SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

Adjutant/Treasurer Report
Our checking account balance as of April 8th was $2,903.18. Attendance at the March meeting was 10 members and 7 visitors. Donations raised at the April meeting were $51.00. Thank you to Matt Barrett who sent a donation of $25.00. The Chesterfield County Confederate History and Heritage Day was held on Saturday April 6 th. The camp raised $32.00 at our recruiting booth and presented our wreath at the ceremony. There were a good number of people in attendance which helps promote a positive image of our Confederate ancestors. Chaplain Don Price was the emcee. Also in attendance were Commander Bill Brown, 2nd Lt. Commander Tommy Clinger, John Henry Taylor and his wife, Darlene, Roy Brooks, Jimmy Ligon, Dennis Marshall, and myself. Thank you to all who volunteered, including Susan Hathaway and the Virginia Flaggers. Also, thank you to Brent Tyree and his wife who created and put together the latest addition to our recruiting tools, paper fans. They attached the handles themselves and brought them by the event. The fans proved to be quite popular and will be even more so as summer approaches. The camp has won the Virginia Division Outstanding Camp Award for the fourth year straight. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Please remember the Confederate Medal of Honor Memorial Service to be held on May 11th, 2013 at Blandford Church in Petersburg. This is a major achievement for the camp and especially Mike Thomas and John Henry Taylor. The service will be held at 4:00 pm. Please see me, John Henry, or Commander Brown to volunteer. The more who come to this the better, so please spread the word. Respectfully submitted, Blair Perrow Adjutant/Treasurer 04/15/2013

A camp member has donated $3,000.00 worth of flag staffs with accoutrements and $1,600.00 worth of handmade flags to the camp. These flags can be used by a formal color guard and as a formal flag display at any events that the camp participates in

SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

2013 Virginia Division Convention Summary By John Henry Taylor

The convention was un-eventful this year. There was no voting on officers or by-law changes. For the first time, that I can remember, there was a quorum present on the first calling - a good sign. Our camp was represented by Commander Bill Brown, Dennis Marshall and his lovely wife, John Henry Taylor and his wife, Darlene. Reports were given by the Division archivist, and Division Commander Michael Pullen give the treasurers report in that the treasurer could not attend the convention. Reports were also given by all of the Brigade Commanders and it was announced that a new camp had been formed. The heritage defense coordinator briefly touched on the subject of the heritage violations being committed in Richmond by the Virginia Museum of Fine Art and also on the vile and inexcusable behavior of S. Waite Rawls III, Director of the Museum of the Confederacy in banning the battle flag, 2nd National, and 3rd National Flags from exterior display at both the museum in Richmond and the new museum at Appomattox Courthouse, Va. . The Sam Davis Youth Camp will be held again this year in Thaxton, Va. and all of the camps are encouraged to sponsor (pay for) a young person to attend the one week event. The cost for each child is approximately $500.00. This is a most worthwhile learning experience for southern young people to learn to be proud of their history, believe in God, and behave in a manner consistent with Southern Ladies and Gentlemen. Letters were written by some of these children attesting to how their week at the Sam Davis Youth Camp had changed their lives for the better and made them proud to be of southern heritage. The President Jefferson Davis Memorial service will be held on June 8th at the Hollywood Cemetery at 9 A.M. Our camp is committed to help by being there around 7:30 to set up chairs and to run 3rd National Flags up and down the flag pole. The sale of these flags helps to fund the event. The Jefferson Davis Committee has never had to rely on any funds from the Va. Division SCV to put on this event. It is funded by donations from members and the sale of items there. Our 2nd Brigade Commander (and Va. Flagger) Everette Ellis along with Jim Cochrane of the Jeb Stuart Camp have been putting this event on for years and they do an excellent job. It is an event that the entire family can enjoy and learn from. One of the speakers this year will be the great great grandson of President Jefferson Davis. There will be a marching bag pipe band present, reenactors, artillery volleys, and musket volleys. It was announced that the 2015 National SCV reunion will be held in Richmond, Va. (The Capital of the Confederacy). The highlight of the convention was the awarding of the "Most Outstanding Camp Awards" of which our camp won for the fourth year in a row. This award was started four years ago and we have achieved this honor every year since. These awards are in the form of battle honors and are affixed to our camp flag staff. We also recieved many compliments from other camps on our Camp Flag - I must confess, it was the most beautiful of all the other flags on display. On Saturday afternoon, the delegates and their families met at the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery at the grave of General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson where we celebrated the life and service of this great man of faith. On Saturday evening, we were entertained by Mrs. Kelly Adkins Hinson, who portrays Anna Jackson, the devoted wife of General Jackson. At the conclusion of Mrs. Hinson's portrayal, there was hardly a dry eye in the room.

SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

Confederate Medal of Honor Memorial service

On Saturday, May 11, 2013, the General Robert E. Lee Camp # 1589 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will be hosting a Confederate Medal of Honor Memorial service for Medal of Honor recipient, Pvt. Lawrence Berry of the Washington Artillery (Louisianna), who was killed in action at the Battle of Fort Gregg, Petersburg on April 2, 1865. Fort Gregg became known as the "Confederate Alamo". The service will be held in the historic Blandford Church in the Blandford Cemetery Petersburg, Virginia promptly at 4:00 P.M. inside the church and will close at Pvt. Berry's grave site, which is a few feet from the church. Speakers will be D. Michael Thomas, National Medal of Honor Committee, and Ms. Martha Mann Atkinson, site manager of the Blandford Church. All are invited - uniforms & period dress are encouraged but not required. Those wishing to lay a wreath at the service may contact National Medal of Honor Committee Member John Henry Taylor at Ph# 804-794-0704 or E-Mail johnhenrytaylor@comcast.net. Don't miss this opportunity to honor one of the few Confederate Medal of Honor recipients and visit the historic Blandford Church at the same time. Camp personnel arrive at the church at 2 P.M. for briefing and duty assignments We will need many members to participate in carrying out task (parking, wreaths, Programs Etc..) in this event, if you haven't already signed up to help, please do. Many months ago, our previous Camp Adjutant, Mike Thomas, did considerable research on a young solider named, Pvt. Lawrence Berry of the 3rd Company of the Washington Artillery (Louisiana) who was killed in action at the Battle of Fort Gregg, Petersburg on April 2nd, 1865. Pvt. Berry was just a teenage boy when he enlisted in the Washington Artillery. He listed his occupation as a barber on his enlistment record. Being a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Pvt. Berry found himself a long way from home on that fateful day in April 1865. Not too many months before, he found himself in a hospital in Richmond suffering from a gunshot wound but as soon as he healed up, he was back in action at the lines around Petersburg. General Lee knew that it was just a matter of hours before the union invaders would break the lines at Petersburg and that Richmond would fall. His only hope was to evacuate the army west, but in order to do that, he needed precious time. Pvt. Berry was one of only 334 Confederate defenders left to stand against 5,000 Yankee troops sent against their position. The order of the day was to "Hold at all costs". There was little doubt in the minds of our troops that day as to what was expected of them. It was hoped that they could hold off the Yankee horde for at least two hours to enable General Lee to evacuate and save the army. Out of eight Confederate cannons that began the battle two hours earlier, only Pvt. Berry and his six pounder remained in operation. Having just loaded his piece with double canister, Pvt. Berry stood in the open holding the firing lanyard when dozens of Yankee troops came swarming over the parapet. The enemy shouted to him to drop the lanyard or they would shoot. Pvt. Berry could easily have saved his life by dropping the lanyard, but instead, he replied to the invaders, "Shoot and be Damned!", as he pulled the lanyard inflicting heavy causalities on the enemy. Pvt. Berry was immediately shot down and his body riddled by musket balls. Compatriot Thomas, realizing the outstanding heroism of this young soldier, compiled all of the records and paperwork necessary to submit a recommendation to the National Sons of Confederate Veterans Medal of Honor Committee for consideration. Last Year, the committee voted to award the Confederate Medal of Honor to Pvt. Lawrence Berry.

SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013
Next Meeting

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday May 7th , 2013 dinner at 6 P.M. and to follow with business and speaker at 7 P.M. at the Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant, 2401 Colony Crossing Place Midlothian, VA 23112
Fred Chiesa is our speaker for the May meeting Fred will take us on a comprehensive journey through all 7 issues of Confederate currency, early printing challenges and, printing operations, the challenges of acquiring quality paper and printing equipment and the hiring and importation of the engraving firm of Keatinge & Ball. As inflation ran out of control the attempt was made to retire early issues of currency into bonds and tax remaining old issues out of existence. It is a fascinating story. Stamps? Did I forget stamps? Get ready for another interesting story. Biography: Fred Chiesa is a native of Newport News and has been a very active member in several area Civil War Associations. A member of the Portsmouth Civil War Round Table and Stars and Bars Order, Fred is instrumental in the efforts of the Jefferson Davis Committee and has also served three times as the 1st Lt. Commander, and now as Commander of SCV Stonewall Camp 380. His father, Aldo Chiesa, was a founding member of the North South Skirmish Association, and Fred attended most of the Civil War Centennial Celebrations. An author of several local Civil War articles, Fred has become an acclaimed speaker on a wide range of topics including the Jefferson Davis Monument in Richmond, the Confederate Monument in Portsmouth, the Grand Camp of Virginia with the Early Virginia Sons of Confederate Camp, Confederate currency, as well as Confederate stamps. Fred Chiesa has worked for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for 35 years and currently lives in Yorktown with his wife Ginger Chiesa; they have three children.

SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

This is initial prototype for placement in the Chesterfield County Fair catalog for 2013.

SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

Every day, we are forced to wade through an internet filled with articles and information about the War Between the States from the perspective of those who would rewrite history to fit their Anti-Southern agenda. Va Flaggers Tripp and Jack Lewis had an idea to try and do something about it and we are very excited to roll out their answer in the brand new search engine www.confederatearchives.com The site is family friendly, and has fast, free access to facts and information that has been screened and streamlined to make searching for information about the War Between the States faster and more productive. Why use confederatearchives.com instead of google or other search engines? (1) We only index one topic: Southern History and Heritage from 1828 to present. Type "Lee" on google and see how many results come up for LEE JEANS instead of General Lee. Then try ours. (2) We have quicker updates to our listed sites. (3) We offer another place to locate information should google ever decide to censor the content in their search engine. (4) We will allow only accurate information in our search engine. Hate pages, and sites with inaccurate and false information will be removed.

SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

2013 State Convention Pictures

SOUTHERN

ILLUSTRATED

May

2013

The Official Publication Of The General Robert E Lee camp #1589 Of The Sons Of Confederate Veteran Midlothian, Virginia

April 27, 2 pm lecture about "Extra" Billy Smith

Author Scott Mingus speaks at Confederate War Memorial Chapel(2900 Grove Ave) in Richmond on Saturday, April 27th at 2:00 PM. His new book on Gov. Smith is surely the most complete publication to date on this true son of Virginia. This former governor of Virginia returned with his family from the gold fields of California to defend his native state. He was to rise to generals rank in the Confederate Army and serve as governor again through the end of the war. A memorial window in the Chapel and a cottage on the grounds were donated by the Smith family." ..Please attend if you can. After the talk, go out and help support the Virginia Flaggers. Help Restore the Flag and Honor.