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Newsletters

 

The Union Volunteer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
 
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Camp No.  20
Roanoke, Virginia

 

 
August 24, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dover hotel where General Buckner surrendered Fort Donelson to General U.S. Grant.

 

 

I   Camp Officers

 

 

Commander: Dick Uplinger

Senior Vice Commander: Paul Collins

Junior Vice Commander: Russell Hurd

Secretary: Richard Raymond III

Treasurer: Wayne Miesen

Camp Chaplain: David Wright

Patriotic Instructor: James Tate III

Camp Genealogist: Al Linton

Webmaster: Chuck Poland

 

II   The Schedule for 2013 is as follows:

 

September  17, 2013 -Regular Meeting, Elections

October 12, 2013 -Massing of the Colors-: Vinton War Memorial

November 19, 2013 -Regular Meeting & Roll of Honor

January 21, 2014 -Regular Meeting

March 18, 2014 -Regular Meeting

May 20, 2014 -Regular Meeting

May     , 2014 -Memorial Day Service

July 15, 2014 -Business Meeting

 

III   Web Sites:

 

The web site for the National Headquarters of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is                      . The web site for the Department of Chesapeake is                                                 .  From the Department web site there is a link to the National web site and our camp web site.  If you get a chance check out all of them as they have great information regarding our organization. The link to our camp web site was put together and kept up to date by Brother Chuck Poland, our Web Master. His great work is much appreciated.

 

IV  Commander's Report:

 

Brother Mark Day, from Taylor-Wilson Camp in Lynchburg, joined us for our March meeting.  Brother Dick Raymond continues to look into the Eagle Scout Program, but so far has received little cooperation from the Blue Ridge Boy Scout Council.

We discussed a joint Memorial Day Service with the SCV camp 'Fincastle Rifles'.  The service will be at a private cemetery where Brother Al Linton's Great Grandfather and three Confederate grave sites are located.  Brother Linton is coordinating the service.

 

CC Dick Uplinger will set up a recruitment booth at the Buchanan Civil War History Weekend event.

Brother Phil Sheridan informed us of upcoming Civil War events.

Patriotic Instructor, Jim Tate discussed awarding JROTC certificates to the following recipients:

 

Cadet Sarah Gray - William Byrd H.S. (no picture)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CC Dick Uplinger with Cadets Matthew Gillie, William Fleming H.S., and Kenneth Parker, Patrick Henry H.S.

 

  

Cadet Michael Barton -Franklin County H.S. (no picture)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cadet Luke Barios, Carroll County H.S.

 

Brother Tate is also coordinator for the Robert Eck Scholarship award.  The award this year goes to Lauren Nickel of Franklin County H.S.

 

At our May meeting we finalized our Memorial Day service.

Brother Sheridan informed us of future Civil War commemoration events.

Brother Tate gave us a recap of the JROTC and the Robert Eck Scholarship awards. Brother Dick Raymond reported on the futile efforts to award Eagle Scout certificates . After some discussion it was decided to try again next year.

Brother Tate  discussed a brief history of Harriet Tubman.

 

At our business meeting in July, CC Uplinger and Brother Linton gave a recap of the Memorial Day Service.  The service was well attended by SCVCW and SUVCW and families.  DC Mark Day was able to join us, which made the event more meaningful.  We discussed possibilities for a Memorial Day service next year.  Brother Linton did an excellent job in coordinating the service.  CC Robert Barbour of the SCVCW did a wonderful job of reading over the three Confederate graves and a special service was held for Brother Linton and his family for his Great Grandfather.  The Fincastle Rifles also provided a three volley salute.  Many thanks to all involved.

 

 

 

 

 

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CC Barbour and Uplinger folding an American flag to present to Brother Linton's Family. Brother Linton is. between the two camp Commander s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                              .  -        ·

The Brothers are from left to right: Dick Raymond, DC Mark Day, CC Dick Uplinger, Al Linton, Phil Sheridan, Jim Tate III, Russel Hurd, and Wayne Miesen.

 

We discussed future funding for the Robert Eck Scholarship.  Our camp funds can no longer support an annual $500.00 scholarship.  We decided to look for donations outside the camp. As SUVCW does not have 501c3 status yet, it was decided to postpone seeking donation from outside the camp until we have 501c3 status. However several brothers have stepped up and made donations to the scholarship fund. DC Mark Day,Brothers Tate, Sheridan, and Miesen have donated a total of $500.00 for next year's scholarship.

 

Our meeting was called short due to a power outage from a storm and it was too dark to see inside the building.

 

V                 Poetry Corner

 

Flowers Shall Bloom* If clumsy fingers "plait these ballad wreaths," Forgive them, for they know whereof they try
To celebrate the lives, to mourn the deaths Of distant heroes, bold against the sky.
None know, today, that gathering of souls Which coalesced in mighty concentration, Unconsciously fulfilling fated roles
To build-at last!- the fleshwork of our nation, Whose framing had been finished ninety years.
It yet remained for blood, poured out in streams, To wash away the shadows of our fears
And liberate the substance of our dreams.
These days, we may face Gettysburgs unknown­ Pray that we reap the courage they have sown.

 

1-17-02

*"Another spring shall green these tranquil slopes, and flowers planted by unseen hands Shall bloom upon these graves ....not in less, but higher, perfection for this poured-out blood ..

Then what matter if deft Story with furtive fingers plait her ballad wreaths, deeds of the heroes here ...

Tradition, Story, History - all will not efface the true grand epic of Gettysburg."

-Lieutenant Frank A Haskell, U.S. Volunteers, "The Battle of Gettysburg", a contemporary account.

Any man would be a fool to think he could improve on this encomium.

 

Submitted by Richard Raymond

 

VI              Important Birthdays for Union Veterans:

 

  

September 8, 1828 General Joshua L. Chamberlain

December 31, 1815 General George Meade

February 8, 1820 General William T. Sherman

February 12, 1809  President Abraham Lincoln

February 14, 1824 Winfield S. Hancock

March 4, 1826 General John Buford

March 6, 1831 General Phil Sheridan

March 27, 1822 General U.S. Grant 

July 31, 1816 General George Thomas

 

 

VII           Civil War Commemoration  Events

 

Franklin County Civil War Days, Lake Watch Plantation, Rt. 122, Moneta, VA 24121 --- will occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - September 6, 7, & 8th. September 6th is a school day and trip for students in Living History.

 

Saturday & Sunday -Encampment  opens at 9:00 AM, and runs until about 5:00 PM -the mock battle will be about 2:00 PM. There are food vendors, sutlers on site. There will  be infantry, cavalry, and artillery demonstrations.  There will be a Ladies Program and musical presentations.  There is an admissions charge -- $5.00 per adult.

 

Saturday Evening--- there is a Dinner/Dance with Period Music and a Caller to gain crowd involvement. The dinner will be substantial and the dance will be a lot of fun. The price is $10.-per person in advance; $15.00 at the door or $25.00 per couple at the door. It would be the best evening out that you could plan.

 

Come and join us --- if you can.        Brother Phil Sheridan

 

VIII       Civil War Quiz:

 

Old Quiz:

  1. On what date did Union troops occupy Charleston, SC after it was evacuated by the Confederate s?  February 18, 1865.

  2. What was the Union name of the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31-June 1, 1862? According to James McPherson, the Union called it Fair Oaks and the South referred to it as Seven Pines

  3. What group of Union soldiers were massacred on October 2, 1864 at Saltville, VA? 5th

U.S. Colored Cavalry

  1. Who was 'Old Jack's foot cavalry'? Stonewall Jackson's 2nd Corps.

  2. What is another name for the battle of Brandy Station, VA? Fleetwood Hill

  3. Where was the largest cavalry battle fought?  Brandy Station, VA

  4. What was the signal of alarm in an army encampment?  Long Roll on drums

  5. Lt. Gen. John Pemberton, commanding the Confederate troops at Vicksburg, MS was native of which state?  Pennsylvania

  6. What did the term 'White Gold' refer to in the south during the Civil War?  Cotton. 10.What southern fort was never captured by the Confederates?  Fort Pickens, FL, Fort

Taylor, FL & Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas

 

New Quiz:

  1. In what military branch did the first African Americans first serve?

  2. What is an abates?

  3. Who was the Rebel Rose?

  4. Which Union General was responsible for making Arlington a cemetery?

  5. What was referred to as the American Bastille?

  6. Which Union prison was referred to as The Andersonville of the North?

  7. The 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' uses the music from which tune?

  8. What is a 'Beecher's Bible'?

  9. In which two battles had an area called 'Bloody Angle'?

  10. On December 27, 1862 President Lincoln met with Attorney General Edward Bates, a Missouri native and Dr. Samuel Brown McPheeters, pastor of Pine Street Presbyterian Church in St. Louis.

Rev. McPheeters and his wife had been ordered to leave Missouri by a Provost Marshall Franklin A. Dick because of Rev. McPheeters' expressed sympathy for the Confederate rebellion.  The Rev. McPheeters had been commissioned in 1860 a chaplain in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Union, New Mexico.  At the outbreak of war the Rev. returned to St. Louis.  What was President Lincoln's decision conveyed to General Samuel Curtis regarding the military order that Rev.

McPheeters and his wife leave the state of Missouri within ten days for exile in a Northern state and to remain there for the duration of the war?  The Rev. and his wife, Eliza Shanks McPheeters are interred in the Fincastle Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Fincastle, Botetourt County, VA

 

In Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, Dick Uplinger

Camp Commander

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