Commander’s Welcome for 2008
General’s Dispatch
Ben E. Caudill Camp #1629
Box 1102
Whitesburg, KY 41858
January 1, 2008
Welcome to the Ben E. Caudill #1629 website! Our website is dedicated to the preservation and vindication of our ancestors' good name. Our missions are stated on our website. We are an ambitious camp of Confederate descendents that believe it is our honor and duty to our heritage to remember the memory of our ancestors. We wish to remember their cause and to present it in the most historically accurate manner of the true Christian Southern gentleman. Former Commander, Faron Sparkman, along with a team of dedicated researchers, have taken a mission of rediscovering the burial location of as many soldiers as possible. To date they have done so! Under his leadership we have set over 967 stones marking the resting place of our ancestors. We have also set numerous flagpoles, rediscovered several abandoned gravesites/cemeteries and cleaned them, held over 375 dedications for not only the men of the 13th Kentucky Cavalry but also others as well and participated in numerous parades, dedications, memorials, church services, living histories, reunions, educational events at schools, and have been the Honor Guard to several memorial events with other veteran groups.
We have assisted in setting stones/dedications for Native Americans, Revolutionary Soldiers, abandoned gravesites of Black Miners, WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Veterans, and worked with our local historical societies in offering dedications. We are currently working with the Whitesburg, Kentucky Veterans Memorial Museum, and have donated a 30' flagpole to be placed in front of the building and monuments. We are investigating and researching gravesites within our region including the slave graves in the Red Fox area, WBTS hospital gravesites and Potters Fields (still actively working to preserve the burial site of Uncle Dan Richmond's family on Black Mountain. He was a Blackman that served under General Richmond and was later given several hundred acres in Letcher County for his devotion).
We are also active with living history presenting in local schools, colleges, civil organizations, encampments, radio/television interviews, and churches. Our public relations are an integral part of what we do and we are cognizant of our responsibilities to the community and setting the example of true Christian Southern gentlemen. We also have men who are actively involved in the ministry as chaplains, and we offer a weekly series of sermons or lessons dealing with our true calling of inviting Christ to be in the Camp at all times. The Ben Caudill Camp #1629 prides itself in the knowledge that we are leaders not only in the state of Kentucky but also across the nation in efforts to preserve the truth and to continue the Charge that was given unto us by General Stephen D. Lee in 1906.
We have a very active reenactment contingency and are proud members of the 5th Kentucky Company F (our sister companies are Company D and E, Colonel Ray Adkins commanding), Southern Guard Brigade under General Jerry Parsons, Army of Tennessee, and North South Alliance. We have participated in reenactments in the great state of Kentucky (Sacramento, Barboursville, Perryville, Elk Horn City, Leatherwood, Wildcat, Richmond, Pound Gap), Tennessee (Ft. Dickerson, Bean Station, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Blue Springs, War Trace, Tullahoma, Three Rivers, Franklin) South Carolina (Hunley Funeral, Charleston, Columbia, Central), North Carolina (Ft. Anderson), Virginia (Saltville, Wise, Marion, Jonesville, Zollicoffer) Georgia (Resaca, Chickamauga), Alabama (Bridgeport), and even invaded Grant's boyhood home in Georgetown, Ohio! Our schedule for 2008 is listed under the reenactment section of our site.
Our goals and missions are unchanging. We will continue to honor our ancestors, compile and distribute historical information through publications and via a book we are currently writing, educate others of our heritage as well as continue growing in our own knowledge, and will continue working on the Pound Gap Project
(Currently we have five monuments, a gazebo and seven flag poles flying the standards) on route 23, at the KY/VA border. We have rediscovered and dedicated the WBTS cemetery, placing a beautiful 6 1/2 foot monument along with a bench and flagpole to honor those forgotten men of yesteryear.
We will continue to seek the old paths and the ancient ways of honor, duty and respect. In the words of General Robert E. Lee, "Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less." That is our commitment to our beloved Southland and we will carry the torch of the truth to all the dark corners where ignorance and apathy abide. For we are the guardians who must deny ourselves and live in accordance with the sacred principles we are bound to uphold, in an effort to preserve our heritage, lest it fall victim to apathy, indifference, hatred, intolerance, and ignorance.
May a merciful God bless you and keep you within the confines of His arms as we go forth into another year of celebrating our grand heritage. With undying devotion and with an affectionate farewell, I remain your obedient servant,
The Old General
Kentucky Division Chaplain
Commander of the Ben Caudill Camp #1629
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Email: david.chaltas@letcher.kyschools.us
"...we cannot undo the past; that is forever gone; but the future is in our hands..." Robert E. Lee
*If you are interested in becoming a member honoring your ancestors, please contact us at any of the addresses listed on our site. The Ben Caudill Camp # 1629 is open to any male descendent of a Confederate veteran. If you are unsure of having an ancestor, contact us and we will help you search. We also offer an Associate Membership
First Lieutenant Commander’s Welcome:
Greetings in the name of our ancestors, and welcome to our Website. Recently elected as First Lieutenant Commander of the Ben Caudill Camp, I am Manton Ray Cornett. My ancestors include some of the oldest names in eastern Kentucky: William Jesse Cornett the Revolutionary, Alexander Crockett Richie, Nicholas “Danger Nick” Combs, Stephen Miller Sr., and Reverend Richard Smith. My wife, Lorena Patrick is a descendant of James Patrick the Revolutionary and his grandson, James Patrick, the Confederate soldier. My wife and I have two adult children; our son, Daryl Carter, is a Baptist minister and a professor at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee, and, our daughter, Manetta Lynn, is the Area Veterinarian for Pfizer Drug Company in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Members of the Ben Caudill Camp have created in me a curiosity which has grown into a fascination which I now feel becoming a passion. Just a few short years ago, I knew nothing of my connection to the Confederate effort during the Great Struggle, and I assumed that what I had been led to believe was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. In less than five years, I have learned that my ancestry includes more than 185 Confederate veterans, mostly from Perry, Letcher, and Knott Counties in Kentucky, and a few from Virginia and Tennessee. And, the search is not over!
My great-great grandfather, Private William Buchanan “Buck” Engle, CSA, was the man whose service allowed me to enter the Ben Caudill Camp. Since becoming a camp member, I have discovered that another great-great grandfather, First Corporal John J. Godsey, served with “Buck” in Colonel Caudill’s Army. Both these men had brothers, and a host of other relatives, who served the Confederate cause.
Although my tenure with the Ben Caudill Camp has been brief, I have become active in most of the Camp’s activities, including research, stone-setting, dedications and re-enacting. I also serve as Lieutenant of the Caudill Battery, and have enjoyed being on the business end of “Little Jesse” at scores of reenactments and other events. Currently, I take pleasure in being a contributor to the forthcoming book, “Confederate Kin II”.
As First Lieutenant Commander, it is my responsibility to perform the duties of the Commander in his absence or at his request. Further, I serve as program chairman, securing guest speakers and presentations for camp functions. While doing my best to satisfy these duties, I also hope to assist any person who may wish to discover their family ties to the men who rode with Ben Caudill. I have a considerable amount of genealogical information on several of the pioneer families of eastern Kentucky, and it would be my pleasure to share it with you.
Please contact me if I can be of any service to you in your efforts to learn more about either your Confederate heritage or your family tree. Until then, I remain
Your Obedient Servant,
Manton Ray Cornett
83 Saint Kitts Avenue
Hazard, KY 41701
Phone (606) 378-2010
E-Mail: mountainray@peoplepc.com
2nd LT Commander-Willis Strong,
SGT-AT-ARMS-Wayne Watts
Quartermaster-Quenton Childers
Surgeon - Mike Baker
Adjutant's Welcome
From the Desk of Adjutant Brown
My name is Richard G. Brown and I am the Adjutant for the Colonel
Benjamin
Caudill Camp No. 1629 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I am also
an
officer of the 5th Kentucky Infantry re-enacting group. Some of my
responsibilities as adjutant are to maintain records and
correspondences
affecting the camp, stay up to date on rules and regulations relating
to our
camp, issue membership cards and certificates to members, be a liaison
between members and National Headquarters, help with the paper work of
new
members and keep members informed of upcoming events.
For new and old members, I would like to remind them that National
membership now runs from August 1 to August 1 of each year with a grace
period ending November 1. Membership cost $35.00 ($25.00 National
Fees,
$5.00 of this is for a filing fee and certificate, and $10.00 State
Fees).
Our camp does not charge membership dues. We raise money for our camp
through fundraisers. If an old member rejoins between August 1 and
November
1, he will not have to pay the $5.00 National signing fee. If he
rejoins
after November 1, he will pay $35.00 instead of $30.00. If a new
member
joins before August 1, he should keep in mind that he would have to pay
to
rejoin in this grace period again. National Headquarters does not
prorate
memberships.
I am very interested in seeing our camp continue to grow and would be
glad
to help anyone that is interested in joining our organization. I have
a lot
of genealogy on families in Letcher County and will be glad to share
with
anyone. Remember, we do this to honor our ancestors that fought and
died
for a cause that they believed in. Please help us to insure that
future
generations do not forget the tribulations that our forefathers went
through
for so many years ago. My email address is beagle46@hotmail.com and my
home
telephone number is 606-633-0457. Do not hesitate to contact me with
any
questions.
I Remain Your Obedient Servant,
Adjutant Richard G. Brown
P.O. Box 421
Ermine, Kentucky 41815
Chaplain
Tabby Back
Hi! My name is Tabby Richard Back and I am the son of the late James (Jim) Back and the late Lona Adams Back. I have a wonderful son by the name of Christopher Richard Back. My wife's name is Rosetta Mullins Back. I entered entered the Ben Caudill Camp #1629 under Private William Cody Back, my great grandfather. I have been a jeweler for over thirty years. For the past six years I have owned my own jewelery store in Pound, Virginia. I am an artist and my favorite objects to paint are old school houses or barns. Most of my paintings are done in water color but I do a few in oil. In the 2005 camp election I was selected to be the Ben Caudill Camp Chaplain. My desire is that God will bless my in the coming year to do the best of my ability in honoring my Lord and also myancestors. Rose and Chris and I love participating in Civil War reenactments. I am a member of the 5th Kentucky Infantry, Company F along with my son. My lovely wife is very active with the Ladies Aid Society and accompanies me on all adventures. If I can be of service to you and tell you more of the love of Christ, please contact me. My email address is tabby_rose2002@yahoo.com. May you be blessed this day and know that God can do for you what you can not do for yourself
Tabby Back
Historian
Faron Sparkman
email faronsparkman@windstream.net
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