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!
Ronnie Back - Blackey, Ky.- Associate Membership
Thanks to Appalachian Monument Co. and the hard work of John Stewart, Chad Adams, Denver Maggard, and Tammy Banks the historical marker is now in complete and in place. This month our major emphasis is the Pound Mt. Monument. The final inspection is July 1 and we need to have the following items completed by that date. We need to have the flagpoles ordered and hopefully up around the octagon cement platform and to have the walkway realigned. The area will be expanded with the rail fence close to the bank, allowing room for a couple of benches, tables and landscaping arrangements. The Letcher County Jailer is providing a workforce to cut the weeds along the path along the highway. We will need to draft a letter stipulating dates and other specifics of a cleanup. We need begin ordering the granite bricks that will encircle the monument. And we need to develop an agenda for the THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN skirmish on August 13, camping area and the dedication on August 14th. Church service will be offered on Sunday and the dedication will take place at 2:00 to allow the church crowd the opportunity to attend. A media campaign will begin next month and ads must be developed. We must also think of lighting as well as security. Ladies and gentlemen we have a long road to travel but we must think that we are carrying our ancestors’ memories upon our shoulders along with those that can not be here due to distance but whose hearts will be present every step of the way. We do this for principles, not politics; for our people not self-power; and we do all things through prayer. We also must think of the National Reunion registration for Lt. Commander Back and myself. We need to plan a dedication of the Pratt Fork Cemetery. I suggest Sunday, June 26, at 2:00. We can dedicate all the soldiers resting at that site and advertise in time to alert the public. A final note: the Battle of Georgetown is on June 17-19, 2005 and there will be many activities happening on that date. The State Reunion will also be at that time and we have prepared a report for that event. We also must be thinking of the National Reunion registration for Lt. Commander Back and myself
Pray for Dixie, The Old General
The hot sweltery days of June are on us and we are well involved. June is looking to be a very up beat month for the Caudill Camp. We have already seen a very successful reenactment at Jonesville and the Pound Gap Monument is proceeding successfully. This weekend also brings the Georgetown reenactment and the Ky. Division Reunion. Both events are at the same location so I would encourage any and all members to attend. Remember that our brothers in Clintwood need our support on July 1-3. The east Kentucky Blacksmith Association has been invited to attend. Please check the schedule of events listed on the website and come out to support our cause and make new friends.
Ladies and gentlemen, the time to rally around the flag is here. We need all members to come to the aid of the cause by assisting with the Pound Gap Monument. We need to have volunteers assist with replacing the fence closer to the edge of the bank, painting the railing a gray (instead of the black) landscaping, pick up trash down the mountain (we will also receive $100 per mile from the county), weed eat and cut the grass. We need to mark the location of the flagpoles so that we can get a better concept as to the overall look. We need posthole diggers, lawnmowers and community volunteers to assist. Let us set a date in which we will go on the mountain and honor our ancestors. We have a golden opportunity to bring honor to our county by honoring our forefathers. They would do the same for you
Deo Vindice, Lt. Commander John P. Back
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 tip our Kepi in tribute to Danny Wright. He is the son of Denton and Leora (Webb) Wright of Mayking, Kentucky. Danny lives at Elk Creek, Kentucky. He is married to Mrs. Sandra Wright. He has two daughters (Crystal and Michelle) and 4 stepchildren (Brook, Katie, Stewart, Charles). Danny is the brother to fellow camp members, Dale Wright. He works at the Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital in the business office. He has worked for ARH for approximately 23 years. He entered our camp as a great-great grandson of Isham Gibson of the 13th Kentucky Cavalry. Isham was the son of Leonard and Nacy Gibson. His brothers were Miles, John P., Hiram and Winston. He married Purthia Jane Webb. He is buried in the Haven of Rest Cemetery, Mayking, Kentucky. The Colonel Benjamin Caudill Camp has set a Confederate tombstone in his honor. Danny has taught Karate for over 20 years and is well known for his abilities. He enjoys ham radio, camping, stargazing, photography, chess (especially with his Civil War set) and reenacting, having attended several events this year including but limited to Jonesville, Saltville, Barbourville, Whitesburg, Leatherwood, and he participated in the Charleston Hunley Event. He was recently elected Corporal with the 5th KY. Company D & F. He has completed 3+ School of the Soldier. Danny is the strong silent type that has a passion for life and enjoys whatever he is doing. He is man of principles, convictions and a true compatriot of the South. He is a true southern gentleman and we are honored to have this man as a brother. Ladies and gentlemen let us tip our kepis and give up a hardy Rebel yell for our brother and sister: Danny and Sandy (Whitaker) Wright!
Our membership is still being reported at one hundred members. It is hard to believe that renewal will be coming up so soon, the first of August. Our camp members have been very busy this past month. Some of our members cleaned the Watty Caudill Cemetery at the mouth of Dry Fork for Memorial Day. Stephen Caudill, Revolutionary War soldier and John Quincy Brown, War of 1812 soldier are among the many old ancestors buried there.
Several of our members participated in the “Fight in the Foothills” re-enactment at Louisa in Lawrence County on May 22nd. The re-enactment was small but a lot of fun. The Blacksmith Association participated at this re-enactment on Saturday. The members re-enacting at this event were Matt Chandler, Tim Blair, Okie Blair and Richard Brown. A lot of our members participated in the “Battle of Jonesville” re-enactment at Jonesville, Virginia during the weekend of June 4th and 5th. It was a lot of fun and enjoyable. The 5th Kentucky Infantry group had at least twenty members there. Roger Hall bought a new rifle at this event and broke it in right. He and Richie Brown were assigned to neutralize snipers that were harassing the 5th. The Caudill flag flew at the front of our company. I would encourage everyone to either attend or participate in it next year, you will not be sorry. Members involved in the re-enactment were David Chaltas, John P. Back and wife, Danny Wright and wife, Dale Wright and wife, Tabby Back and wife, Chris Back, Tim Blair, Okie Blair, Matt Chandler, Jeremy Jones, Roger Hall, Josh Browning, Mark Carroll, Richie Brown and Richard Brown.
There will be a re-enactment at Georgetown, Kentucky the weekend of June 18th-19th. This is generally a fun event. Unfortunately I will not be able to go as I will be out of town. On the 4th of July weekend, there will be a large re-enactment at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch near Nashville. Also that weekend, a re-enactment will be hosted by the Clintwood SCV Camp at Clintwood. Though small, it is a fun event plus they supply you with a pound of powder & a box of caps. A re-enactment at Weber City is scheduled for the weekend of July 16th &17th. We have been invited by Colonel Jerry Parsons & the 37th Virginia to throw in with them at this event.
I will not be able to attend this month’s meeting on June 16th as I will be out of town. This is the first meeting in three years that I have missed. No one can expect to attend all meetings but I sure don’t like to miss them. If you have any questions or need anything, do not hesitate to holler at me either at home or work
Yours in the Cause, Adjutant Brown
I have the honor of reporting the camp financial balance is $1408.82. We spent $50.00 as a reimbursement. No deposit was made for the month. Adopt-a-Highway Summer Scrub begins on June 19-25 and would be a good opportunity to clean the mountain, work on our monument area and get paid to boot! I suggest Thursday, the 23rd at 5:00. We can meet at the Sunoco station at the top of Pound Gap Mountain. Also we have approval to clean from Gardner Mountain past Isom, Kentucky. Remember this is revenue we desperately need and I am calling on you to help. If you have any suggestions regarding fundraisers or questions please contact me at 633-0881
Secretary/Treasurer Taylor
I pray God has blessed you this day. We have just returned from the Battle of Jonesville, Virginia. It was great to see all of my reenactment friends and to make new ones. One man that I was really impressed with was Parson James. It was the first time I had the honor of meeting him. We had a great talk before evening. We walked the field and shared so much. I was blessed again Sunday morning when I attended a great church service. I could feel the Lord with me all day Sunday. My heart floated. I knew in my heart that sometime that day that I would get called on to talk and pray. It was a very hot day and around 1:30 P.M. we had to walk up a long hill while in the woods. About half way up the hill I looked up and down the trail and it was like looking back in time. It was like seeing our ancestors walking the same trail but it was 5 below and snow on the ground. I could feel our ancestor’s spirit with us. As we got to the top of the rolling hill, the beauty of the place was overwhelming. The large field was the same field that our fathers had walked on to battle during that cold January day. My time had come, as the captain asked if there was a chaplain to pray before battle. My feelings were realized as I spoke. But it was neither my time nor my words but God’s time and words. I was blessed on this day. May our God bless us all.
Chaplain Tabby Back
