Maj. Gen. Camp #863, Conyers, Ga. Gen. Joe’s Dispatch

Volume 8, Issue 12 April, 2013 Camp Officers: U.S. Navy Buries Two Of Its Own; Camp Cmdr: Joe Underwood

[email protected] Monitor Crew At Arlington National

1st Lt. Cmdr: Tommy Cook By: Scott C. Boyd, April 2013 Civil War News

1st._ [email protected] ARLINGTON, Va. – Two crew- lab constructed clay sculptures of McPherson, the third and final men from the USS Monitor were the faces after making cast resin speaker. “To a man they were all 2nd. Lt. Cmdr: Jerry New buried with full military honors replicas from the recovered skulls. volunteers for service on this

2nd_Lt. [email protected] at Arlington National Cemetery It was hope someone would rec- experimental vessel of radical on March 8, one day short of the ognize a family resemblance. new design.” Camp Adjutant: Steve Camp 151st anniversary of the day the Monitor made history with the [email protected] However, they remain unknown. The service concluded after the CSS Virginia in the first battle three Navy chaplains finished Coming Events between ironclads at Hampton the Bible readings, homily and Roads. A commercial flight from Hawaii April 9, 2013 - “Open House” carrying the remains arrived at commendation, and everyone meeting of Maj. Gen. Joseph Dulles International Airport in the sang the Navy Hymn, “Eternal Wheeler Camp #863 - Masonic Virginia suburbs of Washington, Father, Strong to Save.” Lodge, Conyers, Georgia D.C., around 11:30 a.m. on March 7. The honor guard wheeled the April 26, 2013 two flag-draped caskets outside Confederate Memorial Day A U.S. Navy ceremonial guard and placed them on two waiting May 14, 2013 - Regular transferred the caskets to hearses caissons, one drawn by six white meeting of Maj. Gen. Joseph horses, the other by six black The Monitor sank on Dec. 31, which carried them to an area Wheeler Camp #863 - Masonic funeral home and then to the me- horses. Lodge, Conyers, Georgia 1862, during a storm off Cape Hatteras, N.C., while being morial service the next day at Fort towed to the Charleston, S.C., Myer Memorial Chapel, just out- The caissons, honor guard and a area. Sixteen of the 62 men on- side of Arlington National Ceme- Navy band led many of the at- board went down with the ship. tery. tendees on a three-quarter-mile procession to Section 46 of Ar- lington National Cemetery. The remains of two crewmen “This may well be the last time were recovered in 2002 when the we bury naval personnel who Inside this issue: ironclad’s turret was raised from fought in the Civil War at Arling- At Section 46, the honor guard ton,” Secretary of the Navy Ray carried the caskets from the cais- “Our Commanders Comments” 2 the ship’s grave some 16 miles By: Commander J. H. Underwood off Cape Hatteras. No trace was Mabus said during the memorial sons to the two graves. found of the other men. service. “The Confederate Cemeteries 2 In the seats of honor next to the of Covington & Oxford” The remains were sent to the The acting head of the National graves sat some 30 descendants (40th and 41st Soldiers in a series) Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- of the 16 Monitor crewmen lost Continuing project by Compatriot Gene U.S. military’s premier labora- tory for identifying human re- ministration (NOAA), Dr. Kath- at sea, none of them knowing “The Confederate Cemeteries 3 mains in Hawaii, the Joint ryn Sullivan, spoke of NOAA’s whether they were related to the of Covington & Oxford” POW/MIA Accounting Com- commitment to protect the Moni- two unknown sailors. (40th and 41st Soldiers in a series) tor wreck site, which was the Continuing project by Compatriot Gene mand. The lab collected DNA and a genealogist studied old nation’s first National Marine As the band played “America the medical and service records and Sanctuary. Beautiful” the honor guard “The Confederate Cemeteries 4 other archival sources trying to folded the two flags that had of Covington & Oxford” identify the men. “The sailors on the USS Monitor draped the caskets. (40th and 41st Soldiers in a series) Continuing project by Compatriot Gene lived up to the highest traditions Wade (Continued from page 3.) of courage and sacrifice in the The Louisiana State University A marker in memory of the 16 Forensic Anthropology and Navy,” said Pulitzer Monitor sailors lost will be Computer Enhancement Services Prize-winning historian James M. placed near the graves.

1 GEN. JOE’S DISPATCH VOLUME 8, ISSUE 12 PAGE 2

Our Commanders’ Comments By: Commander J. H. Underwood

Compatriots; more guest than usual and I want to be sure County Road 213 just off Highway 36 south of to start on time. Covington. April is a busy month for Maj. Gen. Joseph April 26th is Confederate Memorial Day We have permission to park on Cleary Enter- Wheeler Camp #863. and I would like to remind everyone this is prises’ property at 48 Hwy. 213. Go past the First comes our “Open the day the Confederate Constitution is on house and park by the garage type building at House” meeting on Tues- display at the University of Georgia Library the top of the hill next to the cemetery. Be sure day April 9, 2013 fol- shown by none other than our own Camp not to block any drive ways or equipment. The lowed by Confederate Chaplin John Maxey. If you have not seen Cleary’s rent the house and they come in to get Memorial Day, April 26th and as I write it, I can tell you it is well worth the trip to equipment from time to time and we do not this we are planning a 100th anniversary Athens. Contact Chaplin Maxey for direc- want to inconvenience anyone. memorial service to the Confederate Me- tions and information on exactly where the morial Monument at the Rockdale County document will be displayed. The setting of Archibald Gilmer’s headstone at Courthouse. the Oxford Cemetery is being delayed until As mentioned earlier a celebration of the sometime in May. 2nd Lt. Commander Jerry The “Open House” this year will be a spe- 100th Anniversary of the Confederate Me- New has reported to me that the construction of cial one. In addition to displaying our War morial Monument at the Courthouse is be- the new library at Oxford College has made Between The States artifacts and memora- ing planned for late April and as soon as getting the stone to the cemetery very difficult. bilia we will also have a special guest details are worked out I will let everyone The library is scheduled for completion some speaker. Mr. Len Strozier of Omega Map- know. You will hear from me on this be- time in May before the 2013 graduation and ping Services will be there to present us fore the April meeting. hopefully, with their final landscaping, better with his findings and maps of the Middle- access to the cemetery will be provided. As brooks Cemetery. You don’t want to miss As you know March 23rd had been sched- soon as that happens we will schedule a day to this so please plan to be there. uled as our first work day at the Meadors’ set Private Gilmer’s stone. Cemetery, our new cemetery project. I was As you know this meeting officially starts disappointed that I had to postpone it due to I look forward to seeing ya’ll at the “Open at 7:30 pm so for everyone that is setting up weather but it turned out to be a good call. I House” in April and as always for the cause; artifact and memorabilia displays please have rescheduled it for Saturday, April 6, have them done by 7:00. I will open the 2013, weather permitting, so mark your J. H. Underwood meeting hall by 6:00 and hopefully that will calendars, bring your chain saws and brush Commander. give everyone plenty of time. This meeting clearing equipment and join me at 8:00am is open to the public so we hope to have at the Meadors Cemetery on Newton

The Confederate Cemeteries of Covington and

Oxford (40th and 41st Soldiers in the series) Continuing Project by Compatriot Gene Wade

Headstone at Covington tia (dates back to Revolutionary War) in Missionary Ridge near the end of November shows: September 1861 along with nephews Wil- 1863 where they experienced their first real E. S. LADING liam T. and John T. Landing. Unfortu- combat. The 66 th Georgia, now part of of 55 th GEORGIA nately, militia records are very sparse so Walker's Division, was near the right flank we do not know if Elijah decided to go next to General Patrick Cleburne's division Actually: “regular” or he was conscripted but he did and helped to hold the right flank until ELIJAH S. LANDON enter regular service with the 66 th Georgia forced to retreat when the center of the line COMPANY E at age 38 in 1863. collapsed. The 66 th was part of the rear guard 66th REGIMENT, in the retreat to Dalton, Georgia. The 66th GEORGIA INFANTRY The 66 th Georgia was the last regular Con- went into winter quarters near Dalton with federate Army Regiment raised in the state the rest of Army of in late 1863. This soldier enlisted as a private on August 6, of Georgia. The 66 th Georgia consisted of 1863 at Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia in thirteen companies raised in counties rang- On May 1 st , 1864, the 66 th Georgia was in- Captain M. L. Brown's Company. This com- ing from Newton and DeKalb County volved in the battle of Resaca and other pany subsequently became Company E, 66 th south to Bibb County. The regiment was fighting in the area to include severe fighting Regiment, Georgia Infantry. The military sent south to Fort Cobb near Quincy, Flor- on the Kennesaw Line. The 66 th was in- records for Private Landon are sparse but we ida to guard the areas near the Chattahoo- volved in especially heavy fighting near the do know the history of the 66 th Georgia. It chee and Apalachicola Rivers. The 66 th Western and Atlantic Railroad bridge where appears that Elijah had earlier enlisted in the soon joined General 's the 66 th was credited for delaying Union Burke County “Bat Jones Minute Men” mili- and joined the lines at General McPherson's advance.

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The Confederate Cemeteries of Covington and Oxford (40th and 41st Soldiers in the series) Continuing Project by Compatriot Gene Wade

Unfortunately, Private Elijah S. Landon that the names of so many of these Landing FANTRY REGIMENT probably did not experience much combat children are unknown can be attributed to after Missionary Ridge retreat in November the fact that it was not until the 1850 census This soldier was William Thomas London 1863. It is not known when he became ill or were names other than the head of house- and not H. S. Londar as indicated on the wounded but it is known that according to hold listed and these unidentified children headstone. There was no soldier named Lon- hospital records he died in the Confederate had likely moved out of the household or dar in the 41 st Tennessee and there was no Hill Hospital at Covington, Georgia on died before 1850. known soldier named Londar in the entire February 7, 1864 of Enteritis and before the Confederate Army. It has been determined major battles leading up to the fighting for The two known older brothers, John and that this soldier was the William T. London Atlanta and which did not start until several Alfred Landing, do not appear to have known to have been in the 41 st Tennessee. As months later in May 1864. Enteritis is in- served the Confederacy possibly because of for the initials of H. S. on the headstone, flammation of the small intestine and usu- their age. Our subject Elijah S. Landing, the there is little doubt that the initials are incor- ally comes from drinking or eating some- youngest brother is shown in the 1850 cen- rect. There are unfortunately many other thing contaminated with bacteria or viruses. sus at age 25 as living with his parents, John similar errors on the old headstones at Cov- Hospital records also indicate that Private and Celia Landing, with no other family ington. Landon left behind money in the amount of members present. The 1860 census shows $1.75. him to be at age 37 living with only his William T. London enlisted at age 18 as a mother Celia Landing, indicating that his private in Company H of the 41 st Tennessee Interestingly, Elijah S. Landon was actually father John Landing had died. Although Infantry Regiment. He enlisted for three born Elijah S. Landing. According to family Elijah has been positively identified as be- years, or to the end of the war, on November history, Elijah S. Landing possibly had a ing both a Landing and later a Landon when 1st 1862 in Marshall County, Tennessee. His brother named Mack with whom he had a he enlisted, it is unknown just why he older brother, Private John Patrick London, falling out of some kind for a while. Mack changed his was already a member of Company H having is believed to have been angry at Elijah and name. Perhaps it was not very important to enlisted a year earlier at age 20 when the 41 st Mack changed his last name to Landon. It Elijah on just how he spelled his name be- Tennessee was organized. has not been explained why Elijah also cause in both the 1850 and 1860 census, like changed his last name to Landon but his his parents, he is shown as “cannot read or The 41 st Tennessee Infantry Regiment com- military records do show that his enlistment write”. Research indicates that most South- pleted its organization in November 1861 and name was Landon. Perhaps Mack and erners were literate but this part of the moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky and then Elijah made up and Elijah decided to also Landing/Landon family appears to be the to Fort Donelson, Tennessee where on Febru- change his name since he enlisted under the exception. ary 14, 1862 the majority of the 41 st Tennes- name of Landon. Burke County, Georgia see surrendered along with most of the rest of census records of 1850 and 1860 do indi- Elijah S. Landing was evidently married to General Buckner's forces. The surrender of cate that the family name was Landing. a Roxy Ann Burke after 1860. They report- the 41 st Tennessee included Private John P. edly had two children, both sons, both of London, our subject's older brother. The cap- There were two different Landing families whom died at birth in 1861 and 1863 and tured Confederate enlisted soldiers were sent in Burke County, Georgia. They were likely who are buried in Big Horse Creek Ceme- to Camp Morton, Indiana until their release descended from a common grandfather but tery in Jenkins County, Georgia. The wife and parole at Vicksburg, Mississippi in Sep- some of the few family researchers of these Roxy cannot be positively identified in the tember 1862. The unit was reorganized at families reportedly confuse the members of 1870 census or afterward and it cannot be Clinton, Mississippi in September 1862 and the two Landing lines. According to a pri- determined what happened to her after then officially declared exchanged November mary Landing family genealogist (Steven Elijah's death in 1864. She is not shown as 10, 1862. It was during this reorganization Lee), our Elijah Landing/Lading was a son drawing a Confederate widow's pension in period, November 1862, that our subject of John Landing (born 1784 in North Caro- the program that started in 1892 so she had William T. London enlisted in the regiment. lina) and a Celia (last name unknown and likely died or remarried by then. Isn't it so born 1792 in North Carolina). Elijah was unfortunate that so many of our Southern The 41 st Tennessee was sent to Port Hudson, born in Burke County, Georgia in 1825 and ancestors leave so few traces of their exis- Louisiana in January 1863 and then moved to was the youngest of seven children. There tence? Jackson, Mississippi and was engaged in was one daughter, name unknown, (born heavy fighting at Raymond, Mississippi on 1804/1810) and six sons of John and Celia Headstone at Covington May 12, 1863. The regiment was stationed Landing. Two unknown sons were born shows: near Vernon, Mississippi on June 30 th 1863 1820/1824 and another unknown son (born H. S. LONDAR and was at Yazoo City, Mississippi when st 1815/1820). One of the unknown brothers 41 TN Vicksburg fell on July 4 th 1863. The 41 st may have been named Mack. The three became part of Major General W. H. T. known sons were John H. Landing (born Actually: Walker's Division and joined the Army of 1815), Alfred J. Landing (born 1817) and WILLIAM THOMAS Tennessee in September 1863 moving from our subject Elijah S. Landing (born 1825). LONDON Enterprise, Mississippi to Mobile, Alabama All children were reported to have been COMPANY H and then to Chickamauga, Georgia where it st born in Burke County, Georgia. The reason 41 TENNESSEE IN- was engaged in the Battle of Chicamaugua Continued on page 4.

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MAJ. GEN. JOSEPH WHEELER CAMP #863, CONYERS, GA.

P. O. Box 82718 Conyers, GA. 30094

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The Confederate Cemeteries of Covington and Oxford (40th and 41st Soldiers in the series) Continuing Project by Compatriot Gene Wade

September 1863. The 41 st Tennessee became number used to record his effects was re- Only our subject William Thomas London part of Brigadier General Maney's Brigade, of ceipt No. 6455 which is the same receipt and his older brother John Patrick London Walker's Division and was engaged at Mission- number used to record the effects of over a were old enough, of the Wilson London ary Ridge on November 25 th , 1863. The 41 st dozen other deceased Confederates known family to serve the Confederacy. Brother Tennessee helped cover the withdrawal to to have died during this period at the Cov- John Patrick London served in the 41 st Ten- Ringgold, Georgia and on November 26 th , ington Confederate Hospital. This receipt nessee Infantry Regiment and was captured 1863 was ambushed at Graysville, Georgia number leaves little doubt that Private Wil- at Ringgold, Georgia in November 1863. where it suffered a number of casualties. The liam Thomas London died in the Hill Hospi- Private John Patrick London spent the rest of regiment then entered winter quarters at Dal- tal at Covington, Georgia. the war as a POW at Rock Island, Illinois ton, Georgia. and was released at the end of the war and William Thomas London was born in Ten- lived until 1887. The regiment remained at Dalton except for nessee September 6, 1843 to Wilson Lon- one expedition in February 1864 to Demopolis, don (b.1820, Tenn) and Jamima McCorkle Our subject's father Wilson London possibly Alabama and another short expedition to Mis- London (b.1819, Tenn). William was born served the Confederacy but his service can- sissippi. In June 1864, the regiment became the second of ten children. His older brother not be identified with certainty, but our sub- part of Brigadier General Otho Strahl's Brigade was John Patrick London ( b.1841). His ject's uncles did serve. Green Berry London of Cheatham's Division. The 41 st Tennessee younger siblings were Sarah (b.1846), (b.1822) served in the 17 th Tennessee and fought in numerous battles leading up to the Susan Ann (b.1848), Hannah (b.1850, Arti- was killed in action at Murfreesboro, Ten- Battle of Atlanta in late July 1864 to include missa (b. 1852), Robert (b.1854), Mary nessee January 1 st , 1863. Enoch London Kennesaw Mountain in late June 1864. Jamima (b. 1859), and Alfred (b.1861). His served in the 53 rd Tennessee Infantry and father Wilson London remarried after the survived the war. Confederate service for Alas, the records for Private William T. Lon- death of his first wife Jamima and remarried several other uncles is indicated but cannot don are incomplete and do not show when he Sarah McCorkle and had children James be confirmed. Certainly, typical of most was wounded or became sick or when he was (b.1871), Fannie (b.1872) and Donnie Southern families, the London family gave sent to an unnamed hospital but it is known (b.1876). Obviously, our subject William much in the service of the Confederacy. that he died on July 4 th , 1864 in a Confederate never knew his half-brothers/sisters from his hospital. It is noteworthy that that the receipt father's second marriage.

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