Lee's Dispatch Captain Bob Lee SCV Camp 2198

Transcription

1 Lee's Dispatch Captain Bob Lee SCV Camp 2198 Volume 4, Issue 5 March 15, 2015 Commander s Report By Doug Garnett I have had a hard time putting thoughts into words, correct words for this month s Commander s report. The Texas Division of the SCV is standing at a cross roads in the future of this Division. These members call themselves the Vindicators, a group of Texas SCV members who feel the time is now for change. These men have a zeal for their convictions on what needs to be done; however I can t sit by and not speak out. They feel the current path of the Division is that of being reconstructed and giving in to following the occupational forces rules. They also do not want the United States flag or pledge being used in any of the SCV events. The use of the flag or the pledge is tantamount to treason to the charge. Here are a few items to refute their stand. First from the current National SCV Camp Handbook Section 9: The following "Order of Business" is offered as a general guide for conducting camp business. Some camps may find it advantageous to alter or vary from the sequence listed: 1. Call to order 2. Invocation 3. Pledge to U.S. Flag 4. Salute to State Flag 5. Salute to Confederate Flag 6. Reading of minutes from the previous meeting 7. Treasurer's report 8. Communications 9. Reports a. Standing Committees * b. Special Committees ** March 28 th Camp Ford Living History Tyler (9 4) See malink/ / April 11 th Medal of Honor Parade, Gainesville, TX 10 AM April 18 th CV Memorial, Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, TX END Army Rank Insignia Used in the War Part two Rank insignia for officers was displayed on the collar, shoulder, on the lower arm of their coats, by braid on their kepis and by hat devices, and even buttons. Kepi and hat devices were embroidered emblems or stamped brass badges on the front or top of the kepi and front of the hat. Stamped brass infantry badge on the top of the kepi pictured left. The Union hat below demonstrates brass device on the front of this cavalry hat. Continued on page 6B Lee s Dispatch is the official newsletter for the Sons of Confederate Veterans Captain Bob Lee Camp 2198 and is intended for the sole purpose of keeping the camp members and friends of the camp informed to the activities and news of Camp Statements in this newsletter are those of the author and may not reflect the opinions of the Captain Bob Lee Camp, editor or of the National Sons of Confederate Veterans. Within articles or quotes written by outside authors mistakes in spelling, grammar or sentence structure are strictly those of the author and may be left as is.. Continued on page 2A Lee's Dispatch 1

2 Continued from page 1B The embroidered emblems were not as common as the stamped brass. The brass held up better and shinned better. Here is an example of an embroidered emblem on a kepi Buttons also could be used to designate whether or not the person was an officer or enlisted as well as to which service he belonged to. The button, left, is that of a Federal enlisted man; while the button pictured below is that of a Federal Infantry officer. The button, right, is that of a Confederate officer. Note the difference in the eagle. It should also be noted the Confederates often took buttons from the dead to replace them on their own uniforms. Buttons could also show national, state or branch of service. Sample embroidered emblems Belt buckles were also a method of displaying rank. An enlisted man s buckle was most often a lead filled brass shell. The Confederate buckle to the left shows the shiny brass front and the lead filled back. The buckle pictured below is that of an Non commissioned officer. Most often used on a sword belt. The rank insignia for enlisted men were pretty much identical for both sides. First Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Continued on page 3A Lee's Dispatch 2

3 Continued from page 2B The color of the stripe, like the officer s shoulder board, designated which branch of the army the enlisted man was in: Infantry = Blue Artillery = Red Cavalry = Yellow Engineers = Yellow (or Gold) Ordnance = Crimson My Confederate Copy of a U.S. M.1840 Dragoon Saber, or... Why the South Lost the Civil War! By James Neel Note: the yellow on red is a Marine Sergeant. Because of supply lines were stretched, and always endanger of being cut Confederate soldiers at the front found themselves having to improvise. Many were taking the clothing from the wounded and often from the dead. There are many letters home from Confederates who were able to raid supply trains of the Union. In one letter of a Confederate cavalrymen we rode out looking like the best dressed union cavalry he went to say that each man had one or two changes of federal blue uniforms. Well, certainly not the only reason - but the obvious differences in manufacturing capabilities between the two regions are amply demonstrated by comparison of the Confederate-made product with the Union original. (In case anyone reading this can't tell, the Confederate is pictured at bottom above and at the left below.) I've shown my N. P. Ames original M in considerable detail recently, so apart from pointing out differences will concentrate here on the Confederate, which is as often the case with these, totally unmarked by its unknown maker. Swords like this are often known to collectors as Dog River Swords because that was the name of an otherwise unidentified factory mentioned in an obscure period document, so a possible maker of any unknown Confederate blade. More recent research has identified the Dog River to be a tributary of Mobile Bay in Alabama, but none of the products of the eponymous factory have ever been identified as being such, though the name persists for unknown pieces like this. Uniforms served as protection and identification as well as rank. The uniforms for both services had different design and cut between the enlisted men and officers. The uniform was something to distinguish units, branches, and enlisted from officer. Camouflage was not something the services were interested in. A soldier was to stand his ground, charge the enemy. It is in ambush that camouflage would become useful. Ambush was not a way an honorable soldier would use. With changing attitudes over time the idea of large unit maneuvers faded from use. The trench warfare, which started toward the end of the War for Southern Independence, of the First World War caused leaders to realize that fast moving units would accomplish more than the slow moving, maneuvering large units. As part of the modern uniform, camouflage is to protect the soldier by being hidden from the enemy. Since the then-new model U. S. cavalry saber usually identified as the M.1860 was in short supply at the beginning of the war, it was only natural Confederate sword cutlers would copy the readily available M.1840 Dragoon Saber with which to arm their own mounted troopers. In size and function these two examples are essentially similar; but the slovenly Southern workmanship will be readily apparent. In case anyone wishes to accuse me of South-bashing, let me hasten to say these flaws - which are eagerly looked-for by collectors of Confederate militaria - merely reflect relative manufacturing capabilities. A few Southern factories produced satisfactory items, but usually in relatively small numbers. Lee's Dispatch 3 Continued on page 4A

4 Continued from page 3B Indeed, pieces such as this were usually the products of very small shops and sometimes even individual blacksmiths, who might be slaves or employ slave assistants in the process of fitting and completing jobs. One feature of many brass items of Confederate make is the notable reddish hue, so unlike that of modern brass. Unionmade brass also tends to be reddish because it too has a higher component of copper-to-nickel than now; Confederate brass has even more copper due to its ready availability in the South compared to nickel. Other substitutions evident here are the grip wrap made of nothing more than tarred (black-painted) canvas instead of leather; and common iron bailing wire for the twisted brass strands that encircle it. Notice the difference between the tang rivets of these two; the tang is an extension of the steel blade which extends the length of the grip, emerging through a hole in the pommel cap. It is then peened over to secure the whole grip to the blade and then polished smooth. In the Confederate example, shown in detail below, the hole in the cap wasn't even centered and the resulting rivet was poorly finished off. As an aside I'll mention that these rivets are critical in determining whether or not a sword has been "messed with" or altered and should never be tampered with on what is known to be an authentic specimen, lest it cast doubt on its integrity. The peening of the rivet secures the entire sword; notice that when this was done here, it forced the wooden grip (which was likely improperly drilled out or fitted in the first place) to pop out of the retaining socket on the guard as can easily be seen below. Needless to say, a saber like this would never have been accepted by Union inspectors! The pommel cap, (as seen in the next photo) besides having a crude, lumpy shape, shows the marks where it was filed and fit, something that would've been polished out on Union-made swords and would never have passed inspection in the North. Continued on page 5A Lee's Dispatch 4

5 Continued from page 4B It's hard to tell from these photos, but the heavy iron-insteadof-steel blade is now very dark and pitted overall. The Ames at right has a stout but flexible blade, as it should, and can be bent several degrees without actually staying bent; this was a sign of well-tempered steel. I wouldn't dream of attempting that with the other one, with its iron or mostly-iron "steel" blade! The Last Confederate Ordnance Magazine in Texas The ordnance magazine was one of three built in 1863 at Jefferson, Texas on the banks of Big Cypress Bayou. The magazine and land it is on is owned by the Historic Jefferson Foundation. Many years ago the magazines had decayed two into ruins. Efforts to retain the one and keep it from crumbling took parts of the worst two and restored this one. The tin roof is a modern element to protect the structure. Why were these magazines located in Jefferson? They were the holding point for gun powder today known as black powder. The powder was produced at Marshall, Texas. The Marshall Powder mill was located some fifteen miles from Jefferson and land locked. The powder was moved by wagon from Marshall to Jefferson where it was stored in these magazines. As noted above, all these flaws, though not a feature of every Confederate-made cavalry saber, serve as hallmarks of authenticity for collectors of Confederate edged weapons. Unfortunately when I acquired it forty years ago, the Confederate saber was missing its scabbard. Likely it was as poorly-made as the sword itself - often these are thin rolled iron, crudely soldered together and having cast-brass bracelets that secure the brass carrying rings. Some straightbladed swords, even more crudely-made than this, had wooden scabbards with metal fittings! The magazines are double wall with a hollow space between the walls. At the bottom of the inside wall is a ventilation hole and a hole at the top of the outside wall was to keep the humidity low and the air cool. Once enough of the ordnance was located in Jefferson The powder was then loaded onto steamboats and shipped downstream to Confederate troops. On April 14, 1865, Federal troops took over the little buildings and used them for troop encampment.. Today the river is eating away at the bank as pictured above. There is only about fifteen feet of land left. Artifacts have been found around the building uncovered by the erosion. The United Daughters of the Confederacy have joined forces with the Historic Jefferson Foundation and the Continued on page 6A Lee's Dispatch 5

6 Continued from page 5B Texas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to arrest the erosion and prevent the loss of this historic structure. A very costly retaining wall needs to be constructed to stop the erosion of the riverbank. The Building was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and would be a devastating loss to the State, Jefferson, and the history of our country. It is a suggestion, not an order, by the National SCV. More support for the use of the United States flag can be found in the relics from the United Confederate Veterans. Post cards, reunion medals, even photos of actual veterans displaying the flag. Because this structure is located on water way several different Federal agencies will have to give their approval of any work done to preserve the structure. The structure is cut off from access by the public. There are tours by boat available for people see it. The land surrounding the structure is privately owned. A road, owned by the same man runs behind the structure. The man is amiable to developing the area into a park and allowing visitors access by land. All these details are pending while plans are worked out with the agencies involved fund are being raised at this time. The Historic Jefferson Foundation is accepting donations at the following web site: Magazine.html Jefferson Ordnance Magazine P.O. Box 688 Jefferson, TX The location of the Marshall Powder Mill is still in used by a business, though no longer a powder mill. Here is evidence our ancestors, the very veterans who fought for their independence from a Union they felt had betrayed them, used the symbol of the Union. These men held dear the country and flag before the war. They based their own government and symbols on the very country they wanted to be free from. George Washington is even used on the Great Seal of the Confederate States. I guess they know better than the actual men who stood for their independence, the very men who saw their friends die. I guess these ancestors were traitors to the cause since they used the United States Flag in their events. Lee's Dispatch 6