A Hero

By Bob Hurst

War can bring out the best in some people and the absolute worst in others. It can present a stage upon which the character and nobility of some can be recognized while revealing in others the total absence of these two traits.

An event that occurred in New Orleans early in 1862 allowed both sides of this phenomenon to be well demonstrated.

The War for Southern Independence produced many heroes and I have written about a number of these magnificent individuals during the years I have been writing this column. There have been, of course, articles about outstanding military leaders such as Nathan Bedford Forrest, Robert E. Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, JEB Stuart, Pat Cleburne, Turner Ashby, Joe Wheeler and others. There have been articles about those whose realm was of the political nature - Jefferson Davis and the "fire-eaters" come quickly to mind. Some of the Confederate heroes chronicled in this series were quite young like John Pelham, Richard Kirkland, Dewitt Jobe and more. The distaff side has also received attention in articles about Confederate heroes (or should I say "heroines") like Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Belle Boyd and Sally Tompkins.

This article will be different from all those previous articles, however, because this hero (the subject of this article) did not wear a uniform, was not a spy, was not involved with the government and, in fact, was not officially involved with any part of the war effort. William Mumford, you see, was a civilian who rose to the occasion, demonstrated great bravery and, in my opinion, should be recognized as a Confederate hero.

Mumford's story begins on the morning of April 25, 1862, when a federal fleet steamed into the port of New Orleans. David Farragut, commander of the fleet, sent a message to the mayor of New Orleans directing him to remove the Confederate flags that were flying atop city hall, the mint and the customshouse in the city and replace them with U.S. flags.

The mayor politely refused to do so.

The next day a small crew from a union ship went ashore and raised a Stars and Stripes to the top of the flagpole atop the mint after first removing the Confederate flag that had been flying there. They then warned a crowd of New Orleanians who had been watching that if the federal flag was removed the city would be fired upon.

Soon after the union sailors departed to return to their ship, a small group of men, led by William Mumford, made their way to the roof of the mint and removed the Stars and Stripes that had just been raised by the yankee sailors.

True to their word, a union ship unleashed cannon fire on the mint and, during this process, William Mumford was injured.

Two days later, federal land troops under the command of Major General Benjamin Butler reached the city.
{A brief not here about Ben Butler: He was a corrupt individual and an ineffective military leader who was relieved of several commands because of his incompetence. This was not unusual for politically-appointed generals. He had the nicknames "Beast" and "Spoons" -"beast" because of his scandalous and wicked behavior toward civilians, and "spoons" because of his penchant for stealing personal items of civilians in occupied areas, especially their silverware. Not surprisingly, after the war this reprobate was elected governor of Massachusetts.}

In a meeting with Farragut, Butler was briefed on the events concerning the flag at the mint and he vowed to first capture Mumford and then hang him.

New Orleans city officials surrendered the city on April 29 and two days later federal troops began arresting prominent citizens. Many were sent to prison and many others had their personal property confiscated by the Beast and his troops.

William Mumford was quickly arrested and charged with high crimes and misdemeanors and sent in chains to a location where he was held prisoner for the next month. He was then sent before a military commission (even though he was a civilian) where he pleaded "not guilty" to the charges. Only three witnesses were allowed to testify (all for the prosecution) and no mention was allowed that Mumford's actions had taken place before the city had been surrendered to the feds and, thus, was still under Confederate jurisdiction when his "crime" occurred.

William Mumford was found "guilty" by the commission and Butler issued an order for him to be executed. Many citizens of the city (those that Butler had not yet had arrested), Mumford's wife and even some union officers petitioned Butler to suspend his execution order.

The "Beast", of course, would have none of that.

On the day of the scheduled hanging (June 7), William Mumford was taken to the site of the deed which was the courtyard of the mint. The crowd that had gathered there was estimated to be in the thousands.

Mumford was allowed to address the crowd from the gallows. He spoke calmly and indicated that he had indeed taken down the Union flag but had no regrets for his action because it was driven by his patriotism and love for the Confederacy. He continued by saying that as a veteran of the Seminole War and the Mexican-American War, both as a Union soldier, he had a love for the "Stars and Stripes" itself , but a hatred for its uses under "Northern tyranny".

At this point, the trapdoor was opened and his execution was completed.

Eleven days after the hanging, Governor Thomas O. Moore of Louisiana made an address to the people of the state concerning William Mumford in which he stated that his murderers had offered to suspend the execution if he would "abjure his country and swear allegiance to her foe". The governor then continued:

"He spurned the offer. Scorning to stain his soul with such dishonor, he met his fate courageously and transmitted to his countrymen a fresh example of what men will do and dare when under the inspiration of fervid patriotism."

As might be expected, news of this hanging was greeted throughout the South with anger and calls for retributive action directed at Butler. President Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation declaring Butler to be a felon and ordering that if Butler was captured that the commanding officer of the capturing force "...cause him to be immediately executed by hanging."

General Robert E. Lee contacted the Union General-in-Chief demanding an explanation to why a Southern citizen was executed for an act performed before the city was occupied by Union forces.

The Charleston MERCURY newspaper editorialized that Butler should receive no quarter from any Southern man and that if captured he should be hanged and if not captured either poisoned or carved up well with a knife.

Although not well-recognized as a Confederate hero, William Mumford displayed courage, character and nobility in choosing death with honor over compromising his beliefs and his patriotism toward the Confederacy.

Even though he never wore the sacred gray, his internal strength and his unquestioned devotion to the Cause make him, in my opinion, one of the bright stars in the galaxy of Southern greatness.

DEO VINDICE

Note: Previous articles of CONFEDERATE JOURNAL are available in book form. Articles from 2005-2007 are in Volume 1 and can be ordered at http://createspace.com3540609/. Articles from 2008-2009 are in Volume 2 and can be ordered at http://createspace.com3543269/.

Bob Hurst is a Son of the South who has special interest in the Confederacy and the antebellum architecture of the South. He is commander of Col. David Lang Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, in Tallahassee and also serves as 2nd Lt. Commander of the Florida Division, SCV.

Dedication of Confederate Monument, Rose Hill Cemetery, Ardmore, June 22, Noon

The Oklahoma Division of The Sons of Confederate Veterans is pleased to announce the dedication of a Monument to 190 Confederate Veterans buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Ardmore. It will take place on Saturday June 22 at noon in the Confederate section at the North end of the cemetery.

Ardmore was the site of the Confederate home in Oklahoma and many of those residents are buried in this section. Oklahoma was one of the few states that allowed spouses to stay with their husbands and many of them are buried in the section as well.

Guest speaker for the occasion is Dr. Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

The Oklahoma Division has 21 camps across the state and over 300 members.

A tent, chairs, bottled water, and portable facilities will be furnished and attendees are encouraged to dress comfortably to deal with the hot temperatures expected.

There will be a special part of the event to honor the five tribes and their contributions to the Confederacy.

The public is invited.

The Battle of Fleetwood Heights, also known as Brandy Station. June 9th 1863.

By Kevin Carroll excerpts and notes taken from Jeb Stuart, written by John Thomason

After the Confederate victory at Chancellorsville, General Robert E. Lee decided upon taking to the aggressive and began to reposition the Army of Northern Virginia closer to the Valley for the pending invasion of Pennsylvania. Northern General Joe Hooker, still licking his wounds from Chancellorsville, made no movement south of the Rappahannock.

General JEB Stuart, in charge of Confederate cavalry, positioned his forces in a screen watching the river crossings from Kelly’s Ford northwest past the Rappahannock River bridge to Beverly Ford 2 miles farther up the river to the northwest. He had recently received the brigades of Wade Hampton, Beverly Robertson and Grumble Jones as well as several hundred new carbines that were sent up from the ordinance department so that by the end of May he had nearly 10,000 effectives in his force, the largest cavalry force assembled by the Confederates during the war. Stuart also had five batteries consisting of 20 guns in his battalion of horse artillery.

In early June, near Culpepper, General Lee reviewed the cavalry Division and wrote his wife that “I reviewed the cavalry in this section yesterday, it was a splendid sight. The men and the horses looked well. They have recuperated since last fall. Stuart was in all his glory. Your sons and nephews were well and flourishing……”

On June 8th, following the review, Stuart was ordered to cross the river the next day and cover, on the right, the northward movement of Longstreet and Ewell’s Corps as they began their march north. Stuart established his HQ at Fleetwood Heights, a partially wooded ridge running roughly a mile north of the Orange and Alexandria RR. Brandy Station is at the southern foot of the ridge. Three miles east is the Rappahannock and the road up to Beverly Ford skirts east of the ridge. Six miles southeast is Kelly’s Ford six miles southwest is Culpeper Court House.

Hooker ordered his cavalry commander, General Alfred Pleasanton, to cross the river and smash up the Confederate cavalry before Stuart and his boys could do any mischief. What happened next evolved into the largest cavalry engagement ever fought on the American Continent. Forming in two columns Pleasanton directed the 2nd and 3rd Federal cavalry Division’s along with an infantry brigade under David Gregg to cross the river at Kelly’s Ford with intentions to push hard for Brandy Station coming in on both the Madden and Stevensburg Roads. The 2nd column consisted of the 1st Federal cavalry Division, the reserve cavalry brigade, and Ames’ infantry brigade, under John Buford, to cross the river up at Beverly Ford and sweep down on Brandy Station from the northeast.

At dawn on June 9th, 1863 the battle opened when a brigade of Buford’s cavalry under Davis stormed over the river crossing and into the pickets of the 6th Virginia cavalry. The fighting soon became vicious and Davis was soon killed but his brigade forced the 6th to retire with a loss of 30 men and horses. The Federals pushed up and into the edge of a Confederate artillery camp which surprised them forcing them to also pull out but not before issuing a few welcoming rounds of canister into the charging Yankees. By now the alarms were sounding and Stuart formed a defensive line near St. James Church positioning Jones brigade to the right with its back to the railroad facing north and Rooney Lee’s brigade facing east. Hampton’s brigade rode in and formed to the right of Jones. Buford faced the center of the angle and was effectively blocked. Robertson had moved his brigade down towards Kelly’s Ford but was bypassed by the column of Gregg who had passed the road he was on and moved his column farther west to advance on the aforementioned roads. This effectively took Robertson out of the fight as for some reason he did not bother to adjust or compensate for what was happening on other sections of the field that day. To his left and right and in his rear, the hottest kind of fighting raged on all morning but in keeping with his original orders, Robertson maintained his line on the road between Brandy Station and Kelly’s Ford.

The Federal column under Gregg split up as he sent the detachment of Duffie towards Stevensburg where they were promptly engaged by Wade Hampton and stopped. Gregg’s force met no resistance bypassing Robertson and coming between himself and Hampton on the road up to Brandy Station where he effectively came in on the rear of Confederate cavalry which was effectively blocking Buford’s attack. As Gregg’s column came into site one of Stuart’s staff officers, Major McClellan, sounded the alarm but Stuart and his line were too occupied with Buford to notice. McClellan got one of Chew’s guns and began firing it into the long blue line which forced Gregg to shake out into battle line and call up his own guns which gave a thorough raking to the heights which were all but unoccupied. This artillery gets Stuart’s attention as he yells to a courier “ride back and see what that foolishness is all about!”

McClellan tells a Colonel Harmon from the 12th Virginia coming over to see what was happening, “For God’s sake they are right on you!” Harmon instinctively charges into the 1st New Jersey who by this time was scaling up the slope of the heights forcing them back after heated combat. Stuart now realizes he has been turned and galloping towards the hottest point in the field comes across the spectacle of Gregg’s full force attacking the heights and the scattering of the few Confederate elements fighting for their lives to hang onto the high ground until help arrives. That help soon materializes in the form of Hampton first, followed by Rooney Lee and later Jones who with great skill and audacity kept Buford bottled up while lending much needed support to Fleetwood Heights at the opportune time to support the line.

Harmon’s Virginian’s reformed and charged again gaining a Yankee battery, the blue clad gunners defended their guns with pistols and sponge staffs until support drove back the Confederates again. Then it was Gregg’s turn to charge but was met by Hampton’s column arriving in squadrons, Carolinians followed by Mississippian’s, yelling the rebel yell as they smashed into Gregg’s flank riding through it and into his reserves. Several more Federal guns joined the melee and many of Hampton’s riders fell to the blast of close range canister fire. It was later said that Hampton’s charge involved more close sabre hand to hand combat than at any other point in the war. Hampton’s son was wounded in battle and afterwards he asked him removed from his command due to the stress of having a son in combat with him.

The battle continued to ebb and flow but progressively moved eastward as Gregg reluctantly gave ground realizing the combination with Buford was not going to occur as planned. The other half of his column, under Duffie, was still milling about near Stevensburg and could not get around the cavalry screen that Hampton had left as he moved up to the sounds of the heaviest fighting on the slopes of Fleetwood Heights. General Lee had become concerned about the cacophony of battle happening in the distance and urged General Ewell to march a Division to the support of Stuart. They never made it to the field as by the time they were nearby, the Federals were in full retreat.

The Federals lost 936 men of which nearly have were prisoners, six flags, and three guns. Confederate losses were 523 including one flag. Considering the tactical surprise Stuart suffered he recovered his troops admirably and perhaps fought the men as well as in any battle of the war. Naturally, Pleasanton and the northern press spun their defeat into a victory stating that the mission was on a reconnaissance in force and not meant to break up the Confederate cavalry. Since the mission did nothing to locate the whereabouts of the Army of Northern Virginia it fails that test as well.

How Secession was Legal. The LAST word!

You've never been told the real reason secession is lawful, so I will tell you now. You were never taught this in school, but it was taught before 1861. Thomas Jefferson even mentions that it is legal and may be needed. It takes a QUORUM of a simple majority to hold a session of Congress. HOWEVER read the following: Adjournment of Congress sine die a Latin term meaning “without [fixed] day”; No day is set for reconvening.

Seven southern nation States of America walked out of the Second Session of the Thirty-sixth Congress on March 27, 1861.

In so doing, the Constitutional due process quorum necessary for Congress to vote was (temporarily) lost and Congress was adjourned sine die, or "without day." To some, this meant that there was no lawful quorum to set a specific day and time to reconvene. Some say that according to Robert's Rules of Order, Congress automatically dissolved because there are no
provisions within the Constitution allowing the passage of any Congressional vote without a quorum of the States. Keep in mind that Robert's Rules of Order was created and published by Henry Martyn Robert who was born in South Carolina in 1837.

He sold a half million copies of his rules by 1914. Those rules were not made a part of the Constitution or any Amendment to the Constitution. According to The Constitution, Congress was only required to meet at least once in every year on a specific date unless changed by law and a smaller number may adjourn from day to day. Therefore, because there were no other provisions, dissolution does not take place unless "the people", the creators thereof, or the posterity thereof, the sovereigns of the states, say so.

This is why you read newspapers in 1861 stating, "The Union Is Dissolved!". Note this is COMPLETELY legal Constitutionally because there is NOTHING in the US Constitution forcing any state to send it any Congressional Delegation. This also proves that it was the States which had the power to dictate to the Federal Government who was in overall control of the government.

Now I ask, if there is nothing forcing a state to send a delegation to Congress, who can force them? And I ask; By purposely not sending members to a Federal Congress; Doesn't that mean a state is exercizing its' sovereignty and may be showing that it has no intention of further participation in the Federal Government? And who is to tell them they can't do this? (The 9th and 10th Amendments SPECIFICALLY states that ALL rights NOT SPECIFICALLY delegated to the US Federal Government is retained by the States and the People! If it's not listed under the US Constitution and made into law, it is the RIGHT of the State and the People! Now I ask again; Who RETAINS the Right to send people to Congress and who has the right to force them to participate in a Federal Government?)

It was Lincoln who *unconstitutionally* called for Congress to reconvene in July 1861, after he had accomplished his task against South Carolina. See *Casus Belli*(Causing an act for war.) All acts leading to the war came from Lincoln himself, and he permanently broke the US Constitution in doing so. He said so himself by stating, "In saving the union I have destroyed the Republic." You are now seeing the final results of this breaking of the US Constitution, this treason committed by Lincoln in your government today. I will never support, much less fight for such tyranny!

Michael-- Deo Vindicabamur

Continued:

OK Then; Ya'll liked what'ya read; yes? Well, we're gonna drive the finishing nails in the coffin of the EMPIRE usa! I'm gonna piece together the rest of the story for you... After this, if you study it and do your part, you'll never be defeated in such debates again, NEVER!

From the original post above I continue.

Do NOT let anyone bring slavery OR tariffs or any other issue into the the secession debates. If you do you'll only be justifying a cause for them to debate and argue with you over. There is NO cause to debate as it is a State's Right to secede, and for NO reason if they so desire! Not only that slavery was Constitutionally legal, plus reading Lincoln's 1st Inaugural Address, Lincoln himself claims slavery is NOT the issue, while being denied collecting tariffs and taxes was a reason for war.

Your opponent will claim states listed slavery as a reason for secession and *some* did in fact list such. However that is a moot and void point as it was Constitutionally a State's Right to have slaves as well as ONLY a choice for any State to state ANY reason for secession for NONE was legally needed!

HOWEVER 4 States known as the BACKBONE of the Confederacy did NOT secede over slavery or tariffs. Matter of fact they had already voted just weeks before to remain in the union. But something changed all this. Few people seems to have any idea what it was, so I'm gonna tell'ya!

Those 4 states of NC, VA, TN and AR seceded because after Lincoln "provoked"

South Carolina into firing on Fort Sumter (Remember Casus Belli and read the conspiracy correspondence between Lincoln and a Capt. G V Foxx http://www.familytales.org/dbDisplay.php?id=ltr_abl7020 shows it was planned.)

Lincoln used this excuse to attack South Carolina and called for the states still in the union to furnish men for the federal army. Those states refused to send men and said it was none of their business what SC did as the US government should have left those federal properties. Note: Lincoln also broke a verbal treaty with South Carolina by provoking CS to fire on Sumter (again Casus Belli) because Lincoln secretly sent men and provisions to the fort against the treaty.

The treaty can be proven by the fact of the telegram Lincoln sent SC Gov Pickens. Lincoln simply told Gov Pickens he would be reinforcing Fort Sumter regardless to anything said previous and that it was up to SC to decide to allow it peacefully or use force to try and stop it.

But this is not all of the story of why those 4 states seceded. Lincoln notified VA and NC that federal troops/armies would be crossing their states and requisitioning supplies on their way to attack SC. Both states flatly refused to allow such to happen. (Note that the states of NC and VA had voted just a few weeks previous on the bill of secession and both states had voted to remain in the union.)

Lincoln's response to those states was, if you don't allow what I want, then I consider you in rebellion against the US Government.

Within 2-3 weeks of this all four states had voted to secede, with NC and VA holding their second referendum on secession, with it passing by large numbers this time.

Anyone tell me; What did this have to do with tariffs, taxes or slavery? It did have to do with State's Rights as did the other issues concerning slavery, tariffs, taxes and secession.

Here is an article that was in the New York Times concerning the state of North Carolina and it seceding.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/the-death-knell-of-slavery/

The condemnations adds up against the Federals. First Lincoln plans a secret provocation (Casus Belli) in forcing South Carolina to attack Fort Sumter. Then he illegally and unconstitutionally calls for states to send men, supplies and furnish them the land to march across in attacking another state. After this Lincoln nullifies the writ of Habeas Corpus, imprisons people without due process, takes over railroads, shuts down newspapers and other unconstitutional acts. Finally Lincoln calls Congress to session illegally in order to claim he done the best he could and read the US Constitution the way *he* thought it should be read in dealing with the seceding states AND the firing on Fort Sumter which HE, Lincoln masterminded.

Michael-Deo Vindicabamur
mike360000@yahoo.com

Jefferson Davis still remembered in Dixie

By Calvin E. Johnson, Jr., Speaker, Writer of short stories, Author of book “When America stood for God, Family and Country” and Chairman of the National and Georgia Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Confederate History and Heritage Month committee. http://www.facebook.com/ConfederateHeritageMonth

When was the last time you visited Stone Mountain Park with the world famous carving of legendary Americans: Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson or beautiful Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia where Jefferson Davis is buried?

The Jefferson Davis Presidential Library will be officially dedicated on his birthday Monday, June 3, 2013 at “Beauvoir” Davis’ last home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Biloxi. Read more at: http://www.beauvoir.org/events/index.html

You have probably heard about or seen the movie “Lincoln” which was produced and Directed by famed film Director Steven Spielberg in 2012. The movie has been called superb and did have an excellent cast that included veteran actors Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field.

Hollywood has produced movies about Abraham Lincoln, some good, some bad and others forgettable like “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” but I do not remember any made about the life and times of Jefferson Davis. Polls reflect the Southern people’s equal admiration for Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln but….

During these “political correct” times Southerners are often depicted on TV and in the movies as backward and dumb. The truth is that the South is the birth place of many intelligent, well-spoken and patriotic people like that of Jefferson Davis who was a great orator and there was standing room only on the floors of the United States Senate when he delivered his February 9, 1861 resignation speech as Mississippi Senator.

Mr. Spielberg, would you direct and produce a movie about Jefferson Davis who like Lincoln was born in the State of Kentucky?

The time is long overdue for school teachers throughout this nation to teach not only the historical facts about Abraham Lincoln, but also those about Jefferson Davis.

Jefferson Davis like many Southerners was against secession but recognized the sovereignty of each state of the Union and their Constitutional right to secede.

Jefferson Finis Davis was born on June 3, 1808, in Christian County, Kentucky. Davis who would become the first and only President of the Confederate States of America. He was a strong Unionist and a strong defender of the United States Constitution.

Here are a few of his many accomplishments:

Graduate of West Point Military Academy
Fought valiantly in the War with Mexico
United States Senator
Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce
First to suggest the transcontinental railroad to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
First to suggest the Panama Canal Zone
Suggested the purchase of Cuba
Appointed Robert E. Lee Superintendent of West Point Military Academy
Jefferson Davis' last marriage was a good one to Varina, who gave her husband four sons and two daughters (Billy, Joseph, Jefferson, Samuel, Margaret and Winnie). Joseph was killed by an accidental fall at the Confederate White House in Richmond, Virginia in 1864, Samuel died at age 2 and an abused black child named Jim Limber was virtually adopted as a member of the Davis family.

In 1865, Jim was forcibly removed by Union soldiers and never seen again. It is said that the Davis children were crying at the scene and poor Jim was kicking and not making it easy for his abductors. After the War Between the States, Jefferson Davis tried to locate the whereabouts of Jim Limber, but was not successful.

The funeral for Jefferson Davis was attended by thousands of mourners. Milo Cooper, a former servant, traveled all the way from Florida to pay his last respects. It is written that, upon entering Davis' sick room, Cooper burst into tears and threw himself on his knees in prayer that God would spare the life of his old master and bless Davis family. Davis is buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

The Jefferson Davis Monument State Historic Site is a Kentucky State Park preserving the birthplace of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is located in Fairview, Kentucky, in Todd County.

God bless America’s Heroes of yesterday and today!

ANNUAL CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013, 10:30 A.M.
LOUDON PARK CEMETERY 3800 BLOCK FREDERICK Rd.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY is celebrated in Maryland each year on the first weekend in June nearest to the birthday of President Jefferson Davis, Once again this year the Colonel Harry W. Gilmor Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans has the honor of assisting the Maryland Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in planning and presenting the CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY ceremony at Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.

The purpose of the ceremony is to honor the thousands of soldiers who served the Confederacy during the War Between the States. Over 600 Confederate soldiers are buried at Loudon Park including Colonel Harry W. Gilmor, General Bradley T. Johnson, and Colonel James R. Herbert. Almost all of the states that gave troops to the Cause of Southern Independence are represented by the honored dead at Loudon Park.

We would like to cordially invite you and all the members and friends of your organization to participate in this important annual ceremony. The event can only be successful with your help. CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY will be held on SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. Loudon Park Cemetery is located at the 3800 block Frederick Rd.. in southwest Baltimore. This is about three to four mile east of Exit 13 of the Baltimore beltway, Rt. 695. We would like to have all military units meet at Confederate Hill between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

The tentative program includes:

* March on of troops

* Invocation by UDC Chaplain

* Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag

* Salute to the Confederate flag

* Introduction and welcoming remarks by SCV, MOSB, and UDC representatives.

* Presentation of memorial wreaths and floral tributes by various patriotic organizations and military units. Please let me know if you plan to bring a wreath.

* Dedication of Adopt a Confederate grave markers. 43 new markers will be dedicated.

* Rifle salute

* Benediction

* Refreshments

THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY WILL PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS; LEMONADE, COOKIES, ETC. FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY. BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

* Military units, please bring ALL your colors, your drummers and fifers, if any, and as many men as you can muster. Please consider dressing as you would for a parade, not field duty. We ask that reenactors under 16 years of age not carry muskets or edged weapons.

* If you have contacts in other Confederate reenactment units, please invite them or ask them to call us for details.

* All groups, military or civilian are encouraged to bring wreaths or floral tributes to be placed at the Stonewall Jackson Monument in memory of our Confederate patriots.

* If you have contacts in the PRESS, invite them to attend.

For additional details call Elliott Cummings 410-296-9235. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Sincerely,

G. Elliott Cummings
Adjutant
Col. Harry W. Gilmor Camp #1388, SCV
basilduke@comcast.net

Va Flaggers Update: Robert E Lee Memorial Bridge Signs

It is often misunderstood that all we do as Flaggers is stand out in public “waving” a Confederate Battle Flag. Although there are many times that we do forward the colors (whether it be in protest of a heritage violation, or in honor of our ancestors at a Memorial Service or event), a large part of the work we do is behind the scenes. The story of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge signs here in Richmond is one example of such work.

Several months ago, Va Flagger Grayson Jennings noticed that the signs designating the memorial were missing from the bridge. He recalled that during construction 5-6 years ago, the signs had disappeared, and then re appeared after some inquiry, only to (apparently) disappear again.

His first request to VDOT was answered with the information that “The Lee Bridge across the James River in Richmond, while constructed by VDOT in the late 1980’s, was turned over to the City of Richmond for operation and maintenance upon completion. Any signing for that bridge is the responsibility of the City to keep up. VDOT would have no involvement in the replacement of signs designating the Lee Bridge.” It was suggested we contact the City Public Works Department.

The Richmond Public Works Department responded that they did not realize the signs were missing and would check into it. After many follow up communications, we received word on March 26th that new signs had been fabricated, and that we should look for them to be installed in approx. 2 weeks.

This was followed with a few more follow up emails and periodic drive-by sign checks. Finally, on Tuesday, May 21st, we were THRILLED to drive up to the bridge and find that the SIGNS HAD BEEN INSTALLED!!! Four signs now mark the bridge and are a visible reminder each day, to thousands of motorists, of the man for whom the bridge is named.

We share this story to encourage everyone to keep your eyes and ears open for these kinds of “quiet” heritage violations, which happen every day across the United States. Take time to find the appropriate people to contact and “keep the skeer on” (in this case, weekly, polite email inquiries) until they follow through, and the honor due our Confederate heroes is restored!

In this case, victory was won without a single flag being waved, and we never even got to try out our new slogan… “RETURN the signs! RESTORE the honor!”

Special thanks to Grayson for his diligence, and to the folks at the Richmond Public Works for stepping up and making this right.

Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers

*Check out our new blog and follow us here.

Attorney General Investigation of Carnton Plantation and the Carter House

Sons of Confederate Veterans demand resignation of prominent board member

The Sons of Confederate Veterans announced today that they have confirmed an ongoing investigation by the Tennessee Attorney General's office into historic nonprofit properties in Franklin, Tennessee. The properties and associations under investigation are Carnton Plantation and the state-owned Carter House, both managed by the Battle of Franklin Trust.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans and other interested parties had asked the state to look into allegations of mismanagement at these properties, and the SCV had hoped that any investigation might quietly take place, so as to minimize any further negative publicity into these historic properties. Sadly, the SCV has been provided with a widely circulated email from a prominent board member - Robert Hicks, author of Widow of the South - that seems to be a thinly veiled threat against any board member who might cooperate with the Attorney General's investigation. Mr. Hicks further calls the SCV "scum" and "losers" for helping to raise the questions that the state is now investigating.

Gene Hogan, National Heritage Chairman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, stated, "While the SCV might dismiss the defamatory remarks aimed toward ourselves, we cannot ignore the context in which the remarks were apparently made, sounding so much as a warning to anyone who might question the management and financial questions swirling about these public benefit corporations." Hogan continued, "Tennesseans have a right to know that their historic properties are being properly managed, and their funds properly accounted for, and the Attorney General has a right to any information that might shed light on any alleged impropriety. Because Robert Hicks' main goal seems to be in keeping the Attorney General from finding a "smoking gun", the SCV requests that Mr. Hicks immediately resign from any boards affiliated with Carnton Plantation, the Carter House, or Battle of Franklin Trust. If he refuses to resign, we call upon the respective boards to demand his departure, the public good requiring it."

Mr. Hogan further stated, "Also, we call upon Marianne Schroer - wife of TDOT Commissioner John Schroer - to personally speak to the media regarding these allegations. We believe that nonprofit funds should be spent on historic preservation, rather than on highly paid consultants and lawyers speaking on her behalf."

The Sons of Confederate Veterans is an international organization of male descendants of Confederate soldiers and the nation's largest military history and genealogy society, and a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. Formed in 1896, the SCV owns, operates, and manages many historic properties, including Winstead Hill Memorial Park in Franklin, the General N.B. Forrest Home in Chapel Hill, and Beauvoir - the last home of Jefferson Davis and the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library, both in Biloxi, Mississippi. Its headquarters are in Columbia, Tennessee, at historic Elm Springs.

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Following are the complete remarks of board member Robert Hicks upon learning that the Attorney General had launched an investigation. Mr. Hicks is a longtime member of the board(s) and is author of the book entitled Widow of the South. His email:

Eric,

The consolation prize in all this is that there is nothing that will prove to be a smoking gun in any of it. Oh, it will cost thousands of dollars and many man-hours to put it all together. Both money and time that is paid for by visitors to the sites who, themselves, have spent their own hard-earned money to visit these sites.

But I don't believe that the dark forces behind this complaint to the AG care. They simply want to cause trouble, confusion and chaos. They are wolves in sheep's clothing who give lip service to our values - Southern values - but who are the antithesis of Southern values. When you threw your lot in to live here in the South, I bet you wanted to appropriate the highest of our values, not from the scum. You won't find anything honorable or noble with these folks.

The good news is that they will fail and eventually fall on their faces. They will huddle in their dens and rage, fantasizing and pretending they will win. But in the end they are nothing more than losers to a man, if you can call them men.

Be of good cheer on this Good Friday. Know that others have suffered far greater than we ever will and know that through His triumph we have triumphed. He is Risen, Indeed.

Happy Easter,

r.
Robert Hicks
robthicks@aol.com

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"If you would like to express your concerns, we suggest you contact Marianne Schroer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Battle of Franklin Trust. In addition to your own comments, demand that Robert Hicks be dismissed from the Board of Directors, and that she herself should resign.

Marianne Schroer: schroer.marianne@gmail.com
Copy your message to: info@battleoffranklintrust.org