Brigade Chaplain is planning to offer a Chaplain’s Conference at Hazard Community College to review and upgrade the duties and responsibilities of the camp chaplain.   If you are interested in assisting in the planning or wish to be involved in some manner please contact the old general.  All are welcome to attend.

 

We will continue placing ‘Crosses of Honor’ for captains and higher-ranking officers and if you are interested in purchasing one the number to call is Shires-1 (931) 827-2722 they cost seventy-five dollars each.  The Old General

 

A Proper Southern Lady

(Provided by the Ladies Aid Society with their compliments)

 

A very prim and proper southern lady was driving across the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, SC, one day.  As she neared the top of the bridge, she noticed a young man walking near the edge of the bridge getting ready to jump.  She stopped her car, rolled down her window and said, "Sir, please don't jump, think of your Mom and Dad".  He replied, "My Mom and Dad are both dead; I'm gonna jump."  She said, "Well think of your wife and kids."  He replied, "I'm not married, and I don't have any kids; I'm gonna jump."  She said, " Well think of Robert E. Lee."  He replied, " Who is Robert E. Lee?" "Oh, never mind, just go ahead and jump!” she replied.

 

 

"All that was, or is now, desired is that the error and injustice be excluded from the textbooks of our schools and from literature brought into our homes; that the truth be told, without exaggeration and without omission; truth for its own sake and for the sake of honest history, and that the generations to come after us not be left to bear the burden of shame and dishonor unrighteously laid upon the name of their noble sires."  Rev. James Power Smith,
Last survivor of the staff of Gen. Stonewall Jackson

 

Trivia Questions: The first person to answer all questions correctly will receive a gift!
  1. What was the number of Lee’s lost order? 191
  2. Who was called the great Confederate Murat? Morgan
  3. What does the term ‘forlorn hope’ refer to? A suicidal squad spearheading an advance…
  4. Prisoners who hogged the warmest spots during winter were called? Stove rats
  5. What was General Edmund Kirby Smith’s nickname?  Seminole

6.      What does the term “wagon dog” mean? Feigning illness to get out of fighting

 

 

 

 

 

“We whipped them so much that it exhausted the army!”…Jubal Early

 

Minutes-January 15, 2004

Meeting held at Breedings, Isom, KY.

 

32 Members Present

(Up by 5 from last meeting)

 

Richard Smith, Richard Brown, Faron Sparkman, Wayne Watts, Greg Caudill, Tim Blair, Okie Blair, David Chaltas, Danny Taylor, Tim Breeding, Mark Carroll, James Whitaker, Wayne Whitaker, Rick King, Mike Blair, Jerry Wells, Cody Adams, Raymond Isaacs, Quenton Childers, Kenny Cantrell, Travis Cantrell, Tim Harp, John Back, Jerry Wells, Leathen Whitaker, Dale Wright, Danny Wright, Tree Adams, Ross Fleming, Wayne Whitaker, Dwayne Whitaker, Steven Richardson, Connie Mullins, and a host of ladies and friends.

 

Opening Prayer/Dinner

Meeting called to order-Commander Sparkman

Prayer-Chaplain Back

 Pledges/ led by Commander Sparkman

The Charge-Chaltas

Minutes accepted by acclamation

Newsletter given out for the audience

Election of Officers tabled until February Meeting

 

New Business

Ernestine Flint-Invitation to Jenkins Days for reenactment

Commander Poynter in hospital

Stone Report-Sparkman

Hunley Funeral Discussed-Adjutant Brown

Induction Ceremony

Annual Auction

 

Adjourned by Prayer-Chaplain Back

 

 

 

 

 

February 2004
Agenda

 

7:00

Call meeting to order

Prayer-Chaplain Back

Pledge/Confederate Flag-Commander Sparkman

The Charge

Scripture Reading-Chaplain Back/Chaltas 

Welcome and recognition of guests

 Reading/Approval of Minutes/Newsletter with Scramble handed out

New Business

Election of Officers

Commander

Lt. Commander

Chaplain

Adjutant

Treasurer

Judge Advocate

Historian

Sergeant-at-Arms

Field Commanders

***********Camp Committee Sign Up Sheets***********

Programs Committee-

Memorial Monument Committee-Ross Fleming-Richard Smith-Richard Brown

Reenactment Committee-Steve Richardson-Danny Wright-Dale Wright-Wayne Watts-Dale Wright-Matthew Chandler-Mike Watts-David Chaltas

Historical Research Committee

Scrapbook Committee

Honor Guard Committee

Color Guard (Flag Bearers)

Newsletter Committee

Largest Camp in Kentucky!

600th Stone setting

Hunley-6th Ky. Co. E

Dues

Adopt a Highway-Virginia Border on 23 to 119

Marking historical sites-Hazel Green Project

Captain James Rogers-Cross of Honor

Presentation by Mark Carroll on Stonewall Jackson

Adjourn by Prayer