Camp Cresset Finley s Brigade Camp #1614 Havana, Florida

Transcription

1 Camp Cresset Finley s Brigade Camp #1614 Havana, Florida Recipient 2011 and 2012 Dr. George R. Tabor Most Distinguished Camp Award "To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish." SCV Reunion in Memphis Tennessee The Sons of Confederate Veterans held their 122 Annual Reunion in Memphis, Tennessee. There were over 600 registered members there; plus their families. It was a great reunion; seeing long-time friends again and making new acquaintances. We heard from every aspect of the SCV and its activities. From the new Confederate Museum to the monuments removed in New Orleans; from the Hunley Awards to the Sam Davis Youth Camp, and all inbetween. There were two proposed amendments to the SCV Constitution. Both failed to pass. The first would have required 10 members to start a new SCV Camp.(The current number is 7) The other amendment would have prevented the SCV Mechanized Cavalry from wearing the SCV logo on their vests. This was soundly defeated. The Reunion also provides opportunities to shop with Confederate friendly vendors. Book authors, clothing vendors, the SCV store, and others make the Reunion each year. Many tours were offered this year, but I went on one of my own. I went to Forrest Park and then to Elmwood Cemetery. I would recommend that each member attend at least one Division Reunion and one National Reunion. I believe that you would enjoy it. Upcoming Reunions: 2018 in Franklin Tennessee, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama, 2020 tentatively in Jacksonville, Florida. Also discussed were possible Reunion locations in North Carolina, and Georgia. 1

2 The Corwin Amendment The Corwin Amendment. The Forgotten Amendment By Samuel Ashwood October 1, 2008 Not every amendment ever proposed for the Constitution of the United States has passed. However, even those that fail of ratification (e.g., the Equal Rights Amendment) tell us a lot about the general drift of society. For any issue to gain such national prominence that it would gain even a proposition for constitutional amendment means that issue is a major one in the society of that day. Many Americans remember the Equal Rights Amendment, but none alive today remember the Corwin Amendment. Very few Americans are even aware of its existence, because the writers of history have found it convenient to ignore anything that does not fit into the historical paradigms they have created. The Corwin Amendment destroys many of the historical elite s fancies about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. The Corwin Amendment was proposed by Congressman Thomas Corwin of Ohio when the Cotton States began to secede from the Union in late 1860, early It read: No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State. In short, the amendment would have forbidden the Federal government to interfere with the institution of slavery. It was the hope of Corwin and the amendment s supporters that, with slavery absolutely guaranteed by the Constitution itself, the Southern states would immediately return to the Union, averting the threat of civil war. The amendment gained great initial support. It was passed by both houses of Congress. Henry Adams noted that the victory for the amendment in the senate was due largely to the lobbying of president-elect Abraham Lincoln. The amendment was then signed by lame duck president James Buchanan, although a presidential signature has no effect on whether or not an amendment is approved. When one considers some of the prevalent historical myths treasured in America, it is easy to see why the Corwin Amendment is completely ignored by mainstream historians. First, it destroys the myth that the Southern states seceded for no other reason than to protect slavery. The odds of passing the Corwin Amendment would likely have been very favorable, with only the New England states guaranteed to defeat it. Abraham Lincoln endorsed the amendment in his first inaugural address. But no Southern state ever gave a hint that they 2

3 would return to the Union, even if the Corwin Amendment were approved. Shortly thereafter, Abraham Lincoln kept another promise he had made in his first inaugural address, that he would use armed force to collect tariffs and protect federal property in the Southern states. Needless to say, these bare historical facts also destroy the myth of Abraham Lincoln as the great Abolitionist crusader, and friend of the bondman. His support of the Corwin Amendment make it plain he was perfectly willing for the Negro to remain in bondage forever, if it kept the Union together. The Corwin Amendment, of course, failed, because the Southern states were disinterested in rejoining a Union where authority was shifting irrevocably to Washington, and away from the state capitals. Abraham Lincoln would call for volunteers to suppress the rebellion, and ensure that final power forever in the United States would rest in Washington. The Corwin Amendment is technically still pending. However, it does not seem due to pass any time soon. The Gardiner Explosive Bullet. (Not to be confused with the GARDNER Bullet) By Compatriot JR Miller The Gardiner bullet was an experimental bullet that the Union used in limited numbers invented by Samuel Gardiner Jr. It was a hollow alloy bullet. The hollow chamber was made of copper and contained a bursting charge. The main intent of the bullet was for it to explode after it was shot out of a musket. Timing was about a second and a half. This bullet received a patent in Some of the bullets were captured by Confederates and actuations were thrown at the Confederate Government after the war for developing such a barbaric weapon. However the truth is the Confederate never manufactured such a thing. Both sides fired them at the battle of Gettysburg. There are a few reports from the battle of bullets bursting and causing multiple wounds. In the Patent Office Report for will be found the following account of the Gardiner musket shell: No. 40,468 - Samuel Gardiner, Jr., of New York, N. Y., - Improvement in Hollow Projectiles - Patent dated November 3, The shell to form the central chamber is attached to a 3

4 mandrel, and the metal forced into a mold around it. Claim - Constructing shells for firearms by firing the metal into a mold around an internal shell supported on a mandrel. The US Army issued the order of 100,000 of the.58 Caliber (at $36/1,000), and 18,000-20,000 in.52 Caliber. The 52 caliber was designed to be shot out of Sharps/Carbine Rifles and were issued to officers. These were manufactured at Harpers Ferry. The bullet however, was met with much controversy amongst US officers, soldiers, & the public. It is said that one of President Lincoln s officers made the following statement, Isn t it enough to shoot a man with a bullet, now we have to shoot and explode him with one? According to the Federal War Department archives, the Union Army issued 33,350 of these rounds to be used in the battle of Chancellorsville & Gettysburg. It was documented that appx. 10,000 of these rounds were seized by Confederate forces at Chancellorsville, so both sides had their hands on these rounds. After the Battle of Gettysburg, U.S. officers reported their dislike of the Exploding musket shell due to its fiendish and barbaric nature. There are also stories of soldiers dumping the bullets out of their pouches in fear of their cartridge pouch being struck by an enemy bullet (Boom). Stories exist of that happening to a soldier at Gettysburg. It was decided at the Convention of St. Petersburg, in 1868 to ban Gardiner s exploding bullet. There they declared against explosive missiles less than 14 oz. in weight. So, in March of 1869 they were declared obsolete. Afterwards, the Federal Government ordered all remaining rounds held in arsenals to be destroyed, making this one of the rarest civil war bullets to acquire for a collector. 4

5 5

6 Official Notice! Finley s Brigade will conduct its biennial Camp Elections on November 14, All offices will be voted on. The Nominating Committee will seek out members to fill all positions. Nominations will also be heard from the floor on the evening of the election. The Nominating Committee are: Marshall Carroll, Michael Grissom, and Jim Windsor. Please contact them if you desire to run for office. If you don t call them they will call you. Finley s Brigade Camp Dues SCV National Headquarters is implementing a new dues tracking system. As soon as Adjutant Grissom and Commander Crocker verify members addresses, they will be sent to National.(this will not happen before the next Camp meeting) SCV Headquarters will in-turn send you an inviting you to set up an account on their website. From that point on, you can pay your dues on-line(if you desire), update your mailing address, and other information. This is NOT mandatory. You can still do business the way we have been doing it. The major change that is part of the new system is this: Your dues will be late if not paid by August 31 st. After that date, SCV National will impose a $5 late fee. So, it is very important that you pay your dues on time. If we are late on a credit card bill, or the light bill; there are consequences. The SCV has tightened up a little on the membership. This is another thing that makes Life Membership a good deal. Research Opportunities The State Archives and Library will be open to the public on Saturday August 20, 2017 from 9am until 3pm. The Archives is considering opening up for one Saturday in September as well. For those who are working during the week, it will be an opportunity to do research. Free for your use at the Archives: Ancestry.com, Fold3, and thousands of books and microfilm. The Wakulla County Library will be open for extended hours on Thursdays throughout the Summer. Folks will be on hand to assist with genealogy on these evening. The library is located at 4330 Coastal Hwy, between Crawfordville and Medart. Call for more details. 6

7 A few of the Reunion participants in Memphis. The Flag on the right is the wartime flag of Tennessee As Commander; I almost never put my own picture in the newsletter. But, this picture will serve as proof that I was representing Finley s Brigade at the Reunion in Memphis. Deo Vindice!!! 7

8 Check us out on Facebook: Our web-site: Heritage Opportunities August 8 Regular Camp meeting September 11 Regular Camp meeting September 15 Commander in Chief Tom Strain will be in Monticello, FL 7pm at the Presbyterian Ch September 29-Oct 1 Rifles, Rails, and History in Taveras, Florida October 7 Battle of Marianna, FL Re-enactment at the Florida Caverns State Park October 28 Soldiers Cemetery, Quincy FL. The City is doing a Ghost tour and asked us to participate For times, locations, and details for the following events please contact Commander Crocker at kvcroadking@yahoo.com or Our meetings are always held on the second Tuesday of each and every month at the Golden Corral restaurant on North Monroe Street across from Lake Ella. The program will start promptly at 6:45 so be sure to arrive early (6:00) to enjoy a fine meal and socialize before the meeting starts. The Camp Cresset Newsletter is the official publication of Camp 1614, Finley s Brigade Sons of Confederate Veterans. No content may be reproduced in part, or in whole, without the expressed written authorization from the Editor-in-Chief. All parts herein remain the sole property of SCV Camp