Robert E. Lee Monument in Florida Has Been Upgraded

Again, information from a Florida Sons of Confederate Veterans group regarding some work done on a Robert E. Lee monument.

Robert E. Lee Monument Gets a New Look

Tuesday April 30, 2013, the Robert E. Lee Monument in downtown Fort Myers, had a decorative fence installed on its base. The Major William M. Footman Camp #1950 Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter #2614, both of Fort Myers, made this project a priority. The Monument had received damage to its base due to skateboarders, and they felt it necessary to take steps to do something to protect the Monument. Representatives of both organizations, Shellie Weber of the UDC & Tom Fyock of the SCV, met with the Fort Myers Public Arts Committee and proposed a plan to install a fence to protect the Monument. After submitting drawings of the proposed fence, the Public Arts Committee gave their approval and support. Barry Crumpler, of Gulf Coast Metal Works of Cape Coral, was contacted and he graciously agreed to provide the material, labor, and installation of the fence at no cost. Barry Crumpler & Nick Smith did the installation work, and the Monument now looks better than it ever has. The fence makes the Monument stand out like never before. Without their dedication and hard work, this project could not have been completed. Thank you just does not seem sufficient, for the effort and work that they put forth. I’m sure that General Lee is looking down and smiling, and very happy that the people of the County that bears his name, still care about this great gentleman and continue to honor his life.

T.M. Fyock-Adjutant

Major William M. Footman Camp #1950

Sons of Confederate Veterans

UCV 1914 Reunion Video Available

Hemming Park in Downtown Jacksonville
illuminated for the 1914 UCV Reunion.
Photo from Kirby-Smith Camp 1209 website.

I personally have not seen this DVD but I came across this information today while doing research for my book.  The  Kirby-Smith Camp 1209 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is offering a DVD copy of the 1914 United Confederate Veterans Convention that was held in Jacksonville, FL. This is a silent film that has been transferred from newsreel film. I would imagine the quality is not the highest but it's only $13 and all funds go toward the camp's historical marker program.

The direct page for information on this DVD is here.

Rededication of the Olustee Battlefield Monument

 

Rededication of

The Confederate Monument at Olustee

October 13, 2012, 11 a.m. at the Olustee Battlefield State Park

On February 20, 1864, as Union troops stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, continued their march westward to capture the capital at Tallahassee, they were met near the small town of Olustee by Florida’s General Joseph Finnegan and his Confederate troops. The resulting battle was a great win for the Confederate troops. The Battle of Olustee (Southern name) or Ocean Pond (Northern Name) was the largest battle fought in Florida.

 

In 1897 the Florida Division of the UDC began raising funds to place a monument on the battlefield. The Florida legislature voted to spend $2,500 towards the construction of the monument. On October 23, 1912 (100 years ago) the monument was dedicated on the battlefield site. The monument faces south. 

 

The Battle of Olustee was fought on this ground February, 20^th, 1864 between 5,000 Confederate troops commanded by Joseph E. Finnegan and 6,000 Federal troops under General Truman Seymore. The Federals were defeated with 2,000 casualties. The confederate loss was less than 1,000 men.

Please Join the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 11 a.m. for the Rededication of the Confederate Monument that was originally dedicated 100 years ago.

Dinner on the Grounds (covered dish) will follow after the Rededication program.

“Departed, but Not Forgotten!”

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CALL: Commander Larry Rosenblatt @ 904-993-5019 or rlrosenblatt@comcast.net via Internet.

SCV Grave Marker Dedication

Dedication Program

On Saturday, April 14, 2012 the Sons of Confederate Veterans St. Johns Rangers Camp 1360 and the United Daughters of the Confederacy Stonewall Jackson Chapter 1981 presented a headstone dedication and Confederate Memorial Day Service.

What started out as an overcast day cleared nicely as approximately 75 people attended a service at Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, FL. Being honored was Private John Anderson Bradley, Jr. 2nd South Carolina Cavalry Co. A.

Private Bradley was born on October 29, 1842 in Chester Co. South Carolina. He came from good stock his grandfather having been a general in the War of 1812 and also Lt. Governor of South Carolina. His father was an elected sheriff and also served as state representative.

John attended the Citadel before he enlisted in the Confederate army at Richmond, VA in June 1861 serving in Co. A 2nd South Carolina Cavalry. He served until the unit was disbanded in April 1865. His service record shows him having been admitted to Jackson Hospital in Richmond during March 1864 having pneumonia. He returned to duty before months end. In August of 1864 he was granted a 20 day furlough and was reported absent. Despite several letters in his service file requesting a promotion Bradley ended the war as a private.

During the war the 2nd South Carolina cavalry fought at Second Manassas, South Mountain, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Brandy Station, Second Winchester, Gettyburg, Bristoe, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and other locations.

After the war John studied law and moved to Florida in search of better career prospects. After having lived in Enterprise the family settled in DeLand in 1888 where John served as a justice of the peace and also deputy clerk of the court. He and his wife Mary Lucinda Davis were the parents of eight children with four of them attending the local Stetson University.

In 1905 the state of Florida awarded Bradley a pension of $120 per year for his service to the Confederate army. His pension application contains reference to a hip injury that prevented him from working (that and the fact that he was 63 years old). The doctor put forth that this injury was the result of exposure during his time in the service. Also included in his pension application are transcripts of letters from General Wade Hampton: "...It gives me pleasure to state that he was a true and gallant soldier." Also included are transcripts from General M.C. Butler: "...was a faithful and gallant soldier in the Confederate states army...was a worthy comrade of the men in this splendid Brigade." Bradley's wife continued to receive his pension after his death in December 1910.

The new headstone that was dedicated on
April 14, 2012.

Several SCV leaders and speakers from the event
including Commander of Camp 1360 Byron Peavy,
Robert Meeks, and 3rd Lt Commander Don Young.

Descendants of Private Bradley including granddaughter
Sharon Malloy and great great granddaughter
Marissa Stanley on their way to place flowers on their
ancestor's grave.

SCV Grave Marker Dedication

Program from the
event

On the morning of June 4 I had the honor to attend a grave marker dedication at Seville Cemetery sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The St. Johns Rangers Camp 1360 helped put on a nice presentation on what was becoming a quite warm morning. Being honored with a Veteran's Administration marker was 5th Sgt. James Gideon Poppell of Co. I 25th Georgia Volunteer Infantry. In attendance were descendants Margaret Wiltse Poppell, Beverly Margo Poppell, and Susan Poppell, along with family friend Andrea Lee Wade.

Sgt. Poppell's new headstone and his
original stone lying in front

Sgt. Poppell's wife, Nancy, filed for a Confederate Widow's Pension in the state of Florida. The information provided by this file shows some contradictions. According to the paperwork she submitted Poppell enlisted on August 1, 1861. She claims he was captured and was a prisoner of war at the conclusion of the war. The record provided by the War Department however shows differently. After enlisting, he was captured in November 1863. In October 1864 Poppell enlisted in Co. E 3rd US Volunteer Infantry and was assigned to frontier service. Based upon this information Mrs. Poppell's pension request was denied.

Commander Byron Peavy, Fifth Brigade
Commander FL Division SCV

Commander Peavy at Sgt. Poppell's
grave site.

Poppell family descendants at the grave site with the
new marker.

Sgt. Poppell's sword

*Photos, except for event program, are courtesy of Judy Delk and Byron Peavy.

Confederate Flags at Cemetery Cause a Fuss

Courtesy Civilwarmarkers.com

Just saw the article below about Confederate flags at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia causing problems. I understand that African-Americans may not like what they feel the flag stands for. For me though what I don't understand is didn't anybody research this cemetery where Rev. Creecy was to be buried? The cries of protest become even weaker to me when you read that some of those complaining say they have relatives buried in the cemetery. If that is the case how did they not know about this memorial? Granted this is quite a large cemetery but something like this monument didn't just pop up over night. There is hardly an old cemetery in the south that does not contain Confederate burials. These burials are almost always commemorated by local SCV groups and others who wish to honor these mens service.

 For this one I have to say those wanting the flags removed are really just going a bit too far. The cemetery appears to have hidden nothing and yet the family still chose to have Rev. Creecy buried there. How about what is truly important? That is remembering the deceased and his legacy. Let a flag flying on a statue go. Ignore it like you would the other 100,000+ graves located here.

Blacks protest Confederate flags at Ga. cemetery

AP – 21 hrs ago

ATLANTA (AP) — Black protesters called Wednesday for removing Confederate flags from a monument in an Atlanta cemetery where they recently buried the late president of a civil rights group co-founded by Martin Luther King Jr.

The flags at the Westview Cemetery fly over a sculpture of a Southern solider that memorializes the 400 Confederate veterans buried in the cemetery. The flagpole has an early version of the Confederate national flag and also its last flag, which contains the familiar stars-and-bars design carried by Confederate soldiers in the battlefield.
Mourners noticed the flags on Saturday while burying the Rev. Howard Creecy Jr., who died July 28 at age 57. His death came six months after he took the helm of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King helped found. His funeral drew civil rights leaders such as SCLC president emeritus Joseph Lowery, U.S. Rep. John R. Lewis and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.

"Many persons were upset and asked me to come and do something," the Rev. Benford Stellmacher, one of the protesters who gathered at the cemetery Wednesday, told WAGA-TV (http://bit.ly/qVGt31).

Some black protesters said they were particularly offended because they have family buried in the cemetery.

"For me, it is just an affront to everything that has happened for civil rights and justice for all people that are concerned that this flag still hangs," said John H. Lewis.
Cemetery officials say they understand the complaints, but added they cannot take down the flags since the cemetery years ago sold the rights to erect and maintain the monument to Confederate veterans groups. The Sons of Confederate Veterans, whose members trace their ancestry to Southerners who fought in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, says the flags will remain.

The Civil War was largely fought over the issue of slavery, and many blacks see the flag as a racist symbol.

"Those flags have flown there for many years and will continue to fly there for many years honoring our Confederate heroes and Confederate dead," the organization told WAGA-TV. "It is not a racial issue."

Article of Note in Confederate Veteran

Confederate Veteran. Sons of Confederate Veterans. March/April 2011.

While catching up on the reading that has been piling up I came across an interesting and I think important article in the March/April issue of Confederate Veteran. Now before you go rolling your eyes thinking this is another version of the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery or there were lots of black Confederates hear me out. This has nothing to do with those ideas.

Charles Kelly Barrow has written an article in his Report of the Lt. Commander-in-Chief column that I think can be adapted to any member based group that has meetings.

Barrow puts forth the idea that there are no shortcuts to greatness and that officers of the group (in this case local SCV camps) should rather strive for greatness and go the extra mile where need be. Barrow states that leaders should exhibit leadership and guidance to the membership. The desires of the group should be listened to and then action taken to try and achieve these goals. Leaders should know the rules or know where to find answers to questions that arise. As an example for the SCV Barrow reminds us that leaders should have a thorough understanding of the application process. They should also be able to help members complete the genealogical portion of the process. The camp adjutant should handle all dues properly and efficiently.

When it comes to meetings I think Barrow hits on a few key points. Leaders should strive to greet each attendee. Now for very large gatherings this may be unrealistic but lets face it most history meetings are not drawing hundreds of guests. By making new members feel welcome they are much more likely to continue attending and remain members. Continuing members are the life blood of organizations and if newbies don't feel welcome are they inclined to send in that check next year? Also, members have a right to high expectations. Meetings should be held regularly with a standard meeting schedule. When possible meetings should be held at the same location. While you can't please everybody keeping to a schedule helps breed familiarity and build the group bonds.

History groups are about education and leaders play a key role. While leadership may not be the most learned they must take an active role. By scheduling engaging speakers and having interesting programs members will keep their interest level high. We all know that not every Camp or Round Table can afford or would even want to bring in a James McPherson or a Jeffry Wert but that doesn't mean there aren't locals with strong specific area knowledge. Reach out to other local history groups and see what's there. Finally, education is not just for members. It should be the goal of any group to get the word out about themselves. Attend public events, reach out to schools, advertise if possible, etc.  If the public doesn't know about you they can't join you.

While having good leaders is key for a group these leaders are helpless if members are indifferent or more inclined toward petty bickering. Members also have a responsibility in following their elected leaders. Don't like the leader? Hold them accountable. Remove them and run for office yourself.

Anyway, like I said I think these principles can be applied to any hobby group or organization. Just an unusual place to find such recommendations. Well done, Lt. Commander Barrow!

Upcoming Civil War Show and Sale

Here's something for Florida readers to consider. There's an upcoming collectible show and sale in Deland. The show is open for business on Sunday, March 13. The show coincides with the final weekend of Bike Week so despite being the first show of it's kind in the area promoters are hopefull to have a good attendance.

The show is being co-sponsored by the local SCV. Here's the website for the show.