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

Volume 8, Issue 6 October, 2012 Camp Officers: Robert C. Jones to return to our Camp Cmdr: Joe Underwood

[email protected] camp as Guest Speaker

1st Lt. Cmdr: Tommy Cook

1st._ [email protected] Robert grew up in the Phila- “Bleeding Kansas: The Real delphia, Pennsylvania area but Start of the Civil War”, one 2nd. Lt. Cmdr: Jerry New in 1981 moved to the of Robert’s books based on 2nd_Lt. [email protected] area where he received a B.S. the abolitionist movement in

Camp Adjutant: Steve Camp degree in Computer Science at Kansas and Missouri in the DeVry Institute of Technol- years leading up to the War [email protected] ogy. From 1884 to 2009 and continuing through 1865. Coming Events Robert worked for Hewlett- Packard as a computer con- This program covers a lot October 9, 2012 - Regular sultant. He now works as an meeting of Maj. Gen. Joseph about the political struggles Wheeler Camp #863 - Masonic author, researcher and video- in Kansas and Missouri over Lodge, Conyers, Georgia grapher. slavery and Statehood. It In November of 2011 we had covers the early abolitionist November 13, 2012 - Regular the honor of having Mr. meeting of Maj. Gen. Joseph Robert has also been the Presi- movement lead by William Wheeler Camp #863 - Masonic Robert C. Jones as our Guest dent of the Kennesaw Histori- Lloyd Garrison which lead to Lodge, Conyers, Georgia Speaker. Robert’s presenta- cal Society and the Director of the raids and massacres of tion at that meeting was on Programs and Education for pro-slavery farmers by John December 11, 2012 - Regular one of his many books, “The the Kennesaw Museum Foun- Brown and his sons begin- meeting of Maj. Gen. Joseph Battle of Griswoldville, An Wheeler Camp #863 - Masonic dation which helped fund the ning in 1856. It covers Lodge, Conyers, Georgia Infantry Battle on Sherman’s 40,000 square foot Southern Brown’s activities and move- March to the Sea”. Museum of Civil War and ments up until his capture and Locomotive History. hanging at Harpers Ferry. I am pleased to announce that Inside this issue: Robert will be back as our Robert’s subject for this visit It also touches on Captain “Our Commanders Com- 2 guest speaker for our October to our camp will be on William Clarke Quantrill’s ments” By: Cmdr. J. H. Underwood 9th meeting. raid on Lawrence, Kansas on “Last Flag Down, Surrender of 2 August 21, 1863 and the the CSS Shenandoah” Robert has written 19 books events leading up to that raid By: Douglas W. Nash Jr., CSS Shenandoah Memorial Committee on the War Between the by Federal forces which was “The Confederate Cemeteries 3 States as well as 6 books on the probable cause of Quan- of Covington & Oxford” Railroad History and 13 trill’s retaliation. (30th and 31st Soldiers in a series) Continuing project by Compatriot Gene books on The Old West and Wade Ghost Towns. For a com- This is a very interesting pro- “Photos of Nash Farm Battle- 3 plete list of Robert’s books gram that leaves it up to you field” visit his website at From the Nash Farm Battlefield website to decide the effect all this rcjbooks.com/guest_speaker . had on the War of Northern “The Confederate Cemeteries 4 Aggression. Robert’s presen- of Covington & Oxford” He is also an ordained elder tation of “” (30th and 31st Soldiers in a series) Continuing project by Compatriot Gene in the Presbyterian Church will be at our regular meeting Wade (Continued from page 3.) and has written several reli- on October 9th so be sure to gious books and publications. be there.

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Our Commanders Comments By: Commander J. H. Underwood

Compatriots; recruiting events of the year and I hope On Monday, September 24th, I visited we will have a lot of participation from another neighboring camp, Col. Charles T. I am sure you have read the camp along with good weather and Zachry Rangers Camp 108 in the front page article by a big crowd at the festival. McDonough. Camp 108 meets in the now and are aware that Nash Farm Battlefield Museum in Mr. Robert C. Jones will I am truly going to need your help with Lovejoy. What a wonderful place to have be our guest speaker at this one. Due to a family issue I am a Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting. our October 9th meeting going to have to be in Baltimore, Mary- If you have never been there you need to and that his subject will be “Bleeding land that weekend and will not be able put this on your “must do” list. The mu- Kansas” from one of his many books. to help. I will however have my part seum is several rooms of wall to wall Con- I had the pleasure of witnessing Mr. laid out for ya’ll and have it at the federate and Yankee artifacts. Jones give this presentation at last lodge for pick up with the other items months Confederate Memorial Camp for the booth as usual. I will cover all As a result of my visit I am very pleased 1432’s meeting in Stone Mountain and of this in the business portion of our to announce that Mr. Mark Pollard of was able to talk him into making this October meeting. Camp 108 has agreed to be the guest presentation to our camp. You don’t speaker at our November 13th meeting want to miss this presentation and I am I will also have a sign up sheet at the and tell us all about the Nash Farm Battle- looking forward to seeing it again my- October meeting for all to commit to field and Col. Charles T. Zachry Rangers self. times throughout the day that you can Camp’s involvement in it’s preservation. help work the booth. We need as many October is now upon us and of course volunteers as possible as the more we J. H. Underwood that means it is time for the Conyers have the less work it will be for every- Old Town Festival. As you know this one. Commander. is one of our biggest fund raisers and Last Flag Down, Surrender of the

CSS Shenandoah By: Douglas W. Nash, Jr., CSS Shenandoah Memorial Committee Reproduced from the July/August 2012 marker, the leasing of two tall ships and Interested persons should contact me issue of The Georgia Confederate, just in other reenactment related expenses. Re- at the below address, phone or email. case you missed it. member without funding this historic event cannot take place. Checks or money orders should be November 4-8, 2015 in Liverpool, Eng- made payable to CSS Shenandoah land will see the reenactment of the sur- Memorial Fund render of the CSS Shenandoah to Captain of HMS Donegal on November 6, 1865, I appreciate your assistance in this in Liverpool, England. matter to help ensure this one in a lifetime historical event takes place. One hundred tickets are being offered for a donation of $100.00 ea or 2 for 175.00. With kindest Confederate regards, First, second and third place winners will Douglas “Doug” W. Nash, Jr. CSS receive: Shenandoah Memorial Committee, 1st Place - 2 round trip tickets (coach) Commander, Pvt Lorenzo L. Bennitt- from New York City (airport of your Pvt. Robert F. Duke Camp #773, Dur- choice) ham, N.C. 2nd Place - CSS Shenandoah lithograph Notwithstanding any individuals who Adjutant, NC Division/Sons of Con- would like a ticket, a consideration would federate Veterans 3rd Place - Keith Rocco CW Volume. be for a Camp to purchase a ticket and, if 3041 Rosemeade Drive they win, do a drawing from the names of Ticket sales end October 2013 after Fayetteville, NC. 28306 the Camp to see who will actually receive which the drawing will take place. All any prize won and possibly be able to proceeds go towards the commemoration 910-635-9700 or [email protected] attend this historic event.

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The Confederate Cemeteries of Covington

and Oxford (28th & 29th Soldiers in the series) Continuing Project by Compatriot Gene Wade

Headstone at Covington and was sent to the Confederate hospital at Covington, Georgia but it was likely in the This soldier enlisted at age 20 as a private in W. B. HANNAH June-July 1864 time frame when the Cov- a local unnamed company on October 5 1861 ington hospitals received the largest influx at Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia. This th th of patients but it is certain that Corporal company became Company A of the 8 Bat- 54 GA William B. Hannah is buried in the Confed- talion, Georgia Infantry when Company A erate Cemetery at Covington, Georgia. Per- joined five other companies to form the 8 th Actually: haps, as Color Corporal, he was carrying the Battalion at Savannah, Georgia in early WILLIAM B HANNAH colors of his or his country and spring of 1862. For a time this unit served in COMPANY I th was wounded while doing so. the Department of South Carolina, Georgia 54 GEORGIA INFANTRY and Florida, then it was assigned to Gist's Little is known of this Hannah family. The Brigade, Army of Tennessee. This soldier enlisted as a private at about 1860 U.S. Census for Effingham County age 18 on February 25, 1863 in Company I th th (just north of Savannah) indicates that his The 8 Battalion, as part of States Rights of the 54 Georgia Infantry Regiment for father was Joseph Hannah (age 49), and his Gist's Brigade, of Maj General William H. T. three years at Beaulieu, Georgia, a commu- mother M. Hannah (age 47). Siblings were Walker's Division, was part of General Jo- nity in Chatham County, a few miles south Sue(?) Hannah (female age 16), M. Hannah seph Johnson's Army of Relief which made of what is now downtown Savannah, Geor- (female age 15), V. Hannah (female age the unsuccessful attempt to relieve the pres- gia. Private Hannah evidently served well 11), R. Hannah (female age 9) and G. Han- sure on Confederate forces at the Battle of as a soldier because he was promoted to nah (female age 6). William Hannah is Vicksburg in July 1863. After operations in Color Corporal on December 15, 1863. shown as “Wm Hannah as a male, age 15. North Mississippi, the battalion fought with Corporal Hannah's service record is sparse Accurate genealogical research can not be the Army of Tennessee from Chicamauga to because most records of Company I of the th located on this family. Researching this Atlanta and then on the Nashville, Tennessee, the 54 Georgia did not survive the war but family is difficult because like most people then ended the war in the final surrender in existing records do show that he died during of the time this family and the local census April 1865 in North Carolina. the war in 1864. takers routinely used only initials instead of th th a first and middle name. The 8 Battalion fought at Chicamauga(Sept The 54 Georgia Infantry Regiment was 1863), Missionary Ridge(Nov 1863), Dal- organized at Savannah, Georgia during the Regardless of our inability in identifying the ton(May 1864), Lovejoy Station(Aug 1864), summer of 1862 and first fought at Bourbon descendents of Corporal William B. Han- and Marietta(Jun-Jul 1864) among other County, KY in October 1862. Private Han- th nah, he deserves our recognition that he battles before the retreat from Atlanta. The nah was likely with the 54 Georgia at the gave his life for his country. muster roll for Private Johnson P. Holland fighting at Battery Wagner in July 1863 and reports him “absent wounded at hospital Morris Island in August and September th since June 18, 1864”. This date would indi- 1863. The 54 Georgia fought at Dalton, Headstone cate that he was probably wounded in the Resaca , Calhoun, Kingston and Marietta in at Covington fighting around Kennesaw Mountain and May 1864 and New Hope Church in June th shows: Marietta. The nature of his wound is not 1864. The 54 Georgia also fought at Mari- J. S. HALLAND known. The Covington, Georgia Confederate etta in May 1864, Powder Springs and 8th GA Hospital register of sick and wounded shows Peachtree Creek in June 1864, Kennesaw that J. P. Holland, Private, Company A , 8 th Mountain, Vining Station and Marietta th Actually: Georgia Battalion was a patient on July 29, again in July 1864. The 54 fought all the JOHNSON P. 1864 and died on August 29, 1864 of vulnus way through the rest of the war until the HOLLAND sclopeticum (gunshot wound). His effects left final surrender in 1865. Few units saw more th COMPANY A behind were 1 knapsack, 1 jacket, 1 canteen combat than the 54 Georgia. 8TH BATTAL- and 1 vest. ION, GEORGIA It is not known exactly where or when Cor- INFANTRY It is interesting that poral Hannah was wounded or became ill Continued on page 4.

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

805 Commerce Drive Conyers, GA. 30094

E-mail: [email protected]

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The Confederate Cemeteries of Covington

and Oxford (28th & 29th Soldiers in the series) Continuing Project by Compatriot Gene Wade

Private Johnson P. Holland's older brother, until he was discharged as a corporal at Fort law (Mary) in the home. The 1860 census James W Holland enlisted in the same Com- Leavenworth, Kansas November 13, 1866. finds Susan living in the household with pany A of the 8 th Battalion at Savannah, GA on It appears that he had the audacity to apply children Johnson and Mary. Her son James June 27 1862 at age 26. This Private Holland for a Confederate indigent soldier pension (the “galvanized yankee”) and his wife Mar- appears to have been a reluctant soldier. He in 1915 but it appears it was not granted tha live next door with their son James. The was absent without leave during part of likely since he obviously did not complete widow Susan Holland is shown to still be a July/August 1863 and then again in January his service to Georgia or to the Confeder- widow and living with son James on the 1864 for 25 days. Confederate records show acy. Perhaps it would be unkind to judge 1880 census but cannot later be found. that he deserted on July 3, 1864. Union records James W. Holland too harshly because we also show he surrendered on this same date at do not know the trials and tribulations that With the exception of our subject Johnson P. Marietta, Georgia. James Holland was sent to he encountered. Holland and his brother James Holland, who the military prison at Louisville, Kentucky and “galvanized”, it cannot be determined with then forwarded to Camp Douglas, Illinois. Johnson P. Holland was born about 1840 to certainty if the other brothers served the There, James W. Holland, former soldier in the William Holland (born about 1810) and Confederacy but because of their age, they Confederate Army, became a “galvanized Yan- Susan Biddy(born about 1814) probably in likely served. kee”, a derisive term used for Confederate Forsyth County, Georgia. Johnson appears prisoners who joined the . James to have had seven siblings to likely include Holland swore an oath of allegiance to the brothers Calvin and Richard whose ages are Union and stated that he “was forced into the unknown but who had either died or left the rebel army to avoid conscript, and deserted to household before the 1850 census. The avail himself of the Amnesty Proclamation other brothers were John (born about 1834) made available to captured Confederate sol- and James(born about 1842), mentioned diers”. above. His sisters were Irany or Arenie ( born about 1837) and Mary (born about This former Confederate soldier (James W 1843). The father, William Holland died Holland) enlisted in Company K of the 5 th U.S. before the 1850 census leaving his wife Confederate Memorial Wall Volunteers and was sent to the western frontier Susan with five children and a mother-in-

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