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!
John Peck-(Cornettsville, Ky.) Associate Member
Bobby Jordan Elswick (Richmond, Ky.)-Associate Member
Brad Goodrich (Flax Patch-Knott County)-Associate Member
Tony Jones (Mayking) Associate Member
Our deepest appreciation and gratitude goes out to our compatriot Mike Grimes for the wonderful presentation on Music of the South. Everyone enjoyed his historical prospective as well as his singing. I bought one of his CDs and it is excellent. We tip our kepi to his performance and dedication to our heritage! It is my extreme honor to announce that Richard and Libby Smith participated in the End of Trail World Championship Single Action Shooters Society held near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The event was held on the last week of April 2005. SASS rules require period clothing and single action handguns, a pistol caliber lever rifle and a double barrel or hammer pump shotgun, all made prior to 1899 or copies thereof. Congratulations to the new SASS Ladies Frontier Cartridge 2005 World Champion: Libby Smith! (Her class requires a double barrel shotgun and that black powder or an approved substitute be loaded in rifle and pistol cartridges as well as in the shotgun shells. Participants may use both hands while discharging the handguns.) Richard Smith won 7th place in his Frontier Cartridge Duelist Division. (Same class requirements as above, but entrants are restricted to the use of only one hand when discharging the handguns, thus the "Duelist" label.) There were over 800 participants at this SASS World Championship match, making it the largest Cowboy Action Shooting event ever held. We are very proud of both and once again we are reminded that we can compete with the best and come back proud of our endeavors. Congratulations go out to Wayne Whitaker for completing training and his presentation regarding blacksmithing. Even though our representation was small never the less the Relay for Life was a huge success. We received many compliments and offered a living history to those curious walkers and bystanders.
Compatriots, the deadline on the monument is quickly approaching. Rokie has sent all the material in for the stencils and as soon as they return we need to give them a final inspection. Then he can start etching them! We have contacted Gary Cornett (Letcher County Jailer) and he stated that he would have some of his inmates assist in weed eating the site. We will also need to take down the fence and relocate it along with a piece of the railing so that the Appalachian Monument truck can get to the concrete foundation. Our goal is to have the stone in place by the end of May. Then we must extend the fence and get the flagpoles set prior to the Living History and dedication on August 14, 2005. I have written a letter to TECO requesting financial with the fence and landscaping. The National Reunion will be held in July. I am willing to attend along with Lt. Commander John Back to represent the camp. , The Old General
Pray for Dixie, The Old General
Well my comrades it seems that God has decided to finally grace us with summer. We have gone from a week of lows in the 20's to a week of highs in the 80's. As citizens of this modern age all that is required to deal with these weather extremes is change clothing and adjust our thermostats. It leaves me to wonder about our ancestors who had only their wool uniforms to deal with extremes of weather. Sometimes it seems that we don't appreciate the strength of character or will that our ancestors were blessed with. We need to remember the strength of will and character and yes the strength of their Christian faith. Many problems and rough spots stand in the path the current SCV organization, problems which can be solved by utilizing the traits, which served our ancestors so well. May God Bless us and the memory of our ancestors as soldier forward carrying on the good name of our Confederate ancestors
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 last salute and tip our Kepi in tribute to Cecil Brown. Cecil was born on February 24, 1924 at Millstone (Letcher County, Kentucky) to Maylon and Pollie Ann Craft Brown. He was the youngest of seven children, Archie, Ben, Mae, Astor, Pricey and Elizabeth. Cecil’s mother died when he was two years old and the children were sent to stay with various Craft relatives. Cecil and the twins, Pricey and Elizabeth, went to their grandparents, Archie and Pricey Adkins Craft where they remained for three years. It was at this time Cecil became acquainted with his great grandparents, Enoch Arden (Chunk) and Pollie Ann Caudill Craft. Since his mother Pollie Ann was the first grandchild and her youngest child was now living nearby, they turned their attention to him. A close relationship evolved between them that lasted as long as they lived.
Grandpa Chunk related many tales of his experiences during his service in the 13th Kentucky where he served as a cook for his unit under Colonel Ben Caudill, who later became his brother in law, Chunk married Ben’s sister, Pollie Ann Caudill. He told of having been shaved only once in his life and that was when he was taken prisoner and they did the dirty deed. When General John Hunt Morgan was murdered in Greenville, Tennessee, Chunk said he was sleeping in the garden. He was one of the soldiers that accompanied the body to Abingdon, Virginia where he remained until the General was buried. Under a flag of truce, Morgan’s body was sent by rail to Abingdon, VA where it was laid out at the residence of Judge Campbell. The funeral took place at 4:00 pm Tuesday, September 6, 1864 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The procession, “the largest and most imposing there has ever been in southwest Virginia”, formed on Glade Spring Road for burial in the Sinking Spring Cemetery. “A week later the body was removed from Sunken Springs Cemetery and carried to Richmond, where it lay in state in the Confederate capitol.”
Grandpa Chunk kept a diary during his service and allowed Cecil to read it many times. It can no longer be located and most of the family thinks it was destroyed when the house burned. He also had the rifle that he carried during the war. Several years ago Cecil attempted to locate the rifle, but all that remained was the barrel. Cecil’s father married Susie McCray in 1929 and came for his children, they moved to the head of Masters Branch overlooking McRoberts. Here his family farmed, kept milk cows, a pair of mules, hogs, chickens, raised sugar cane and made molasses. They peddled their wares in the town of McRoberts. Cecil had the chore of delivering milk and picking up the empty jars. His mom made him a coat and two bags from his Uncle Richard Yont’s old overalls. The coat had pockets that the milk jars fit into and so did the bags. He could carry 12 jars of milk and replace with the empty ones he collected. He said that when he walked he rattled. All the people called him, “The Little Milk Boy.”
He enlisted in the U.S. Army the day he turned eighteen and was assigned to the 37th Quarter Master Corp Dog Platoon, which later was attached to the 87th Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. He served as a scout along with his dog, Buddie. Cecil served in the European Theater of Operations in Italy. He and his dog Buddie were wounded in action February 26, 1945 in Buio, Italy, and he was awarded The Purple Heart.
After the war was over and he was discharged he returned to Letcher County, Kentucky. He was unable to find employment so he reenlisted in the Army and was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas. Here he met and married Minnie Gustin and they were the parents of three children, Sheila, Cecil Ray and Bert. After leaving the Army he worked at Fort Riley for Civil Service as Director of Facilities Engineering for 30 years before retiring. He and his family lived in Milford, Kansas for 44 years where he served as mayor and councilman. Several years after the death of his wife he married Nancy Clark Baker of Wise, Virginia. They moved to Longford, KS in 1990 and he served on the City Council until shortly before his death. Here he built a woodworking shop and began buying and restoring old houses. He completed 5 houses, a schoolhouse and tore down 3 houses beyond repair. He spent many happy hours in his shop where he could be heard all around town singing as he worked. Cecil always had time for his family, friends and his community. One of his neighbors stated, “ Cecil touched the lives of everyone he met.” He passed into eternal rest on April 7, 2005. We were honored to have had this man in our camp and let us offer a silent salute to our fallen compatriot, Cecil Brown!
Our camp has once again climbed to 100 members, still the largest in the state of Kentucky. All of our members should be proud that so many compatriots want to be a part of our camp. I have received four certificates from National Headquarters to be presented to the families of our members that have crossed over the river. The four members are: James Wendell Hamilton, Henry M. Webb, Jr., Harold Cantrell, and Cecil Brown. If any member of the Camp would like to personally deliver these beautiful certificates, please see me. I have also received a note from Nancy Brown, widow of Cecil Brown. She wanted the Camp to know of his passing and to inform us of how proud and honored he was to have been a member.
The History Channel has decided to honor the 140th Anniversary of the end of the War Between the States by showing several different specials during the week of May 22 through May 26. The approximate schedule is as follows:
May 22 at 8:00 P.M. The Most Daring Mission of the Civil War
May 22 at 9:30 P.M. Mail Call, Uniforms and Weapons of the Civil War
May 22 at 10:00 P.M. The Conquerors: Sherman’s March to the Sea
May 23 at 8:00 P.M. Secret Missions of the Civil War
May 24 at 8:00 P.M. The Civil War out West
May 24 at 9:00 P.M. The Horrors of Andersonville Prison
May 25 at 8:00 P.M. Battlefield Detectives: Antietam, The Bloodiest Day
May 25 at 9:00 P.M. Battlefield Detectives: Gettysburg
May 25 at 10 P.M. Modern Marvels: Civil War Tech, Newly Developed Weapons
May 26 at 8:00 P.M. Slave Catchers, Slave Resisters
A lot of these will probably be worth recording. This would be a great addition to our Library! I am glad that T.V. stations such as The History Channel have realized that there are many people that are interested in this time period of our history. Now if they will only release the uncut six-hour version of Gods and Generals.
I would like to remind everyone that there will be a small re-enactment at Louisa in Lawrence County on May 21 and 22. I hope to attend on the 22. There is also going to be a very good re-enactment on June 4 and 5 at Jonesville, Virginia. Also we have been invited to attend a dedication of over 100 previously unmarked graves at Lafollette, TN on June 11, 2005. It starts at 11:00 and will draw national attention. The Longstreet/Zollicoffer Camp is the host. Refer to their website for details. I would encourage all members to attend and support one or all of these events.
Yours in the Cause, Adjutant Brown
I have the honor of reporting the camp financial balance is $1458.82. Our expenditures for the month of April were $175.00 (plaque, re-up dues and cannon bounty) & we deposited $150.00 If you have any suggestions regarding fundraisers or questions please contact me at 633-0881. Let us continue to encourage former members to rejoin & to recruit new members to honor our ancestors’ deeds. Take an Associate Application & recruit someone
Secretary/Treasurer Taylor
How much do we trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Do we put all our trust in Him or do we only say we do and when the waves of life get rough do we find ourselves doubting that which we have supposedly have placed our faith? Let us look at Peter in Matthew 14:25-31. “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea they were troubled, saying it is a spirit and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer; it is I be not afraid.’ And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come’ and when Peter came down out of the ship he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind was strong he was afraid. And he began to sink, he cried out saying, ‘Lord save me’ and immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him and said unto him, ‘O thou of little faith didst thou doubt?’” We as Christians need to put our total trust in the Lord. But because of our human nature we sometimes take our eyes off of Christ and find ourselves sinking into the waves. A chaplain is the representative of Christ and his importance to the soldier’s spiritual strength must not be overlooked. Someone had to stretch forth a hand and save them to pray for them to tell them of the love that God has for them. Many followed the man who walked on water through their tempest tossed sea of life. Can we not do the same? My job as your chaplain is to offer you the same guidance and I am here for you
