Guest Speaker: Timothy R. Snyder

Transcription

1 Sons of Confederate Veterans Army of Northern Virginia Maryland Division Camp #1398 Colonel William Norris Sons of Confederate Veterans October 2014 Guest Speaker: Timothy R. Snyder The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m., at VFW John M. Carter Post 9862, located at 211 N. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. Entrance at lower level in rear of building (bingo entrance). See Inside Adjutant Report 3 Annual AP Hill March 4 151st Anniversary of the Assault on Fort (Battery) Wagner 5 Tim Snyder has an M.A. in history from Shippensburg University and is the author of Trembling in the Balance: The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal during the Civil War, published in 2011 by Blue Mustang Press; and a dozen other articles in publications such as the Maryland Historical Magazine, Catoctin History and the Maryland Cracker Barrel. Snyder will talk about "The C&O Canal in Confederate Military History." Special Heritage Defense Meeting A special meeting of the Maryland Division to discuss recent Heritage Violations and appropriate responses and counter strategies was held on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, at the Riviera Beach Public Library. Compatriot Ben Jones, the SCV s Chief of Heritage Operations, facilitated the meeting organized by Division Commander Jay Barringer. Compatriots in attendance included Jay Barringer, Carl Berenholtz, Frank Brown, Elliott Cummings, Andy Garcia, Craig Gotschall, Ben Jones, Terry Klima, Ray Mishoe, Ray Rooks, Clarence Woods and John Zebelean. An Invocation was offered by Compatriot Zebelean followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, the Salute to the Confederate Flag and the Charge of Stephen D. Lee. ANV Heritage Coordinator Terry Klima See Meeting, page 2

2 Page 2 Sons of Confederate Veterans Continued from page 1 Special Heritage Defense Meeting was asked to give a brief overview of the three specific Heritage concerns that included: Jing Ying Institute: An instructor of this martial arts school, participating in the Severna Park 4 th of July parade, publicly made disparaging and offensive Participants attending the Special Heritage Defense Meeting. remarks about or organization and spat in the direction of one of our members. Immediately following the incident, Commander Barringer spoke with the owners of the school regarding the completely inappropriate behavior of its representative. Subsequently, Commander Barringer sent a letter to the owners asking what, if any, action had been taken. To date, no response has been received. Following discussion, it was agreed Terry would send a letter to the Parade organizer, Linda Zahn, expressing concern about the behavior of the Institute s instructor and asking that action be taken to mitigate public safety concerns about the possibility of a future reoccurrence. Hero Dogs: An unidentified contribution in the amount of $ was returned to our National Headquarters by this charity, which assists disabled Veterans, with a note that the Board of Directors and members of our Development Committee respectfully decline being one of the beneficiaries of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The contributor was subsequently identified as the former Pratt Street Patriots Camp. Chief of Heritage Operations Ben Jones sent a letter to the Board, as well as media sources, requesting the basis for declining this charitable contribution. To date, no response has been received. Following discussion, the following was proposed: Ask other Maryland SCV Camps, and possibly Camps nationally, to forward a donation to Hero Dogs, Inc. to garner attention to this issue and force a response from the Board as to why our contributions to aid veterans are unacceptable. Chief of Heritage Operations Ben Jones will post his open letter to the Board of Hero Dogs on their Facebook Page. Glenelg High School: Over the past few weeks, several Howard County students have been disciplined for carrying or wearing Confederate Battle Flags to school functions. While the context of the student s display is unknown, public officials have publicly condemned the flag stating: Public displays of the Confederate flag evoke division, hate and subjugation precisely the opposite of the values we hold in Howard See Meeting, page 3

3 Sons of Confederate Veterans Page 3 Adjutant Report Col. William Norris Camp #1398 Sept. 2, 2014, monthly meeting minutes Commander Frank Brown Jr. called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Members present were: Commander Brown, Historian Bob Brewer and Color Sergeant Steve Fernandez. Special guest attending was Katie Brewer. The invocation was given by Historian Bob Brewer. Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag and the Salute to The Confederate Flag was led by Commander Brown. Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans was read by Commander Brown. The speaker for the evening was Michael Shumaker who spoke about Catholics in the Confederacy. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Frank Brown Jr., Commander Special Heritage Defense Meeting Continued from page 2 County. We clearly object to such sweeping and inaccurate generalizations. After much discussion, Compatriot Jones suggested he write to School Superintendent Fosse offering our services to assist in Howard County s efforts to improve diversity and cultural awareness. Following discussion of the three specific incidents, a general discussion followed that included such topics as: Mobilizing our membership to be proactive Offensive as well as Defensive strategies Avoiding affiliation or appearance of affiliation with other organizations School visits and other opportunities to educate the general public Noting that American flag has also been used inappropriately by racist groups Identifying media outlets, including social media, to get our message out Possibility of Ron Maxwell making a video on Sons of Confederate Veterans Loss of SCV s affinity program due to activist Ed Sebesta writing businesses and Churches claiming we are racist. Chief of Heritage Defense Jones asked for detailed information as to the specifics of Sebesta s activities including a list of businesses contacted. Respectfully submitted, Terry M. Klima

4 Page 4 Sons of Confederate Veterans Bob Brewer (left) and Brian Payne taking a break before they finish the last two of 17 miles our unit does every year to commemorate A.P. Hill s march from Harpers Ferry to Antietam Battlefield. Annual A.P. Hill March Photos by Ginger Turnbull Mellor From left to right are Tyler Utterback, Bob Brewer and Brian Payne after finishing the 17-mile march.

5 Sons of Confederate Veterans Page 5 151st Anniversary of the Assault on Fort (Battery) Wagner July 18, 2014, marked the 151st Anniversary of the Assault on Fort (Battery) Wagner on Morris Island outside the harbor entrance to Charleston, S.C. Fort Wagner, or sometimes called Battery Wagner, was one of several fortifications that guarded the entrance to the Port of Charleston. It was manned by several North and South Carolina Regiments as well as a large artillery contingent. The Fort's arsenal included 14 cannons, the largest a 10 inch Columbiad that fired a 128-pound shell. Aiding in the fort s defense was the Atlantic Ocean to the East and an impassible swamp to the West; leaving a narrow defile 60 yards wide of sand in which to funnel any attack. Composed of sand and earth, its walls rose 30 feet and was surrounded by a shallow moat. The assault this day would actually be the second and a much more significant assault; the first one having been a week previous, with fewer troops engaged and a failure (351 total casualties). The 54th Massachusetts, a Colored Regiment led the assault. Raised in February 1863 at the behest of Gov. Andrew, the 54th would be formed by men from as far away as Canada, Indiana and Ohio. One fourth of the Regiment actually came from slave states and even the Caribbean. Massachusetts did not have very many Afro Americans at the time of the Civil War. The most notable of the new Regiment s enlistees, Charles and Lewis Douglass, were two sons of the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Requested by Gov. Andrew to command the Regiment was Robert Gould Shaw, the second child and only son of wealthy and prominent abolitionist parents. Initially he declined the offer because he wanted to stay with his current Regiment. Shaw had dropped out of Harvard to join the Union Army and was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Massachusetts. He fought in the Shenandoah Valley Campaigns, was wounded at the battles around Front Royal (Va.) and severely tested at Cedar Mountain where his Regiment suffered terrible losses. In September 1862, and now a Captain, he was wounded again at the battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single day in the history of the U.S. Army. He was only 25 years old when he finally agreed to command the 54th. Following their training, the 54th departed Boston Common and headed South. The Regiment at that time was comprised of 1,007 black soldiers and 37 white officers. They left Boston knowing that the Confederate Congress had issued a proclamation stating any captured black soldier would be sold into slavery and any white officer commanding black soldiers would be summarily executed. On May 28, 1863, they boarded transports headed for Charleston, S.C. They would be used for menial work details until Colonel Shaw insisted his men be allowed to fight. After pillaging and burning raids along the Georgia coast, Shaw again insisted his men be given the opportunity to show they were a competent Regiment, ready to See Fort Wagner, page 6

6 Page 6 Sons of Confederate Veterans Continued from page 5 Fort Wagner fight. He would get his wish when his Regiment fought at Sol Legare Island on the outskirts of Charleston, suffering 40 casualties. Their next opportunity would come two days later with the assault against Fort Wagner. At the time of the assault, Colonel Shaw s Regiment numbered 600 men. The 54th, now temporarily assigned to the 1 st Brigade of Seymour s Division was supported by two brigades numbering nine other Regiments. The other Regiments comprising the 1st Brigade were the 6th Connecticut, 48th New York, 3rd New Hampshire, 76th Pennsylvania and the 9 th Maine Regiments. The 2nd brigade was comprised of the 7th New Hampshire, 62nd Ohio, 67th Ohio and the 100th New York Regiments. The 3rd brigade was held in reserve and never saw action. In all, over 5,000 men committed to the assault. The assault would begin at 7:45 p.m. and be conducted in three movements. The 54th Massachusetts attacked to the West with the remainder of the brigade attacking the seaward salient on the South face of the fort. As the assault commenced and the naval bombardment subsided after 10 hours of firing, the Confederates reoccupied their positions. When the 54th Massachusetts reached about 150 yards from the fort, the defenders opened up with cannons and small arms, shredding their ranks. The 54th managed to reach the parapet, but after a fierce struggle, including hand to hand combat, they were forced back and retreated through the ranks of the upcoming Regiments. The 6 th Connecticut continued the assault at the weakest point of the fort. Behind the 6th Connecticut, the 48th New York also successfully reached the slopes of the fort s bastion. Both Regiments managed to get inside the fort; but the remaining Regiments of the Brigade were beaten back. The 2nd Brigade would come up quickly but only about 100 or 200 men from the 62nd and 67th Ohio reached the bastion. The Confederates attempted to counterattack the Union assault twice, but were beaten back after having the officers leading the charge shot down. As the Union assault continued to crumble due to lack of reinforcements, Confederate reinforcements were transported to the island. The fresh Confederate reinforcements swept over the bastion, killing and capturing the rest of the Union troops that remained. The two Regiments inside the fort would continue to fight; not being surrounded and captured until near midnight. The next morning, when the 140 captors were marched off, it was noted that every one of them was a Private. Not one was an NCO or officer. By 10 p.m. the bloody struggle had concluded with heavy losses. The Union Brigade Commander was mortally wounded. Of the seven Regimental Commanders, one was killed, one mortally wounded and several others severely wounded. The 54th Massachusetts's Colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, was killed on the parapet early in the action. Confederate reports would claim his body was pierced seven times, with the fatal wound a rifle bullet to his chest. See Fort Wagner, page 7

7 Sons of Confederate Veterans Page 7 Continued from page 6 Fort Wagner In a little more than two hours of fighting, the Union had suffered over 1,500 casualties; 264 killed, 880 wounded and 389 captured. The Confederate General commanding Wagner stated in his official report that on the morning of July 19, he buried 800 bodies in mass graves in front of Wagner. To show their contempt for the soldiers of the 54th, the Confederates dumped all their bodies in a single unmarked trench and cabled Union leaders that we have buried [Shaw] with his n******. The Southerners expected that this would be such an insult that white officers would no longer be willing to fight with black troops. In fact, the opposite would be true. Colonel Shaw s parents would reply there could be no holier place to be buried than surrounded by brave and devoted soldiers. Only 315 of the 600 men were left from the 54th after the battle. Thirty four were killed in action, 146 were wounded with 24 later dying from their wounds, and 92 were either captured or missing, and never seen again. Both of Douglass sons survived; one being in a hospital and missing the assault. Of the supporting Regiments, in the 48th New York, casualties were actually more severe. The 48th New York, which went into the fight with 420 men and 16 officers, and actually got into the interior of the fort, would suffer 242 casualties, to include 14 of their 16 officers killed, wounded or captured. The fort was never captured. Due to the stench of rotting bodies constantly unearthed by naval bombardments, poor drinking water and provisions, and the close proximity of Union siege lines, it would be abandoned by the Confederates in September 1863; less than 2 months after the devastating Union assault. For the next two years, the 54th would participate in a series of successful siege operations in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida; and also the Union loss at Olustee, Fla., where the Regiment helped stem a rout by plugging a portion of the Union line; then served as the rear guard during the Union retreat. The 54th Massachusetts would eventually return to Boston in September 1865 where they mustered out of the service. Within 20 years of the war s end, nothing would remain of the fort and the soldier s remains. The Atlantic hurricanes and the tides had done what the Union army could not accomplish. On Memorial Day 1897, the sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens unveiled a memorial to the 54th Massachusetts at the same spot on the Boston Common where the regiment had begun its march to war 34 years before. The statue, a three dimensional bronze frieze, depicts Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the men of the 54th as they marched heroically off to war. Above them floats an angel holding an olive branch, a symbol of peace, and a bouquet of poppies, a symbol of remembrance. The Memorial still stands today. For further reading, please see Lay This Laurel (Kirstein & Benson), A Brave Black Regiment (Emilio) and Blue Eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Robert Gould Shaw (Shaw/Editor by Duncan).

8 Sons of Confederate Veterans Army of Northern Virginia Maryland Division Camp #1398 Page 8 The newsletter of the Colonel William Norris Camp #1398 is published 12 times a year by the camp as a service to its membership and to the public. Officers Heritage Violations Notify the Camp Heritage Officer compatriot Jim Stargel (jim.stargel@ffa.gov) of any heritage violations. Frank Brown Jr., Commander 5008 Tothill Drive Phone: Olney, MD fbrwnmcbrwn@aol.com David Redden, 1st Lt. Commander Dowden Circle Phone: Poolesville, MD daveredden@hotmail.com Major David King Jr., 2nd Lt. Commander 5611 Oak Place Phone: Bethesda, MD Dejota.King@verizon.net Dan Buckingham, 3rd Lt. Commander Front Field Lane Phone: Potomac, MD danbuckingham@hurrisafe.com Bob Brewer, Historian 205 E. Deer Park Drive Phone: Gaithersburg, MD brewer000@verizon.net Steve Fernandez, Color Sergeant 702 Grandin Avenue Phone: Rockville, MD remissong2730@msn.com Thomas Keefer, Chaplain Cross Bridge Way Phone: Germantown, MD tskeef@yahoo.com John Howerton, Recruiting Officer 5031 Edmonston Road Phone: Hyattsville, MD jech95@netzero.net Jim Stargel, Heritage Office/Quartermaster Phyllis Brown, Editor jim,stargel@ffa.gov phyllisbrown20832@gmail.com