Upcoming Alabama Statewide Events of Interest for Confederate Heritage

A perusal of the Alabama Tourism Department Sweet Home Alabama statewide Calendar of Events for June include some events of interest for Confederate heritage supporters. 

• Jefferson Davis Tea

Ashville | Jun 2, 2012

Jun 2, Ashville Jefferson Davis Tea 205-338-2412. www.stclaircamp308.org. Free. John. W. Inzer Museum—Event celebrating the birthday of Jefferson Davis with host in period dress and men in Confederate uniforms. Sponsored by St. Clair Camp 308, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Ashville Chapter 1488, United Daughters of the Confederacy and The John W. Inzer Museum, Inc. 2-4 p.m.

• Jefferson Davis Birthday Commemoration

Montgomery | Jun 4, 2012

Jun 4, Montgomery Jefferson Davis Birthday Commemoration 334-365-4713. Free. In front of the State Capitol--Jefferson Davis's Birthday is a state holiday. The event will be commemorated in the front of the State Capitol with a short program on his life, the placing of a wreath at his statue, and finally with a birthday cake at the First White House of the Confederacy, where Jefferson Davis lived in the spring of 1861. 10 a.m.-noon.

• Alabama Division SCV Annual Convention at Lake Guntersville State Park

Guntersville | Jun 8-10, 2012

Sons of Confederate Veterans Alabama Division annual convention at lake Guntersville State Park hosted by the Capt. John Rayburn Camp 452.  Program includes Commanders Reception, Business Meeting with division elections, and a Banquet with keynote speaker Walter D. Kennedy, author Myths of American Slavery. 

Elijah Hunt, Private, Company B, 15th Georgia Infantry of Benning's Brigade Pt.3

Elijah Hunt was a Private in Co. B of the 15^th Georgia Infantry  – they fought under Benning’s Brigade and mentioned in some of these histories (another good website) - http://home.comcast.net/~benningsbrigade/History.htm .  My prior research had shown he enlisted early on, July 14th, 1861 and mustered out in November 1863 (when he died) and so he would have been a part of the campaigns at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Chickamauga.  Here’s a third excerpt from this Benning's Brigade website regarding unit action at Chickamauga:

On the left flank of the Benning’s brigade line, the 15th Ga. cleared the same woodlot that the 2nd and 17th had, only on the forest’s southern edge, facing south through the northeastern part of the Viniard Field. The exact timing and location of the 15th’s arrival was entirely accidental, but could not have been more fortuitous. To their south and east stood the Texas brigade, holding firm against a Northern attack. Directly to their south, yards away, lay the exposed left flank of the attacking federals, mostly members of Carlin’s northern brigade, who faced the Texans. Heg’s brigade had been supporting Carlin’s, but was disrupted by the actions of the 2nd and 17th Ga., and only disorganized elements of Heg’s brigade provided any cover for Carlin’s flank. The 15th unleashed a savage flanking fire into these northern troops, the intensity of which increased as elements of the 20th Ga. emerged from the thickets to the right of the 15th Ga., further enfilading the northern line. Gen. Robertson reported, “General Benning came up promptly with his brigade, and with his usual gallantry assisted in holding our position until nightfall…” As the tide of the fight turned, Robertson’s men began to advance. Under severe pressure in front and flank, the Union lines collapsed. The 15th and 20th Ga. pivoted a bit to their right and came into line with the 17th and 2nd Ga., parallel to the LaFayette Road and along the western edge of woods facing the Viniard farm buildings and the Glenn Field. The left flank of the 15th (and the brigade) rested on the Alexander-Viniard Road; the right flank of the 2nd (and the brigade) was perhaps ¼ mile to the north.

Elijah Hunt, Private, Company B, 15th Georgia Infantry of Benning's Brigade Pt.2

Elijah Hunt was a Private in Co. B of the 15^th Georgia Infantry  – they fought under Benning’s Brigade and mentioned in some of these histories (another good website) - http://home.comcast.net/~benningsbrigade/History.htm .  My prior research had shown he enlisted early on, July 14th, 1861 and mustered out in November 1863 (when he died) and so he would have been a part of the campaigns at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Chickamauga.  Here’s a second excerpt from this Benning's Brigade website regarding subsequent action at Gettysburg after the first day:

As Col. DuBose led the 15th forward, he expected to encounter some of McLaws’ pickets. After advancing about 500 yards from the rest of the brigade, DuBose reported that “instead of finding his troops [McLaws’] upon my left, that the enemy were moving around upon my left in heavy force.”  Gen. Benning elaborated on DuBose’ position - “he suddenly found himself in the immediate presence of two long lines of the enemy, one almost at right angles to the other, with his own line between the two, the head of it being not far from the angle they made with each other. They opened fire on him, which he returned, so as to check their advance a little”. The enemy forces were William McCandless’ brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves. The 15th Georgia, alone in Rose Woods, was facing at least four Union regiments. Ironically, the northern troops had been sent out in response to the additional skirmishers Benning had ordered out to cover his left flank. The Pennsylvanians had advanced west from the area around Little Round Top, into the Wheatfield, then pivoted to the south and advanced into Rose Woods.  The 15^th fired its first volley into them from a distance of about forty yards. The northern force heavily outnumbered them, and Federal troops quickly turned both of the 15th’s flanks, while advanced in its front. About this time Col. DuBose received the messenger from Gen. Benning bearing the clarified version of Law’s orders. Observing the enemy overlapping both of his regiment’s flanks, DuBose drew his line of battle back about 70 or 80 yards, and tried to readjust the facing of his front.  The new orders from Col. Benning, coupled with the necessity to withdraw, demanded this displacement be towards the southwest, rather than towards Devil’s Den. The time from the regiment’s first shot to its reaching the second defensive position was on the order of ten minutes.

Reaching their new position, the men took cover behind rocks and trees and for several minutes put up a desperate fight, but the enemy again pinned their front and worked around both flanks. Seeing northerners within 20 to 40 yards of his men, and no re-enforcements coming to his relief, DuBose again ordered a retreat. The regiment fell back another 300 or 400 yards, rallied behind a stone fence, and for a few more minutes, checked the advance of the enemy. Sheer numbers allowed the enemy to again turn both of the 15th’s flanks.

Besides enduring an exhausting, running fight, the Georgians were sustaining heavy casualties, and losing prisoners with every move. During one of these stops, which lasted for mere minutes, “The enemy was in twenty steps of our front line, and the colors had been shot down a half dozen times. Men in Company C, the color company, said that nine were killed with the colors, and they were finally left on the ground, as it was certain death to pick: them up.”  Sgt. James B. Thompson, Company G, First Pennsylvania Rifles, ultimately picked up the flag of the Fifteenth Georgia and carried it out of Rose Woods, a trophy.  After retreating some 400 yards farther back, DuBose again rallied the remnant of his regiment behind another stone fence. This time they found themselves completely enfiladed by one of the enemy's batteries. A final, hurried retreat reunited the 15th with the balance of Benning’s brigade, along Seminary Ridge, having just experienced its own share of adventures.

Between 260 and 265 men served with 15th Georgia on July 3, 1863, and Col. DuBose reported that 101 of them became casualties that day.  Some were wounded or captured on skirmish duty, but it is probable that at least ninety were lost during this romp through Rose Woods. Gen. Benning (stated), “He [DuBose and the 15th] was fortunate to escape at all. His escape is high evidence both of his skill and courage. I did not go to his assistance, because, when I heard the fire, it seemed to be (and was, indeed) so far on my left that I thought some of General McLaws' men had been sent forward to check an advance of the enemy.”

Elijah Hunt, Private, Company B, 15th Georgia Infantry of Benning's Brigade

Found a website which may be of interest to those researching their ancestry - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Hunt&GSfn=Elijah&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1865&GSdyrel=before&GSob=n&GRid=67704632&df=all& On the left side of the webpage you can perform new searches.  The link here actually shows the information for Elijah Hunt who was one of my great great great grandfathers on my mother’s side.   I had not known where he was buried and winds up it is actually just up I-85 at a Confederate Veterans cemetery in Newnan GA. 

This same findagrave.com webpage for Elijah Hunt actually gives a reference and link to his wife’s grave, Mahala Neal Harris Hunt - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=76471737 . This webpage provides ancestral information for Mahala to include daughter of Elizabeth Gober Neal, as in the Gober family which if traced back actually shows that Henry Gober of Millbrook, Real Son of Confederate Veteran Lisbon Failes Gober and I have a common great great (etc) grandfather back in the 1700s, name being William Gober I.

Elijah Hunt was a Private in Co. B of the 15^th Georgia Infantry  – they fought under Benning’s Brigade and mentioned in some of these histories (another good website) - http://home.comcast.net/~benningsbrigade/History.htm .  My prior research had shown he enlisted early on, July 14th, 1861 and mustered out in November 1863 (when he died) and so he would have been a part of the campaigns at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Chickamauga.  Here’s an excerpt from this Benning's Brigade website regarding Gettysburg (some pretty interesting intense action):

The 15th and 20th approached a worm fence 100 yards southwest of the bottom of the triangular field, just as the Union defenders launched a counterattack on the Texans in the triangular field. The Texans were presently running pell mell towards the protection of the same fence, albeit from the opposite direction. On gaining the fence, the Texans quickly rallied along the same line the 15th was taking up, intermingling with the Georgians. The combined force of Georgians and Texans let rip a volley, described by one of its recipients in the triangular field, a member of the 124th NY Infantry, as “a terrible fire which seemed in an instant to bring down a quarter of our numbers.”

The Confederate advance was not to be stopped. As the 15th Ga./1st Tex. then crested  the slope, they engaged the enemy at a distance of only yards. The fighting nearly become hand-to-hand before the Yankee line – here, the remnants of the 124th NY - broke. The retreat of the 124th NY allowed the 15th Ga./1st Texas to flank the troops directly in front of the 20th, mostly the 4th Maine Infantry. Like a domino, the 4th Maine toppled in front of the 20th Georgia, and the 20^th suddenly captured three of the four artillery pieces.  The enemy fell back into woods behind and to left of Devil’s Den.162 This attack did not last long – a member of the 15^th wrote only that “We charged the enemy, driving them from their position.”

An Afternoon with a Real Son of a Confederate Veteran

Had the pleasure this week of meeting Henry Gober of Millbrook AL, a Real Son of Confederate Veteran Lisbon Failes Gober and, a member of the Prattville Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524.  Past Commander Wyatt Willis arranged for our meeting at Mr.Gober's home which he had built when he was a general contractor and has lived in for the past 29 years or so.  Lisbon Failes Gober is buried at the Rocky Mount cemetery nearby in Prattville.  It was an enjoyable hour spent chatting with Mr.Gober on the front porch of his home, enjoying the cool breeze blown up by some afternoon thunderstorms and which stiffened the Confederate Battle Flag which proudly flew on a pole in his front yard.  He related that things have changed very much in his years and that his home was the only one in the vicinity when he built it and is now surrounded by a neighborhood off Main Street in Millbrook.  The Gobers along with the Cobbs and McQueens owned many of the acres of land which now has been developed as the Prattville High Point shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and the Robert Trent Jones golf courses and turned Prattville into a tourist and shopping destination. He expressed concern over the current White House administration as most of us do.  Very small world twofold.  It winds up that Mr.Gober considers Dave Thomas of Millbrook his very best friend and I had actually rented Mr.Thomas' mother-in-law cottage for a year or two prior to building my home.  Their land actually adjoins each other.   Also, in researching my ancestry for the Sons of Confederate Veterans I had Googled one of my great great great grandfathers, Elijah Hunt, who my Grandmother Essie Rhodes had briefly mentioned in her memoirs. Winds up he had a fascinating history as a Private in Company B of the 15th Georgia Infantry under General Benning's Brigade, the namesake for the U.S. Army Fort Benning in Columbus GA and saw combat at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Chickamauga - watch for a future post with more information.  So, in my research, I found that Elijah Hunt was married to Mahala Harris Neal who was the great grand-daughter of William Gober I who emigrated from England in the 1700s and lived in Virginia and North Carolina.  William Gober I is also the great great great great grandfather of Henry Gober of Millbrook AL.  Small world indeed.

Bob Bradley Provides Names for The American War to the Dragoons Camp

Bob Bradley, Chief Curator at the Alabama State Archives addressed the Prattville Dragoons at their May camp meeting with his speech "Name for the American War". Those today who truly care about the name for the American War of 1861-1865 prefer the term War Between the States as opposed to the Civil War.  This debate as to what to call the War surfaced around the turn of the 19th-20th century.  Merton Coulter (Professor at University of Georgia) traced the geneology of the debate for the name of the War around 1952. Prior to the War, Southerners referred to the possibility of a Civil War in the event the Republican nominee Lincoln was elected. Immediately after the breakup of the Democratic Convention led by William Loundes Wancey, the rumor of a possible Civil War was highlighted.  Accounts of the firing on Ft.Sumter referred to the event leading to a Civil War.  But, as the War progressed, the term Civil War was rejected by the South, first in 1864 by the Richmond Examiner, instead referring to The War.  South Carolina Governor Pickens referred to a War of the Sections. The New Orleans Picayune referred to the War for Independence.  General Longstreet on Lee's staff referred to the Civil War in wartime correspondence and General Nathan Bedford Forrest in his farewell address to his troops referred to "a Civil War you have just endured." Just after the War was made the first reference to The War Between the States. After the U.S. government published the volumes "The War of the Rebellion" in the 1880s, a concerted resistance to this and inaccurate, inappropriate reference was mounted by the United Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.  In 1889 the UDC demanded by proclamation that the War be termed the War Between the States and in 1914 they introduced federal legislation to have the War officially recognized as the War Between the States but it never progressed past committee. Additional names for the War Between the States included War for Seperation, Confederate War for Independence, War for Secession, 2nd War for American Independence, War of Northern Aggression, War of the Sections, Mr.Lincoln's War, War for Southern Independence and, the quite accurate, War for Constitutional Liberty as well as many more.

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 May Meeting

The Prattville Dragoons convened for their regularly scheduled monthly camp meeting at the Shoneys on Cobbs Ford Road in Prattville Thursday evening, May 10th.  Just prior to the start of the meeting proper, Happy Birthday was sung and a delicious chocolate cake was enjoyed in celebration of the 72nd birthday of Montgomery Semple Camp Commander Philip Davis. After the invocation by Chaplain Tom Snowden and the pledges to the flags led by Color Sgt. Larry Spears, introductions were made by Commander Chris Booth to include the ladies present, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Casey, Mrs. Thornton, and Mrs. Crowley.  Prospective new members present were David Lyle visiting from the Tallassee camp but residing in Prattville and Josh Thomas who signed up for information at the Prattville Cityfest.  Greg Meadows was presented a certificate of appreciation for himself and for the Prattville Progress for the outstanding coverage provided to the Dragoons especially for the recent Confederate Memorial Day program. Greg Meadows with WIQR was also recognized for running the radio spots in commemoration of Confederate History month in April and at the conclusion of the meeting he requested additional spots to highlight the parallels between the political climate of the 1850s and today to emphasize the plight of state's rights. Bob Bradley was also introduced prior to him delivering a great message entitled "The Name for the American War".  The Dragoons presented Mr. Bradley with a check for $500 for Confederate flag preservation at the Archives and he invited the Dragoons for a tour.  A half million dollars have been spent in the restoration and preservation of the 90 Confederate flags in the Archives collection, the third largest in the country. A report on the flag collection with descriptions can be found on the Alabama State Archives website.  Upcoming events were announced including the Alabama Division Annual Reunion June 8-10th; members of the Prattville Dragoons are planning on attending as votes for new Ammendments and new officers are scheduled.  The National Reunion is scheduled for July 11-14th in Murfreesboro TN. July 28th at Fort Dixie in Selma Gen. Forrest's Birthday Party will be celebrated which is an enjoyable event.  Monday June 4th, Jefferson Davis' birthday will be celebrated with cake at the First White House of the Confederacy.  Tickets for the annual Dixie Butt sale, the Dragoons annual fund raiser will be distributed next meeting and butts will be available the first of August.