Patriot’s Periodical Upshur Co. Patriots Camp #2109 Sons of Confederate Veterans Gilmer, Texas Copyright 2018 www.upshurpatriots.org October 2018 *Best Newsletter Award 2nd Place* Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans Camps Over 50 Members June 2017 Reunion *Best Newsletter Award 1st Place* Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans Camps Over 50 Members June 2016 Reunion COMMANDER’S CORNER graciously accepted the flowers and By Milt Ojeman responded with a short speech. Below is the speech, you decide. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I accept these flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the Southern States. I accept it more particularly because as it comes from a There is no question that Nathan Bedford colored lady, for if there is any one on God’s Forrest was a tactical genius. The question earth who loves the ladies I believe it is I. I is what kind of man was Forrest? The came here with the jeers of some white agenda of several groups has been to paint people, who think that I am doing wrong. I General Forrest as an evil racist. believe I can exert some influence, and can do much to assist the people in On July 5, 1875 a convention and BBQ was strengthening fraternal relations, and shall held at the Memphis Fairgrounds by the do all in my power to elevate every man to Independent Order of Pole-Bearers depress none. I want to elevate you to take Association, a black organization which positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, promoted black voting rights. An invitation and wherever you are capable of going. I to speak was sent to Forrest. This was the have not said anything about politics today. first invitation granted to a white man to I don’t propose to say anything about address this group. The day of the event politics. You have a right to elect whom you Forrest was greeted by Miss Lou Lewis, the please; vote for the man you think best, daughter of an officer in the Pole-Bearers, and I think, when that is done, you and I are who presented him with flowers. Forrest freemen. Do as you consider right and 1 honest in electing men for office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, Camp Leadership although invited to do so by you. I am not Upshur County Patriots much of a speaker, and my business Camp #2109 prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome Commander you to the white people. I want you to Milt Ojeman come nearer to us. When I can serve you I (903) 762-1028 will do so. We have but one flag, one [email protected] country; let us stand together. We may 1st Lt. Commander differ in color but not in sentiment. Many Eugene Brown things have been said about me which are (903) 759-4230 wrong, and which white and black persons [email protected] here, who stood with me through the war, can contradict. Go to work, be industrious, 2nd Lt. Commander live honestly and act truly and when you are Editor David Palmer oppressed I’ll come to your relief. I thank (903) 237-8941 you, ladies and gentlemen, for this [email protected] opportunity you have afforded me to be with you and to assure you that I am with Adjutant you in heart and hand.” Don Loyd (903) 797-6922 Where upon Forrest again thanked Miss [email protected] Lewis for the bouquet and then gave her a Deputy Adjutant kiss on the cheek. Such a kiss was unheard Eddie Pricer of in the society of 1875, but it showed a (903) 692-3388 token of respect and friendship between [email protected] the general and the black community and did much to promote harmony among the Chaplain citizens of Memphis. Librarian Brandon Pricer UPCOMING EVENTS (682) 552-5802 Next Meeting [email protected] October 2, 2018 - 7 PM Walking S Steakhouse Gilmer Yamboree Parade October 20th 11 AM All Events are Listed at www.upshurpatriots.org On the Calendar 2 the Texas Division Guardian Program. We were well received and answered many questions about the program and what was expected of them to be a Guardian. I also received two applications for Guardianship and expect more applications in the near future. Phil Davis, Guardian Program Chairman (R) In our Newsletter there is a list of Guardians presents Certificates to his son Larry for from the Upshur County Patriots, Is your Guardianship of the Hunley Crew graves. name there? If you can’t find it, I know how you can get it there. The Guardian By: Phil Davis As I always say, I believe with all my being in the Guardian Program and it is my hope and This past month of September, I have been prayer that in some small way you will be very busy. There has been an influx of convinced of its importance, not only in Guardian Applications that I have fulfilling “The Charge” but in honoring your processed. Many of these applications duty to your Confederate Forebears. As qualify as Full Guardian and some as always, I leave you with this question- Guardian Pro Tem (either they need to serve their time or need a CSA Marker.) The Are you a Guardian? If not, why not? importance here is that more and more of our SCV members understand that we have a duty to care for and protect the final resting places of our Confederate Heroes. Upshur Co. Patriots Guardians In this terrible time of trying to do away Name Guardian Number of with everything that is Moral and Southern, Status Graves we must be even more diligent in our duty Phil Davis Full 29 to prove to the World that, (WE are not the Kim Duffey Full 3 bad guys!). Keeping Flags on the Final Jamie Eitson Full/GPT 8 Resting place of a Confederate helps to Larry Harper Full 1 prove that we still care and remember the Chris Loyd Full 5 price they paid to protect our beloved George Linton Full/W/GPT 40 Southland. Tommy Mitchell Full 5 Eddie Pricer Full/GPT 33 This past month, with the help of Eddie Milt Ojeman Full/GPT 4 Pricer, George Linton and Frank Smith, I was David Palmer Full 1 able to visit the Stone Fort Camp in Bill Palmer Full 10 Nacogdoches, and present a program on Tommy Ray Full/GPT 18 3 Bill Starnes Full/W/GPT 7 Frank Smith Full 2 Mitch Tyson Full 3 W=Wilderness GPT=Guardian Pro Tem Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans “To you, Sons of Confederate OUR PLEDGES Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we PLEDGE TO THE fought. To your strength will be given U.S. FLAG: the defense of the Confederate soldier’s good name, the guardianship I pledge allegiance to the Flag of his history, the emulation of his Of the United States of America, And to the virtues, the perpetuation of those republic for which it stands, One nation, principles which he loved and which under God, indivisible, With liberty and you love also, and those ideals which justice for all. made him glorious and which you also cherish.” PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG: Honor the Texas Flag; I pledge allegiance to thee Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. “Remember, it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to SALUTE TO THE future generations.” CONFEDERATE FLAG: I salute the Confederate Flag With affection, reverence, and Undying devotion to the cause For which it stands. “Fate is the course when men fail to act. Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, Commander United Confederate Veterans New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25, 1906. 4 If ever there was a moment when it seemed possible that American religion might reassume a managing place in public politics, the Civil War was it. At the height of the war, delegations of concerned clergymen received high-profile audiences with the President; the National Reform Association moved an amendment to the General “Stonewall” Jackson Constitution to add formal recognition of Religion In The Civil Christianity to its preamble; the military War Years chaplaincy was dramatically expanded as a major component of the U.S. armed forces; Excerpts from Allen Guelzo and “fully one-third of all soldiers in the field were praying men and members of There is not much questioning the cultural some branch of the Christian Church,” and power of religion in America in the Civil War religious revivals in the armies converted years. Americans at the midpoint of the between 5 and 10 percent of men in 19th century were probably as thoroughly uniform. Christianized a people as they have ever been. Landscapes were dominated by church spires, and the most common sound in public spaces was the ringing of church bells. American churches jumped to exponential levels of growth. Between 1780 and 1820, Americans built 10,000 new Obituary churches; by 1860, they quadrupled that number. Almost all of the 78 American We are saddened to report the passing of colleges which were founded by 1840 were Raymond Brown. Mr. Brown is the brother church-related, with clergymen serving on of our 1st. Lt. Commander Eugene Brown. the boards and the faculties. If, in Thomas Jefferson’s words, the Constitution had erected a “wall of separation” between the church and the federal government, there was no corresponding wall between church and culture.