Winter Railsplitter 2019
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The Railsplitter The Newsletter of the Department of Illinois, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War WINTER 2019 OFFICERS: UPCOMING ENCAMPMENTS: INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Commander The schedule for future Encampments and National General Order 8: R.S. Upham Harry Reineke IV, PCC their hosts are as follows: Chaplain’s Corner Chief of Staff Patriotic Instruction Steve Westlake, PDC, PCC May 2019, Camp #67, Peoria Keyboard Klacking from the DSVC Senior Vice-Commander Oct 2019, Camp #49, Sycamore Camp News Joe Hutchinson, PCC May 2020, Camp #443, Belleville Junior Vice-Commander Oct 2020, Camp #1, No. Cook County And MORE! Gary Gunderson, PCC Secretary Steve Aarli, PCC COMMANDER’S CORNER: Our reenacting Brothers are looking Treasurer forward to gathering around the watch fires Bill Johnson My dear Brothers, again, while those of us who like to spend Council time with “dead veterans” are itching to get Tom Osteicher, PCC As we wind back into the cemeteries to clean, replace, and James Lyon, PDC, PCC down from the 12 Days mark the graves of our heroic and brave dead. Gene Walker of Christmas, I am re- We also approach Memorial Day Patriotic Instructor minded of the Epiphany (and Real Memorial Day), which we are obli- Michael J. Zafran story (with concurrent gated to keep sacred, in memory of the Boys Chaplain celebrations involving a who wore the Blue. Jerome Kowalski sweet bread-like cake We all have much on our plate, but I Graves Registration called King Cake in my hometown of New am proud to stand and speak in public about Steve Aarli, PCC Orleans) where 3 men of a completely differ- my Brothers in the Department of Illinois Civil War Memorials ent background than the Jewish child they who do so much, giving of their own time, Steve Anderson were visiting, trusted in their own wildly dif- talents, and treasures to ensure that no veter- Hitsorian ferent beliefs to worship that Child. an of our bloodiest war is ever forgotten. I Terry Dyer, PDC, PCC I am further reminded of the wildly dare say we make the gallant son of Illinois, Guide different beliefs that are held today in our General Logan, proud every year near the end Patrick McConnell Union of States and even among Brothers in of May. Guard our dear Order and our beloved Department. My Brothers, I am not lying or exag- Rob Hauff Without getting political, I know that we each gerating when I say that you are the reason I Color Bearer allow our own deeply held personal beliefs am, and continue to be, here. You are the Leigh Franklin guide us in the decisions we make as men, lifeblood of our Department, and if it wasn’t GAR Highway Officer husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, Sons, etc. for you, all of this would disappear and fade vacant I would be lying if I said I am not away. What a tragedy that would be! ROTC Coordinator concerned with what’s going on. I am. I have Please, my friends, keep up the great Bill Shipper been the victim of attacks from the political work you all do, and continue to bring honor Eagle Scout Coordinator extremes on social media. But I am pleased to the Union and her soldiers. Jim Lyon, PDC, PCC that all discussions I have with our Brothers Department Councilor are amiable, and conducted with a mind to- “On Fame's eternal camping-ground / their Ron Clark, PDC, PCC ward OUR deeply held mutual beliefs, that silent tents are spread / and Glory guards with Department Organizer all people are deserving of our interactions Solemn round / the bivouac of the Dead.” Nick Kaup, PDC, PCC being in the spirit of our founding principles: Steve Westlake, PDC, PCC Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty. God bless each of you, and our great land! Signals Officer As we move past the season for in- Paul Zeien, PDC, PCC stalling officers, and toward Spring, we have In Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty, Real Sons Liaison several events to look toward. First and fore- Joe Hutchinson, PCC most is our Department Encampment in May, Harry W. Reineke IV, PCC Fraternal Relations where I hope to stand for re-election as your Department Commander. Leigh Franklin Department Commander. The Railsplitter WINTER 2019 Page 2 **************************************************** FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT SECRETARY Greetings All, It has been business as usual so far, fielding questions, correspondence, keeping National happy and making the Dept. of Illinois look good. Truly a labor of love. I need to send each Camp a gentle reminder that as we are in the season for Camp elections and installations, IT IS IMPERITIVE that each Camp file the FORM 22 within 30 days of Camp Installations. This is mandated by National. Even if your Camp has not changed officers, you are still required to submit this form. I will need them by the end of Feb- ruary 2019. As I mentioned at our October 2018 Dept. Encampment, I tentatively plan to retire as your Dept. Secretary in May 2021, at which time I will have completed ten years as your Dept. Secretary. National constitution does provide that a Department can ap- point an Assistant Dept. Secretary to work with the elected Dept. Secretary. At our May 2019 Dept. Encampment I plan to recom- mend that we appoint a willing Brother to this position with the hopes that he will take on my duties when I retire. The job is only as hard as you want to make it. In Fraternity, Charity & Loyalty, Steve Aarli, Secretary, DGRO The Railsplitter WINTER 2019 Page 3 CHAPLAIN’S CORNER: 1870 by then President Ulysses S. Grant in until the 1870's. an attempt to unite the North and South, It is difficult for us to relate to the The end Christmas was observed in both camps. men and women of the Civil War era. In of 2018 and the Soldiers not actively campaign- spite of the extraordinarily different cir- beginning of 2019 ing used salt pork and hardtack to decorate cumstances in which they found them- were not easy for Christmas trees. Others enjoyed special selves, we can connect with our forebears me. Pains where I meals of turkey, oysters, pies, and apples. in traditions of Christmas. have never had However, many soldiers received By the mid-19th century, most of pains before drove no special treatment. In some units, cele- today's familiar Christmas trappings were me to the Emer- brating Christmas was not allowed. On already in place: carols, gift giving, and gency Room of December 25, 1862, soldiers from one unit tree decorations. my local hospital. were punished for celebratory gunfire for Charles Dickens had published Severe pain in my left shoulder led to an the holiday, when actually the gunfire was "A Christmas Carol" in 1843 and the Civil examination of my heart. One of the ves- for a funeral salute. War saw the first introductions of the sels was 70% blocked, and a roto rooter In 1862, the Lincolns visited in- modern image of a jolly and portly Santa had to be used before two stents could be jured solders at various hospitals. In Claus through inserted. 1863, many the drawings My tummy rebelled at the half Union sol- of Thomas dozen medications that were given to me, diers received Nast, a Ger- and my whole tummy and excrement sys- gifts of books man speaking tem are fouled up. I am in more pain and and clothing immigrant. discomfort than before, but they did let me "From Tad One out for New Years. Lincoln" as he of Nast's I got to go to the Chicago Light was moved by Christmas car- Artillery New Year’s gathering, and visit the plight toon for 1864 My adopted grandson - Ezra. It’s a lot when he was showed Lin- easier to explain a “flanking movement” taken to visit coln inviting with blue and gray pieces. He is a virtuo- the soldiers by his father. Confederate so violinist, and will, some day, be a Military exercises took place on troops into a warm lodge hall full of mer- member of our Order. December 25. In 1861, a blockade runner riment. Lincoln called Nast's use of Santa was caught by the Union navy and there Claus, "the best recruiting sergeant the were two skirmishes in Virginia and Mar- North ever had." yland. In 1862, Confederate general John From the diary of Alfred Bellard hunt Morgan engaged in his famous of the 5th New Jersey, "In order to make it Christmas Raid in Kentucky destroying 35 look as much like Christmas as possible, a miles of track of the Louisville & National small tree was stuck up in front of our Railroad. In 1863, Union forces destroyed tent, decked off with hardtack and pork, in the Confederate salt works at Bear Inlet lieu of cakes and oranges, etc." North Carolina. Several battles occurred ohn Haley, of the 17th Maine, between Confederate artillery and the Un- wrote on Christmas Eve that, "It is ru- ion Navy on the Stono River and near mored that there are sundry boxes and Charleston in South Carolina. In 1864, mysterious parcels over at Stoneman's the Confederates fiercely repelled the Fed- Station directed to us. We retire to sleep eral assault of sixty warships on Fort Fish- with feelings akin to those of children er. expecting Santa Claus." In Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, Still with action taking place I can only imagine the thoughts around the troops on both sides, Christmas of our men and women in action for those Chaplain Jerry carols were sung such as "Deck the Halls", horrible years during Christmas.