Sons of Confederate Veterans Urquhart-Gillette Starnavydocuments.togetherweserved.com/NTWS-406875-1705.pdfUrquhart-Gillette Star Sons of Confederate Veterans Commander’s letter to

Urquhart-Gillette Star

Sons of Confederate Veterans

Commander’s letter to MOC-APX

Mike Malpass slated to speak

1

The Stephen Dill Lee Charge

Camp Calendar of Events

2

May’s Camp Meeting Minutes

World’s Oldest Real Son , age 106, dies.

3

4

Old Brunswick

Camp Picnic in

Lawrenceville Va. June 10th

5

Sesquicentennial Event June 10th in Courtland

90 attend Memo-rial Service

6

7

Brantley Associa-tion creates web-site with online Southampton County records .

8

Pvt. Robert Nicholas Williams, 3rd Virginia Infantry Company D

9

Inside this issue:

Sons of Confederate Veterans Historic Mahone’s Tavern 22341 Main Street Courtland , Virginia 23837 A monthly publication for the Urquhart-Gillette Camp #1471 , Incorporated Tommy Simmons, Editor June 2012

Next Meeting:June 13th at Mahone’s Tavern

HEADLINES

Courtland, Virginia

Historic Mahone’s Tav-

ern

At May’s meeting, the

Urquhart-Gillette Camp

#1471 voted to donate

$150 to Oakwood Resto-

ration Committee C/O

Cmdr Lee Hart of Suf-

folk.

Compatriot Volpe Boykin

gave his assessment on

his recent trip to the

MOC in Appomattox as a

B+. “There are many

wonderful exhibits/

displays”, says Boykin.

Other news is that Cmdr.

Pyle and Tres. Wood are

planning to personally

visit the MOC –APX .

Below, read Cmder Pyle’s

comments recently in a

letter to W. Rawls start-

ing on pg 7. ( Cont’d be-

low) .

“ It is no wonder , we feel

our heritage slipping

through our own hands

and we do not know

how to stop it. What

will it be like in fifty

years? ..

The Urquhart-

Gillette Camp

#1471 ,Sons of Con-

federate Veterans.

The Camp of your an-

cestors and family

feel that we are right

in our decision to

withhold our camp’s

support and funds

until the issues of the

Confederate National

Flags is settled.

With Southern Pride,

Jon Pyle

Commander,

Urquhart-Gillette

Camp #1471

THE NEXT CAMP

MEETING AT MA-

HONE’S TAVERN

will be a very in-

formative meet-

ing

June 13 2012!

Speaker: Michael

Malpass of CBN

Topic: “ Flags asso-

ciated with the Con-

federate States of

America”

Social : 6PM

Supper: 6:30 PM

Mike Malpass is a

leading authority

on flag history from

early Colonial flags

to the present. His

study of flags and

teachings are highly

regarded through-

out the SCV. You

will NOT want to

miss this. Bring a

friend or family

member!

Important SCV Dates to Remember

Page 2 Urquhart-Gil le tte June 2012

General Stephen Dill Lee Charge

“To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we submit the vindication of the Cause for which we fought ; to

your strength will be given the defense of the of the Confederate soldiers good name, the guardianship of his

history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles he loved and which made him glori-

ous and which you also cherish. Remember, it is your Duty to see that the true history of the South is pre-

sented to future generations.”

General Stephen Dill Lee,

Cmdr. General , United Confederate Veterans New Orleans, La 1906

“To You,

Sons of Confederate Veterans”

June 2, 2012 A Jefferson Davis Memorial Service was held at Hollywood Cemetery

June 5, 12,19, and 26 Civil War Dancing sponsored by the Tom Smith Camp , Suffolk, Va. lo-

cated at Bethlehem Christian Church on Tuesday nights from 7-8:30 757-539- 2924

June 9 147th Annual “9th of June” Memorial Ceremony 5pm Blandford Church Memorial

Shrine Blandford Cemetery Petersburg, Virginia

June 10, 2012 13th Annual Old Brunswick Camp Picnic at George Winn’s Memorial Park Law-

renceville, Va. From Noon until..( Eat between 2 and 3); Dr. Wills speaks in Courtland at 3PM

June 29, 2012 Annual Members Meeting for Point Lookout Descendents, Ridge ,Maryland at

the American Legion Post #255 6PM Candle Light Service 9pm Rev. Father Anderson, Presid-

ing.

July 11-14 2012 117th SCV 2012 National Reunion in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Sponsored by SCV Camp #33

Make Reservations now! Go to this events website online:http://tennessee-scv.org/2012reunion/

August 9, 10, & 11, 2012 Southampton County Fair Booth at Fairgrounds in Courtland, Va.

September 20, 2012 SCV starts meeting at Mahone’s Tavern on the 3rd Thursday ea. month

October 3, 2012 Marks 150 Years “The Defense of Franklin, Virginia” Sesquicentennial Event

January 12, 2013 Annual Lee – Jackson Banquet scheduled entertainer is Mr Stan Clardy

Page 3 Urquhart-Gil le tte June 2012

Minutes from May’s Camp meeting

Welcome by Commander Jon Pyle. Pledges led by Color Sgt. Dennis Whitby. Blessing by Chaplain Wayne Cutchins.

Dedication given by Compatriot Ed Williams to honor the memory of his Gr.G r grandfather, Robert Nicholas Wil-

liams , 3rd Virginia ,Company D , Southampton Gray’s. Williams was one of Five brothers from Southampton

County to serve in the WBTS . He, kept an extensive diary during the war and was with General Lee when he sur-

rendered in Appomattox, Virginia. He is buried on the “Charles Place” near the Ward Farm just outside town here.

The “ Charge” was read by Compatriot Steve King . Guest attending this evening were : Compatriot’s Donny Joyner

and Russell Everett.

Speaker: Commander Pyle introduced 1st Lt. Cmdr Peter Griffith as the speaker for the evening, who gave a very

informative talk on Confederate Uniforms. Griffith gave an account for the various styles and cloth used through-

out the War by manufactures in the making of confederate uniforms, which included importations by the Confed-

erate States Government . Some uniforms were from England.

The previous meetings minutes for April were voted on by motion of Compatriot Boykin , seconded by_____ and

passed unanimously. Treasurer Phillip Wood reported the Camp’s checking account balance to be at $7,756.03.

OLD BUSINESS :

Discussed the nice Confederate Memorial Day Ceremony and Flag/Flag Pole dedication beside the Southampton

County Confederate Monument in Courtland held on Saturday April 28, 2012 at 3PM . A good crowd was reported.

Members were reminded about the up-coming Chicken Bar Be Que Dinner fundraiser to be held at the tavern May

Saturday 19th. 2012 from 4-7PM Discussed was centered around the preparation of the food. Each member was

asked to bring desserts, either cookies or brownies , individually wrapped.

The Sam Davis Youth Camp was discussed. Was stated the need to firm up who was going? Possible two new appli-

cants?

Announcements:

The Tavern Board reports a generous contribution was recently made by the Benefactor leaving only a small

amount outstanding on their mortgage.

Compatriot Jay Bradshaw stated that he was stepping down as Chairman of the Annual Auction Sale Committee. He

did agree, however, on the sale day to continue as the sale’s Auctioneer!

New Business: Motions were voted on and passed to send $100 to the Courtland Ruritan Club AND $150 to Chair-

man Lee Hart in Suffolk for his Historic Oakwood Cemetery Restoration Project in Richmond, Va.

In other business, Compatriot Volpe Boykin gave an account of his visit to the MOC in Appomattox recently. Boykin

gave the museum a B+, stating it was very nice, having many wonderful exhibits/displays .

Chaplain Cutchins gave the Benediction. Door prize given! Dixie sung by all !

Major Joseph Ezra Gillette

of “Cedar Lawn” near

Delaware, Southampton Va

Honoring………

Robert Nicholas Williams,

3rd Virginia Company D

Southampton Gray’s

June 2012 Page 4

Victoria, Australia The Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the world, lost its oldest living

"Real Son" of a Confederate veteran several weeks ago with the death of Mr. Arthur

John, 106 year old son of Joseph John, 1st Sergeant, Company "K", 54th Virginia

Infantry Regiment. Mr. John was a 'Life Member' and Historian of the 'William Kenyon

Australasian Confederates', Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 2160 in Australia. Sadly, after a long and eventful life, Arthur passed away peacefully in his

sleep at 7.35 am Tuesday Australian time. Mr. Arthur John was also an

Australian WWII veteran in his own right, being a Major in the Australian Defense

Force; in charge of the re-education of Japanese civilians in Japan, under

General Douglass McArthur, after the wars end. Many thanks has been extended to all those SCV members who were in contact

with Mr. John during his last few years, sending their prayers and good

wishes; by his family and son-in-law Mr. Stanley McGeagh of Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia. His funeral took place at W. D. Rose funeral home at 221 Charman Rd, Cheltenham, Vic 3192 on May 1, 2012 at 2 PM. Condolences can be sent to the family by email through his son-in-law, Mr. Stanley McGeagh at [email protected]

Passing of Real Son

War of 1812 Anniversary

This year ,2012, marks the 200th Anniversary Year since the “War of 1812” was fought.

Remembering , many Confederate veterans father’s and grandfathers’ were soldiers from this

area that fought in the War of 1812. Compatriot Burton Bradshaw, Sr. has studied a great deal

about this war. He and Past Chaplain Jim Browder are members of The Society of the War of

1812 honoring their ancestor. These gentleman would have a lot of knowledge on this subject.

June 2012 Urquhart Gillette Star Page 5

Our camp acknowledges with appreciation this eloquently written letter to the CEO

of the New Museum of the Confederacy in Appomattox, Virginia . Pictured directly

above at Gen. Mahone’s grave, are the precious daughters of Adjutant Bell taken most

recently on a family history tour at Historic Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg,Virginia

Page 6 June 2012

Below is a list of 21 members who signed in on May’s meeting roster .

Bill Gray Hubert Bridges Greg Bell

Jon Pyle Volpe Boykin Peter Griffith

David Day Jim Hart Wayne Cutchins

Phillip Wood Jay Bradshaw 2 Guest

Steve King –new Billy Wade Russell Everette

Earl Johnson Lemuel Brown, Jr. Donny Joyner

Lemuel Brown, Sr. Jim Beale

Dennis Whitby Ed Williams

Craig Williams Warren Simmons

WHEN……..……………....……………………..SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2012

WHAT …….………………………”DOUBTING THOMAS & TOUTING FORREST”

WHO…………………………………………………….…..DR. BRIAN STEEL WILLS

TIME………….…………………………………………………………………3:00 PM

PLACE………………………………ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, COURTLAND

Because of emphasis on the Sesquicentennial commemoration of the WBTS, we have had several programs and a bus tour on various aspects of the WBTS in our area. Our speaker, a native of Suffolk, came up and participated in the bus tour.

Dr. Wills will discuss some of the doubts and complexities concerning Union General George H. Thomas. He will also talk about Southern General Nathan Bedford Forrest, from Middle Tennessee. Thomas was known as the “Rock of Chickamauga,” “ Old Pap”, and “Old Slow Trot”. Forrest came to be known as the “firstest with the mostest” and the “Wizard of the Saddle.” “Both Thomas and Forrest have been doubted and touted for their respective lives and records. Both experienced successes and setbacks, providing case studies in deter-mination and courage. In the end, each of these men mattered. Those who profess to appre-ciate history and heritage are best served when we “mind” both of these fascinating figures of our collective story.”

Brian Steel Wills is the Director of “W, GA., after a long tenure at the University of Vir-ginia’s College at Wise. He is the author of numerous works relating to the Civil War. His lat-est work is George Henry Thomas: As True as Steel. His biography of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, A Battle From the Start: The Life of Nathan Bedford Forrest is cur-rently in reprint as The Confederacy’s Greatest Cavalryman: Nathan Bedford Forrest, se-lected for both the History Book Club and Book of the Month Club. He may be best known for The War Hits Home: The Civil War in Southeastern Virginia. Dr. Wills will have a selection of all of his books for sale prior to the program and a book signing.

Dr Wills is the recipient of The Outstanding Faculty Award from the State of Virginia. Please come and bring a friend. Free and open to the public! 3pm Sunday the 10th of June

Southampton County Historical Society Presents

June 2012 Urquhart Gillette Star Page 7

90 braved the elements on April 28th at the Confederate Memorial Service in Courtland, Va.

Commander Jon D. Pyle and Chaplain L. Wayne Cutchins of the Urquhart-Gillette Camp #1471 look on with

local UDC President Linda Dupree Rogers as 6th District UDC Chairperson Susan Carraway makes comments.

Mr Waite Rawls, May 2012

My name is Jon Pyle. I am the Commander of the Urquhart-Gillette Camp#1471. We have met two or three times,

each was very amenable.

I write this letter to state our Camp’s official position on the MOC-APX. We have no concerns of the artifacts on dis-

play inside the MOC-APX. Our Camp strongly objects on making the choice not to fly any Confederate National flags

outside the museum. We feel our heritage and what your G-Grandfather and my G-Grandfather put their lives and

families in harms way, to protect their strongly heart felt beliefs.

You know as I, that our heritage and flags are under attack across the State of Virginia. Lexington, Virginia., no flags

to fly on the light poles on Lee-Jackson Day by order of the city council. They have flown well over fifty years on this

day in the past.

Charlottesville, Virginia a city council woman wants to remove all our Confederate hero’s statues from all city prop-

erty, and now our own MOC-APX will not allow any Confederate National flags to fly on the museum grounds, out-

side any where.

Cont’d , see last two paragraphs on front of page # 1

June 2012 Page 8

Southampton County, Virginia 1st records digitized

SCV members and many history minded persons continue the desire to learn and docu-

ment more about their Confederate ancestry. Thanks to the Brantley Association, online

research has been made possible for those searching local Southampton County’s Land,

Deed, Marriage, Will, Death, Chancery, and Voter records. So much can be learned now

right from the home pc . Southampton County is the first county to complete such a major

project thanks to WBTS Historian , Author, Genealogist , Mr. Ken Brantley of Cobb

County, Georgia. Good luck in your search , now possible online. See link below: Have fun!

http://www.brantleyassociation.com/southampton_project/southampton_project_list.htm

Indeed, he’s Grandpa’s right-hand man !

Master Courtland Augustus Simmons , son of Mr and Mrs Steve Simmons Charlotte,

North Carolina was visiting recently here on May 19th with grandparents Warren and

Linda Daughtry Simmons. Courtland ,in this picture , was overseeing a southern tradi-

tion of sweet iced tea being served and ready for pick-up with chicken dinners at the

Annual Bar Be Que Chicken fundraiser at Mahone’s Tavern. The weather was perfect

for “fun” on this day. Sponsoring the event was the Urquhart-Gillette Camp #1471 SCV.

Urquhart-Gillette Camp #1471 Urquhart Gillette Star Post Office Box 1

Sons of Confederate Veterans

You can call or write “The Star” by Fax: 757-653-9228 OR e-mail “ The Star” at: [email protected]

Give a Gift to Mahone’s Tavern

Considering a tax-deductable gift? Some Employer’s or

Companies offer matching funds when you make tax-

deductable donations. Mahone’s Tavern is a local National

and State registered Historic Landmark . A “museum in pro-

gress”, Mahone’s Tavern is a tax- exempt , charitable, en-

tity. Why not help the Urquhart-Gillette Camp #1471 Sons of

Confederate Veterans with this wonderful preservation of true

southern history? Mail your contribution today to:

Mahone’s Tavern Post Office Box 565 Courtland, Virginia

23837 C/O Tavern Treasurer Robert “Bob” Edwards

June 2012 Urquhart Gillette Star Page 9

For FACEBOOK use :

Don’t forget to sign the Camp’s Roster Sheet each month at the meetings so we’ll know you attended!

A Door Prize is drawn/ given to show our appreciation. Forget to pay for your meal? Bring it next time!

Commander- Jon D. Pyle [email protected] 757-651-4971

Treasure - Phillip Wood [email protected] 757-569-7626

Adjutant- Greg Bell [email protected] 757-439-2710

1st Lt. Cmdr. Peter B. Griffith II [email protected]

Color Sergeant Dennis Whitby [email protected] 434-634-

0119

2012 Officers

Urquhart

Gillette

Camp #1471

Courtland, Va.

Urquhart Gillette Courtland Confederates

National SCV http://scv.org

History of the Williams Family

The Williams Family History is an interesting

one. Robert( pictured right) was one of FIVE

brothers to serve in the WBTS. All went to Get-

tysburg and survived. They were: Charles Coo-

per, John Liverson, Henry Kitchen, George W,

and Robert Nicholas Williams. Robert was a

member of Courtland Baptist Church here and

is responsible for holding the small church to-

gether before the war. He married Sara Eliza-

beth Frances Hill, whose sister Victoria Rebecca

Hill married Willie E. Spain (G-Grandparents of

Compatriot Warren Simmons). Robert’s wife,

Sara, is buried underneath what is now a paved

parking lot at Courtland’s Baptist Church .

Robert is buried near the B.H. Ward Farm, G-

Grandparents of Compatriot Ed & Craig Wms.

Pvt. R. Williams, (left)

had a daughter, Elizabeth

Sylvania Williams who

married George Yates,

son of Anne Yates “The

Florence Nightingale of

Southampton Co” , who

nursed soldiers at the

church and Mhn’s Tavern