|
NEWSLETTER AUGUST, 2010
For those of you reading this Newsletter about the middle of August, 2010, -- there is still time to attend the Raleigh Congress. We will visit Bentonville, Wyse Fork and several locations near High Point, NC plus a couple of museums. Please see the web-site for an Agenda. The web-site also has the Advance Registration Form with instructions.
This reminder is not to nag but rather to remind those that thought it might be too late to participate. I don't want you to assume that it is too late to attend.
The advance information lets me coordinate with the vendors to be sure there is enough ingredients on hand to cook what you want to eat. It also allows me to have the cash on hand to pay the vendors.
As mentioned before, I will refund your money if it turns out that you can not attend for some reason.
Southern Cross of Honor
Last month, Jack Bolen inquired if any members had an original Southern Cross of Honor. Within hours of the July Newsletter going out, there were three responses. Gary Goodson had one, in the original box, Robert Elliott had two and Jerry Morris had one. They would all bring them to the Congress.Each one has a story associated with it.
Robert also knew the author of a book on the Southern Cross of Honor who is the absolute authority on the subject. Pretty soon he was exchanging e-mails with our members.
This is another example of the networking power within our association and willingness to help each other. So much interest was generated, there will be an informal meeting on Thursday, September 2 at 3:30 PM. The purpose is to "show and tell" and exchange information. The location will be either in the lobby or in Jack's room
41st Georgia Flag
Robert Elliott of Grayson, GA informed me of one of his discoveries that happened when he was doing something else. The Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond has a collection of some 550 flags. Some are in need of restoration and preservation. One of those was the flag from the 41st Georgia that was at the Surrender on April 26, 1865. It has been recently preserved and is featured on one of the pages of the Museum's website.
The MOC has a Flag Conservation Program and donors can contribute to specific flags. There is a list of contributors for the 41st Georgia flag and one of them is Thomas W. "Chip" Barron of Newnan, GA. Chip is a 41st Georgia descendant and our Archivest.
If you would like to see this flag and the website go to : www.moc.org/site. Click on Programs and then Flag Section. Our flag is featured because it is recently restored.
Other flag experts have informed me that the missing sections of the flag are a result of soldiers cutting off momentos. The big holes where stars used to be are not cannonball holes. Someone cut out a star. The strips of red cloth that are gone is because soldiers cut strips of cloth off for momentos.
Kay Borden 40th Georgia Regimental Historian
Kay Borden, Marietta, GA, has agreed to serve another term as 40th Georgia Regimental Historian. This is good news as she is experienced and continues to contribute in a number of ways. If you would like to run for that position , or any other position, please contact Gary Goodson, our Founder and Historian Emeritus. Gary will be conducting the election of officers and historians.
Perryville Land Acquisition
The Civil War Preservation Trust has announced another effort to save more land at the Perryville, KY battleground. This time the target property is the assembly area of the attack formations on the North flank. For every $1.00 donated, that dollar will grow to $4.00 because of various matching funds arrangements.
The 41st Georgia was part of the attacking units on that part of the battlefield. The threat to the land is developers building large homes overlooking the river and the rest of the battlefield. If you feel like donating , just type in Civil War Preservation Trust in the search line and the website should appear with additional instructions.
Confederate Veteran Magazine Opportunity
Doctor John A. Attaway, Sr. of Winterhaven , FL is a past member and a 41st Georgia descendant. He contacted our Secretary, H. David Richardson of Hayworth, OK, and explained that he is now in his 80s and that he has good condition Confederate Veteran magazines that are complete from 1985 to 2010. He would be willing to sell them and was looking for a good home for them.
With the power of sharing e-mails, this potential purchase turned into a series of contributions to buy the magazines, ship them and store them. In a matter of days, 14 members had pledged funds to this project, by July 14. The total number of pledged support now stands at 18.
Those that have actually sent money for this project include: Chip Barron, Ed Combs, Larry and Janie Crowe, Mike Griggs, Bob Lotridge, Greta Reich, David Richardson, Jim and Judy Rowell, Fran Wagner, Charles and Robbie Griggs. Thanks go to all of you for the support and quick response.
Silent Auction
We will try a Silent Auction for the first time on Saturday night. Please bring your items to auction. This will be conducted with a minimum of planning and organization. I envision the items displayed on our dinner tables and on tables around the room, with an auction card. After dinner , table captains will announce the winners. All of you can help pull this off. It should be fun, tasty and helpful to the organization.
There will be books, handmade items and tasty delights from your gardens and orchards. Where else can we get a jar of Mahaw Jelly from Louisiana ?
Newsletter Index
I feel that we need an Index to the collection of monthly Newsletters that go back to 2005. The newsletters have been archived by Webmaster Don Bulloch of Riverdale, GA on the website. If we could add an Index to the site, members and others could check what we have on certain subjects. The Newsletters are all there, but it takes time to poke through them to find the information one is seeking.
When the Newsletter was started, the purpose was to keep everyone connected until the next Congress and to keep them informed. It was much cheaper to operate than something sent through the mail. In that process, a number of details have been found on new books, where to order flags, more information on battles, grave location efforts, web addresses that could be of interest and other subjects that are too numerous to list here.
I would like for a volunteer to come forward and work on making an Index that could appear on the Website and to have it updated every three months or so. Each month that goes by I have a harder time of remembering when a certain subject was discussed. A copy of the Index could be sent to the Archivest so he could have a means to help answer inquiries.
If you would like to work on this project, please let me know. Like anything it will be more involved than originally thought about, but I think it can be done. In my opinion the finished product will be helpful.
New Member William E. Watkins Ashville, AL
William Watkins of Ashville, AL has joined our ranks. He is a real grandson of Captain John R. Russell, 52nd Georgia Infantry. He has weapons that were used in the movie Gods and Generals. He is Commander of the St. Clair Camp 301 SCV and is a Firing Member of the Camp's Honor Guard. The Memorial Services are conducted in full uniform and accoutrements. Just to keep busy , he teaches fourth graders about his uniform.
New Member Arthur William " Bill " Crawford, Jr. of Weeki Wachee, FL
Bill Crawford is actually from Covington, Newton Co., Georgia and has retired to Weeki Wachee, FL, which is north of Tampa. He descends from Private Henry H. Edwards , Co. E, 42nd Georgia. Private Edwards died December 27, 1862 and is buried in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery.Bill sent me a color picture of his g g g grandfather's gravestone. This new headstone was placed on November 12, 1998, the 180th birthday of Private Edwards, and was lightly chipped during the cleanup from the cyclone windstorm that hit the cemetery.
Private Henry Edwards was a stonemason and was 43 years old when he answered the call to serve.Bill believes that his ggg grandfather would appreciate the quality of his new headstone.
News From Lee Cooper Red Lodge, MT
Lee Cooper of Red Lodge, MT recently wrote that she will be unable to attend the Congress this year. Retirement budgets have their limits. She is still writing a book, reading Civil War books, helping a local author in writing a book, volunteers for a couple of organizations, works as an election judge and belongs to a book club. In addition she had 23 days of guests underfoot and 17 of those days were in a row. I'm going to suggest a vacation with us next year in Columbia, SC.
News from Kay Bishop West Monroe, LA
Another stalwart member, Kay Bishop of West Monroe, LA ,will not be able to attend the Raleigh Congress. She has just received a promotion to a Postmaster position that pays more and is closer to home. That new job responsibility starts on August 24 and she just can't leave so soon after taking the new job. Leading up to this promotion she was filling in at another Post Office that required getting up at 4 AM and driving 51 miles, one way. That assignment ends the day before her new posting starts.We understand Kay.
New Member Scott T. Lecraw
Former Army officer and commercial real estate broker Scott Lecraw of Suwanee, GA has become a new member. He descends from Captain Rufus Reid Asbury, Co. C, 52nd Georgia Volunteer Infantry. Captain Asbury was mustered in on March 24, 1862 and survived the war to die on December 8, 1904. He entered Confederate service at Dahlonega, GA. Dahlonega, GA is where Army Ranger candidates take their mountain training as part of a 61 day course, which also includes swamp/jungle training in Florida and forested training at Ft. Benning, GA.
Seattle CSA Monument
To my delight, member Gretta Combs Reich of Duncanville, Texas sent me a recent UDC article on the history and location of a CSA Monument in Seattle, WA. The monument was started in 1909. If I am unable to get a list of who is buried there, I will make a point to go to the Lake View Cemetery and search the gravestones to see if any of our men are buried there.
Some of them may have drifted West to go to the Yukon Gold Rush in 1898 and later. Or, some may have come West to the logging camps. I am anxious to see who I may find. The cemetery is about 60 miles by road from where I live and a one hour ferry boat ride if I go by boat across part of Puget Sound. Thank you Gretta for thinking of me.
The Raleigh Congress is at the stage where the planning is done. The planning has continued for more than a year and it is now approaching the time to " Do it ". The fun part is about to begin. I feel we are loaded, aimed and ready to pull the trigger. Come join the fun.
Mike Griggs
President
41st Georgia Descendant
|
