News from the Camp

March 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 13^th Kentucky Cavalry!

 

Philip R. Hensley

 

Talking with the General

(Dave Chaltas)

 

Compatriots, give yourself a round of applause for your recruiting efforts!  The word is out as evidenced by our growth.  The Hunley Funeral is upon us and if you are going, please let me know so that I can forward the information to Lower East Kentucky Brigade Adjutant Les Williamson.  The 6^th Kentucky will be drilling for the Hunley Funeral on March 20, 2004.  It will be held at McNeil’s Crossing.  If you want to participate and/or carpool see Richard Brown, Danny Wright, Dale Wright, Wayne Watts, Matthew Chandler, Steve Richardson, Mike Watts, or myself.  It is imperative that we train with the 6^th if we wish to march with them.  Do keep in mind that they will be the Honor Guard for Lt. Dixon.  Commander Sparkman wished for me to share that Commander Lyons will be with the Prestonsburg Camp to present their charter on Saturday, September 20, 2004.   We need representation and are requested to be in uniform or formal attire.  Also on May 1, 2004, a dedication has been scheduled for Captain Archibald Cope and Lt. Jeremiah South in Breathitt County, Kentucky.  Commander Sparkman will post the announcement and directions via the website.  He further instructed me to tell those interested in obtaining a Cross of Honor needs to do so soon as the maker is quitting.  Richard Smith is checking to see if we could purchase the mold and let our brother Black Smith Guild make them.

 

The monument to our ancestors that fought in the War Between the States in one step closer to being a reality.  On Monday, March 8, 2004 we presented the committee’s concept of the monument (see attachment) to Judge Smith and the Letcher County Fiscal Court.  Ross Fleming, Jason ‘Tree’ Adams, Terry Adams and myself, represented the Ben Caudill Camp.  They approved the project and we meet with the Jenkins City Council the first week in April to obtain their permission for the project.  Please thank the Judge and our Fiscal Court for their support; they were 100% behind the idea.  Richard Brown, Danny Taylor, Steve Richardson, Ross Fleming, Wayne Watts and myself serve on the committee and it is still open for any Son to participate.  Richard Brown developed the design and it is impressive!  We meet at the Letcher County Education Center on Tuesdays, from 4-5 weekly.  The old general represented the interests of the camp at the Battle of Leatherwood Committee meeting.  Everything seems to be going as planned and the Ladies Aid Society finished the flyer layouts.  They are beautiful!  The old general presented the concept to the Whitesburg Rotary Club on Tuesday, March 16, 2004.  Danny Taylor and the general represented the Caudill men at the Unthank Camp (Harlan) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004.  Les Williamson did an outstanding job on presenting the history of the Hunley and the update information regarding the Funeral on April 17, 2004.  The idea of offering a memorial salute to Colonel Ben Caudill during Wildcat has been impressed upon my mind.  If we offer it on Sunday morning, we could have an open church service at his gravesite along with a memorial to him.  I am quite certain that the reenactors and SCV attending Wildcat would wish to participate in this salute.  What say ye camp?  Also a presentation was given at the Life Long Learning Center (Whitesburg-GED & Compass) and they want us to return.  A couple of men wanted to attend our next meeting.  The film crew for All That Glitters will be at Bridgeport, Alabama and will afford us a golden opportunity to be in the movie.  Major Parsons of the 37^th Virginia stated that they will “be filming the ‘Southern Guards Battalion’ for many of the scenes”.  The date is March 26-28, 2004.  We have obtained information for Adopt-A-Highway and must decide what we wish to have on the markers and then submit the information.  Richard Smith has worked on the wording for the Hazel Green Marker and it should be ready in a few weeks for us to set and plan a dedication.  Details are still pending…..Through Honoring the Memory of our Ancestors, I remain The Old General

 

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 John Pearl Back.  His father was Pearl B. Back.  His mother is Maxine Dixon Back Cornett.  His mother remarried a man named Delmer Cornett.  His wife's name is Deborah Brashear Back and they have one daughter by the name of Heather Back.  He entered the camp under Private Lewis Back III and his Paternal grandfather David Back.  He is a member of Community Baptist Church where he is also a Deacon.  His hobbies are model railroading, gunsmithing, cartridge collecting, and studying the War Between the States.  He currently resides at Red Star, Ky.  He is a 27-year veteran of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Engineering Crew 310.  He is also a member of the Whitesburg Masonic Lodge.  He has taken on the responsibility of being the Caudill Camp Chaplain and has grown in his ministry.  He is a true example of Christian ethics and a brother to all that he meets.  He portrays everything that is good and sacred regarding our Southern traditions and honors our ancestors with his demeanor. Ladies and gentleman let us tip our kepis and give up a hardy rebel yell for our brother Johnny Pearl Back!

 

The Chaplain’s Corner

(Chaplain Back/Chaltas)

Recently the lives of the Back family were touched by sadness and tragedy.  A young Lady who was a co-worker and friend of my daughter's was tragically killed in a traffic crash.  At this point many of you may think, " Well Chaplain, what does this have to do with me?"  Simply this, there are no guarantee's for a long life.  The young lady I mentioned was only 20 years of age.  How many brave Confederate soldiers were dead by their 20^th birthdays?  Common sense tells us that all of them believed that many more years lay ahead of them.  Gentlemen if there one thing that I may say or write that you would take heed to it is this;   "Jesus came and died so that people like our selves could be forgiven of our sins and all that is required for you to take part in this forgiveness is to believe in him and know that he is the son of God."  So many times we have heard the preachers speak of the "End of Time" we always viewed this as an abstract term but, I put it to you this way, the end time of my daughters friend has already come.  Please make it right with the Lord before yours comes also.  Deo Vindicie Sincerely, Chaplain Back

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

1.      What was the name of the ship sunk by the Hunley?

2.      How many men died on the 3 crews of the Hunley?

3.      Who was the commander of the Hunley?

4.      For whom was the Hunley named?

5.      What was inscribed on the $20 gold piece belonging to the commander?

 

Hunley

 

Yonder Blue Light

(David Chaltas)

 

While waiting for a blue light

To permeate the fog,

We wonder if they were alright

Riding inside a log.

 

It looked so odd and heavy

A hand span above the sea

A hastily built levi:

Our hopes of being free.

 

A flash!  Yon ship is sinking!

Yon blue light cuts through the mist!

Its messages are blinking

And then fades in the abyss.

 

The mission is accomplished!

Success is at our door!

But something bad is amidst

She rides the waves no more.

 

Does anybody see her?

Is the blue light turned black?

Can anybody free her

Eight sailors in her pack?

 

Thirteen brave men were swallowed.

Two times she’s been reborn.

Now eight more men doth follow.

For them will we too mourn?

 

Young Dixon’s golden money:

Life preserver in hand.

His faded melancholy

To see the last of land.

 

Ridgaway, Carlson, Miller

Collins, Simkings, Becker,

Aboard the silent killer

At the bottom of the sector.

 

The Hunley they have named her.

She rides beneath the sea.

But will man ever tame her

And set her secrets free?

 

Heroes all!  They gave their all

Following yon blue light.

 Duty called!  The tempest falls:

They rest in hallowed night.

 Mission Accomplished!

To Date we have located 662 Burial, set 623 stone markers, and held 132 dedications!!!!

 

 

 

13^th Kentucky Cavalry SCRAMBLE

MARCH '04

 

MOUNTAIN GAPS

 

1. _ _ O _ O O _ _  Gap--- Name the early settlers used for Pound Gap.

 

2. _  O _ _ _ O _ _ _ _  Gap--- Gap on the Harlan / Lee County line through which a portion of General Morgan's men exited Kentucky following 2nd Cynthiana.

 

3. O O _ O _ _ Interstate Park is located in the vicinity of a gap through which a fork of the Big Sandy flows into Kentucky from Virginia. This area is also the site of the grave of an unknown soldier, thought to be Confederate. This gap also served as an exit route for some of General Morgan's men, probably including the General, himself, during their June 1864 return to Abingdon.

 

4. _ O _ _ _ _ _    _ _ O _   Gap --- Gap on Pine Mountain through which Union troops passed on their way to raid the 13th Cav camp at Whitesburg.

 

5. O _ _ _ _ _ _    O _ _ _ _  Gap --- Gap on the current Knott / Letcher line used by at least part of General Morgan's command on their way to the Bluegrass during the General's last Kentucky raid.

 

 6. O _ _ _ _ O _ _ _  Gap --- Pine Mountain gap in the Line Fork area, near the Harlan County line, through which a supply line was maintained during the War.

 

7. "_ _ O _    _ _ O"--- Nickname of the huge cannon which was reportedly pushed off the Pinnacle overlooking Cumberland Gap. This was done in an attempt to prevent capture of the gun.

  

SCRAMBLE: The O O O O O O and the                    O O O O O O O O O O are but two of the four great rivers whose headwaters are to be found within 10 air miles of Pound Gap.

 

TIE BREAKERS:

1. Another of the "four great rivers" alluded to in SCRAMBLE, above ________________ .

 

2. The 4th of the great rivers in that 10 mile radius of pound Gap _______________

 

3. The gap which was the site of "the great battle that never was"_______________.

  

ANSWERS: 1. SOUNDING; 2. PENNINGTON; 3. BREAKS; 4. SCUTTLE HOLE; 5. CHARLIE LOGAN; 6. HURRICANE; 7. "LONG TOM"------SCRAMBLE: CLINCH, CUMBERLAND. --- TIE BREAKERS: 1 and 2, in either order, NORTH FORK OF THE KENTUCKY, BIG SANDY; 3. CUMBERLAND

 

Be back next month. “Yeehaw!” Rich

 

 

 

 

Minutes-February 19, 2004

Meeting held at Letcher County Education Center. Parkway Plaza, Whitesburg

 

 Members Present

 

Richard Brown, Faron Sparkman, Wayne Watts, Greg Caudill, Tim Blair, Okie Blair, David Chaltas, Danny Taylor, Rick King, 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, Bob Balthis

 

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

 

New Business

 

Election of Officers:

Commander-Faron Sparkman;

Lt. Commander-David Chaltas

Chaplain-John P. Back

Adjutant-Richard Brown

Treasurer-Danny Taylor

Judge Advocate-Rick King

Historian-Buford Caudill &Steve Bowling

Sergeant-at-Arms-Wayne Watts

Field Commanders-Wayne Watts & Roger Hall

 

Committees Formed

Historical Research/Scrapbook Committee-Steve Bowling-Buford Caudill

Honor Guard/Color Guard  (Flag Bearers) Committee-Wayne Watts-Roger Hall-Steve Richardson

Website/Newsletter/Public Relations Committee-Mark Carroll, Faron Sparkman, John P. Back, Richard Brown, David Chaltas, Danny Taylor

Headstones/Markers Committee-Faron Sparkman-Wayne Watts-Tim Harp-Roger Hall

Memorial Monument Committee-Ross Fleming-Richard Smith-Richard Brown-Danny Taylor-Steve Richardson, Roger Hall, Wayne Watts

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

 

Hunley Funeral Discussed-Adjutant Brown

Stone Report-Sparkman

Adjourned by Prayer-Chaplain Back

 

 

 

March 2004

Agenda

 

7:00

Call meeting to order

Prayer-Chaplain Back

Pledge/Confederate Flag-Richard Smith

The Charge

Scripture Reading-Chaplain Back/Chaltas 

Welcome and recognition of guests

 Reading/Approval of Minutes/Newsletter with Scramble handed out

 

New Business

 

Commander’s Corner Comments:

Robert Crutchfield found near St. Augustine!

James Webb (Rev. Soldier) located!

14 stones in/2 for Breathitt Co..

Paris City will NOT allow stone set for 13^th man

 

Monument Committee Report

Hunley Report-Richard Brown

Adopt a Highway Report-Virginia Border on 23 to 119

Marking historical sites-Hazel Green Project

Memorial Salute to Colonel Ben Caudill during Wildcat (10/17/04)

Homeplace, Painstville

Jenkins Day and Skirmish

 

Open Floor

Presentation by Mark Carroll on Stonewall Jackson

Scramble #4-Richard Smith

With Sacred Principles To Maintain by David Chaltas (Power Point)

Adjourn by Prayer