SCV Camp 863 Newsletter April 2013.Pub
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Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler 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 United States 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 Tennessee 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.