July, 2010 Volume 23 Number 2 ConfederateConfederate GazetteGazette th Camp to be in July 4 Parade Major For the fifteenth straight As of press time the pre will be on or near the Mary Robert M. White year the Major Robert Hardin Baylor campus. Camp #1250 M. White Camp #1250 Just look for the Con- Sons of Confederate will participate in the federate flags. There Veterans annual Belton 4th of will be float work days Temple, July Parade. About 14 on July 1st and 2nd at www.scvtemple.com Camp members and 5:30 PM at Gordon friends either Mobley’s home, 503 N. John Larson, Jr. marched or were on Wall Street in Belton. Camp Commander the float last year. 9645 FM 438 All Camp members are Troy, TX 76579 Last year the Camp’s invited to participate float was decked out in uniform or not. Also John C. Perry with four large flags, all of the Camp’s Newsletter Editor st P.O. Box 794 the Battleflag, 1 Na- Last year’s float in the Belton parade friends are invited to tional, 3rd National, and the be in the parade with the Salado, TX 76571 flag of the Army of the Trans parade meeting point had Camp. not been determined, likely it © 2010, Major Robert M. -Mississippi. White Camp #1250

Texas Division Reunion Held Inside this issue: The Major Robert M. White Wainner membership is up James reported on the re- Camp #1250 was well repre- nearly 5%. Currently the cent court ruling in favor of sented at the Texas Division Texas Division membership the SCV on the plaques case. Profile on: Santos 2 Reunion in Richardson, June He also reported that the Benavides 4th – 6th. Representing the Division’s application for Camp were Camp Com- specialty license plates had Battle of Laredo, 2 mander John Larson, been rejected by the Texas Texas “Cowboy” Larson, Greg Man- Department of Motor Vehi- ning, Gordon Mobley, John cles. The Division had, under Perry, Rocky Sprott, and the Freedom of Information Division Reunion in 3 cadet member Adam Agee. Act, found that the initial Richardson vote was for the SCV, but Division Adjutant William lobbying by the chair of the Wainner reported that the Camp Calendar of 3 Texas Division Commander Dr. Ray James committee led to a revote Texas Division was in strong Events and our application was de- financial shape with net as- is 2,493 members including 1 feated. A new committee will sets of $70,683, after having Real Son and 12 cadet mem- be constituted in June and Georgia Battleflag 4 2009-2010 income of bers. the Division will wait and see Recovered $55,556 and expenses of $39,899. According to Division Commander Ray (Continued on page 3) Page 2 Confederate Gazette CCONFEDERATEONFEDERATE PPROFILEROFILE Hispanic Confederate e literally risked his the Mexican War. After the Cavalry. He was initially as- life for states rights a Mexican War, when Texas joined signed to the Mili- quarter of century the Union, Benavides and his tary District. Benavides proved H before the War Be- uncle opposed the annexation to be an exceptional fighter and tween the States. It was back of south Texas by the United was promoted to the rank of when Texas was under Mexican States. In spite of their opposi- major. He drove the Mexican rule and Santos Benavides tion they did not take up arms bandit back into sided with the “Federalist” against the . at the battle of Carrizo against the “Centralist” in the Benavides did however see on May 22, 1861. By November 1830’s and 1840’s. The Central- some military action. He led of 1863 Benavides had been ist wanted the power to origi- several campaigns against the promoted to colonel. Santos Benavides nate in Mexico City while the Lipan Apaches as well as other Benavides was allowed to raise Federalist wanted more local Indians tribes. his own regiment of “Partisan rule. Benavides, from Laredo, Rangers.” Utilizing the rem- Santos Benavides married nants of the 33rd Texas Cavalry fought for the Federalists. Augustina Villareal in 1842. The he formed the regiment. Santos Benavides was born in couple would eventually adopt Laredo on November 1, 1823. four children. Benavides was As a full colonel Benavides was Benavides saved His great-great-grandfather, involved in both ranching and in the highest-ranking Mexican- Tomás Sánchez de la Barrera y the mercantile business. In American to serve on either Laredo from a Garza, was the founder of 1856 he was elected the mayor side during The War Between Federal invasion Laredo. He was well con- of Laredo and three years later the States. nected, in part due to his uncle, became the Chief Justice of Benavides also aided the Con- Basilio Benavides. His uncle Webb County. When Texas left federacy by helping to safely was the former Mayor of the Union, Benavides and his arrange for Texas cotton along Laredo and state representa- brothers quickly supported the the Rio Grande to Matamoros tive. Confederacy, and its’ states'- during the Union occupation of Discouraged with the Mexican rights principles. Brownsville in 1864. This cer- government, he joined with the Benavides offered his services tainly helped with the South forces of Mirabeau B. Lamar, to the Confederacy and became being able to continue to trade rd who occupied Laredo during a captain in the 33 Texas (Continued on page 4) The Battle of Laredo In March of 1864, Colonel San- Federal force numbered over 1864. Three Union assaults tos Benavides was ill in Laredo, 200. The Federals, the 1st Texas failed and finally darkness however he had a greater Cavalry U.S., were under the ended the Yankee attack. problem, Federal cavalry was command of Colonel Edmund J. During the night the Confeder- Davis. Interestingly, it was advancing on Laredo. ates were reinforced and by Davis who had earlier offered The Confederates were greatly the dawn of the next day the outnumbered, some accounts Benavides a Union generalship. Federals were no where to be have them with only 24 men The first attack occurred in found. others as many as 72 men. The mid afternoon on March 19, Page 3 Volume 23 Number 2 Texas Division Reunion in Richardson

Camp well represented at the Division Reunion

Top Left: “Cowboy” Larson, John Larson, Adam Agee, and Rocky Sprott at the Division Reunion; Above: Representative from the Texas Historical Commission speaks to the Reunion delegates.

Above: Division colors at the Reunion; Right: Major Robert M. White Cadet Camp Member Adam Agee with the SCV’s Commander-in-Chief, Chuck McMichael

(Continued from page 1) what they might do. Other states have ini- tially rejected SCV applications for specialty plates, only to have court action force the states to allow the SCV plates. Camp Schedule Next Meeting: July 10, 2010 www.mansejollycamp6.com th Quarterly Camp Dinner meeting July 10 August 10, 2010 at Cotton Patch Café, Temple Cotton Patch Café Mall. 6:00 PM Social Hour with Regular Camp meeting at Cot- meeting starting at 7:00 PM. ton Patch Café, Temple Mall. Temple Mall Speaker: TBD. 7:00 PM. Speaker: TBD. 6:00 PM Social October 12, 2010 July 22-24, 2010 September 14, 2010 Camp Quarterly Dinner meeting at 7:00 PM Meeting National Reunion in Anderson, Regular Camp meeting at Cot- Cotton Patch Café, Temple Mall. SC. For information visit: ton Patch Café, Temple Mall. 7:00 PM. 7:00 PM. Speaker: TBD. ConfederateConfederate GazetteGazette P.O. Box 794 Salado, Texas 76571

Page 4 Georgia Battleflag Donated Hispanic Confederate (Continued from page 2) terms on the Laredo city council The Southern Museum of Civil War in Dalton, where it then went with the rest of the world. In 1864 and three terms as a representa- & Locomotive History in Kenne- through the Atlanta campaign and the Texas Legisla- tive in the Texas saw, GA recently accepted a do- up into Tennessee.” The flag was ture formally Legislature. He nation of a rare regimental flag carried into the heat of several th thanked him for his remained a Democ- issued to the 65 battles, including efforts to protect rat and was instru- Georgia Infantry. the Battles of Texas. At war’s end mental in helping Resaca, New Hope The flag, tattered Benavides was in the Democrats Church/Dallas/ with 41 different command of of the regain dominance Pickett's Mill, bullet holes and Western Division of in south Texas. 65th Georgia Regimental Flag Kennesaw Moun- still bloodstained, the Western Sub- Benavides was sent tain, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta. is in relatively good condition District of Texas. to the 1884 World It's the only known surviving ex- considering it saw much action Cotton Exposition ample of an Army of Tennessee After the war was during the Civil War, including the as the delegate flag that has both the unit and over Benavides entire Atlanta campaign. from Texas. state designations sewn onto both remained in Laredo. Technically, the flag has been in sides. He resumed his Santos Benavides the vicinity of our Museum be- ranching duties and Benavides’ grave marker died in Laredo on The flag was donated by descen- fore,” said Mike Bearrow, curator continued being a November 9, 1891. dants of Private John Davis, the at the Museum. “From here, the merchant. He also continued his He is buried in Calvary Catholic final color bearer of the regiment. flag ended up being issued to the interest in politics, both on a local Cemetery in Laredo. Davis took the flag home after the 65th Georgia Infantry Regiment up and a state basis. He served two war was over.