Volume 12, Issue 3 August 2021 The Long Rifleman Louisville-Thruston Chapter

Gen. George Rogers Clark Founder of Louisville

Kentucky Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

2021- 2023 Officers President’s Message

Dear Compatriots: President: Robert S. Silverthorn Jr. Fellow compatriots and guests had a delightful lunch at the Louisville Boat Club on June 19, 2021, in celebration 1st Vice-President: of Flag Day (June 14). We had over 35 in attendance and C. David Rummler look forward to even more being able to join us at up- coming events. Mr. Jim Holmberg, Curator of Special 2nd Vice-President: Collections at the Filson Historical Society, gave a fasci- John Fischer nating presentation of the exchange of letters between the brothers (William Clark (Lewis & Clark) and Jonathan Secretary: Jon E. Huffman Clark) and a commentary on the value of written personal communications that have survived the years that give Treasurer: texture and color to the personality both writing and re- Christopher M. Johnson ceiving them and of the times they were actually experiencing.

Registrar: th Drake Rinesmith On September 18, 2021, we will celebrate the 234 Anniversary (September 17, 1787) of the U.S. Constitution’s submission to the independent States for ratification Historian: and adoption. By 1787, the independent States, affiliated for limited purposes under Douglas T. Collins the Articles of Confederation, had agreed that the Articles of Confederation must be amended, but lacked the authority to “Call” a “Constitutional Convention”; it was the Webmaster: States only that could make the call and set the scope of their delegates authority. Howard L. Roberson Each State was free to act as they deemed best and twelve of the thirteen agreed to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation. There was requirement for the Chancellor: James H. Barr III “Confederation” Congress to approve a “Constitutional” Convention. The Constitu- tional Convention did send their adopted “Constitution” to the Confederation Con- Chaplain: gress for approval, but the Confederation Congress questioned if it had the power to Rev. Paul W. Smith endorse it, so instead it unanimously voted to send the document to the States for rat- ification, and if 9 ratified then the Constitution was adopted by those States ratifying. Past President: On June 21, 1788, the 9th State ratified the Constitution. On March 4, 1789, the first Michael Phelps Congress under the Constitution convened in New York City, and on April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States. Color Guard Cmdr.: Christopher M. Johnson Our SAR Pledge includes the defense of the Constitution against all enemies foreign Membership Director: and domestic. That requires us to study history, legal theory, and sociology, and to be James W. Jackson Sr. able to educate others on the Constitution. If you believe in federalism, you believe that states are sovereign, except for the specific powers delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, which otherwise are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. (Amendment X)

Volume 12, Issue 3 Page Two President’s Message (cont.)

The Constitution was written as a legal document. It should be understood as such. Should the people or the States, acting under Article V, determine that it should be amended to re-delegate power between the People, the States, and the Federal government, the process exists to do so, and has been used only seventeen times since the original ten Amendments were ratified in 1791. Only the Thirteenth Amendment (1865), and five subsequent Amendments (XIV, XV, XIX, XXIII, & XXIV), does the Constitution delegate to Congress the power to enforce an Amendment’s provisions by “appropriate legislation.”

The debate today is the future of federalism. Does the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) give the Congress and the Federal bureaucracy the power to legislate and regulate all aspects of the People’s life? Does a State’s acceptance of Federal revenue sharing and the accompanying federal dictates ab- dicate, by the default, the State’s retained Constitution powers? Is the Constitution’s guarantee of a republican form of government (Article V, Section 4) for every State no longer efficient governance in the federal bureau- cratic state?

These are a few of the questions that we as SAR Compatriots must find a common voice and be willing as our forefathers to debate in the public square and to defend if we are true to our SAR Pledge.

I invite you to attend the 2021 Constitution Week Luncheon on September 18, 2021 at Big Spring Country Club (see reservation form in this edition). Hon. Russell Coleman, former U.S. Attorney for the Western Dis- trict of Kentucky and a Partner in the law firm of Frost Brown and Todd, will be our keynote speaker on the theme: “Federalism: Then (1787) and Now (2021).” Let the conversation begin!

LIBERTAS!

Robert S. Silverthorn, Jr., President

Up Coming Events

Saturday, August 14, 2021: BOG Meeting, 10:00 am., site TBD

Saturday, August 21, 2021: Battle of Blue Licks Memorial, Blue Licks Battlefield State Park, 10299 Maysville Rd., Carlisle, KY; 10:00 am. (muster at 9:00 am. ET).

Saturday, August 21, 2021: Kentucky State Society Summer Meeting and Luncheon; Blue Licks Battlefield State Park, 10299 Maysville Rd., Carlisle, KY; Time TBD

Saturday, September 18, 2021: Constitution Week Luncheon, Big Spring Country Club, 5901 Dutchmans Ln., Louisville, KY, Registration starts at 10:30 am., Lunch at 11:30 am., Program at 12:15 pm. Hon. Russell Coleman is the keynote speaker.

Thursday, November 11, 2021: BOG Meeting, 7:00 via Zoom.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are the two most important and enduring documents in our nation’s history. It has been said that “the Declaration of Independence was the promise; the Constitution was the fulfillment.” Volume 12, Issue 3 Page Three

Flag Day Luncheon Meeting

The Flag Day Luncheon Meeting was held at the Louisville Boat Club on Saturday, June 19, 2021, and marked the first in-person meeting held by the chapter since the Covid 19 lockdown was initiated. The meeting was well attended considering that Kentucky was only opened for non-mask gatherings on June 11. The featured speaker was James J. Holmberg, the Curator of Special Collections at the Filson Historical Scoiety. Mr. Holmberg gave an extremely interesting talk about William Clark’s (Lewis & Clark) letters to his “Dear Brother” Jonathan Clark.

Left: The featured speaker was James J. Holmberg, Curator of Special Collections at the Filson Historical Society and a recog- nized authority on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Right: Chapter President Bob Silverthorn presented a Chapter Challenge Coin and a Chapter Certificate of Appreciation to Compatriot Howard Roberson from the Gen. Galvez Chapter of Mobile, AL. Howard helped the chapter set up ZOOM video conferencing for their meetings during the pandemic. Volume 12, Issue 3 Page Four Forgotten History - Anecdotes That Help Define Our American Legacy Compatriots, this is the first article in a new series called “Forgotten History” that will be featured in future issues of The Long Rifleman. People, places, and incidents that have nearly been forgotten, but which you may find interesting and sometimes even surprising. Please let the editor know if you enjoy these stories. We encourage you to please send in your ideas and suggestions for articles we can use in the future.

The British Secret Weapon at the - The Ferguson

Major was the British officer who commanded Tories at Kings Mountain, South Carolina, not far from Charlotte, . On October 7, 1780, he was killed and his troops captured by backwoods and the over-mountain men commanded by six colonels including Col. Shelby, the first and fifth Kentucky Governor. Some would contend that if Ferguson’s self-designed rifle had been available for his troops, the outcome may have been different. His version was breech loaded and fast, especially for a rifle which could otherwise take a full minute to reload.

Early in the war, Ferguson devised a rifle with spiral grooves in the barrel (rifling). At the base of the barrel was an iron plug that could be screwed up or down, allowing a charge to be inserted. This was done by rotating the trigger guard one time.

Another difference: the lock mechanism was small- er than the one on the . The stock looked much the same, only shorter. The rifle was used at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777. After the battle, it was decided to recall them, and they were never used again. It is thought that the cost of mak- ing them and the large inventory on hand of the Brown Bess had much to do with the recall. The main reason for inventing this rifle was to pre- vent the soldier from being forced to stand up (and expose himself to enemy fire) when he reloaded. The ramrod was still standard equipment but used only for cleaning.

The shorter Ferguson rifle’s length is compensated The breech of the weapon is closed by threads on a tapered screw, and the trigger guard served as the crank to rotate it. One complete turn by the longer bayonet’s length, making it only a few dropped the screw low enough to drop a round ball into the exposed inches shorter than the Brown Bess with breech followed by a slight overcharge of powder, which was then bayonet attached. sheared to the proper charge by the screw as it closed the breech. In capable hands, it fired six to ten rounds per minute. The Ferguson rifle fired a standard British ball of .615 , but its superior firepower was unappreciated at the time because it was too expensive and took longer to produce - four British gun firms making the Ferguson Ordinance Rifle could not make 100 in six months at four times the cost per arm of the musket. Volume 12, Issue 3 Page Five Forgotten History (cont.)

Patrick Ferguson - Things Might Be Different

In 1777, Patrick Ferguson, sent to America to join Sir Henry Clinton’s army, was placed at the head of a corps of riflemen (using his rifle). At the Battle of Brandywine, a strange episode took place on the battlefield. Captain Fergu- son later wrote about it to a relative in Scotland. As he and his riflemen lay at the edge of a wood in the forefront of one of the British divisions, a “rebel officer, remarkable by a hussar dress, passed towards our army, within a hundred yards of my right flank, not perceiving us. He was followed by another dressed in dark green and blue mounted on a bay horse, with a remarkable high cocked hat. I ordered three good shots to steal near to and fire at them; but the idea disgusted me, and I recalled the order.”

Then Ferguson continues: “The hussar, in returning, made a circuit, but the other passed within a hundred yards of us, upon which I advanced from the woods to- ward him. Upon my calling, he stopped; but after looking at me, he proceeded. I again drew his attention and made signs to him to stop, leveling my piece at him; but he slowly cantered away. As I was within that distance, at which, at the quick- est firing, I could have lodged half a dozen balls in or about him, before he was out of my reach, I had only to determine; but it was not pleasant to fire at the back of an unoffending individual, who was acquitting himself very coolly of his duty - so I let him alone.

Next day, Ferguson wrote, he was telling some wounded officers about his little encounter when one of the surgeons came in. The doctor had been informed that General Washington spent the morning with the light troops, attended by a French officer in hussar dress. Descriptions of Washington’s clothing and the mount coin- cided with the officer Ferguson had spared. “I am not sorry that I did not know at that time who it was,” Ferguson concluded. Captain Patrick Ferguson 1744 - 1780 Of course neither he nor anyone else really “knew.” The interesting aspect of this anecdote is Ferguson’s attitude toward his renowned enemy.

Chapter Color Guard Activities

Compatriot Randy Lane presented an SAR Flag Certificate to his neighbors, John & Emily Huston for patriotically posting their flag on a daily basis. In May members of Louisville Thruston joined with compatriots from other Kentucky chapters to post the Colors at the dedication ceremony for a new Veterans Memorial Park located in Crestwood, KY at South Oldham High School. Volume 12, Issue 3 Page Six Color Guard Activities (cont.)

Compatriot Randy Lane of the Louisville Thruston Chapter joined with the John Hardin Chapter, SAR and the Captain Jacob Van Meter Chapter, DAR in a Patriots Memorial Dedication Service at Freeman Park in Elizabethtown, KY on May 23, 2021. Compatriot Lane presented the chapter wreath in honor of fallen patriots.

Hon. Russell Coleman to Speak at the Constitution Week Luncheon on September 18th

Compatriots, the chapter’s Board of Governors (BOG) is pleased to announce that the Hon. Russell M. Coleman will be the keynote speaker at the annual Constitution Week Luncheon Meeting scheduled for September 18th at Big Spring Country Club. Louisville Thruston Chap- ter, SAR is the official host for this year’s luncheon and will be joined by the John Marshall Chapter, Fincastle Chapter, Corn Island Chapter, and Salt River Chapter of DAR.

The theme for this year’s meeting is “Federalism: Then (1787) and Now (2021).”

Russell Coleman grew up in rural western Kentucky where he graduated from Logan County High School before receiving both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kentucky.

He is the former United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, having been nominated in September 2017 by President Trump and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Western District encompasses 53 counties and includes federal courthouses in Louisville, Bowling Green, Paducah, and Owensboro. The office is responsible for prosecuting violations of federal law, to include crimes related to firearms, narcotics, public corrup- tion, child exploitation, wire and bank fraud and terrorism. He resigned the office on January 20, 2021. Pegasus Insti- tute co-founder Jordon Harris called Mr. Coleman “the best prosecutor in America,” writing that as U.S. Attorney, Coleman has gained “unparalleled reverence among law enforcement officials and unparalleled fear among law breakers.”

Prior to his nomination as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Coleman practiced law at Frost Brown Todd in Louisville and also served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Kentucky’s 12th Judicial District. Over a five-year period, Mr. Coleman served as Legal Counsel and Senior Advisor to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell providing counsel to Senator McConnell and his staff on a broad range of ethics and compliance matters. He also served as Briefing Coordinator to two U.S. Attorney Generals at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Previously, he has served as a Special Agent with the FBI, where he investigated a diverse portfolio of national secu- rity, white collar and violent crime matters and was certified as an FBI Crisis (Hostage) Negotiator.

Mark your calendars and make plans now to join us on September 18th to celebrate Constitution Week. Members should have received a luncheon announcement with a registration form as an email attachment, but there is also a registration form included with this newsletter. Volume 12, Issue 3 Page Seven Memorabilia of the Revolutionary War

Consider joining the chapter color guard and help us keep history alive!

Contact: Chris Johnson [email protected] (502) 494-8152

For the latest chapter news and announcements, as well as general infor- mation on SAR don’t forget to check our web- site at: www.louthrustonsar.org George Washington’s personal military camp bed, which unfolded from a carrying trunk There you will find past - used during the Revolutionary War, 1775. Photo: the Henry Ford Museum. newsletters, photos and much, much more. Compatriots, you are encouraged to submit articles and photographs to the editor that may be of historical interest to members.

The Long Rifleman newsletter is published five times annually by the Louisville Thruston Chapter, KYSSAR; Howard L. Roberson, Editor; [email protected] You can visit the Kentucky Society’s website at: www.kyssar.org and the National Society’s website at: http://www.sar.org

Get to Know your Officers

ROBERT S. SILVERTHORN, JR. PRESIDENT 2021-23

Bob Silverthorn, Jr. is an Oklahoman by birth and has lived in 10 other states. His Compatriot was in the Virginia Revolutionary Militia and later his line moved to Kentucky, Missouri and Colorado. Bob became a Compatriot in 2014 and a member of the KYS Louisville-Thruston Chapter. He was invited to serve on the National Society By- Laws Committee and in in 2019 to serve on the Chapter’s Board of Governors, being elected President, 2021-23. In 2018 he and his wife participated in the NSSAR trip to France as the guests of the French SAR Society, to visit the WW I AEF battle fields and sites through out northern France. It was a remarkable experience as a SAR. He attended Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA (named for the Revolutionary Patriot) and later, after serving in the US Army, includ- ing combat service in Vietnam, earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law (presented the Constitutional Book Award), launching a legal career, while transferring to the US Army Reserve, where he commanded at every level and twice as a Division Commanding General, retiring as a Major General, USA. He is licensed pilot, enjoys reading historical works (US and World) and political and religious works. He has been recognized for his leadership by numerous organizations and the military. He believes that the SAR has a critical mis- sion at this time in our countries history to fulfill our SAR Pledge to reaffirm our faith in the principles of liberty and our Constitutional Republic, and solemnly pledge to Defend them against every foe. He lives in Jefferson County, KY with his wife Rusti and has two children and four grandchildren. Volume 12, Issue 3 Page Eight

CONSTITUTION WEEK SAR/DAR JOINT LUNCHEON Hosted by Louisville-Thruston Chapter, SAR DAR Chapters: John Marshall, Corn Island, Fincastle and Salt River

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 BIG SPRING COUNTRY CLUB 5901 Dutchmans Ln., Louisville, KY 40205 Registration 10:30 am. EST Meeting Starts at 11:15 am. Lunch at 11:30 am. Program at 12:15 pm.

THEME: FEDERALISM - THEN (1787) and NOW (2021)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: HON. RUSSELL COLEMAN Partner Frost Brown Todd, LLC, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky

Meal - $28.50 per person Autumn Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette, Chicken Florentine, Grilled Vegetables with Asparagus, Parslied Potatoes, Rolls and Butter, Cherry Cobbler & Iced Tea, Coffee and Water, Gluten-free meals available. Cash Bar starts at 10:30 am.

Reservations through Respective SAR/DAR Chapters Respective Chapter Reservations and Payment to Host by September 10, 2021 Cancellations up to September 9 through your SAR/DAR Chapters, no refunds thereafter POC Louisville-Thruston Chapter, David Rummler, 1st VP, [email protected]

...... TEAR HERE ......

Louisville-Thruston Chapter members: Make check payable to Louisville Thruston Chapter, KYSSAR and return to: Chris Johnson, Treasurer, 11808 Osage Rd., Louisville, KY 40223. To be received NLT Sep.9, 2021

NAME: ______GUEST NAME: ______

PHONE: ______SPECIFY GLUTEN-FREE DIET REQUEST: ______

EMAIL ADDRESS: ______SAR/DAR CHAPTER ______

NO. of RESERVATIONS @ $28.50 each: ______Amount Enclosed: $ ______

SAR Louisville-Thruston Chapter Reservation Form