SPRING 2012 CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL THE VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR 150th USS Monitor Anniversary Commemorating this historic event with three days of activities in Greenpoint, Brooklyn Jeffrey Albanese, Commander, Department of New York, SUVCW On January 30, 1862 the USS Monitor, an iron facturing of the Monitor’s component parts would warship of revolutionary design slid down into the take place within the state of New York and it would East River at Greenpoint, Brooklyn, N.Y. from the be assembled at the Continental Iron Works located Continental Iron Works shipyard and with that in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. Captained by event the history of naval warfare in the world New York born Lt. John Worden the USS Monitor is would change. On March 9, 1862, it would engage in truly linked to the State of New York. its famous battle at Hampton Roads, Virginia with On January 28 through the 30th, 2012 the the Confederate ironclad the CSS Virginia and on Department of New York SUVCW in conjunction with December 31, 1862, this naval marvel would sink in the Oliver Tilden Camp # 26 SUVCW, the Greenpoint a storm off Cape Hatteras. Monitor Museum, the John Ericsson Society and the Designed by Swedish born and New York City resi- 83rd NYV, SVR commemorated this historic event dent, John Ericsson, the vast majority of the manu- with three days of activities in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The commemoration was designated a National Sesquicentennial Signature event by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War On January 28, 2012, a history fair held at the Capitol One Bank formerly the Greenpoint Savings Bank commenced the observance. Displays in- cluded those of the USS Lehigh Civil War Navy Re- enactment & Living History group, USS Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA, the Greenpoint Monitor Museum and the John Ericcson Society along with presentations from several descendants of the USS Monitor crew. That evening a concert was continued 1 continued from page 1 Like Us! held at the Church of the Ascension in Greenpoint, NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING Check out the Department Facebook page The Encampment of the the church having been built in part from funds given Department of New York, Sons of by Thomas F. Rowland the owner of the Continental The Department and the National Organization rec- Union Veterans of the Civil War Iron Works. ognize the importance of recruiting younger mem- On January 29, 2012, a service was held at the bers to the Order in order to preserve the SUVCW Church of the Ascension for the crew of the USS and its mission for generations to come. Notice is hereby given that the 129th Encamp- Monitor, followed by a parade to the USS Monitor Part of that process is through the use of new ment of the Department of New York, SU- launch site now owned by the Greenpoint Monitor technology and the social media. The Depart- VCW will be held on May 18–20, 2012 at the Museum. Later that day a reception in honor of the ment has started up a Facebook page for that Newburgh Hilton Garden Inn, 15 Cross Roads observance was held at the Grand Prospect Hall purpose at < www.facebook.com/pages/New-York- Court, Newburgh, N.Y. (845) 567-9500. in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Old Bethpage Brass Band Department-Sons-of-Union-Veterans-of-the-Civil- The business portion of the Encampment provided music, and speakers included President War/166128070082306 >. will be held on May 19, 2012 at the above loca- of the Greenpoint Monitor Museum Janice Please visit our page “like us” and pass the word. tion commencing at 9 am. Registration is $10. Weinmann, Congresswomen Nydia Velazquez, N.Y. Registration forms, hotel accommodations, Department Commander SUVCW Jeffrey Albanese, banquet reservations and further informa- Superintendent of the Monitor National Marine tion may be found at the Department website Sanctuary David Alberg and the Vice President of the < suvcw.org/ny/deptny.htm > or by contacting Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia, Anna Michael Bennett, PDC at PO Box 1825, White Holloway. Plains, NY 10602 (914) 949-4679. All Camp On January 30, 2012, the actual 150th Anniversary Reports and appointed officers reports are of the launch of the USS Monitor, a bus tour including to be mailed or e-mailed to the Department visits to Building 92, Brooklyn, Navy Yard Center, the Secretary with a copy to the Department Com- John Ericsson statue and the USS Monitor Monument mander on or before May 7, 2012. in New York City concluded the commemoration. The Volunteer is the newsletter of The Department of New York Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Signals Officer | Editor Donald G. Zeilman Copyright 2012 2 129th ENCAMPMENT Ruger, Edwin Sumner, George Sykes, Alexander Scout Coordinator. The Department Eagle Scout Webb and of course Winfield Scott. Coordinator should have some knowledge of Boy To be held at Newburgh, N.Y. on May 18–20 The hotel, which may be reserved for $99 per Scouting; have an e-mail address and access to a The 129th Encampment of the Department of New night, is located in the historic Hudson Valley at the computer. The Department Eagle Scout Coordinator York will be held on May 18–May 20, 2012 at the crossroads of the New York Thruway and Route 84 will be responsible for monitoring the Department Hilton Garden Inn, located in Newburgh, N.Y. All and is a short distance from Stewart International and the local Camps Eagle Scout Program, for re- brothers are encouraged to attend. The SUVCW Airport, which is administered by the NY/NJ Port ceiving applications for Eagle Scout certificates National Commander in Chief, Donald Palmer, Jr. is Authority. Within a half hour of the hotel is the loca- made through national headquarters and directing also scheduled to be present. tion of the last encampment of the Continental Army applicants to the appropriate Camp for the issuance The business meeting of the Department will be where George Washington quelled the Newburgh of such recognition certificates. If interested please held that Saturday, May 19, 2012 commencing at conspiracy and where he awarded the first Purple contact Department Commander Albanese. 9 am sharp with registration beginning at 8 am. The Hearts. Also on its grounds is the National Purple Agenda will be in accordance with Order of Business Heart Hall of Honor. In the nearby city of Newburgh, U.S. Grant Anniversary for Department Encampments contained in the is located George Washington’s longest serving head- Tilden Camp’s Annual Observance on April 29 Rituals and ceremonies of the SUVCW. A campfire quarters during the American Revolution and the will be held Friday evening, May 18, 2012 at the hotel first property acquired and preserved by any U.S. Oliver Tilden Camp №26 has scheduled its Annual and a banquet on Saturday evening. state for historic reasons. General Ulysses S. Grant Ceremony to take place on A guided bus-tour of West Point, including the Details and reservation forms may be found at the April 29, 2012, at Grant’s Tomb National Monument cemetery, is scheduled for Sunday commencing at Department website < suvcw.org/ny/deptny.htm >. on 122nd Street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan at 9:30 am, cost is $15.00. Please note space is limited 11:00 A.M. There will be and the deadline for reserving a space is May 5, 2012. Volunteer Needed special guests from the West Point is a secure government military facility allied orders for this an- Department seeks Eagle Scout Coordinator and all tour participants over the age of 16 must have nual birthday ceremony. a government issued ID to enter the premises. With the resignation several months ago of Brother In attendance, Brother West Point of course has a special significance to Deuel, who had done an excellent job as Department Larry Clowers as General the American Civil War, as many of the prominent Eagle Scout Coordinator, we are now seeking a vol- Ulysses S. Grant. He leaders on both sides of the conflict were educated unteer to serve in that position. Since Brother Deuel’s will be accompanied by there. They include Jefferson Davis, Lee, Grant, resignation, we have revamped the Department his wife Connie Clowers Jackson, Custer, McClellan, Beauregard and many Eagle Recognition page on the website so that those as Julia Grant. Actor Patrick Falci who portrayed others. Many famous Civil War personalities are bur- seeking an Eagle Scout Recognition certificate are A.P. Hill in the movie Gettysburg. The ceremony will ied there including Robert Anderson, the command- directed to the appropriate local camp Eagle Scout also honor Tilden Camp’s late Chaplain Rev. Fr. John er of Fort Sumter, Chief of Staff and MOH winner Coordinator to obtain the recognition certificate. D.O’Holloran who passed away since last year’s cere- General Dan Butterfield; Union cavalry commanders This allows a camp to receive recognition for the mony. All Brothers, Sisters, their families and friends Generals John Buford, Judson Kilpatrick, Thomas program and to participate in a local Eagle Scout are encouraged to attend this annual event. Tilden Devin, Wesley Merritt, George Custer; Civil War Court of Honor if they so choose. Each Camp, if they Camp hopes to see you there! Generals Ranald Mackenzie, John Newton, Thomas do not already have one, should appoint an Eagle 3 Angel of Andersonville the American Red Cross, Clara Barton who was at that time attempting to locate the whereabouts of Young prisoner kept record of Union dead thousands of missing union soldiers for their loved Jeffrey Albanese, Commander ones.