Sons of Confederate Veterans Battle of Sharpsburg Camp #1582 The Sharpsburg Sentinel

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1 The Sharpsburg Sentinel Volume 10, Issue 9 The Sharpsburg Camp and the SCV denounce racism, racial supremacists, hate groups, and any group or individual that misuses or desecrates the symbols of the Confederate States or the United States. September 2015 Commander s Notes I want Volume to thank 9, Betsy Issue Estilow 1 who is the curator of the Middletown Valley Historical Society Stone House Museum for a great walking tour of Middletown on Saturday, August 1 st. Only six of us were there, but it was a very informative tour. Betsy was a trooper who even though she nearly lost consciousness and we had to sit her down on a flower pot, she continued to give the tour. The following Wednesday we met back at Sharpsburg for our regular August meeting and Nancy Householder gave a wonderful presentation on The Monuments of Gettysburg. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 2 nd, 2015, Sharpsburg Town Hall, 2 nd Floor, 106 East Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD. Due to an error in scheduling, I have yet to be able confirm the speaker who I originally wanted, so if that falls through, I plan on giving a talk on The History of Confederate Flags. This talk is a work in progress and I recently gave it to a political group who really enjoyed it. Annual dues are due again and I m proud to say that a record number of our members have paid up for the upcoming year. Our Adjutant will have the address in his section where you can mail your checks to. Also, Christmas isn t that far out and thanks to Alpine Engraving and Embroidery you can get many things with the camp name and SCV logo on them. Please contact Debbie at Alpine Engraving and Embroidery at The Battle of Sharpsburg Camp is proud to announce that we have some major fundraisers going on. I instituted the Battle of Sharpsburg Camp Flaggers which will be a fundraiser that we can use to promote Confederate History and SCV Recruitment. There are two ways to donate. The first being our P.O. Box that was established for this and paid for by private donations and the second is our Fundly site. Battle of Sharpsburg Camp Flaggers Post Office Box 4571 Hagerstown, MD Or And search for Battle of Sharpsburg Camp Flaggers All donations are tax deductible as allowed for by law.

2 I want to encourage every single Compatriot and Friend of the Camp to fly Confederate Flags. I have a Third National up now and I ve been flying different Confederate Flags off and on for the past ten years and I ve never had any problems and I live in a very mixed neighborhood here in Hagerstown. Also it s very important that we get the word out and support the Confederate Friendly businesses that are in the area. Jim Kehoe who is the owner of Antietam Gallery in Sharpsburg flies a Confederate Battle Flag in front of his shop and he has agreed to give us a portion of the proceeds from every Confederate Flag sold. I consider Antietam Gallery to be the unofficial non PC gift shop for the battlefield and I encourage everyone Volume to 9, go Issue there. 1 Also, Captain Benders Tavern right across from the Town Hall has started flying a Confederate Battle Flag. I ve talked to the owner and as soon as we get it in, we will be presenting him with an Advance the Colors Certificate for flying the Confederate Battle Flag. We did the same for Antietam Gallery a couple months ago also. The third business is Bonnie s At the Redbird, they don t fly the Confederate Battle Flag, but they do fly the Bonnie Blue and other flags. I encourage each and every one of you to support these businesses. I want to thank each and every one of you for being a member of the SCV. Remember, this is your camp and I encourage all of you to participate fully. Yours in the cause, Michael David Wasiljov Commander Sons of Confederate Veterans C mike24745@aol.com ADJUTANT REPORT MINUTES: The August 5, 2015 meeting of the was held at the Sharpsburg Town Hall. There were 14 Members and Friends and 5 guests in attendance. Commander Walisjov conducted the opening ceremony which began at 7:00 p.m. The ceremony included the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and the Salute to the Confederate flag. The invocation was given by our Chaplain Toby Law. It was good to have Toby returning as our Chaplain after a long period of rehabilitation from his stroke. OLD BUSINESS: For the Sons of Confederate Veterans membership renewal time is here. The membership expiration date was July 31, The renewal rate for both National and Camp membership is a total of $ Please make your checks payable to the. Mail your check to: Glen Stickel 2185 Quarry Road Bunker Hill, WV 25413

3 The Sons of Confederate Veterans allow a grace period before declaring your membership in arrears. Payments post marked after November 1, 2015 will be assessed a late payment fee of $5.00. Remember that the payments MUST go through our Treasurer, Glen Stickel first so allow additional time for this process. Glen is happy to report that over 75% of our members have made their membership payments. Thanks for your support and attention to this matter. The Confederate Statue in Rockville has been a topic at the Division level when it was announced by Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, that he was having the statue removed from county property located near the court house. The final destination of the statue is unknown at this time. Since his announcement the statue has been vandalized. Information from the Col. William Norris Camp is that the statue has been crated Volume up 9, where Issue it 1 stands to protect it from further vandalism. It would appear that the Confederate monument at Mt. Olivet in Frederick is protected from removal because it is owned by a United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter that is still active. Time will tell. NEW BUSINESS Commander Wasiljov reported that three members, one Friend, and two guests attended the August 1 st walking tour of Middletown. A town with a rich history was created by English and German settlers around 1740 and was given the name Smithfield. Michael Jesserong bought a large portion of the property and renamed it Middletown in During the Civil War, Middletown witnessed the troops of both armies under the direction of Generals Lee and McClellan passing through the town on their way to South Mountain and Antietam. In the aftermath of those battles, Middletown opened its churches and homes to care for the wounded and dying. Among the wounded were Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, later to become the President of the United States and Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Captain Holmes survived his wounds and became a Supreme Court Justice. Also, surviving her injuries was our tour guide for the day Betsy Estilow. Despite being overcome by the heat of the day she sat on an overturned flower pot supported by Don Goodwin and Al Davis to finish the tour. Taking a drink of much needed water she barely missed a beat! We later gathered at Jim Kehoe s ice cream shop to restore our strength and to share a few stories. Commander also reported that our September 2 nd meeting of the will be held at the Sharpsburg Town Hall. Our speaker for the evening will be our commander who will give a presentation on the History of the Confederate flag. The Division Recruitment and Retention Officer Dan Pyle reports that in the past month the Division has received fifty requests for new memberships. This Camp has received four of those requests and we hope to have some new members in the near future. It appears that all these new applicants have most of their required documentations. They will need to attend one of our upcoming meetings to follow through with the process. In addition, we have reinstatements of three past members. Returning to the Sons of Confederate Veterans are Mark Alderman, James Barker, and Tim Bikle. Welcome back gentlemen.

4 The Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate that was previously issued by the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles is no longer available as a specialty plate. The Maryland Attorney General has already filed the necessary paperwork to suspend issuance of new license plates. The Division is looking into legal action at this time. If the plates are recalled then there may be several options. The SCV may have the plates reissued without our logo. One possibility which is appealing to me is the use of the Confederate version of the Bottony Cross. That cross is an important symbol in Maryland s Confederate history and an appropriate representation of our Cause. Checkmate! SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: The Battle of Sharpsburg Camp was proud to present the Friends of the Battle of Sharpsburg Camp #1582 certificate to David Lee Smith Volume and 9, Christopher Issue 1 Douglas Glass Sr. The Camp at this time has seven associate members. Several of our first year members have indicated that they intend to renew their membership. Al Davis was the first to return. It is important to note that these men chose to help us in honoring our ancestors and the Cause for which they fought. Their financial and moral support is appreciated. SPEAKER FOR AUGUST 5, 2015 Our speaker for the evening was Nancy Householder who has studied the Battle of Gettysburg in the arduous attempt to become a Certified Guide. Her presentation was on the Monuments of Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association is the governing body that sets the standards for all monuments placed on the battlefield. At the present time there are 1,320 markers and monuments on the battlefield. These include monuments to states, individuals, and specific units. Some of the requirements of the Association include that any statue or figure of a soldier must be facing the enemy, monuments must be made of granite or bronze and the primary monument is to be positioned on the line that was held in battle. The first Confederate monument on the Gettysburg battlefield was the 1 st Maryland Battalion which was dedicated in The Southern states were impoverished after the war and could not afford the money for these statues. Also, the battlefield association was controlled by Union veterans who discouraged Confederate monuments with their rules. It was not until the early 1900 s that more Confederate monuments appeared in Gettysburg. Virginia s monument was erected in Tennessee was the last Confederate monument dedicated in Following her presentation on the monuments Ms. Householder offered a photo array of Union and Confederate officers. Needless to say Lt. Commander Stuart McClung was the clear winner in this contest. Of a humorous note was the photograph of a Confederate officer in civilian clothes. It was reported to be a post-war photo. Untrue! Someone pointed out that the photo was pre-war photograph, as the unfortunate man did not survive the war! A big thanks to Nancy Householder for her presentation. Chaplain Law closed the meeting at 8:45 p.m. with the benediction. Respectfully submitted Jan Hiett-Adjutant

5 ADJUTANT COMMENTS As I write this on August 16, 2015 the Sons of Confederate Veterans, our Friends, and all those that love the South have witnessed daily attacks on our heritage and culture. We are celebrating the 150 th anniversary of the ending to the war. We are also marking the beginning of the Reconstruction Era. This period in United States history covered between 1865 and 1877 following the Civil War. While President Lincoln and Johnson had fairly lenient policies, the Congressional election of 1866 in the North destroyed any hope of fair treatment for the South. The Radicals took control of the policies which lead to Volume the invasion 9, Issue of 1 the northern Carpetbaggers. With them came wide spread corruption, excessive state spending and ruinous taxes. Historian Eric Foner notes that What remains certain is that Reconstruction failed. As Southerners, we should not be surprised that another period of reconstruction is upon us. Another period which we must fight to preserve that which is important to us. I would like to share with the Camp, by the author s permission, some information about a Civil War Campaign Medal. Our most recent Friend is Chris Glass. In one of our many correspondences he noted that located in his den was a Civil War Campaign Medal that belonged to his great-grandfather. Chris belongs to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Chris reports that this medal was awarded in the early 1900 s. These first Campaign medals appeared after the Spanish-American war when the United States military began to issue such awards. Included were the Civil War and Indian War Campaigns. Inscribed on this award is With Malice Toward None And Charity To All. This was not a victory medal but a medal of reconciliation. As noted in our last newsletter, veterans from both the North and the South met in joint reunions under both flags in the bonds of fraternal friendship after the war. I have spoken to some of our older SCV members that participated in the Civil War reenactments that commemorated the 100 th anniversary of the Civil War. Each person recalls the healing and understanding process that took place in the 1960 s. Now celebrating the Sesquicentennial of the War for Southern Independence we find our ancestors and our heritage attacked. Where is the reconciliation, the healing? The list of attacks is rather large and discouraging. The City of New Orleans wants to remove some of the Confederate statues. The same is happening in Richmond, Virginia. In Lebanon, Tennessee they want to remove the statue of General Robert Hatton, CSA. Frederick, Maryland wants to remove the Roger Brooke Taney s statue that is located outside of City Hall. Why? Because he wrote the Supreme Court s Opinion in the landmark 1857 Dred Scott decision. Unlike todays Supreme Court, Justice Taney was following the law at that time and not making policy! The Shriners have got themselves involved in the Confederate flag issue. After reading the Shriner s policy my head was spinning. Then I realized what a younger friend of mine said when he came home from Iraq. This is what they call circle talk. It goes on forever but never gets to a reasonable explanation. The United States Army has been asked to change the names of the Southern army bases that honor our Confederate heroes. The Army responded by stating that they have no intention of renaming these bases. I hope they do not yield to our politically incorrect enemies. Again, Chris Glass, Captain, United States Navy (Ret), offers his insight into this issue. Chris writes, Every statue and grave is honored United States history. Every desecration of our American military symbols is an assault on all United States military traditions, customs, and honor. To abuse one historical heritage of our force is an abuse on all. Deo Vindice!

6 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONTH Not inclined to Celebrate. Responding to a telegram from Collier s Weekly as to what preparation had been made at the capital of Mississippi to celebrate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the Jackson News sent this: None whatever. Neither have we arranged to celebrate the burning of Jackson, the fall of Vicksburg, or the surrender at Appomattox. Please advise us what plans are being made in New York City for the next celebration of the anniversary of Jefferson Davis. Thanks to Don Goodwin for this research which came from the Confederate Veteran, April, 1928 issue. Volume 9, Issue 1 PRESS RELEASE OF THE MONTH From a June 25, 2015 Release National Parks Pull Confederate Flag Sales Items. Washington-Confederate flag sales items are being removed from national park book stores and gift shops. Cooperating associations, partners and concession providers are to withdraw from sale items that solely depict a Confederate flag. Confederate flags include the Stainless Banner, The Third National Confederate flag and the Confederate Battle flag. This comes from NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis who notes that the agency has a reputation for telling difficult parts of our history. Comments please! QUOTE OF THE MONTH Do your duty in all things you cannot do more, you should never wish to do less. Robert E. Lee SECOND MARYLAND AND A DOG NAMED GRACE At this time the Maryland Division is exploring the possibility constructing a monument in Gettysburg to honor a dog named Grace. A proposed miniature version of this monument has been designed by Andrew Chernack. Mr. Chernack is famous for his many pewter items located at the Gettysburg Wax Museum. This design shows a Lieutenant of the Second Maryland with Grace the dog. Grace was the battalion s mascot. Union General Thomas Kane recalled seeing Grace licking dying soldier s hands despite being perfectly riddled. Grace died of those wounds. General Kane ordered that the dog be given a decent burial as the dog was the only Christian minded-being on either side. Obviously, this will require a great deal of documentation and arm twisting to get the National Park Service to accept a new monument on battlefield property. This was made clear by our August speaker, Nancy Householder. Color Sgt. Ray Rooks is leading this endeavor. Of importance is our ability to show that Grace was actually the mascot or belonged to someone in that unit. Apparently some books validate that information. There is some indication that Grace may be listed in the muster roll. If that is the case that solves some issues. The other obstacles include the line-of-sight issue, a park service requirement. With the monument depicting a dog that should solve that issue. How large could that monument be? Another issue would be the Confederate issue. If Grace was our dog and a Union General requested a proper burial for Grace, then we have a hero that was recognized by both sides. How offensive could that be? I will keep you advised of any new developments.

7 BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG CAMP FLAGGERS As Commander Wasiljov noted the Battle of Sharpsburg Camp Flaggers has been established to promote Confederate history and recruitment for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This effort has been successful with special thanks to Compatriots Roger Boothe and James Kilby for their generous donations. With additional money Volume 9, Issue 1 being promised, we have raised over $200. Please consider adding to this Cause. UPCOMING EVENTS September 2 Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. Camp meeting at Sharpsburg Town Hall September 7 Monday, 11:00 a.m. formation Labor Day Parade Gaithersburg, MD September 12 Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Maryland Monument clean up Gettysburg, PA September 26 Saturday, 10:30 a.m. formation Howard County Monument Ceremony. Sponsored by Trimble Camp # 1836 October 10 Saturday, 11:00 a.m. Point Lookout Ceremony Confederate Park