September, 2012 PRESIDENTS REPORT

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1 September, 2012 PRESIDENTS REPORT Ladies and Gentlemen of the DCV, At the Board meeting in Waco last month we discussed amending the Constitution of the Descendants of Confederate Veterans with respect to Article VII, Section 7, subparagraph (d). This section specifically addresses the Salute to the Confederate Flag as follows: I salute the Confederate Flag, with affection, reverence, and undying devotion to the cause for which it stands. The proper form of salute will be by either placing the right hand over the heart as in the pledges to the United States or Texas flags, or by displaying an upturned palm, with the arm being extended in front of the body at approximately waist level. The Salute to the Confederate Flag was written by Mrs. James Henry Parker of New York and adopted by the UDC in It is as follows: I salute the Confederate Flag, with affection, reverence, and undying remembrance. The speaker stands at attention facing the flag while covering the heart with the right hand. The right hand is dropped and then replaced over the heart with each successive pledge or salute. Waco was in favor of adopting the original salute from the United Daughters of the Confederacy and eliminating the SCV components. Since the Board by itself cannot amend the constitution, and rightfully so, we will deal with this question at the reunion next year. Please give some serious thought to this proposed change to our Constitution and also to where our reunion should be held. I am pleased to report my letter writing campaign has begun paying dividends. Perhaps the newspaper city editor has come to the realization that I am not going away; perhaps my argument has been persuasive. Whatever the reason I received a telephone call from Mrs. Judy Stratton of the LongeNs-J us-ralo n J and we had an extremely cordial conversation regarding the procedure for ensuring information about the bimonthly meetings of the East Texas Chapter of the DCV gets published in the newspaper. She has given me her personal assurance the information will be published both Wednesday, the day before the meeting, and Thursday, the day of the meeting. My profuse thanks goes out to Mrs. Stratton for her cooperation. With Best Wishes and Kindest Regards, J. D. Boydstun President, Board of Directors So what we have at the present time is a carryover from the SCV with some of the elements of the original UDC salute worked in. Every Board member in attendance in Descendants of Confederate Veterans of Texas

2 EDITORS MUSINGS As I sit here with the remnants of Isaac going on outside. A much needed soft rain. I cannot help but think of those in La. And Miss. That are under water and losing whatever they have. As stated in the last newsletter, we are still working on a location for the convention. Seems we have broken it down to at least three places and are now trying to see what their room, meeting room, situation is. You will be advised ASAP by a special letter. We have picked up two more new members in South Carolina, friends of Ralph Green. We are delighted to have them. MOSB Congratulations to the MOSB for a good convention in San Antonio this past month. It combined the Texas Society as well as the national Society. Of course, most anything done in S.A. is going to be a success. It s a neat place with a lot of history. If I may, from the last issue of the Clarion Call, Texas Society newsletter. William Polk Hardeman, Gotch Hardeman was born in Williamson County, Tn., November 4, 1816, and moved to Texas in He took part in the War for Texas Independence and later in the Mexican War, serving under Ben McCulloch. His first Confederate service was as a captain of the 4 th Texas Cavalry in General Sibley s expedition into New Mexico Territory resulting in being commended by his superiors for his performance at Val Verde. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel and in 1862 to Colonel. He led his command during the Red River campaign of 1864 and the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill and the resulting pursuit of Gen. N. P. Banks. Upon the recommendation of Kirby Smith, he was promoted to Brig. General to rank from March 17, At the end of the war and until 1874, Hardeman was a planter. He subsequently served as assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Texas House of Representatives, a railroad inspector and during the last years of his life, he was superintendent of

3 public building and grounds, which was a position that included supervision of the Texas Confederate Soldiers Home. Gen. Hardeman died in Austin, Texas, April 8, 1898, and is buried in the State cemetery in Austin. Ed s note: Hardeman County, Texas was named after Gotch UNITED STATES PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1892 I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands; one I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands; one I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands; one present I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and Thanks to Carl Hedges for this information. PACIFIC MOH RECEIPIANTS Pfc. Arthur J. Jackson Peleliu 118 September, 1944 Boldly taking the initiative when his platoon s left flank advance was held up by the fire of Japanese troops concealed in strongly fortified positions, Pfc. Jackson unhesitatingly proceeded forward of our lines and, courageously defying the heavy barrages, charged a large pillbox housing approximately 35 enemy soldiers. Pouring his automatic fire into the opening of the fixed

4 installation to trap the occupying troops, he hurled white phosphorus grenades and explosive charges brought up by a fellow marine, demolishing the pillbox and killing all of the enemy. Advancing alone under the continuous fire from other hostile emplacements, he employed similar means to smash two smaller positions in the immediate vicinity. Determined to crush the entire pocket of resistance although harassed on all sides by the shattering blasts of Japanese weapons and covered only by small rifle parties, he stormed one gun position after another, dealing death and destruction to the savagely fighting enemy in his inexorable drive against the remaining defenses, and succeeded in wiping out a total of 12 pillboxes and 50 Japanese soldiers. Stouthearted and indomitable despite the terrific odds, Pvt. Jackson resolutely maintained control of the platoon s left flank movement throughout his one-man assault and, by his cool decision and relentless fighting spirit during a critical situation, contributed essentially to the complete annihilation of the enemy in the southern sector of the island. His gallant initiative and heroic conduct in the face of extreme peril reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Jackson and the U.S. Naval Service. A COWBOY TOMBSTONE FIVE RULES FOR MEN TO FOLLOW FOR A HAPPY LIFE. 1. It s important to have a woman who helps at home, cooks from time to time, cleans up, and has a job. 2. It s important to have a woman who makes you laugh. 3. It s important to have a woman you can trust, and doesn t lie to you. 4. It s important to have a woman who is good in bed, and likes to be with you. 5. It s very, very, important that these four women do not know each other or you could end up like me. CAMP TWIGGS Camp Twiggs was named after Army General David Twiggs, commander of the southeastern U.S. in The command headquarters was in Baton

5 Rouge, La. Camp Twiggs was established about ¼ mile north on basically the site of old Camp Jefferson Davis. The camp consisted of only tents and a few open buildings in a grove of trees. From Sept. to May between years of 1849 to 1855, the camp was garrisoned by a company of infantry or artillery rotating out of the stone/brick coastal forts between New Orleans and Pensacola; notably Ft s Barrancas, Pickens, Pike, and Macomb. While the camp was in use in , 20 soldiers died and another 20 deserted. In 1851, an Act of Congress designated The location as one of the first three Military Asylums to be established in the country and was funded by fees collected from officers and soldiers. The real estate was formally purchased from Jacob Baptiste and the buildings were totally refurbished for use as a convalescent facility for invalid soldiers on furlough or recovering from wounds. However, soldiers really never took advantage of the Asylum, and it never had over 20 soldiers present at any one time. It was closed in 1855 and the patients re-assigned to the asylum in Washington, D.C. The last commander of the asylum was Lt. Charles Merchant, who died in 1855 from wounds received in the Indian wars in Texas in He is the only known commissioned officer to die in the vicinity of Pascagoula The Military Asylum was the direct descendant of the Old Soldiers Home. Many of the soldiers that perished at Camp Davis and Camp Twiggs, and later in the WBTS, are buried in the adjacent lot known as the Asylum Lot on survey plots. The property was sold by the government in THANKS TO ROGER HANSEN AND THE JACKSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Ed: If you remember Twiggs was the one who surrendered the Alamo and the yankee troops several months before the firing on Ft. Sumpter. Possibly the first actions of the WBTS. Barney Hilburn Editor (of sorts)