Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Richard Griffin
Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences; if no social standing, advancement in public life falls to reputation for capacity, class considerations not being allowed to interfere with merit
For this offering of their lives they received that renown which never grows old. For heroes have the whole earth for their tomb; and in lands far from their own, where the col39th Commander, Richard Griffin umn with its epitaph declares it, there is enshrined in every breast a record unwritten with no tablet to preserve it, except that of the heart. - Pericles Funeral Oration from the Peloponnesian War But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. - Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address Recently, Ive been thinking about three of my great-grandfathers (continued on Page 4)
ALENDAR
FOR
THE
11:30 am TBD NA 10:00 am 5:00 pm 6:30 pm TBD NA 10:00 am 11:30 am 10:00 am 11:30 am
EAR
2014
LOCATION
DATE EVENT
TIME
8 March 22 March 25-26 April 17 May 30 May 30 May 26 July 14-17 August 30 August 13 September 22 November 6 December
Lincoln-Cushing Camp Meeting FFW Defenses of Washington Tour Department Encampment Executive Meeting Traditional Memorial Day Service Lincoln-Cushing Camp Meeting Camp Picnic National Encampment Executive Meeting Lincoln-Cushing Camp Meeting Executive Meeting Lincoln-Cushing Camp Meeting
Gadsbys Tavern, Old Town, Alexandria Various Lynchburg, VA TBD Arlington National Cemetery Ft. Myer Ocers Club, Arlington, VA TBD Marietta, GA Ft. Ward Dubliner Restaurant, Capitol Hill, DC Ft. Ward Dubliner Restaurant, Capitol Hill, DC
T HE NEwS WAlKER
PAGE 2
Brothers Brin Lewis, Lee Stone (hidden), Richard Grin, and Commander Ben Hawley
2014 ocers sworn in (l to R) Brothers Don Bishop, David Stringfellow, Brin Lewis, John Higgins, Jr. (holding the Bible), Lee Stone, and Richard Grin
The final highlight of the meeting was the election of the 2014 team of officers who will strive to continue the great work done by Commander Hawley. Brother Robert Griffin was elected Commander for 2014 after spending a year as Senior Vice Commander under Commander Ben Hawley. We thank Ben for all he did for the camp in 2013 and now welcome him to the ranks of Camp Council. Brother Brin Lewis, former Junior Vice Commander, was elected to Senior Vice Commander, while Commander Richard Grin and Brother David Stringfellow New DSVC Rob Pollock took the reins of Junior Vice Commander. Brother Lee Stone, PDC was once again elected Secretary/Treasurer. In addition, Brother Donald Bishop was appointed Patriotic Instructor and Brother John Higgins, Jr. Brother Lee Stone, PDC addresses the camp, sitting is was appointed Chaplain. Commander Ben Hawley
T HE NEwS WAlKER
PAGE 3
Commander Hawley,
Thank you
for your ser vice to the Order!
T HE NEwS WAlKER
PAGE 4
T HE NEwS WAlKER
PAGE 5
Encampment
Make plans now to attend the 2014 Department of Chesapeake Encampment on 25-26 April. Special room rates are available at the
Department of Chesapeake
2 01 4
2900 Candlers Mountain Road, Lynchburg, Virginia, 24502
Join SUVCW: http: //suvc w. org/memb er. ht m
Book Reviews
PAGE 6
The Ontario Regiment in the Army of the Potomac, as told by an embedded journalist The Story of the Thirty-Third N.Y.S. Vols: Or Two Years Campaigning in Virginia and Maryland
by David W. Judd Rochester: Benton & Andrews, 1864
New York Times journalist David Wright Judd (18381888) accompanied the 33rd New York Volunteer Infantry, the Ontario Regiment, during its two years in the Army of the Potomac from 1861 to 1863. They fought at Williamsburg, the Seven Days Battles, Antietam, and at the first and second battles of Fredericksburg. In that last fight, of 550 men who advanced, 221 were killed, wounded, or missing. This regimental history was published while the war was still ongoing, in 1864. As a journalist, Judd was not with the companies of the regiment in the thick of its engagements, but he was with them before and afterward, and he had good access to the headquarters tent. Here are things to like about this contemporary account of the Civil War:
The men of the regiment were brave, gallant boys. He was quite eloquent when discussing the Union cause and the sacrifice of the troops. the soldiers cared for the wounded and buried their dead. There are many amusing stories of Civil War soldiering. Potomac from the outskirts of Richmond back down the Peninsula in June, 1862, is still fresh and frank. Twenty-first century infantry leaders could draw lessons from it. His description of Antietam the day after the battle is similarly graphic. You can learn a lot from Bradys photographs, but Judds words are just as vivid.
generals, as seen from one regiment. McClellan was inspiring, Porter was a goat, Burnside was manly because he was honest. A century and a half later, all have been the subject of studies and evaluations. Reading contemporary views is refreshing. the regiment. He never drew attention to himself. The word I is almost entirely absent from the book. This lack of ego is refreshing.
The volume includes maps and woodcut illustrations by an officer of the regiment. The work of veterans, biographers, and historians now tell us more about each of the 33rds engagements, but this account by an embedded journalist is valuable and entertaining precisely because he wrote the book so close in time to awful and momentous events. Tip: Make sure you purchase a facsimile reprint of Judds book, not a computer-generated copy that used optical scanning rather than reproduce the pages.
Book Reviews
PAGE 7
A Union units story, now told from all sides Path of Blood: The True Story of the 33rd New York Volunteers
by George Contant Seeco Printing Company, 1997
Path of Blood is a new history of a regiment in the Army of the Potomac, the 33rd New York Volunteer Infantry. The Ontario Regiment was raised in Western New York in the spring of 1861, and it served in Virginia and Maryland -- fighting in the battles of Williamsburg, Antietam, and Fredericksburg -- during the first two years of the Civil War. The only previous book on the regiment, published in 1864, was written by the New York Times correspondent that accompanied the unit, David Judd. Though not a professional historian, George Contant masterfully located and combed through hundreds of scattered Civil War letters and fading newspaper articles to trace anew the story of the regiment. Contants new account has the same freshness as Judds because it so extensively quotes the contemporary letters of its officers and soldiers. It is even more satisfying because Contant also quotes the generals, men in neighboring units on the same battlefields, and the Confederate soldiers who faced the 33rd. It is fresh, too, because Contant, in the tradition of great historians like Parkman, walked each of the battlefields. This freshness and familiarity overcomes the books minor editorial shortcomings -- some typos and formatting lapses uncaught by the proofreader. Even after more than 130 years, there are new things to discover about the Civil War. At the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862, three companies of the 33d halted a Confederate advance led by Jubal Early with a desperate bayonet charge, preventing a major rout of the Union forces. Brigadier General Winfield Scott Hancock received the credit for the daring reversal -- jump starting his remarkable military and political career. Contant persuasively shows, however, that it was the quick thinking of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Corning of the 33rd that was decisive. Du Picq once said that study of a single skirmish in detail yields more knowledge of war than many books on campaigns. Path of Blood illustrates this well. There are many profound lessons about the Civil War -- and about war itself -- to be derived from the experience of the 33rd New York as it marched through Maryland and Virginia: fog of war, friction of war, principles of war, leadership, followership, cohesion and unit spirit, training, logistics, cause and comrades, and so on. Contant -- like myself, a descendant of one of the 33ds soldiers -- deserves great credit for recovering them. Through the eyes of the 33rds soldiers we see McClellan and Sedgwick and Hancock -- the Peninsula, Antietam, and Fredericksburg -- at first hand. We hear the bands around the campfires and see the burnished rows of steel on the march. From their letters -- as they wrote them within hours and days of their struggles -- we hear their voices, cheers, and curses. We feel the battle rage. We learn of their exasperations, and their hopes. And in the end, we know too their love of country.
T HE NEwS WAlKER
PAGE 8
Department Encampment:
25 April - 27 April in Lynchburg, Virginia
This years Department Encampment will take place Friday 25 April through Sunday 27 April in Lynchburg, Virginia. Special guests will include C-n-C Ken Freshley and guest speaker Dr. Clifton Porter speaking on the topic of Union Prisoners of War in Lynchburg. Events will take place on Friday including a visit to the Appomattox Courthouse and other Lynchburg sites. From 6:00 pm-9:00 pm there will be a dinner at the Crown Sterling Steak House, 6120 Fort Avenue (dinner at your expense). The business meeting takes place on Saturday with the Department Council meeting at 7:00 am, morning session begins at 8:45 and the afternoon session begins at 1:30 pm. Group rates have been arranged at the Kirkley Hotel and Conference Center, 2900 Candlers Mountain Road, Lynchburg, VA. Reservations can be made at our discounted rate of $86.99, plus tax, by calling 1 (866) 510-6333. Remember to mention Department of the Chesapeake to get the discount. All brothers and sisters are encouraged to attend.
T HE NEwS WAlKER
PAGE 9
Please mail your check in time to arrive by 1 March so that an accurate count can be given to the establishment. If you cant get your check in by 1 March, please call Brother Lee at 540-338-5831 or 571-217-0160 and let him know that you plan to attend and bring your check with you. Please see the back page for the reservation form. Our guest speaker will be Brother Douglas Jimerson who will provide a short lecture recital about Abraham Lincoln and some of his favorite music. Mr. Jimerson began his professional performing career with The Washington Opera. He made his concert stage debut at Carnegie Hall in 1996. He has advanced degrees in opera and musicology. Douglas Jimerson and his period ensemble, the Civil War Comrades, regularly perform 18th and 19th century American music for the National Park Service and national historic sites.
RE S ER VA T I O N F ORM Yes, I, __________________________will be attending the meeting and am bringing __________________________ as my guest, and __________________________ as a potential candidate for membership. Enclosed is my check for $________ ($29.00/ per person). My entree choice: My guests choice: Monte Cristo Monte Cristo Chicken Salad Chicken Salad Cod Fish Cod Fish
Lunch: 12:30 pm
Location: Gadsbys Tavern 138 North Royal Street Old Town Alexandria, VA
No, I, __________________________ regret that I will not be able to attend, however, enclosed is a donation to our Camps charitable works for $_______. Please detach and mail to: Mr. Lee D. Stone, PDC 536 Wordsworth Circle Purcellville, VA 20132
Lunch Selections: - Monte Cristo Sandwich - Chicken Salad - Ale-Battered Cod Fish Attire: Business or SVR Uniform
RSVP by 1 M a rc h