SCV RECRUITMENT
The Sons of Confederate Veterans has established a
web site on the Internet for recruitment. It is located at
http://www.1800mydixie.com/index.html. The site has
general information about the SCV, a recruitment
video, a statement of our purposes and a link to the
main web site. SCV members with Internet access
should familiarize themselves with this web site and use
it as a recruiting tool.
MY CONFEDERATE ANCESTOR
Captain James W. Bryan Camp features the stories
of camp member’s Confederate ancestors in our
monthly newsletter Calcasieu Greys. We would like to
invite members to submit a brief biography of your
ancestor for our upcoming issues. The biography
should be 750 words or less and include all service
information, rank, place of enlistment, branch and unit,
the battles in which your ancestor fought, final resting
place, family information, and any anecdote concerning
your ancestor. Please include a photograph of yourself
and your ancestor. Send your biography to Mike Jones,
Editor at m4082@msn.com or Dr. Andy Buckley
Commander at andybuckley1224@gmail.com
SCV CONFEDERATE MUSEUM
The truth about the South's struggle to
form a new nation is under attack as never
before. The National Battlefield Parks have be
taken over by the “it's all about slavery”
provocateurs. Museums have changed their
collections and interpretations to present what
they call the cultural history of the War for
Southern Independence. In reality this new
perspective is nothing more than South
bashing. The forces of political correctness
have gone into high gear. They attempt to ban
any and all things Confederate through their
ideological fascism. Even what was once a
highly respected museum now claims proudly
they are not a museum for the Confederacy,
merely about it.
There needs to be at least one place where
the people of the South and others can go to
learn an accurate account of why so many
struggled so long in their attempt to reassert
government by the consent of the governed in
America!
The General Executive Council of the
Sons of Confederate Veterans made the
commitment in October of 2008 to start the
process to erect a new building that will have
two purposes. One of the uses of this new
building will be to give us office space and
return Elm Springs to its original grandeur.
However the main function is to house The
Confederate Museum. We are planning a
museum that will tell the truth about what
motivated the Southern people to struggle for
many years to form a new nation. At the SCV
Reunion in July of 2009 the GEC set up a
building fund for this purpose. One of the
goals is to provide an accurate portrayal of the
common Confederate soldier, something that is
currently absent in most museums and in the
media.
You are invited to make your stand for
the future by contributing to this fund.
Send checks to:
Sons of Confederate Veterans
c/o TCM Building Fund
P.O. Box 59
Columbia, TN 38402
CONGRESS AUTHORIZES
BATTLEFIELD FUNDING
The legislation, part of an omnibus lands
package included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015
National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 3979),
reauthorizes a highly successful federal matching
grant program for the preservation of Civil War
battlefields. In addition, the bill expands that
existing program to provide grants for the
acquisition of land at Revolutionary War and War of
1812 battlefields.
“This is a historic moment for the battlefield
preservation movement,” remarked Civil War Trust
president James Lighthizer. “For 15 years, the Civil
War Battlefield Preservation Program has been an
invaluable tool for protecting the hallowed
battlegrounds of the Civil War. Now, for the first
time, battlefields associated with America’s other
formative conflicts, the Revolutionary War and the
War of 1812, will also benefit from this publicprivate
partnership.”
The legislation, originally introduced in 2013
as the American Battlefields Protection Program
Amendments Act (H.R. 1033), reauthorizes the Civil
War Battlefield Preservation Program, a matching
grants program that encourages private sector
investment in historic battlefield protection. Since
the program was first funded by Congress in FY
1999, it has been used to preserve more than 23,000
acres of battlefield land in 17 states. The battlefields
protected through the program include some of the
most famous in the annals of America, including
Antietam, Md., Chancellorsville and Manassas, Va.;
Chattanooga and Franklin, Tenn.; Gettysburg, Pa.;
Perryville, Ky.; and Vicksburg, Miss.
The bipartisan bill was sponsored by U.S.
Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Thad Cochran (RMiss.)
and Congressmen Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and
Rob Wittman (R-Va.) in their respective
chambers. In addition, the bill was championed by
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mary
Landrieu (D-La.) and House Natural Resources
Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.). A complete list
of House and Senate cosponsors can be found on
the Congress.gov website (Senate and House).
“We owe our Congressional champions in
the House and Senate an enormous debt of
gratitude for believing in this program and guiding
it through an often complicated legislative
process,” Lighthizer noted. “Thanks to their
tireless efforts, thousands of acres of genuine
American history that might have been lost to
development can still be preserved for future
generations.”
In addition to reauthorizing the existing
Civil War matching grants program, the bill
expands the program’s authority to provide grants
to protect Revolutionary War and War of 1812
battlefields. Similar to the Civil War grants, which
are awarded for priority battlefield land identified
in a 1993 government report on Civil War
battlefields (updated in 2011), funding for
Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields
will target sites listed in a 2007 study by the
American Battlefield Protection Program. Among
the battlefields that could potentially benefit from
the expanded program are: Bennington, N.Y. and
Vt.; Brandywine, Pa.; Cowpens, S.C.; Caulk’s Field,
Md.; Guilford Courthouse, N.C.; Princeton, N.J.;
River Raisin, Mich.; Saratoga, N.Y.; and
Yorktown, Va.
In his remarks, Lighthizer also noted that
this legislation, by encouraging the protection of
battlefield land, also honors the courage and
sacrifices of all who served in America’s
military. “Preserved battlefields are living
monuments – not just to the soldiers who fought
in those hallowed fields – but to all Americans
who have worn our nation’s uniform. There are
no better places to learn about the human cost of
the freedoms we enjoy today.”
The combined Civil War, Revolutionary
War and War of 1812 matching program is
authorized at $10 million a year for seven years,
through the end of FY 2021. The FY 2015
Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 83) currently
under consideration by the Congress includes $8.9
million for the program.
THE BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE
A First Hand Account
Here is the report of Captain Thomas Bynum on the Battle of
Baton Rouge, from the Official Records. Headqrs. Battalion of
Infantry Stewart's Legion, Comite Bridge, La,, August 8, 1862.
Sirs: I herewith submit a report of participation of this battalion
under command of Lieut. Col. Samuel Boyd, in the action of
the 5th instant: Its force consisted of the following: One field, 3
staff, 9 company officers, and 190 enlisted men. They
composed the center of Colonel Allen's brigade, the 30th
Louisiana Regiment (Colonel Breaux), on the right, and the 4th
Louisiana Regiment (Lt. Col. Hunter) on the left. The line of
battle was formed in the woods back and leftward of the
residence of Capt. E.W. Robins, and about three-fourths of a
mile to the rear of the central portion of Baton Rouge. As soon
as the line was formed it was put in forward motion, feeling its
way, slowly forward. Marching straight to the front through
briars, hedges, and over picket fences, the brigade was halted in
the face of a line of the foe drawn up to receive us and after
giving them two well directed volley's charged upon them, when
they fled. The brigade, having paused a few moments, resumed
its line as well as the nature of the undergrowth would permit,
and marched some 200 or 300 yards forward in a left-oblique
direction. Receiving reports of a battery of the enemy supported
by a regiment right to our front, about 160 yards distant, our
commander, after calling for three cheers for the Confederacy,
ordered us to charge. Alarmed at our shouts and dash the
enemy broke, taking off their battery, but leaving heaps of slain
and wounded. It was here that Captain Chinn fell from a wound
in the leg while gallantly responding at the head of his company
to Colonel Allen's orders. Resuming our course, we soon found
ourselves upon te edge of an old field, on the opposite side of
which is the Benton Ferry road and the inclosures of the racetrack.
Square in front was posted along the road-side a number
of the enemy's skirmishers or sharpshooters, and to the
outskirts of the corporation of Baton Rouge. A regiment (the
Sixth Michigan) supported the battery, and its men were placed
behind the fences, outhouses, and houses in the neighborhood
of Hockney's. Colonel Allen, taking the colors of this command
in his hand, rapidly drew up his command in line, who at his call
and example rushed, under a galling fire of grape, canister, and
Minie, across the field. There was not a shrub even as a screen
on it, and over 300 yards of the open space the foe sent many a
missile of death and shaft of anguish within 100 yards of the
cannon. Lieutenant Causey, of Buffington's company and
commanding it, fell, shot through the brain. No victim in this
great struggle against fanaticism and the principles of rapine and
spoliation leaves to his family and friends a brighter memory for
chivalrous courage and unsullied patriotism. A few yards farther
on Lieutenant Colonel Boyd fell shot through the arm, and was
borne off the field. In a moment or so after the fled, leaving two
cannon and a lieutenant and 8 or 10 privates prisoners in our
hands. In passing beyond the fence inclosing Turner's house
and getting partially into the street the gallant leader fell helpless
from his horse into the arms of his trusty soldiers and was
by them carried from the fiield. It completely paralyzed
his old regiment (the Fourth), at whose head he was even
in the moment of victory. Notwithstanding his repeated
shouts to go forward, it became confused and muddied
up, lost in a maze of stolidity and dismay. At this critical
moment the undersigned first became apprised by
Colonel Breaux, now commanding the brigade, that it was
his duty to assume command of this battalion. With
serious misgivings in his capacity in this emergency and
sorrowful at the necessity he aimed to do his best in
seconding the gallant, fearless, and conspicuous example
of the commanding officer to save his troops from panic
and to rally them into line. His efforts surpasssed by the
daring courage of Lieutenant Barrow, commanding
Captain Chinn's company; by the energy of Lieutenant
Barnett, of Captain Bynum's company, and by the cool
and noble example of Lieutenant Brown, of the same
company. A partial success only rewarded their exertions
-- we were saved a panic; but the annoying fire from the
enemy's sharpshooters left them no other alternative but
to fall back across the field to the shelter of the woods.
Here another effort was made to rally the brigade into
line, now massed confusedly. The commanding officer
employed every incentive and expedient that courage
could suggest, but with haggard results. The men made no
response to his appeals. They were not cowed or panic
stricken. They were exhausted -- hopelessly exhausted --
and seemed to be staggering under the half of that last
ounce which breaks the camel's back of
endurance. Having been under arms more than sixteen
hours; having neither supper, breakfast, nor sleep; having
marched over 12 miles, and having gone through four
hours' hard fighting, it is not a matter of surprise or of
blame that they paid but little heed to the rallying cries of
their leaders. Their conduct was, however, only in
accordance with the example of troops who had been
under fire and were reputed veterans. Many vicissitudes
of this battle must remain unnoticed the undersigned was
not called to command till a late hour, and many events
doubtless noted by the experienced eye of Colonel Boyd
must be chronicled because of his absence. While Colonel
Boyd was in command his promptitude and courage ably
sustained the policy of Colonel Allen. His adjutant,
Lieutenant Breeden, was conspicuous for daring
devotions to duty throughout the trials of the day. The
men generally behaved with coolness and courage. Upon
returning to headquarters, near Ward's Creek Bridge, the
undersigned was relieved of his command by Lieutenant
Barrow.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Tom. Bynum Captain, Comdg. Battalion
Infantry, Stewart's Legion
