http://www.bencaudill.com
An empty chair now and forevermore shall sit at our table in remembrance of those that have gone before.
Brown, Cecil; Cantrell, Harold; Hamilton, James; Webb, Henry Miles; Wright, Michael
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!
Richard Lee Bates-Wise, VA
Barry Keith Bates-Wise, VA
Robert Michael Bates-Arlington, VA
Patrick M. Van Luven-Marshall, VA
Mark Patrick-Morehead, KY
Chris Ison-Whitco, KY
Martin Joe Caudill-Caudill Branch, KY (reup)
Carlos Brock-Typo, KY (reup)
As another new year begins, we must reflect for just a moment on our accomplishments of last year. Our journal has over 27 pages full of events that we documented! All are important in the achievement of our goals. But we cannot rest upon our laurels. We must continue the course; continue executing the Charge that has been given to us and continue the objectives that we hold dear to our heart. We must continue setting stones to honor our fallen heroes.
We must continue with the dedications that pay homage to the men of yesteryear that gave up all for their beliefs. We must continue writing; we must continue to gather historical information documenting our heritage as we make history for future generations. Our book has over 60 pages in it and if each one takes an ancestor, we could have it ready for publishing by May 2006. We must continue making our presence known as we educate others of the true history of the South. We must continue placing monuments to our ancestors for prosperity. And we must continue with Christ in our camp as did those that have gone before us. We must do all we can to develop our scholarship fund, establish by-laws and continue researching our vast heritage.
Our website has been a beacon to others and we have grown so over the years. We must continue to recruit and retain those that for some reason have not rejoined. Let us all make an effort to rekindle the Confederate spirit and reach out to former members and prospective new members so that we can all work towards the common cause of maintaining sacred principles. Let us maintain our vision. For where there is no vision, the people perish. Together we can make a difference. Together we can touch the next generation as we pass the torch of truth, knowledge, honor and respect to those willing to carry it.
The Old General
On January 15, 2006, I watched in awe as a major media outlet presented something positive concerning our beloved Confederacy. The program was Camp Douglas (Eighty Acres of Hell). While the stories of the Hell at Camp Douglas are familiar to many of us who had ancestors who were imprisoned there, it was still a shock to learn of the levels of torture and deprivations that our Confederate ancestors suffered at the hands of their supposedly "benevolent" captors. At one point a representative of the U.S. Sanitary commission inspected the camp and was appalled at what he saw. In his report he stated that Camp Douglas suffered such a death rate that it could only be considered an extermination camp. Yet despite the torture and deprivations, at the end of the war the remaining Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas were offered a ride home if they would take the oath, almost to a man they refused and began their long walk home. These are the men, which we now venerate. The men, which came home and rebuilt our beloved South. In the words of Stephen Dill Lee, it is up to us the sons of Confederate to venerate their good name and the cause for which they stood.
In the same spirit of venerating the good name of the Confederate Soldier let me also announce with great pride that the Col. Ben Caudill Camp #1629 SCV has discovered the resting place of the dead from the Whitesburg Confederate hospital. These brave men who died over 140 years will be honored once again. A country that would try to forget them and all other Confederate will no longer ignore them. The blood of these men runs hot in the veins of their descendants. A driving spirit which asserts its self through the works of the SCV camps as we locate the graves of our Confederate ancestors and mark their graves so that no one may forget the honorable service they gave to their country. Deo Vindicie Lt Commander John Back
Deo Vindice, Lt. Commander John P. Back
Our camp is still listed at having approx.110 members, as the National Office has not purged any unpaid member yet. If anyone needs a new membership card, please let me know and I will fill one out for you.
Since our last meeting in December, our camp has had several exciting finds and accomplished several good deeds. A grandson of Colonel Ben Caudill that lives in Delaware, Benjamin Franklin Caudill, has given me a real tin picture of Colonel Caudill taken during the war. The photo is of tin and is encased in an old leather and copper case. The picture shows him in a sack jacket with sergeant stripes, holding an officer's sword. Our research believes that the picture was taken upon his return from the prisoner of war camp. The reasons to explain the sergeant stripes would be that he has probably borrowed the jacket for the photograph, as upon his return, he would not have had a uniform. Also he supposedly had not grown his beard until he was a prisoner of war. This was due to the pockmarks that had marked his face from the mumps that he had contracted during his incarceration. The backdrop used in the photo shows up in all known pictures taken in Abingdon, Virginia. Abingdon was where Colonel Caudill returned to upon his release from prison. A copy of the picture will be placed at the Letcher County Military Museum in a place of honor.
Ben Taylor, the curator of the museum, still wants us to provide him with a Confederate exhibit in the museum. He said that the new museum is very safe and has installed a burglar system and cameras to ensure the safety of the exhibits. All exhibits will be on loan only and can be retrieved at the owner's request. I hope everyone will help us make this display a success. Two mannequins are desperately needed for the uniforms. If anyone knows a department store that may have an old one lying around, please ask them about it. A glass case to display small objects would also be needed.
One of the 13th Kentucky Cavalrymen has a colorful story that has recently came to our attention. Private George Brit Little (Lytle) of Company K moved out west to become a famous stagecoach robber. He changed his name to Dick Fellows and robbed several stagecoaches before being caught by Wells Fargo detectives. After serving time in San Quentin, he returned to his life of crime. After his second capture and incarceration, he apparently gave up the life of crime and moved from California back to Kentucky where he taught Spanish in Barbourville until his death. He changed his name back to George Lytle upon his return to his native state. Faron is attempting to find his burial site in order to obtain a tombstone for him. You can read about this interesting ex-soldier by searching for him under the name of Dick Fellows on the Internet.
On Saturday, January 7, 16 of our members and their family met at the Sandlick Cemetery at the thicket that supposedly contained the remains of Confederate soldiers that died in Whitesburg during the war. With chainsaws, axes, weed eaters and fire rakes, this band of workers cleared tons of brush and vines from the thicket. Upon discovering lost tombstones in the newly cleared thicket, we are now positive the site is the location of the burial grounds of the long sought after Confederate soldiers that had died in the Whitesburg hospital during the war. Faron is in the process of obtaining enough information to order the tombstones of the nine (Faron discovered the names of two more men this past weekend) men that we have names and dates of. The Wise County Historical Society is attempting to locate the names and dates of the Virginia soldiers that are buried here as well. Many of the soldiers buried here (possibly dozens) will probably remain unknown. I would like to see the camp raise funds to purchase a monument to these brave men that gave their all. Hopefully we could also obtain a flagpole to fly a Confederate flag and a granite bench to set by the old white oak tree that guards the final resting place of so many southern heroes. One thought would be to design the monument like an oversize Confederate tombstone, having an etching of a Confederate soldier and an informative story about the deaths and burial of these unknown southern heroes.
The re-enactment season is rapidly approaching. The Cumberland Gap Re-enactment will be held in late April and was attended last year by several of our members. The Fight in the Foothills Re-enactment in Louisa is scheduled for May 12th through the 14th. Kevin Adkins, the commander of the Commonwealth Battery, is sponsoring this one. Several of us attended this one last year as well. Kevin supplied the large cannon for the Jenkins re-enactment last year as well as the dedication of the Pound Gap Monument. All efforts should be made to return the favor by supporting Kevin in Louisa.
On Sunday night of January 15th, the History Channel aired a special on Camp Douglas called "80 Acres of Hell" at 9:00 P.M. This is the prisoner of war camp where many of our boys died of starvation and disease. Almost everyone in this area had a relative to die there.
Adjutant Brown
I have the privilege of reporting the following financial statement as of 1/17/06: expenditures for dues ran $225 and the $682 deposit as reported last month gives us a total of $2,219.31. A total of $373.00 has been earmarked for the scholarship fund to date. With the $100 to be deposited from the donations on the quilt, the total will be $473.00.
Secretary/Treasurer Taylor
I would like to thank everyone for allowing me to be your chaplain for the last pass year. It has been wonderful and great year for me. I know the spirit of my grandfathers would be proud. William Cody Back, John Sumner, and Solomon Hampton rode with Colonel Caudill. Although they lost family, farms, & some time sons (brothers David J. Back & Wesley Sumner didn't come home) the never lost faith in the cause. I am so proud to be a member of the Ben Caudill camp and looking forward to a great year. Chaplain Tabby Back
After watching 80 Acres of Hell I found myself not only angry at the way in which our ancestors had been treated but also at the deliberate effort of covering up the truth. You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. I believe that the truth of Camp Douglas was that in all that filth and misery and terrible conditions Christ was in the Confederate Camp. Knowing that they were subject to random torture and abuse, I am sure that a chaplain of the gospel emerged to offer comfort and guidance. I believe that God did not leave them as orphans and He offered a means of dealing with the ordeal. My ancestor David J. Back died at Camp Douglas on December 6, 1864 being only 21 years of age. I pray that he found a chaplain and was saved prior to his murder. For whosoever believeth on Him shall have everlasting life. May all those that died in that retched place rest in the assurance of their resurrection. Pray for Dixie! Kentucky Division Chaplain
Chaplain Tabby Back Pray for Dixie
My Kepi and 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 give up a hardy Rebel yell for Quenton Childers. Quenton is the son of Delmon and Esta Rachel Childers. He has 5 sisters (Ida Bevins, Mae Henson, Geraldine McPeek, Lois Potter, Fayetta Bevins) and 3 brothers (Acy, Tom, Jackie Childers). He was born in Pigeon, (Pike County) Kentucky. He attended school at Sycamore Elementary and Fleming Neon. He currently lives at Millstone with his wife Jan Bartley. They were married on June 7, 1971. They have 3 sons, Matt, Jan and Anthony (deceased). Quenton honorably served a tour of duty in Vietnam (1969-1970) as an artilleryman. He has worked in the mines for thirty-four years and currently works at Diamond May, located at Vicco, Kentucky. His hobbies are old guns, collecting antiques, restoring old radios, and of course, WBTS buff. He entered the SCV on Private John Wesley Childers. Recognizing the recent loss of his mother, we offer our condolences but know that she is resting under the shade of the trees having crossed over the river on January 11, 2006. Ladies & gentlemen let us tip our kepis and offer a resounding rebel yell for our compatriot and brother, Quenton Childers!
The Old General
Back, David J. Pvt.-Co. A
February 15, 1843-December 6, 1864
David J. Back was the son of Johnny and Sally Caudill Back. He had two brothers (Henry J. Back and William Cody Back) that joined the Confederate Army. David enlisted on October 18, 1862 at Whitesburg, Kentucky and became attached to General John Hunt Morgan’s last raid in Kentucky. He participated in the 2nd Battle of Cynthiana, where he was captured. He was taken to the dreaded Camp Douglas Prison, located in Chicago, Illinois. Being one of the detested Morgan’s Men he was treated with cruelty. Family legends persist that he was forced to ride Morgan’s Mule (a device made to torture the men that rode with Morgan or if they misbehaved) consisting of a sharpened board that the prisoner was placed on and then both legs were tied with weights. The conditions were appalling for all including the young David (he just recently turned twenty-one years of age). He contracted smallpox and died a few months after his capture. Family members to this day insist that Morgan’s Mule did not break him but weakened him to the point that he later contracted the dreaded pox. He never offered an oath of allegiance to ‘those people’ remaining a citizen of the South til death. He is buried in that massive cemetery (it was reportedly moved at least twice) adjacent to the Camp Douglas location. A memorial marker has been set at the Dixon Cemetery beside his father and brother located on Route 7 at Jeremiah, Kentucky in remembrance of one of the 13th that not only served distinctively with the 13th Kentucky Cavalry but also had the privilege of riding with the renowned Morgan’s Men. (Sifter Full of Bullets; The Life of John S. Sparkman; Sparkman, Faron; 4th Edition; 1997; family legends & stories)
During my study of the days of despair at Camp Douglas I ran across several letters from prisoners written during those perilous times. My senses were heightened upon viewing with disgust the documentary ‘80 Acres of Hell’ & I thought of my dear young ancestor, David Back, along with other 13th men taken as prisoners (Alfred Amburgey, John J. Amburgey, James Bailey, Bill Bond, “Cowmouth” Bill Caudill, John M. Caudill, John B. Collier, Marshall Collins, Jesse Combs, A.J. Austin, Tom Dotson, Henry Engle, Preston Francis, A. J. Madden, John Sparkman and Wes Sumner). (Sifter Full of Bullets; The Life of John S. Sparkman; Sparkman, Faron; fourth edition; 2001; page 52) I wondered how this freshly turned twenty one year old endured & coped with all the sickness, depredations, and death. I began attempting to recreate in my mind what he, nay what they must have undergone while incarcerated. As I read, I felt compelled to put forth an effort in capturing what must have been one of the most horrific ordeals & constraints to the human spirit, likened unto the concentration camps of World War II. My pen wrote from the heart & freely expressed the thoughts that were placed there by the unspoken voices of a bygone era. My intent is to honor the memory of all those that suffered imprisonment for whatever cause they served & pray God that I do justice.
By
David Chaltas
They put me in a prison
To take away my pride.
The only thing was missin’
Was room for me to die.
I was a lonesome soldier
Imprisoned by these walls.
The wind, it grew much colder
As one by one we fall.
They feed me beans and hardtack.
Seemed every other day,
They placed me on Morgan’s rack
To take my soul away.
The tender tears of dying:
Death angels at my door.
My spirit is a cryin’
To see loved ones once more.
Bedsores, gray backs, and smallpox
Camp Douglas freely gave.
They placed me in a pine box
And laid me in my grave.
NEVER, EVER FORGET YOUR SOUTHERN HERITAGE OR LET ANYONE SMOTHER OUT THE MEMORIES OF OUR ANCESTORS!!
Deo Vindice
Trivia Questions
1.What Confederate cavalryman escaped from a Columbus, Ohio, prison in 1863?
2.What Tennessee general defied a Tennessee state order and helped fleeing citizens load food supplies onto
their wagons?
3.What state’s population was permanently increased by the end of the Civil War?
4.What two generals wrecked their military careers by their improper surrender at Fort Donelson?
5.What Kentuckian headed the Kentucky State Guard, refused a commission in the Union Army and fled south
to avoid arrest as a suspected traitor?
6.What former U.S. Vice President and Confederate General fled to Cuba after the war and traveled there and
in Europe for several years?
7.What special task did Confederate officials find that the Confederate Indians were skilled at?
8.What Irish born general had been a pharmacist, a lawyer and a soldier in the British Army?
9.What was the most pro-Confederate ethnic group in the south?
10.What was the name of the small, repeating cannons that Morgan’s Men carried with them?
“Sayings of the South”
"It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible. Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, our religion and morality are the indispensable supporters. Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that our national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." George Washington’s Farewell speech on Sept. 19, 1796
If this cause, that is dear to my heart, is doomed to fail, I pray Heaven may let me fail with it, while my face is toward the enemy and my arm battling for that which I know is right. General Patrick Cleburne, on the day of his fatal wounding at the Battle of Franklin
"Twenty eight years have passed since the close of our civil war. Time, I trust has healed the wounds of war, but with the revolving years the causes and events of that terrible struggle seem to be forgotten, or if not forgotten, considered as unimportant events of history. And even the history of those events, and the causes that led to that struggle, are not set forth fairly and truthfully. It is stated in books and papers that Southern children read and study that all the blood-shedding and destruction of property of that conflict was because the South rebelled without cause against the best government the world ever saw; that although Southern soldiers were heroes in the field, skillfully massed and led, they and their leaders were rebels and traitors who fought to overthrow the Union, and to preserve human slavery, and that their defeat was necessary for free government and the welfare of the human family. As a Confederate soldier and as a citizen of Virginia, I deny the charge, and denounce it as a calumny. We were not rebels; we did not fight to perpetuate human slavery, but for our rights and privileges under a government established over us by our fathers and in defense of our homes." Colonel Richard Henry Lee, at the dedication of the Confederate monument at Old Chapel in Clarke County, Virginia.
Wednesday, November 19th, 1862
Spent these three days at my duties at Head Quarters at Gladesville (now Wise), Virginia, alias Wise Court House. The big road that runs through Gladesville is a bottomless mud road. Sometime wish I was a mud turtle. On Wednesday, we received reliable intelligence that the Yankees 1,400 strong, were moving upon Pound Gap. General Marshall immediately ordered Williams (5th Kentucky Infantry) to meet them and brought away the Yankee prisoners, clothing, cannon, etc. Rained terrible on Tuesday night and today. Drew me a pair of coarse shoes to wear while I have my burnt boots mended. Two soldiers died in the Hospital (C.H.) today. I wonder they don’t all die.
Answers:
1.John Hunt Morgan
2. Nathan B. Forrest
3.Texas, where many Confederate refugees went to after the war
4.John Floyd and Gideon Pillow. They both left their men to prevent being captured.
5.Simon Bolivar Buckner
6.John C. Breckinridge
7.Tracking down escaped prisoners.
8.Patrick Cleburne
9.Irish
10.The Williams Gun.
STONE TOTAL: 779 with 167 dedications!
December 15, 2005
Members Present
Members Present: John P. Back, Raymond Issacs, Willis Strong, Manton Cornett, Tabby Back, Danny Wright, Richard Smith, Richard Brown, Glenn Brown
The meeting was held in the Letcher County Education Center. Lt. Commander Back called the meeting to order and Tabby Back offered prayer. Minutes were read and approved from last meeting. Tabby Back introduced a motion was put on the floor to put off elections to February due to the low turnout and to advertise it on the website. It was seconded by Richard Smith and carried. Exploration of by-laws was brought to the floor and after deliberation it was decided to set up a committee to work upon said laws. The January 8, 2006 cemetery cleanup was discussed and the gaining of permission fell to Richard Brown. The time is 10:00. Discussion of Uriah Bates (5th KY) being buried at Holston Springs was discussed. Discussion of developing a flyer with information on how to purchase a memorial name on the stones was brought to the floor. The flyer will be designed to have the application and address regarding the steps in purchasing a stone. Approved by consensus. Volunteer will be asked to design flyer. The Fleming-Neon parade was mentioned and those people that participated were noted (Kenny, David, David Jr., Raymond, Quentin, Fleming boys). New management of Leatherwood discussed and the event seems to be back on track. Security at the Letcher County Military Museum brought up and Richard Brown will investigate it for next meeting. Concern of being more receptive to Historical information was discussed, needing more dedications, along with what is the interest and direction of the camp discussed. Belt Buckle sold for $5.00 and knife for $3.00 that will go towards the scholarship fund (Total $378 to date). Adjourned via prayer.
January 19, 2006
Agenda
6:30
Call meeting to order-Sgt. At Arms
Prayer-Chaplain Tabby Back
Welcome/Recognition of Guest
Pledges-Commander Chaltas
Ancestral Roll Call-All members
Scripture Reading-Chaplain Tabby Back
Recognition of new SCV & Associate Members from Newsletter & Audience
Reading/Approval of Minutes-Sec/Treasurer Taylor
Commander’s Comments
Lt. Commander’s Corner-John P. Back
Adjutant Report-Brown
New Business
Election Nominations: Vote in February
Civil War Room at the Veteran’s Memorial Museum
Stamp concept-John P. Back
Gazebo pictures-Richard Brown
Cannon Update: Richard Smith
By Laws revision in January 2006-E. C.
Quilt donations for scholarship fund
Dedications for January
Phase III-Lighting, parking, flags, rails, gazebo material
Confederate Kin-Need stories by camp members for next month. We currently have 60 pages.
RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN-13th KY CAV. for KCB!
Stone Reports-779 set to date
Reenactments schedule for 2006 discussed: local events priority suggested.
Events Committee-plan next year’s events-schedule
Veterans Memorial Museum and Monuments- Security-Richard Brown
Pictures for Gazebo
Renaming of newsletter Contest!
Open Floor
Email addresses desperately needed for list server
Prayer Requests: Mark Hartsock, Ron Bowling’s mother, Atlas Hall, family of Luther Gaddis, Les Williamson’s family, John and Jean Peck, David Lucas, Cliff Howard, Ronnie, Hester and Bryan, Don Poynter, Sheila Hudson, Richard Brown’s aunt Morrison, Jim Williamson, and those in need known only to the Lord.
Trivia-Richard Brown
PRESENTATION: Richard Smith: “Sam Smith & the Williams Repeating Gun”
Auction/drawing
Adjourn by Prayer