The Camp Olden Gazette News from the Camp Olden Civil War Round Table Summer, 2011 President’s Gavel. On May 23, 2011 I had the honor to participate is buried here in Mercer Cemetery. in a Memorial Service by the Sons of Union I spoke as Governor Charles Smith Olden (1860- Veterans, Garfield Camp 4 for Sergeant John 1863) I read a poem I felt was extremely Beech in Mercer Cemetery, Trenton, NJ appropriate not only for Sergeant Beech but for all Union soldiers of the Civil War. “When the Boys in Blue Are Gone” When the comrades have departed, When the veterans are no more, When the bugle call is sounded On that everlasting shore. John Beech was born in Stratfordshire, England When life's weary march is ended, on May 1, 1844. He joined Company B; also When campfires slumber long; know as the Potters Company, 4th New Jersey Who will tell the world the story, Infantry Regiment in Trenton, NJ on August 9, When the boys in Blue are gone? 1861 to fight for the Union in the Civil War. He was promoted to Corporal on September 1, 1864, Who will tell about their marching, and was made Sergeant on February 1, 1865. From Atlanta to the Sea? The Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse was the Who will halt, and wait, and listen, second ferocious battle in the 1864 campaign When they hear the reveille? Who will join to swell the chorus, launched by General Grant to defeat the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee. After Of some old, Grand Army song? fighting to a bloody draw in the Wilderness, Who will tell the world the story, Grant turned his Army south towards Richmond When the boys in Blue are gone? Sons and daughters of this nation, only to be stopped again by Lee’s men at Spotsylvania Courthouse. On May 12, 1864, You must tell of triumphs won; during the fighting at Spotsylvania Courthouse, a When on earth our work is ended, section of an artillery battery was deployed in And the Veteran claims his own. front of then-Corporal Beech's 4th NJ. In You must all cherish Old Glory, minutes, enemy fire cut down most of the And its teachings pass along. battery's men. Corporal Beech sprang forward You must tell the world the story, and assisted the remaining cannoneers in When the boys in Blue are gone. working their guns, despite being under severe To that flag, our country's emblem, fire the entire time. Sergeant John Beech was You must pledge allegiance, too. awarded Medal of Honor on June 1, 1894, for To that flag, our nation's emblem, valor at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse May your hearts be ever true. while serving as Corporal, Company B, 4th New That the nation be protected, Jersey Infantry Regiment. John Beech was a 'Gainst injustice, and all wrong; member of Aaron Wilkes Post Number 23, You must tell the world the story, Grand Army of the Republic located in Trenton, When the boys in Blue are gone. New Jersey. He died on November 27, 1926 and Presidents Gavel continues on page 8. The Camp Olden Gazette 1 The Civilian Experience - A Tour of Meet Your Fellow Members: the George & Hettie Shriver House Here’s another entry in our biography series Contributed by Leslie Peck and Terri Paglione initiated as a way for members to get to know each other better. The George & Hettie Shriver House in Hi! I’m Connie Davis and have been a member Gettysburg, PA, shows what everyday life was of Camp Olden since 1992. I was introduced to like in the mid-19th century and how one family the organization by Larry and Diana Dromboski. became affected by the Battle of Gettysburg and (Larry was a founding father of the Round Table, the Civil War. This house was occupied by the as were Bruce Sirak, Mark Sirak, Bob Butera, Confederates and there is an exhibit of hundreds Joe Tomlin, Rock Poinsett and Charles Webster.) of artifacts found inside the house during the Rick worked at GM and was moving out of the restoration including live Civil War bullet area and could not run for a second term as cartridges, period medical supplies, and a child's treasurer. My name was entered and I ran for shoe believed to belong to one of the Shriver's election and won. I have been club treasurer children. Authentic bullet holes on the side of the since 1993. house stand as a silent reminder to the events that took place in 1863. More information, at I have volunteered at all the reenactments from http://shriverhouse.org/. ♦ 1992 to our last one in 2008, serving as co- coordinator the last several years. I’ve served on the education committee and the Camp Olden Park Parade committee and worked at Jr. Camp Olden and history nights. Mr. Shriver’s Workroom Photo at Gettysburg NHP on a Camp Olden bus trip. L-R: Connie Davis, Al and Nancy Quick, and Danny Davis. Al, who also follows the Sickles bloodline, was Danny’s uncle. Holes used by Sharpshooters to pick off Union soldiers Growing up I always had an interest in the Revolutionary War as well as the Civil War. Lucky for me, my late husband Danny had the same interests. In 1985, our son Tim left for basic training at Ft. Lawton, Oklahoma. Danny and I with our daughter Lisa went on our first trip to Gettysburg. As we walked around the battlefield we kept hearing the name Sickles. Bells went off in my head as I remembered Danny’s Uncle Bill telling stories of his ancestors and Daniel Sickles was one of them. Love him or hate him, that is a personal decision, but you must admit, Dan Sickles led a colorful Some views showing the civilian experience. life. Now our interest was turned up several The Camp Olden Gazette 2 notches and we picked up every article and book “Civil War Contraband Camps” hosted by we could find about him. the Organization of American Historians Emancipation and War: Life inside the Civil War’s Contraband Camps “The Reputation of Abraham Lincoln” hosted by the Lincoln Association Allen Guelzo delivered the keynote address of the Abraham Lincoln Association’s celebration Dan Sickles When we heard about, and joined Camp Olden on the 202nd birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Professor Guelzo gave an assessment of the rise, Civil War Round Table it just opened the door to decline--and rise again--of the reputation of the so much - history of the Civil War, wonderful sixteenth president. guest speakers, meeting people and making many friendships. Southern Conservatives after the Civil War at Now I enjoy that my oldest granddaughter, the University of Richmond Professor Robert Kenzer teaches a history course Melissa Emley is also interested in the Civil on the Civil War’s impact on the American War. ♦ South. In the day’s class he focused on the rise of the Southern conservative response and the Civil War Symposium While Ku Klux Klan. Wearing Bunny Slippers Tribute to Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels at Contributed by Gary DeSiver the U.S. Capitol Historical Society The U.S. Capitol Historical Society hosts You can attend a civil War symposium wearing historian Laura Turner O’Hara for a lecture on your bunny slippers. At least you can do it former Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first virtually through C-SPAN3. Every weekend, C- African American elected to Congress. He was SPAN3 offers about 30 historically oriented elected to the United States Senate in 1870. speakers of about an hour each. Usually these C-SPAN3 also has short (5-7 minute) segments include several Civil War related topics. For about various places. A recent included one example, one recent weekend included the about the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial on the U.S. following; Capitol West Front in Washington, DC; and “The Origins of the Secession Crisis and the another about Monument Avenue in Richmond. Civil War” hosted by the Organization of C-SPAN2 has Book-TV all weekend during American Historians which authors speak about their books. Many of On the 150th anniversary of the secession winter, these are history-related books. One recent this session takes a new look at an old question: weekend included the following; "Washington: what were the causes of the Civil War? Each of A Life." by Ron Chernow (the winner of the the three presenters has recently authored a book 2011 Pulitzer Prize in Biography); ―Black on the causes of the conflict, and each work Gotham: A Family History of African Americans takes a different approach. The conversation will in Nineteenth-Century New York City‖ by Carla examine the role of slavery, economics, political Peterson; "Inventing George Washington" by parties, discourse, and irrational motives. The Edward Lengel; and ―American Tempest: How session will explore whether it is possible to the Boston Tea Party Sparked A Revolution‖ by integrate the differing interpretations of the war's Harlow Unger. origins or whether the various schools of thought remain irreconcilable. Finally, the session The schedules for CSPAN-2 and CSPAN-3, are at http://www.c-spanvideo.org/schedule touched on how new sources, questions, viewpoints, and methods might move the study The Book TV (CSPAN-2) descriptions are at of the Civil War forward in the new decade. http://www.booktv.org/Schedule.aspx. ♦ The Camp Olden Gazette 3 Coming Events – Civil War Sesquicentennial – June 11 This year is the beginning of the celebration of Civil War Monument Dedication in Cranbury, the Civil War Sesquicentennial.