The officers of Colonel Ben Caudill Camp wish you all a prosperous New Year! It holds great promise of tomorrow. Our congratulations go out to the camp for the many accomplishments that have occurred in 2003. We have seen a major landmark in the setting the 600^th stone this year. Currently we have set 612 Confederate soldiers stones and have held over 32 dedications this year (a total of 132) and reenacted at several events. Your public relations have paid grand dividends and our camp is now the largest in the state of Kentucky! We ask that you continue recruiting and let us set the goal of 100+ members by the February 2004 meeting! Together we can do it! Danny Taylor has been appointed the east Kentucky Lower Brigade Lt. Commander and has already visited the newly formed Reed Camp #2024 with Raymond Isaacs and David Chaltas. The camp is 28 strong and will be another brother camp to join us in our reenactments and dedications. Richard Brown and David Chaltas have been selected to be the Civil War Correspondent for the Appalachian Quarterly. If you have any written stories or articles, please submit them to them for possible publication. 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.

After talking with several members and officers of the camp, Lower Brigade Lieutenant Commander Taylor has summarized the 2004 proposed goals. They include continuation of locating and marking gravesites, dedications, reenactments, fund raisings, marking historical sites (routes, cemeteries, battlefields) living history/educational programs, adopt a highway, presentation by camp and guest speakers (our own General Lee has several events booked!), and placing stone monuments at strategic locations. We will continue placing ‘crosses of honor’ for captains and higher-ranking officers (Shires-1 (931) 827-2722/@$75 each), working closely with DAR and Historical Societies regarding facts/location of veterans and offer an executive officers meeting once a month. This year let us all recommit our selves to the values of the Christian nature of the cause and uphold "The Charge" with renewed vigor. When we are out in public as well as within the confines of our homes we represent the morals and Christian character of the southern soldier. He fought with desperation during the day and fell on his knees desperately seeking Christ at night. We must all put aside personalities and focus upon the principles that were held so dear by our ancestors and abide by "The Charge" that has been appointed unto us. We must remember who they were in order to know who we really are and then live accordingly. This year as we offer dedications in God’s name, as we go forth at memorial services and parades, as we march taking on the persona of an ancestor during a reenactment, let us all do this out of commitment to the cause of defense of the Confederate soldier’s good name, guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues and the perpetuation of the principles he loved. We can do no more; we should wish never to do less.

By

David Chaltas

12/14/03

When he received the letter

He never was the same.

His thoughts he could not gather

He acted quite insane.

He said his darling left him

For someone back at home.

He said that she debreathed him.

His mind began to roam.

He talked of death with honor

With saber in his hand.

He put a curse upon her

And danced around so grand.

He would charge the enemy

As someone quite possessed.

He wanted free of memories

That burned within his chest.

While fighting at Sailor’s Creek

Beneath the cannons roar.

He softly began to speak

"I can’t love anymore!"

He stood upon the breastplates

With letter in his hand.

We all know what was his fate.

This would be his last stand.

He charged towards the blue guns.

Five times he was repelled.

It was with the setting sun

When Johnny finally fell.

When the shooting ended

We sent his body home.

His life’s blood has now blended

His letter with his bones.

Trivia Questions: The first person to answer all questions correctly will receive a gift!

1. What was the number of Lee’s lost order?
2. Who was called the great Confederate Murat?
3. What does the term ‘forlorn hope’ refer to?
4. Prisoners who hogged the warmest spots during winter were called_______?
5. What was General Edmund Kirby Smith’s nickname?

6. What does the term "wagon dog" mean?