November 2022 Dispatch

NEXT MEETING   --   TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

• Topic  --  Poetry and Music of the War Between the States
• Speaker  --  Phil Turner
  

Poetry and Music of the War Between the States by the Gray Poet
Phil Turner’s Journey into 1861…​

Phil’s civil war Journey began with books, “I Rode with Stonewall” by Henry Kid Douglass, “A Stillness at Appomattox” by Bruce Catton and many more.  He read and read until he absorbed the facts and the atmosphere of that turbulent time in our history.  Then came the battlefield visits, Manassas, Gettysburg, New Market, and, again, many more.  Beautiful photos of monuments were made during these trips. In the early 90’s, during a stressful time in his life, Phil would wake up in the middle of the night and sit at the kitchen table and all of these thoughts and words about the Civil War would pour out of him.  Many of his poems had dark themes about the blood and death of war.  They were so realistic you would swear that he had been a soldier on the battlefield experiencing these events.  Phil went on in later years to write similar words about Vietnam and World War ll.  He also began to interview and video these surviving veterans, capturing a history that would soon be lost without such efforts.  He has a true love of history and its preservation.  This was recognized last year when Mayor Whitaker proclaimed him Historian and Poet Laureate of the City of Harlem, GA.  His story is one worth telling and listening to.  Phil has been married for 52 years to the former Jeanne Lowe.  They have two children, Patrick of Gainesville GA, Melissa of Alpharetta and one 7 year old grandson Mason of Alpharetta.                                                                                                                              Jeanne Turner  

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. The camp will be cleaning the Thomson Confederate Monument in front of the Old Courthouse on Main Street Saturday, November 26.  We start at 10 am.  We need eight volunteers to assist through 4 pm.  Decide which 1.5 hours you can help.  All tools (except we need an 8’ stepladder) and chemicals will be provided.  
2. When our Brother Lannie Hightower passed away in May, Camp 91 presented his family a beautiful Confederate First National Flag in honor of his service to the camp and the SCV.  If something should happen to you, if you would like a flag presented to your family in remembrance, you must let a family member know your wish and you must make Chaplain Jimmy McDaniel aware of your plans.  
3.  Please continue to earnestly pray for our compatriots Bob Gibson, Durham Milburn, Woody Woodard and Phil Turner. 
4. Camp 91, Thomson Guards does NOT meet in December.  Merry Christmas! 
5. Georgia Division News - Press Release 26 October, 2022:      “On October 25th the Georgia Supreme Court released its opinion on the Sons of Confederate Veterans’ (SCV) and T. D. Humphries’ lawsuits against Henry County and Newton County for the removal (in HenryCounty) and proposed removal (in Newton County) of the Confederate monuments which had stood since 1911 and 1906, respectively.                                                                             The SCV is pleased with the opinion as it clarifies the law as to standing and paves the way for successful litigation in the future. It also makes clear that injunctive relief is a valid remedy for plaintiffs ending those defenses raised by a number of county and city governments.                                                                                                                    The Supreme Court of Georgia has opened the doors to the Courthouses all over the state and will permit these lawsuits to be heard on their merits under Georgia state law rather than the defenses imported from the Federal rules of procedure”.                                                                                                                                                  Commander Timothy Pilgrim, GA Division​

6. Alexander H. Stephens State Park & Museum
Georgia has one of the greatest Confederate treasures right here in our area. A.H. Stephens State Park & Museum is in Crawfordville (exit 154 on I-20). They have 1,177 acres, 3 lakes, 4 cottages, horse back riding, bicycles, RV & tent camp sites.  You can go to www.gastateparks.com/ah-stephens  for information.

Go to EVENTS for all the special activities coming up.  The Rangers are wonderful and so helpful. There is a beautiful life size statue of A.H. Stephens in front of his home, Liberty Hall.  On December 3, there will be guided tour of his home with Christmas trees decorated for the period in each room from 1pm to 3 pm. 
            Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens' home, Liberty Hall, will be decorated with styles of the Victorian Christmas past.  Enjoy a tour of the house, create a craft, and listen to the sounds of the Victorian Era.  Refreshments will be served by the Friends of A.H. Stephens State Park. $4 - $8.00 
            Come out to see Christmas light displays every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting November 25, and ending December 25, 2022.  Tour our 10 acre event field and see displays that have been setup up by a host of site partners, volunteers and area businesses.  There will also be refreshments, a movie, and weather permitting a campfire. $0 plus $5 parking. 706-456-2602.       Submitted by: Dollie Lacefield

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WBTS Dates in November

• November 6, 1860- The American people elect Abraham Lincoln as sixteenth president of the United States. Lincoln is the first Republican president in the nation and represents a party that opposes the spread of slavery into the territories of the United States.​

• November 1, 1861- President Lincoln appoints General George B. McClellan as General-in-Chief of all United States armies.
  
• November 19, 1863- Dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg. President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address.
  
• November 23-25, 1863- Battles for Chattanooga. US forces break the Confederate siege of the city in successive attacks. The most notable event is the storming of Lookout Mountain on November 24 and Battle of Missionary Ridge the following day. The decisive Federal victory sends the Confederate Army south into Georgia where General Bragg reorganizes his forces before resigning from command on November 30.

• November 26-December 1, 1863- The Mine Run Campaign. US General Meade's Army of the Potomac marches against Confederate General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia south of the Rapidan River, east of Orange Court House. Lee reacts and throws up a line of defenses along the banks of Mine Run Creek. After several days of probing the defenses, Meade withdraws north of the Rapidan and goes into winter quarters.
• November 27 to December 3, 1863- Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee. Confederate troops under General James Longstreet lay siege to the city of Knoxville held by Federal forces under General Ambrose Burnside. Longstreet finally attacks on November 30 but is repulsed with heavy losses. The arrival of US reinforcements forces him to withdraw to Greeneville, Tennessee, where his corps will spend the winter.
• December 8, 1863- Lincoln Issues his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which would pardon those who participated in the "existing rebellion" if they take an oath to the United States.
• November 8, 1864- Abraham Lincoln is reelected president of the United States.
• November 16, 1864- General Sherman's Army of Georgia begins the March to the Sea.
• November 30, 1864- Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. After a month of raiding Sherman's supply lines and attacking Federal outposts, John Bell Hood's army confronts US troops from General John Schofield's command, who they had encountered the day before near Spring Hill, Tennessee. A massive frontal assault on the well entrenched Federal line meets with disaster. Despite some taking of outside works and defenses, the toll for Hood's forces is too heavy including the loss of six of his generals. US troops retreat in the direction of Nashville.
•  November 6, 1865- Confederate ship, the CSS Shenandoah

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New soon-to-be member, Bob Stephenson,
helped staff the recruiting booth at the Thomson Camellia Festival on Saturday, October 22. 
Thanks Bob, David Butler, Tom Holley, Durham Milburn, and Lewis Smith
​who all helped with this very productive day. 
We collected money for the Legal Defense Fund and we put forth a great public image.

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Mr. Dennis Coxwell of Warrenton, GA.,
was inducted into the
Sons of Confederate Veterans at the October meeting.  
Congratulations Dennis and welcome to Camp 91, Thomson Guards!

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David Butler is presented the
DAR Excellence in Historic Preservation Award
​by Regent Karen Holley,
Captain John Wilson Chapter, National
​Society Daughters of the American Revolution,
for his restoration of the Magruder House,
his two books documenting veterans’ burial sites
and his dedicated service to
​several historical organizations.

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At the October meeting,
Adjutant David Butler presented to
Patrick Lunceford (L)
a certificate and pin for becoming a
life member to the Georgia Division
of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  
Congratulations Patrick!

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On Saturday, October 29, in remembrance of our veterans interred in the
​Thomson Memorial Cemetery,
Camp 91,  Thomson Guards flagged the burial sites.  
 Veterans Day is about appreciating all our veterans: past, present and future.  
​Thanks to all veterans for serving our country.  We owe our freedoms to you!  God Bless you all!

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Don’t recognize these two?  Marshall (12) and Gene (9), our grandsons, after their soccer games,
toured the Kennesaw National Battlefield Park with their grandmommy.
They were reluctant to go (too tired), but both agreed afterwards that it was awesome.  
​Gene stated that the film of the battle was “the best war documentary he had ever seen.” 
Ya gotta start ‘em young!  Tom

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COMMANDER’S POST 
Nine Ways to Ensure Communism
​See Editorials  /  Tom Holley  /  Nine Ways to Communism