Continuing with Norman Stevens interesting talk on Lexington, Virginia, Lee, and Jackson.
In the 1850s, Lexington was the Athens of the South with its two institutions, VMI and Washington College. You received a classical education at Washington and a scientific one at VMI.
Stevens received his BA from the Virginia Military Institute, MA and PhD from Connecticut.
Some Other News
GOOD NEWS; Camp Douglas member Mike Triplett has taken it upon himself to establish a new Sons of Confederate Veterans camp in the Peoria, Illinois, area. Best of luck, Mike. At present, there are no Illinois Division camps in that area.
THE CHALLENGE IS ON-- Camp Douglas has long been the undisputed largest camp in the Illinois Division. However, Camp 1962 in Belleville, Illinois, now has 41 full SCV members and 13 associate members. Guess we'd better get to some serious recruiting.
Confederately. --Old B-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label Lee Jackson Dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lee Jackson Dinner. Show all posts
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Camp Douglas Lee-Jackson Dinner-- Part 3
We had an excellent presentation by Norman S. Stevens who is currently executive director of the Kankakee County Historical Museum and is author of ten books.
He said that Lexington, Virginia is the Val halla of the Confederacy. Lee, one of his sons, Jackson, and other Confederate officers are buried there. He said that there was a fire in the Presbyterian church in Lexington, but Jackson's pew was not hurt. Stevens graduated from Virginia Military Institute and he said that no classes are held on Lee's birthday.
Lee's greatest moment came not on a battlefield, but happened when he received a letter from Washington University to accept its presidency. Lee had received lots of other offers and was under pressure to write his memoirs, but yet, rode, unescorted to Lexington where he found a nearly bankrupt and broken down college. He said that for the last 4 and a half years, he had overseen the death of the youth of the south and would now spend the rest of his life seeing to their education.
Later, when the Federal government required Southern officers to take a second oath of allegiance, many former soldiers were thinking about refusing, but Lee took his second oath and then it was ok.
INTEREST IN HISTORY
Mr. Stevens said his father got him interested in history. On road trips, he made it a point to stop at all roadside markers.
Went, Stevens first went to VMI, he stayed in room 425 which was made out of Jackson's former lecture hall. Then, he lived in Room 324, which was Jackson's room from 1851 to 1852. Jackson spent 1851 to 1861 in Lexington.
Continued. --Old B-Runner
He said that Lexington, Virginia is the Val halla of the Confederacy. Lee, one of his sons, Jackson, and other Confederate officers are buried there. He said that there was a fire in the Presbyterian church in Lexington, but Jackson's pew was not hurt. Stevens graduated from Virginia Military Institute and he said that no classes are held on Lee's birthday.
Lee's greatest moment came not on a battlefield, but happened when he received a letter from Washington University to accept its presidency. Lee had received lots of other offers and was under pressure to write his memoirs, but yet, rode, unescorted to Lexington where he found a nearly bankrupt and broken down college. He said that for the last 4 and a half years, he had overseen the death of the youth of the south and would now spend the rest of his life seeing to their education.
Later, when the Federal government required Southern officers to take a second oath of allegiance, many former soldiers were thinking about refusing, but Lee took his second oath and then it was ok.
INTEREST IN HISTORY
Mr. Stevens said his father got him interested in history. On road trips, he made it a point to stop at all roadside markers.
Went, Stevens first went to VMI, he stayed in room 425 which was made out of Jackson's former lecture hall. Then, he lived in Room 324, which was Jackson's room from 1851 to 1852. Jackson spent 1851 to 1861 in Lexington.
Continued. --Old B-Runner
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Camp Douglas Lee-Jackson Dinner-- Part 2
A Dr. Shay from Iowa visited. He is currently writing a book on northern prisons for Confederates. Everyone is reminded about the Illinois Division SCV convention taking place this April at the Hilton in downtown Springfield ( a little bit of the South in Lincoln Land) and the ceremony the following weekend at Chicago's Oakwood Cemetery to honor the 6000 plus Confederates who died at Camp Douglas.
The SCV National Convention takes place this year at the historic Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Certificates of Appreciation were given to the Belle Boyd Order of the Confederate Rose and to the Second Kentucky Co. D Rifles for their outstanding help to our camp.
Three new members were sworn in, all candidates for the Military Order of the Stars and Bars for their relationship to General Turner Ashby and General Robert E. Lee.
We had an excellent meal as usual.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
The SCV National Convention takes place this year at the historic Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Certificates of Appreciation were given to the Belle Boyd Order of the Confederate Rose and to the Second Kentucky Co. D Rifles for their outstanding help to our camp.
Three new members were sworn in, all candidates for the Military Order of the Stars and Bars for their relationship to General Turner Ashby and General Robert E. Lee.
We had an excellent meal as usual.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Monday, January 26, 2009
Camp Douglas SCV Lee-Jackson Dinner-- Jan. 17, 2009
Everyone met in the bar area to toast our gallant generals on their birthdays. As usual, half the fun was looking at other patrons' faces when they saw all those Confederate uniforms, as well as 1860s civilians. There were lots of double takes. "What, are we being invaded? I thought the war was over."
We had a much bigger room at the Radisson in Northbrook, Illinois, from the past two years, when getting around our wonderful ladies in those big hoop skirts was difficult. Again, we were entertained by the Battlefield balladeers, consisting of a man on banjo and harmonica, woman on violin and another keeping rhythm and singing. They played all those great Civil War songs.
Illinois Division Commander Jim Barr welcomed every one and also showed us the brand new Illinois SCV division flag which is the battle flag with an outline of Illinois on it. Pretty impressive. He also reported that the national SCV headquarters at Elm Springs is going to have a new building constructed next to the old plantation house. All offices will be moved their upon completion. We also got an update on the law suit in Florida regarding SCV license plates.
More to Come. --Old B-R'er
We had a much bigger room at the Radisson in Northbrook, Illinois, from the past two years, when getting around our wonderful ladies in those big hoop skirts was difficult. Again, we were entertained by the Battlefield balladeers, consisting of a man on banjo and harmonica, woman on violin and another keeping rhythm and singing. They played all those great Civil War songs.
Illinois Division Commander Jim Barr welcomed every one and also showed us the brand new Illinois SCV division flag which is the battle flag with an outline of Illinois on it. Pretty impressive. He also reported that the national SCV headquarters at Elm Springs is going to have a new building constructed next to the old plantation house. All offices will be moved their upon completion. We also got an update on the law suit in Florida regarding SCV license plates.
More to Come. --Old B-R'er
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Texas Confederate Heroes Day on I-10
It would appear that some folks are not going to very happy about what they'll be seeing while driving down I-10. However, for this person, it will be a very welcome sight indeed.
In the Snips and Clips from Singleton column in the Navasota, Texas, Examiner, Confederate Heroes Day was celebrated this past Saturday, Jan. 19th, with the dedication of a new 80 foot flagpole that reportedly can withstand a hurricane by members of three Sons of Confederate Veterans camps: the Lee-Moses-Dixon Camp, the D. H. Maury Camp, and the Jefferson Davis Vindicator Camp.
At 1 p.m., a large 12 x 18 foot Confederate flag was hoisted. Now that is one impressive flag.
I had seen a huge flag flying in Tennessee along I-40 a couple years ago, but it wasn't there this past year when I drove by. I'm not sure what happened to it.
In other area observances:
The Sul-Ross SCV Camp 1465 had a dinner at the home of Commander Ray James and his wife Mary Ann.
The Grandbury Texas Brigade SCV Camp had a cotillion in which 8 Belles were presented.
Hey, Let's Keep the Flag Flying. --The Old B-Runner
In the Snips and Clips from Singleton column in the Navasota, Texas, Examiner, Confederate Heroes Day was celebrated this past Saturday, Jan. 19th, with the dedication of a new 80 foot flagpole that reportedly can withstand a hurricane by members of three Sons of Confederate Veterans camps: the Lee-Moses-Dixon Camp, the D. H. Maury Camp, and the Jefferson Davis Vindicator Camp.
At 1 p.m., a large 12 x 18 foot Confederate flag was hoisted. Now that is one impressive flag.
I had seen a huge flag flying in Tennessee along I-40 a couple years ago, but it wasn't there this past year when I drove by. I'm not sure what happened to it.
In other area observances:
The Sul-Ross SCV Camp 1465 had a dinner at the home of Commander Ray James and his wife Mary Ann.
The Grandbury Texas Brigade SCV Camp had a cotillion in which 8 Belles were presented.
Hey, Let's Keep the Flag Flying. --The Old B-Runner
Lee-Jackson Dinner--Chicago Style
This past January 19th, 41 brave souls braved some mighty c-o-l-d weather to bring a touch of the south to the Radisson Hotel in suburban Wheeling, Illinois. The was the Camp Douglas SCV Camp's second annual Lee-Jackson dinner to be held at this spot. And, even Generals Lee and Jackson were in attendance, how appropriate. Well, they sure looked like Lee and Jackson, anyway.
Camp Commander John Jeffers and Illinois Division Commander Jim Barr were a little worried about not having enough folks come out in the cold, but attendance was about the same as it was on the much warmer occasion last year. You just can't stop that old rebel spirit.
We had a silent auction and the Order of the Confederate Rose was selling raffle tickets to a very impressive quilt they were making to raise funds for the much-threatened Franklin Battlefield in Tennessee.
Mike Triplett, of Peoria, received a prize as having traveled the farthest to be at the event.
After an excellent dinner, David Corbett and the Battlefield Balladeers entertained for several hours and good-use was made of the dance floor. However, don't believe anyone who ever tells you the Virginia Reel is easy to learn. Just ask Clancy Scott who was there with his granddaughter.
Some of their songs: Dixie, Yellow Rose of Texas, Camptown Races, My Old Kentucky Home.
There were quite a few folks in Civil War era civilian attire, both male and female. Of course, we had an ample supply of Confederate officers and only one private. Generals Lee and Jackson kind of kept to themselves, but you know how generals can be. One thing I really enjoyed was looking at other people in the hotel's expressions when these Confederates walked around. You just had to wonder what was going through their minds.
Four new men were sworn in as new Camp Douglas members. We are definitely one of, if not the, largest camps north of the Ohio River. I believe we are also the only SCV camp named after a prison.
All hail Lee and Jackson. --the Old Blockade-Runner
Camp Commander John Jeffers and Illinois Division Commander Jim Barr were a little worried about not having enough folks come out in the cold, but attendance was about the same as it was on the much warmer occasion last year. You just can't stop that old rebel spirit.
We had a silent auction and the Order of the Confederate Rose was selling raffle tickets to a very impressive quilt they were making to raise funds for the much-threatened Franklin Battlefield in Tennessee.
Mike Triplett, of Peoria, received a prize as having traveled the farthest to be at the event.
After an excellent dinner, David Corbett and the Battlefield Balladeers entertained for several hours and good-use was made of the dance floor. However, don't believe anyone who ever tells you the Virginia Reel is easy to learn. Just ask Clancy Scott who was there with his granddaughter.
Some of their songs: Dixie, Yellow Rose of Texas, Camptown Races, My Old Kentucky Home.
There were quite a few folks in Civil War era civilian attire, both male and female. Of course, we had an ample supply of Confederate officers and only one private. Generals Lee and Jackson kind of kept to themselves, but you know how generals can be. One thing I really enjoyed was looking at other people in the hotel's expressions when these Confederates walked around. You just had to wonder what was going through their minds.
Four new men were sworn in as new Camp Douglas members. We are definitely one of, if not the, largest camps north of the Ohio River. I believe we are also the only SCV camp named after a prison.
All hail Lee and Jackson. --the Old Blockade-Runner
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