Spring 2008 Department Dispatch

Dear Brothers,

Again this April I was fortunate to be able to represent the Wisconsin Department at the annual Lincoln tomb ceremony in Springfield, IL. The wreath that was generously given to us by the Sisters of the Auxiliary at the last Department Encampment was presented at both the Lincoln tomb and at the grave of GAR founder Dr. Benjamin Stephenson. Several Wisconsin Camps were also represented at the ceremonies. I sincerely thank all those Brothers who attended and so honorably represented their Camps by presenting wreaths or simply by their presence at the ceremonies.

The 125th Wisconsin Department Encampment is coming soon! Help us recognize this milestone in our history by your attendance in Kenosha on June 7th.

Department Historian Andy Bollen recently informed us that the Sheboygan VFW had to cancel this year’s Memorial Day parade due to “lack of interest”. What does this say about some of our citizenry today? Is a 3-day weekend more important than taking some time to remember and honor the veterans whose sacrifices have enabled us to live in freedom and enjoy such things as 3-day holiday weekends. Memorial Day should NOT be just another Monday holiday. We must ensure that our Order continues to carry the banner of patriotism into the future. We my Brothers are the Color bearers.

In Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty,

Brian Peters Wisconsin Department Commander

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Department Dispatch isconsin

Inside — Wisconsin Department Pioneers PDC Walter Patton…………………………………2 Department Orders #3…………………………………………4 125th Department of Wis. Encampment Registration…………Insert Camp News and Activities…………………………5 Sons Badge Wear……..8

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Department Commander’s Comments

125th Dept. of Wisconsin Encampment DON’T MISS THIS MILESTONE EVENT AT WISCONSIN’S BRAND-NEW

Midwest Civil War Museum, Kenosha June 7, 2008

Wisconsin Department Pioneers

Rev. Walter J. Patton

The 1906 National Sons of Veterans Encampment in Peoria created the office of National Patriotic Instructor. The first brother to be appointed to the new post was Wisconsin PDC Rev. Walter Jervis Patton.

A popular Methodist clergyman, Rev. Patton was born July 7, 1856, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and was ordained in Philadelphia in 1877. He came to Wisconsin in 1887, preaching in Pewaukee and Sheboygan. In 1891, he was ordained an elder, and in 1893, appointed pastor of Milwaukee’s Asbury Church, with 273 members, before being transferred to Green Bay. In Conrad’s History of Milwaukee County (Vol. 2), he was described as “a man of fine promise, who gets hold of the people.” His father, John R. Patton, had served three years in Co. K, 109th Pennsylvania Infantry, seeing action in many campaigns, including Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.

In 1892, Rev. Patton was elected Commander of Sheboygan’s Carl Witte Camp #37. Under his leadership, the Camp was organized as dismounted cavalry, fully armed and equipped.

In 1894, Rev. Patton was appointed Department Chaplain and published direction on the observance of Memorial Day. He was active, energetic and enthusiastic in the cause of the Sons of Veterans. In

1895, he ran for Dept. Commander, but lost. Pushed by friends to run again the next year, the 40 year-old minister won the election from a field of seven other candidates. After his term as Dept. Commander, he served as Chaplain-in-Chief (National Chaplain) and ministered in West Superior, Wis.

In his role as National Patriotic Instructor, Patton was called to become president of the Sons’ Memorial University in Mason City, Iowa. The 1899 National Encampment proposed sponsorship of a military college and the following year, the site was approved and the regents elected. In 1901, the cornerstone was laid for the Liberal Arts building, the only collegiate structure built there. In September 1902, the building was opened to students and the first graduating class was the Class of 1903 with seven graduates.

By 1906, the school was beginning to show the effects of malnutrition and Rev. Patton immediately set out to raise funds for the school. He labored long and hard to arouse waning interest in the Sons of Veterans organization. But there were sectional differences. Many members had wanted the school built in the east. Patton was unable to achieve the goal that he had set and in 1910, the school closed in mid-year for lack of funds.

Patton stayed in Mason City another year, to see the “Harvard of the West” liquidated and the building used as a temporary high school, before returning to Wisconsin. He had been able to keep the university open for four years against impossible odds and had somehow found time to complete work for his doctorate. He never again

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served in a major position in the Order, although he continued to attend the National Encampment for several years.

After his Memorial University presidency, he ministered to congregations in Wauwatosa, Berlin, Kaukauna, LaCrosse, Oshkosh, Princeton and Sturgeon Bay. Besides the Sons of Veterans, he was active in Masonic Lodge, Knights Templar, Eastern Star, White Shrine, Odd Fellows and Rotary.

In 1916, his wife, Loretta, became paralyzed and suffered greatly until her death in 1921. He remarried the following year and the two moved to Berlin, Wis. in 1925.

Since 1901, Dr. Patton had been a member of Milwaukee’s C.K. Pier Badger Camp #1, but dropped his membership in 1924. He retired from the ministry in 1929 and died on December 30, 1943 at the age of 87. He was buried in the Masonic section of Oshkosh’s Riverside Cemetery, Sec. R, Lot 1. He was survived by four sons: Walter D. of Mt. Dora, FL, Howard G of Youngstown, OH, Ralph of Kalamazoo and Guy E. of Berlin; and a stepdaughter, Mrs. F.J. Harris, Sturgeon Bay.

From Press Forward the Good Work (Vol. I & II) by PCinC Stephen A. Michaels, 1997 & 1998

Riverside Cemetery, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Membership Records, C.K. Pier Badger Camp 1, Wis. Dept. SUVCW

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Wisconsin Department Orders # 3

Series 2007-08

Brian G. Peters, Wisconsin Department Commander 646 Rays Lane

Stevens Point, WI 54481-9260 715 344-7924

[email protected]

1. Please submit Department Award nominations to Dept. Council member Kim Heltemes immediately! This is for recognition at the Department Encampment. Forms and information were sent to Camp Commanders and Secretaries previously.

2. Camp Treasurers or Secretaries, you will need to complete your required e-Postcard filing with the IRS. I am not sure what the final deadline is at this time. It may be necessary to wait until after June 30 for the system to accept the report. Go to the IRS website (www.irs.gov) for information on the e-Postcard filing and a link to the filing system. This filing requirement must now be done annually to maintain our tax-exempt status. It is much easier than having to file the long 990 tax form, and can be used as long as your Camp’s intake of funds is less than $25,000 annually.

3. If your Camp has a Monument preservation project, consider applying for some financial assistance from the SUVCW National organization’s monuments preservation grant fund. Application forms and instructions are available on the National SUVCW website.

4. As Memorial Day approaches, remember that it is our duty as SUVCW members to participate if possible in ceremonies honoring the memory of those veterans who have sacrificed much for our Freedom. On the true Memorial Day – May 30, as well as on the current Monday holiday, let us pause to reflect on the debt we cannot begin to repay.

5. Thank you to all current and past Department Officers who served as “installing officer” for this year’s newly elected Camp Officers. I appreciate your willingness to perform this important duty.

6. Our Wisconsin Department will hold its 125th Department Encampment on June 7th at the newly constructed Midwest Civil War Museum in Kenosha. Help us celebrate this anniversary of our Wisconsin Department! Please pre-register now using the form in this issue of the Dispatch or by downloading it from the Department Web site.

7. Department Officers and Camp Commanders – please send me a brief summary report of your activities and accomplishments since the last Department Encampment. You may simply make additions/updates to your mid-winter meeting report. To have your report included in the Encampment handouts, I must receive it by Tuesday May 27. In the interest of time, reporting at the Encampment will follow the same

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Camp #1 - Milwaukee Patriotic Luncheon and Mid-Winter Meeting: At left, PDC Kent Peterson presented Pat Kulas with a recognition award for his work last fall saving the Racine Monument Square cannons; at right, CinC Charles Kuhn receives an autographed copy of the book “Civil War Fathers” from True Son Bro. Bill Upham.

Member Orientation 2 March 2008: An unscheduled snowstorm got in the way of holding our scheduled Member Orientation in February, so the date had to be moved into March. Despite the change of plans, there was an excellent turnout of eleven Sons and Auxiliary members (left) who learned a great deal about our organizations from presenters PCinC Steve Michaels, PDC Fred Murphy, PNP Danielle Michaels and PDC Kent Peterson.

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format as at the mid-winter meeting. You will NOT be “reading” your written reports at the Encampment. Instead, you will have the opportunity to discuss one priority item from your report, or give updates that were not included in the written report.

8. Our Sisters of the Auxiliary will be holding their Department Encampment on the same day and location as ours. I would also like to extend a cordial invitation to Officers and members of the other Allied Orders to join us. It would be a pleasure to have you attend as our guests. Please pre-register if possible.

9. Several of our Wisconsin Department members are on active duty in our country’s military. On behalf of the Wisconsin Department SUVCW, I humbly and sincerely thank you for your service to the cause of liberty, and for your protection of this land of the free and home of the brave.

10. To our Brothers and Sisters who may be suffering with health problems or difficulties, I wish you the healing and comfort that comes from above.

Ordered this 25th day of April, 2007

In Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty Attest: Gary W. Young

Brian G. Peters Department Secretary

Department Commander

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Camp News & Activities

P A G E 6 D E P A R T M E N T O F W I S C O N S I N S O N S O F U N I O N V E T E R AN S O F T H E C I V I L W A R

Camp #4 - Waukesha The Annual Gibbon Dinner was held at Heaven City Restaurant in Mukwonago on April 19. Once again it was a huge success. At left, are Commander Bob Mann, Keynote Speaker Lance Herdegen, Secretary Treasurer Patrick Lynch, Brother Jeremy Johnson and JVC Jim Johnson.

Camp #8 - Fox Cities DC Brian Peters presents Brad Wolf with a revolver that was first prize in the camp’s 2007 raffle (at left) . Second prize, a knife and sheath, was won by Phil Hausler.

Camp #49 - Boscobel On January 26, Department Senior Vice Commander, Bruce Laine, installed the 2008 officers at the G.A.R. Hall in Boscobel. At right are (left to right) Gary Young, PCC Brian Ewing, PCC Dan Chroninger, CC Bob Welsh, Treas. Tom Truog and SVC Paul Welsh

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Last Soldier Project Update Beginning in 2003, the SUVCW embarked on the Last Soldier Project. The purpose of the project is to locate and mark the final resting place of the last Civil War Union veteran buried in each county of Wisconsin (and the United States).

The last Civil War veteran from each county will be listed as research is completed. Local Camps are encouraged to other organizations, the National SUVCW organization and the local media for recognition and funding of suitable memorials. A Last Soldier Ceremony may be conducted by SUVCW Camps at the gravesite of these veterans.

At last count, we have 51 of Wisconsin’s 72 Last Soldiers listed, many with obituaries or research summaries. Check it out at www.suvcw-wi.org. Many thanks to Brothers including Vince Barker, Don Jager, PCinC Steve Michaels, Joel Schan-ning, and others for their untiring research efforts.

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Camp #8 Officers Commander: Kim Heltemes Senior Vice Commander: David Dressing Junior Vice Commander: Kurtis Kirk Secretary: Vince Barker Treasurer: Gordon Moran Camp #49 Officers Commander: Bob Welsh Senior Vice Commander: Paul Welsh Junior Vice Commander: PCC Dan Chroninger Secretary: PCC Gary Young Treasurer: Tom Truog

Camp #56 Officers Commander: Garen Enquist Senior Vice Commander: J. Brent Norlem Junior Vice Commander: Randall Nelson Secretary: Garen Enquist Treasurer: Ross Dunlap

- 2008 Camp Officers -

Camp #1 Officers Commander: William Doan Senior Vice Commander: Eric Sprengle Junior Vice Commander: Tom Nichols Secretary/Treasurer: PCinC Steve Michaels Camp #2 Officers Commander: Ron Knaus Senior Vice Commander: Fred Campbell Junior Vice Commander: Tom Brodd Secretary/Treasurer: Alan Hembel

Camp #4 Officers Commander: Bob Mann Senior Vice Commander: PCC Bruce Laine Junior Vice Commander: PCC Jim Johnson Secretary/Treasurer: Patrick Lynch Camp #5 Officers Commander: Ron Miswald Senior Vice Commander: Richard Young Junior Vice Commander: PCC Richard Rohan Secretary/Treasurer: PCC Andrew Bollen III

Civil War Photography on the Web

www.civilwaralbum.com Assembled here is a collection of over 2,000 pages including 10,900+ modern photos and panoramas of Civil War sites. The photos and narrative were provided by over 100 contributors between 1980 and April 2008.

www.civilwarphotos.net Over 1,000 Civil War Images, Photographs and Cartes de Visites including Army Life, United States and Confederate Government Officers, Union and Confederate Gener-als and Soldiers, Civilians, Battle Field Photos, Casualties, Infantry Units, Cavalry Units, Artillery Units, Engineering Units, Navy Units and Vessels, Prisoners, Hospitals and Doctors, Factories, Quartermaster, Lincoln Assassination Conspirators and more.

www.virtualcivilwar.com Hundreds of original images, modern-day battlefield images, Remembrance Day parades, various re-enactments.

www.pbs.org/civilwar/cwimages Images from PBS categorized by battlefields, camps, maritime, bands, soldiers, build-ings, ruins, civilians, etc.

PRESERVING THE MEMORY OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC AND OUR ANCESTORS WHO FOUGHT TO PRESERVE THE UNION

The Wisconsin Department Dispatch is pub-lished three times per year for members of the

Wisconsin Department, SUVCW. Articles, photos and news items may be submitted to

SVC Bruce Laine at [email protected]. Edi-torial deadlines are April, July and Oct. 15.

Visit us on the Web at

http://www.suvcw-wi.org

- Department Events Calendar -

26 May Memorial Day (observed)

30 May Memorial Day (traditional)

31 May - 1 June Reclaiming Our Heritage, Soldier’s Home, Milwaukee

7 June 125th Department Encampment, Kenosha Civil War Museum

7-10 Aug. 127th National Encampment, Peabody, MA

Wearing the Membership Badge By PDC Fred Murphy

The following is adapted from PDC Murphy’s presenta-tion at Member Orientation on “Badges of The Order.”

With the coming of the reenactment, parade and per-sonal appearance season perhaps a review of our member-ship badge wear policy is in order. First, I believe that wearing the Sons' badge is a PRIVILEGE NOT A PEN-ALTY. Second, when in doubt - WEAR IT.

It is not all that complicated. If you represent the Sons, in or out of uniform, WEAR IT (except for fatigue duty). If you are in uniform operating as a Civil War individual during a Civil War time period DO NOT WEAR IT. If the Sons did not exist during the time period you are portraying - you could not wear the badge.

Maybe an example or two will help. As a member of our Camp #1 color guard - in or out of uniform, WEAR IT. If you are portraying the 5th N.Y. color guard, marching down an imaginary Broadway in N.Y. city in 1863, DON'T WEAR IT (they couldn't). If you are at a building dedication, in your 3d Wisconsin Inf. uniform, to add color and interest - WEAR IT. If you are encamped, in 3rd Wis. uniform and camp equipment, on the front lawn of a building to be dedicated, and neither you or your group take part in the dedication - DON'T WEAR IT.

Simple, I think. If you are a Son, in or out of uniform, WEAR IT. If you are in a C.W. time frame and everything is as close to that actual event as you can make it - DON'T WEAR IT. Just because you put on a uniform does not mean you take off your Sons badge.

Questions on badge wear? Contact PDC Fred at [email protected] or (414) 744-3922.

PDC Murphy annually presents a talk at Member Orientation programs on proper badge wear of the Order.