SCV Camp 863 Newsletter August 2011.Pub
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler Camp #863, Conyers, Ga. Gen. Joe’s Dispatch Volume 7, Issue 4 August, 2011 Camp Officers: Camp Cmdr: Joe Underwood The Battle of High Bridge By; J. H. Underwood from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [email protected] 1st Lt. Cmdr: Tommy Cook Longstreet's corps at Rice's Sta- James Dearing during the fight- tion on the southern bank. The ing and was killed. Dearing was 1st._ [email protected] bridges had to be protected and mortally wounded and died on 2nd. Lt. Cmdr: Jerry New then destroyed to delay the pursuit April 22. (Dearing is often cited of the Union Army under Lt. Gen. as the last Confederate general to 2nd_Lt. [email protected] Ulysses S. Grant. On April 6, die in the war, but his appoint- Camp Adjutant: Steve Camp Longstreet dispatched 1,200 Con- ment to brigadier general in federate cavalry under Major April 1864 was never con- [email protected] General (CSA) Thomas L. Rosser firmed.) Washburn was also High Bridge over the Appomattox River to protect the bridges from Union mortally wounded. The Confed- Coming Events near Farmville, Virginia. Photographed in 1865 by Timothy H. O'Sullivan during raiders. Union Maj. Gen. Edward erates counterattacked and sepa- repairs following its burning during the Aug. 6 - 7, 2011 - “Inventing a war. O. C. Ord, commanding the Army rated the cavalry from their sup- New Navy” - program on Civil of the James, sent about 900 men porting infantry. After another War Technology - Civil War The Battle of High Bridge was under Bvt. Brig. Gen. Theodore attack, the Union troopers were Naval Museum, Port Columbus fought on April 6 - 7, 1865, near Read (Ord's chief of staff) to take surrounded, and almost all were Georgia. the end of the Appomattox Cam- the bridge. The force consisted of killed, wounded, or captured. paign of The War of Northern the 123rd Ohio Infantry and the Col. Rubin Boston of the 6th Aug. 9, 2011 - Regular Meet- Aggression. On April 6, the Con- 54th Pennsylvania Infantry, com- Virginia Cavalry was killed in ing of Maj. Gen. Joseph federate cavalry fought stub- manded by Lt. Col. Horace Kel- the attack. Wheeler Camp #863 - Masonic bornly to secure the Appomattox logg of the 123rd, and three com- Lodge, Conyers, Georgia. River bridges. On April 7, ele- panies (80 troopers) of the 4th Commanding Officer's: Union: Aug 13 - 14, 2011 - Southeast- ments of the Union II Corps Massachusetts Cavalry under Col. Brevet Gen. Theodore Read ern Civil War Show - Cobb came up against Lt. Gen. James Francis Washburn. The cavalry A.A.G. Army of the James, County Civic Center, Marietta, Longstreet’s rear guard attempt- reached the bridge before the Colonel Francis Washburn 4th Georgia ing to fire the High Bridge and main Confederate force, chased Massachusetts Cavalry, Colonel wagon bridge. Union forces were away some home guards, and Horace Kellogg 123rd Ohio able to save the wagon bridge secured the south end of the Infantry. Confederate: Army of over which the II Corps crossed bridge Northern Virginia Cavalry in pursuit of Gen. Robert E. Corps: Rosser's Division: Gen. Lee’s army. Failure to destroy While Washburn prepared to set Thomas L. Rosser, Gen. James this bridge enabled Union forces fire to the bridge, three brigades Dearing, Gen. John McCausland, Inside this issue: to catch up with the Confeder- of Confederate cavalrymen ar- Fitz Lee's Division: Gen. Tho- ates at Farmville. rived and conducted a dismounted mas T. Munford, Col. Reuben “Our Commanders Comments” 2 By: Commander J. H. Underwood attack against the Union infantry, Boston (Paynes Brigade). High Bridge, 2,500 feet (760 m) which was waiting near the Wat- “The Battle of High Bridge” 2 long and 126 feet (38 m) high, son farmhouse, about half mile to By: Cmdr. J. H. Underwood take from The Confederate Second Corps, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia was the crossing of the South the south. Hearing sounds of bat- under Maj. Gen. John B. Side Railroad over the Appomat- tle, Washburn and his men re- Gordon, escaped from their de- “The Confederate Cemeteries 3 tox River and its flood plain, 4 joined the infantry, and unaware feat at the Battle of Sayler’s of Covington and Oxford” miles (6.4 km) northeast of that he was facing two divisions Continuing Project of Compt. Gene Wade Creek and crossed the High Farmville Virginia. A wooden of cavalry, Read ordered a Bridge to the north side of the “Shirley House” Article from the 3 bridge for wagons was located mounted charge by the 4th Massa- July issue of “Civil War News” river while Maj. Gen. William below the railroad bridge. Dur- chusetts. The ferocious charge Mahone’s division secured the ing the retreat of Confederate forced through the Confederate bridge. The rest of Lee's army “The Great Civil War Debate” 4 Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of line of Brig. Gen. Thomas T. DVD Review by: Patriot Depot moved on to Farmville and a Northern Virginia, they had Munford and then dissolved into rendezvous with trains of rations. moved north of the river, except hand-to-hand combat. Read ex- for a rear guard provided by changed gunfire with Confederate Continued on page 2 1 GEN. JOE’S DISPATCH VOLUME 7, ISSUE 4 PAGE 2 Our Commanders Comments By: Commander J. H. Underwood Compatriots: District of the Wesleyan Church from Our Camp, at the request of Commander 1981-1994. He then began a ministry in Gibby and the Scott family, has taken on the As you probably Jamaica that he loved dearly, which will project of maintaining this piece of history know by now we continue after his death. He was a member and if you have not seen it I urge you to do so. have lost one of our of the Sons of the American Revolution own since our last and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He I am sorry that I will not be able to hear Com- meeting . loved gardening, bird watching, cats, and mander Gibby’s presentation as I will be on playing the piano and organ. Compatriot Rev. my way back from Seattle Washington. 1st Hugh Charter Pope Lt. Cmdr. Tommy Cook has agreed to preside went to his Heavenly Although Hugh had only been with us over the meeting, so please be there for Hugh Charter Pope home on July 17, since May of this year those of us that Tommy. 2011, at the At Home knew him know what a loss this was. Hospice Center, in Conyers. He was born Hugh was a great spokesman and a cham- I also need to inform the Camp that at our last December 8, 1935, in Meriwether County, pion of defending our cause. He will be meeting we agreed to raise our camps portion Georgia, to Frank Jackson Pope and Mar- fondly remembered and greatly missed. of our dues to $20 per year. This makes our garet Haynes Pope. He graduated from annual dues $62.00 total. We have not had an Meriwether County High School in 1954. On a lighter note I want to remind every- increase in several years and with the IRS He attended Bob Jones University, and one that at our next meeting, Tuesday Au- restrictions on 501 c 3 organizations it has graduated from Central Wesleyan College gust 9th, we will have Jerry L. Gibby, been difficult to raise funds. in 1960. He married Patricia Hunley on Commander of Longstreet Camp 1289 of June 18, 1960. He was a member of Palmetto, Georgia as our Guest Speaker. Website hosting, postage and newsletter sup- 12Stone Church, in Lawrenceville, which plies have been being donated by individuals he was instrumental in founding in 1987. Commander Gibby’s subject will be the and this will make it possible for the Camp to His pastoral ministry began in 1958. He History and Restoration of the Scott family pay for these expenses. I hope this causes no pastored Wesleyan Churches in South cemetery. This cemetery is off of Kinnet one any difficulty but if it does please let me Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. He served Road just before it intersects Browns know. as District Superintendent of the Georgia Bridge Road in Newton County. J. H. Underwood, Commander The Battle of High Bridge By; J. H. Underwood from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (continued from page 1). Early on April 7, while Mahone's men were noncommittal letter asking about the surren- attempting to fire the High Bridge and wagon der terms "Unconditional Surrender" Grant bridge, the Union II Corps under Maj. Gen. might propose. Andrew A Humphreys arrived on the scene. The division of Brig. Gen. Francis C. Barlow, Two men of interest to me were at the Battle including the 19th Volunteer Infantry Regi- of High Bridge. Both were Privates in ment charged the burning structure and saved Company B, 53rd Georgia Infantry. The a large section of the railroad bridge, prevent- first was George T. Maddox who on April ing major damage. They crossed the lower 6, 1865 went into battle at High Bridge. He wagon bridge to move on Lee's flank and disappeared and was never heard from again forced the hungry Confederates to resume and the other was his 20 year old brother-in- their retreat before re-provisioning themselves. law William T. Stroud Jr. who later was one of three witnesses that signed an affidavit to Together, the battles at High Bridge were tac- George’s disappearance in order for his tically inconclusive, despite the 847 Union sister Mary to receive her Confederate pen- casualties (including 800 captured) versus only sion.