CALCASIEU GREYS, May 2013

NEXT MEETING

      Then next meeting of Captain James W. Bryan Camp 1390 will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March. 14, at Pitt Grill, .2600 Ruth St. in  Sulphur. The program is tentatively slated to be on the Confederate States Navy.

CAMP MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2013

         Please see the list below for meeting dates and places for 2013. The restaurants have been contacted and their calendars marked accordingly. Meetings last from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Amazen Seafood Restaurant (Lake Charles) June 11, August 13, and October 8 (Nomination of officers).

Pitt Grill (Sulphur) -  May 14, July 9, September 10, November 12 (elect officers).

The camp Christmas party date would be December 10 with the location to be determined.

Cmdr. Archie Toombs
presenting donation from
Capt. J.W. Bryan Camp to
head of Niblett's Bluff Park
Commission for historic
preservation at the
April Spring Festival.
 

 

Commander’s Comments

      What a good month to be a Confederate. My month started at Pleasant Hill which was great, but next year will be the 150th and you don't want to miss it. It will be the biggest yet with more canons and more soldiers and, more chances to recruit new people. Some of you helped at the gun show that weekend a big thanks for the help. The next weekend I was in Palestine Texas  dedicating a new Confederate Memorial Plaza, They had a parade and a moving ceremony attended by a large crowd of our compatriots from Texas, Ariz, Ark and of course La. I'm sure there were other states present. I just didn't get a chance to meet them. Next we had Niblett’s Bluff. The weather was great and we had an excellent turnout. A big thanks to all the volunteers who helped make it a success. Next year at Niblett’s Bluff there will be a reenactment for the 150th.Last but by no means the least was being part of another Hunley Award presentation where Dr. Andy Buckley did a great job of presenting it. The little Lady that received it last year gave me a big hug and thanks again for the award, This is why we do this. It is for the young people so they might learn the real truth about the War of Northern Aggression.
      This month our guest speaker will be John R. Burleigh from Port  Neches, Texas.  He will speak on the Confederate Navy, He is one of the best in our area on the subject and really enjoys telling the facts.
      We need to keep Luke Dartez in our prayers. His wife Lizzy had to have emergency surgery on the 25^th. She is doing good but still needs all our thoughts and prayers.
       The next meeting will be May 14th at the Pitt Grill in Sulphur, The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Come enjoy a good meal and visit with people that think the way you do, Bring a friend who might be interested in learning something about the Confederate Cause.

Best regards.

Archie Toombs, Cmdr. Camp 1390

 

LOUISIANA CONFEDERATE HISTORY

MONTH PROCLAIMED

          Compatriot Alfred Cochran of Captain James W. Bryan Camp 1390 obtained a resolution proclaiming April as Confederate History and Heritage Month in Louisiana from Louisiana Senator Blade Morris of District 25.

       The resolution reads:

        Whereas, the people of our state are united by a common history of individual heritage and diverse cultures and out state and its parishes, municipalities, and communities are rich in history of the War Between the states; and

          Whereas, Louisiana has long recognized her Confederate history, the numerous civil war battlefields that mark every region of the state, the  leaders and individuals who fought for their homes and communities and the state in a time very different than ours today; and

          Whereas, Louisianans can appreciate the fact that when ultimately overwhelmed by the insurmountable numbers and resources of the Union Army, the surviving, imprisoned, and injured Confederate soldiers gave their word and allegiance to the United States of America, and returned to their homes and families to rebuild their communities in peace; and

            Whereas, it is important for all residents to reflect upon our state’s shared history, to understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers, and citizens during the period of the War Between the States, and to recognize how our history has led to our present; and

          Whereas, it is appropriate we honor those who served in the Confederate States of America and educate the general public on Confederate history; and

          Whereas, the  month of April bears special significance since it marks both the beginning of the War Between the States in 1861 and the end of the war in 1865.

         Therefore, Be It Resolved that April is hereby designated and recognized as “Confederate History and Heritage Month” and all residents are urged to increase their knowledge of the role played by the Confederate States of American in our country’s history.

[Signed]

Senator Blade Morrish, District 25

 

MEMORIES OF TOM BROOKS

By Mike Jones

       I recently received the sad news of the death, on March 28, 2013, of my old friend and co-author of Lee's Foreign Legion: A History of the 10th Louisiana Infantry, Thomas Walter Brooks of Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. While I live deep in rural South Louisiana and Tom lived in Canada, we became friends and correspondents through a mutual interest in the 10th Louisiana Infantry regiment. He belonged to the 10th Louisiana reenactment group and I was a descendant of one of the regiment's soldiers, Pvt. Armelin Linscombe of Co. K., and also a reenactor with the 28th Louisiana Infantry reenactment group.

       Tom loved doing historical research and so did I, so we collaborated through the mail on gathering information about the regiment with the hope of someday publishing a regimental history. I live in an area of Louisiana where Company K was raised, South Louisiana, and was made up mostly  of  Louisiana French natives. However most of the regiment was made up of foreigners, predominantly Irish and German but with many Canadians, Italians, Greeks, Spaniards and numerous other nationalities. We decided to name the book Lee's Foreign Legion in recognition of the diverse makeup of the regiment.

       While I found many photographs of soldiers of the regiment from descendants that I had met in the course of my research, Tom wrote the final draft, had the excellent maps made, did all the statistical analysis that makes the book unique, and most importantly, published the work on his own in 1995. The book never would have happened without Tom. He was a man that could get things done.

      I finally got to meet Tom in person at the 125th anniversary  reenactment of Gettysburg in 1988. I found him to be a fine man, honorable, serious and an all around good friend. We also reenacted together again at a reenactment of the Battle of Pleasant Hill in Louisiana, and the Battle of Murfreesboro reenactment in Tennessee. While we hadn't corresponded for years before his death, I have nothing but fond memories of this really good man and friend. God Bless You and Rest in Peace Tom!

 

Gen. Robert E. Lee, master-
mind of the brilliant Confederate
victory at Chancellorsville.

150-years –ago

THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN

(U.S. Army Center of Military History)

Chancellorsville, 27 April - 6 May 1863.

          In the East, during this period, Federal operations were directed by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, who replaced Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac on 25 January. Hooker effected some reorganization and by late April was ready to assume the offensive with about 134,000 men. Hooker's objective was to destroy Lee's army, about 60,000 strong, which was still holding Fredericksburg. To accomplish this he planned a double envelopment which could place strong Union forces on each of Lee's flanks. The Chancellorsville Campaign began, as planned, with the movement of five corps under Hooker up the Rappahannock and across the river to Chancellorsville, while two corps under Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick crossed below Fredericksburg. Meanwhile Union cavalry made a diversionary raid in Lee's rear. Lee quickly became aware of Hooker 's intentions, and on 1 May boldly launched an attack toward Chancellorsville, leaving on a small force to defend Fredericksburg. In a brilliant display of generalship, Lee outflanked Hooker's force and kept it on the defensive. He also repulsed Sedgwick, who had taken Fredericksburg on 3 May and had advanced west, only to be driven northward across the Rappahannock on 5 May. Lee then turned his full attention to Chancellorsville, but Hooker withdrew his forces across the Rappahannock on 6 May before the Confederates could launch an assault. Federal casualties were 1,575 killed, 9,594 wounded, and 5,676 missing; Confederate casualties were 1,665 killed, 9,081 wounded, and 2,018 missing. Among the Confederate losses was Stonewall Jackson, who was mortally wounded on 2 May.

          Encouraged by the victory at Chancellorsville, Confederate authorities decided to attempt another invasion of the North. In early June Lee began moving his units up the Shenandoah and Cumberland Valleys into Pennsylvania, where he was forced by the exigencies of scanty supply to disperse his army over a broad area. Hooker had become aware of Lee's intentions by mid-June, and had promptly started north with his army, crossing the Potomac near Leesburg on 25-26 June. When Lee learned of this he ordered his army to concentrate at once between Cashtown and Gettysburg.

 

 

Cpl.  Isaac Reeves, left, killed at Gettysburg
and Sgt. James Reeves, killed at Chancellors-
ville, both of Lake Charles, Louisiana. They
served in Co. K, 10th La. Inf. (Courtesy of
Mrs. Anna Belle Reeves Morris)

        The Sad Story of the Reeves Brothers

[Excerpted from Lee's Foreign Legion: A History of the 10th Louisiana Infantry by Thomas Walter Brooks and Michael Dan Jones, 1995]

          The 10th Louisiana had participated in the days' brilliant victory [of May 2nd], but such success does not come without cost. The 2nd Louisiana Brigade of commander, Francis T. Nicholls, lost his left foot to a well aimed piece of Federal solid shot. The projectile  went clean through his horse, killing the animal instantly. Colonel Jesse Williams of the 2nd Louisiana took charge of the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel John Leggett, commanding the 10th, was cut almost in half by an artillery shell . He lingered long enough to beg forgiveness from his men for the rancor that existed between he and they. Major Henry Monier replaced Leggett to lead the 10th, only to be himself wounded the next day. Eighteen year old Private James Anderson, the color-bearer of record for the day, and ironically a Northerner as he was Ohio born, fell on the second.  Indeed, he was the first of a dozen men in the 10th who fell that day, and one the next, carrying the colors. War has an insatiable 
appetite for death.
           In addition to those already mentioned, twenty-four others in the 10th Louisiana were killed  or died of wounds at Chancellorsville. Six of them were Irish. Two, Michael Flannagan and William Buckley, were married.  Flannagan's widow was given his final account by the paymaster, and Buckley's widow Catherine received, in addition to that, a post-war land grant from the state of Louisiana. William Buckley was one of five men from the regiment who died at Chancellorsville, who were buried in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery.
         Three Germans fell as well. The death of one of them, Frederick Sark [of Company K], was described by [First Lieutenant] Edward Seton in his letter home.
          "Poor Jim Reeves was killed [on May 3] to my left when I went to get his rifle to give to F. Sark whose gun would not fire and at that moment I was wounded and when I looked around to give Sark the gun I seen poor fellow he was killed also." Sark was 25-years-old.

          A Corsican, Jean Bremont, and an Italian, Josua Fumagalli were among the slain. The Frenchman Alphonse Jonte was killed as were two Virginians, Charles Cooper and Henry Fleshman. Six Louisianians died, and one Mississippian, he, the eldest of three Reeves brothers in Company 'K,' James. John Reeves, the younger brother of James, was shot and blinded in both eyes while fighting at his brothers side. To add more grief to the Reeves family already sorrowful circumstances, James Reeves' wife Tabitha died in childbirth. And that wasn't the  end of the misery either. Two months later, on Culp's Hill at Gettysburg, the third Reeves brother, Isaac [twin of John], was slain. In the early 1870s, Isaac Reeves' remains were disinterred from the pit in which he lay at Gettysburg, and re-buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, in a box (box 3-261) with the bones of dozens of other men.             

          The Reeves family of Lake Charles, Louisiana had nothing left to give to the cause. Three sons, a daughter-in-law, and a grandchild had been taken in two short months.
          The 10th Louisiana went into battle with about 180 men. The total casualties suffered by the regiment at Chancellorsville, dead, wounded, and missing, totaled ninety-three.


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