The Jefferson Davis Monument (Monument Ave., Richmond, VA)

[The dedication of the Jefferson Davis Monument; Richmond, VA; June 3, 1907]

 At 2 o'clock in the afternoon on June 3, 1907, before a crowd of thousands of admirers, the Jefferson Davis Monument, on Monument Avenue in Richmond, VA, was unveiled and dedicated to honor the Confederacy's only President on what would have been his 99th birthday.

The event was widely covered in periodical publications of the day, including The Confederate Veteran magazine, which described the scene as "all that could have been imagined. Such a sea of human beings was hardly ever seen in the South... it was a gala day [as] rockets were being sent high above, from which emerged many beautiful figures, conspicuous among which were balloons with magnificent Confederate flags floating, which fell in different parts of the assembly, and a fine band of music and hundreds of girls were singing about the area of the monument. Such a joyous throng of so great magnitude must have rarely ever been witnessed on the earth."

The crowd was extremely large, estimated as being "not less than 125,000" by Lt.Gen. Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, and that was just the crowd surrounding the Davis monument! Over 1,200 old Confederate veterans & sons are said to have marched down the flag-decorated streets with over 200,000 parade watchers cheering them on.

[Lt.Gen. Stephen D. Lee & others below the soon to be unveiled monument]

One old soldier, bent and weary with age after the parade, told a newspaper reporter, "I was a boy again while the march lasted, but, now that it's over, I'm an old broken man ready to die." He, like so many others, marched like boys again with strength & affection for the Southern Cause, despite the toll that age had taken since the flags were furled at Appomattox.

The speakers stand was filled with dignitaries such as Gen S.D. Lee, Rev J. William Jones, Hon. Claude Swanson - Governor of Virginia, Hon. Carlton McCarthy - Mayor of Richmond, and Maj.Gen. Samuel D. French - the oldest surviving major-general from the Confederate service. Seated on the stage along with these great men was perhaps the most notable gathering of Confederate women ever assembled at an unveiling, including Ms. Mary Custis Lee (daughter of Gen. Robert E. Lee), Mrs. Mary Anna Jackson (widow of "Stonewall" Jackson), and Mrs. Flora Stuart (widow of Gen. J.E.B. Stuart), and others equally worthy of note.

The lady who was given the most attention on this day, however, and rightfully so, was Mrs. Margaret Davis Hayes, the daughter of the late Southern President. It was she, along with two of her children, who had the honored duty of actually making the great unveiling of the Davis monument. When the signal was given, the President's heirs withdrew the veil that covered the statue of the late chieftain! Instantly the guns of the Howitzers boomed out in a Presidential salute, the bands struck up in the playing of 'Dixie,' and deafening cheers & applause erupted from the crowd! For several minutes the air was filled with thunder as fireworks were sent off, celebratory bombs exploded, children sang, and the multitudes roared in excitement as balloons carrying Confederate flags floated overhead.

[The Jefferson Davis Monument; Richmond, VA; July 12, 2016]

After the monument's unveiling, Governor Swanson gave an address to the gathered throngs. I will not reprint it here in full, but in part let me share the following portion of his remarks:

"Sirs, the brave and noble deeds of the Confederate soldiers, extending from the drummer-boy to the great commander - the God-like Lee, constitute for the South her proudest and most precious heritage. We will teach our children's children to cherish the glory, the unsullied honor and the dauntless courage of the Confederate soldier. We purpose that in every county and city of the South some day shall stand a granite or marble column to bear testimony to his heroism and glory." 

[The Jefferson Davis Monument; Richmond, VA; July 12, 2016]

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Have You Forgotten...?

This past Sunday, our nation reflected on a dark day in it's history - September 11, 2001 - remembering the nearly 3,000 lives lost 15 years ago when Islamic terrorists hijacked airplanes and rammed them into the World Trade Center towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and attempted to fly a plane into another target (probably either U.S. Capitol or the White House) before being thwarted by the plane's brave passengers who rammed the plane into the earth to save other lives.

An oft heard question each year around that date is "Have You Forgotten?"

While it is safe to say that no one of a certain age who was living in this country on that dark day has intentionally forgotten what happened, one day that event will become a factoid in a history book and no one who was alive then will still yet inhabit the planet to recall it's horrific events.

Here we are in 2016, more than 150 years after the conclusion of the War Between the States, the costliest conflict in this nation's history in terms of lives lost and blood shed, but I must sadly declare that many Southerners have forgotten not only it's causes and events but also they have forgotten about the lives of their ancestors who were killed for the cause of Southern independence from federal tyranny.

(Image Courtesy of Maeve Magdalen)

Have YOU, personally, forgotten that...

... more than 4,700 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Gettysburg between July 1-3, 1863?

... more than 2,300 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Chickamauga between September 19-20, 1863?

... more than 1,700 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862?

... more than 1,700 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864?

... more than 1,600 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Chancellorsville in April & May 1863?

... more than 1,500 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Sharpsburg on Sept. 17, 1862?

... more than 1,500 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864?

... more than 1,400 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Gaines's Mill on June 27, 1862?

... more than 1,400 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864?

... more than 1,200 Confederate soldiers were killed in the Battle of Stones River between Dec. 31, 1862 - Jan. 2, 1863?

... the tens-of-thousands more Confederate soldiers who were killed or wounded at dozens of other battlefields across the South?

... the civilian casualties of Lincoln's war on the South, which are estimated by historians to number into the tens-of-thousands, maybe as high as 50,000+, the vast majority of whom were Southerners?

While it is good and right to remember those victims of terrorism from 9/11/2001, it is despicable that we sons & daughters of Confederate veterans cannot show the same respect & honor to our ancestors, who were no less victims of invasion & terrorism, without being vilified for it! Today it's the memory of our Confederate ancestors which is under attack; in 150 years it might be the memory of you or someone you personally know & love who served in the U.S. military after that dark September day.

We should never forget what happened to our ancestors and to our native Southland in the War of 1861-1865...

WE, THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET!

DEO VINDICE!
Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

LAKEVIEW POLICEMAN HONORED BY MICHIGAN SCV CAMP

[Excited today to bring you this story from the Major General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne Camp #2257 out of Grand Rapids, MI. Many thanks to Cmdr. Jim Perkins (Camp #2257) for sending this in.]

LAKEVIEW POLICEMAN HONORED BY LOCAL SCV CAMP

-submitted by James D. Perkins-

     Thursday, August 18th has been designated as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day by the National Headquarters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a heritage group that honors the citizen soldiers who served honorably in the War for Southern Independence (i.e. Civil War) during the years 1861-1865. SCV Commander-in-Chief Thomas V. Strain has recently  issued General Order 2016-01, which is stated below:

     Hence, we the Major-General Patrick R. Cleburne, Camp 2257 of Western Michigan, would like to honor and personally recognize Lakeview Police Chief Darin Dood, for his dedicated service to his community. For the past ten years, Darin has held the position as Chief and has worked tirelessly to make the police department stronger and more efficient. "I have always had a desire to fix things, leave them better than when I found them. When I took on the role as chief of police in Lakeview, I brought that mentality to the department," replies Dood.

     In addition to surrounding himself with a "solid staff," Chief Dood has been able to secure local grants and successfully collaborate with the Village Manager to budget in ways that have allowed the department the means to acquire equipment, safety gear, and computers in police cars. Furthermore, Chief Dood emphasizes that "community involvement is a priority."

     With today's political climate being as it is, Darin states that "there are many sad things going on in our country today (not only in the law enforcement arena) and they seem to be typically blown out of proportion by the media." Chief Dood also adds that the stories presented to the public are most often based on "partial facts and then questions posed as 'what ifs', getting citizens to question everything." The ensuing uproar and chaos that results leads Dood to observe that "it seems to me that common sense is becoming less and less common," however, "despite these things, our community seems to be different."

     Since Darin has been chief, he has noticed that there is a general "out-pouring of law enforcement support," and notes that following the murder of the police officers in Dallas, Texas, "our office was brought sympathy cards and cupcakes to honor our loss." Needless to say, Chief Dood and his staff were gratified and impressed by this support, and credits this partially due to his agency's involvement with community. "Talking to people on the street, going to football games, and working in the schools makes us one with the community, and thus "breaks down the us versus them mentality," states Dood.

     It is quite obvious that Chief Dood is passionate about his job, and when one looks at his background, it is no great surprise. From an early age he "grew up wanting to be a police officer" in Jenison, Michigan where he enjoyed watching television shows such as, Chips, Hill Street Blues, and NYPD Blues. "I had a strong desire to fight crime and to help people, and these television series made it look so easy, fun, and full of action," recalls Darin. Nevertheless, following his public school and post graduate years, Dood tried his hand at other pursuits, including business management as well as a painting contractor, but eventually it was his childhood dream of being a policeman that drove him to return to Grand Rapids Community College at age 26 to pursue a career in law enforcement.

     Today Chief Dood is grateful for the support received daily from his wife, Brandy and sons, Cameron and Brennan "for always being my solid ground to come home to every day." As Dood thoughtfully points out, many interruptions and inconveniences accompany his duties as police chief on a consistent basis, and his family has been understanding and supportive in times of his absence, phone calls that come during dinner, and the frequent early morning emergencies that he must respond to. Furthermore, Darin notes that often his sons must deal with "mean spirited" social media comments, regarding peer judgment of necessary duties carried out by the police force. "My family seems to always find the strength to shield all of that drama which had nothing to do with them, which I never take for granted," replies Chief Dood.

     For the past ten years, Lakeview Village police Chief Darin Dood has devoted his life to serving the community of Lakeview, and during these ten years has continued to strive for excellence through improvement of methods for hiring police staff; collaboration with the village government in order to secure better equipment; and by improving relations with citizens and students. We as citizens of the Lakeview area are very fortunate that Chief Darin Dood works for and with us daily, and certainly can be thankful that he has "always had a desire to fix things, and leave them better than when I found them." Thank you Chief Dood and we are very much honored to honor you, Sir.  

The Sandlick Creek Cemetery (Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY)

Greetings Confederates!
I just returned earlier this week from my second of two excursions down to the Southland. While down there, I had the pleasure of meeting & spending time with members of several camps in the Kentucky Division of the SCV. One of those occasions was at the August camp-meeting for the Col. Ben E. Caudill Camp #1629, out of Whitesburg, KY, where I was permitted to sit in on the meeting and also assist with a clean-up effort at one of the Confederate sites that camp maintains - the Confederate section of the Sandlick Creek Cemetery. 

Though I didn't get any pictures of the meeting, this was not my first visit to the cemetery, so I do have some pictures I can share with all of you from the site.

The Sandlick Creek Cemetery rests in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Kentucky, and during the war between the states it was located near the home of John A. Caudill, Confederate sympathizer and father of Col. Benjamin E. Caudill of the 13th Kentucky Cavalry, one of the "Immortal 600." It was on his father's property where Col. Caudill would drill and train the men under his command, and also where a hospital was established for Confederates in that area. As men from the regiment died, many of them would come to be buried on this nearby hill, and it is also where Col. Caudill's parents would come to be buried.

This section of the cemetery where the Southern defenders lie at rest was neglected and forgotten over time. For many years it was covered in weeds and brambles until, through the efforts of Camp #1629, these graves were located. With the assistance of some surviving records, several of the Confederate graves were able to be completely marked, but for many there is only a stone with a Southern Cross insignia and the words "Unknown Soldier." That is because many of the records from the old Confederate hospital were burned by Union troops.

The Col. Ben E. Caudill Camp #1629 takes great care of these Confederate graves and those others located in what is known as the Big Sandy River Valley area. Since the 1980s, Camp #1629 has marked the graves of more than 1,300 Confederate soldiers & veterans, and also maintains several other monument sites which they have erected in southeastern Kentucky.

Below you will find more pictures that I took while visiting the Sandlick Creek Cemetery in July 2015. I'd like to thank all of the members of Camp #1629 for the hard work, time, money, and effort they put in towards honoring our brave boys in gray. I also want to extend a special thanks to Camp #1629's Cmdr. Manton Cornett & Chaplain Lawrence Cook for the extreme kindness and hospitality they showed me when I visited on Thursday, August 18th, 2016. It's an honor to be a part of the SCV knowing men like you are a part of it!

 

DEO VINDICE!

- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Greetings from the Southland!

Greetings friends and compatriots!
I'm posting this blog today from the Appalacian foothills of southeastern Kentucky, not far from the sites of the Battle of Middle Creek, Battle of Ivy Mountain, and the Battle of Pound Gap. I'm vacationing at my property that has been in the family for over 140 years, obtained originally around 1870-71 by my 3rd-great-grandfather, John Bumgardner, who served the Confederate cause in the 6th North Carolina Cavalry (65th State Troops). As I sit here in quiet reflection, I've been pondering on the special summer that I've had. Aside from visiting my Confederate ancestors' respective graves like I have for the past several years, I've also visited some really major sites in Confederate history in Richmond, VA & Lexington, VA, plus I made my first trip to Johnson's Island Confederate Stockade Cemetery back in May.

As I think about these things, I also think about how much more special these places are to me as someone who did not grow up around such history like so many of my fellow compatriots in the South do. I wouldn't dare say that visiting such places is like "old hat" to them, but how much more of a treat must these places be to visit by someone who can't just hop in the car and drive there & back home in a single afternoon?

Also, unlike so many of my SCV brothers and sisters, I did not grow up with stories of my ancestors' respective service in the war. It was not something I grew up in the shadow of like those who live in the south. Still, something deep within me led me to chase these people and their stories down, study them, absorb them, and fight for their deserved honor.

This is the case for many of us in SCV camps located up in the north. Field trips to places of southern inspiration are not usually feasable to take. We, more than most, must push ourselves to recommittment to keep the charge and stick with The Cause. Many of our efforts will often seem fruitless, but I can assure you they are not. For our brothers in the South who are dealing with these heritage violations directly, it strengthens them and encourages them to know that we are here in the far reaches of Yankee territory doing all we can to fight these cultural battles and to keep the charge. It also must be dishartening for those who seek to bulldoze our monuments and indoctrinate our future genereations with lies about this honorable heritage to see support for the Confederacy so far north of the Mason-Dixon.

No matter where we were born or where we live, we have a responsibility as living heirs of the Confederate soldiers to stand firm, push back, and assist our brothers in the Southern states however we can.

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

I Hate to Say 'I Told Ya So,' but...

Hello friends & Compatriots!

By now you've almost certainly heard about the latest flag controversy, this time over the Gadsden flag. If you're unfamiliar with the term, it's a flag that originated during the 1st War of American Independence. It's a yellow flag with a depiction of a coiled rattlesnake and the words "DON'T TREAD ON ME" written underneath.

Apparently, somebody filed a complaint in 2014 with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) about a co-worker wearing a hat with a depiction of the Gadsden flag, saying that it was racially offensive. The EEOC recently said in a statement that "whatever the historic origins and meaning of the symbol, it also has since been sometimes interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts,” and that "in light of the ambiguity in the current meaning of this symbol, we find that Complainant’s claim must be investigated to determine the specific context in which [the coworker] displayed the symbol in the workplace."

When this blog first started one year ago we were just entering the new era of Confederaphobia. At that time so many of us warned that the war on Confederate flags & symbols would only be a first step in this war on American culture, and that it would not stop there.

In one of the earliest blogs posted on this page, I wrote that "[t]he movement now underway to remove [the Confederate] flag, dishonor the brave soldiers that served under it, and disrespect the 70-million descendants of Confederate veterans is rooted in the same demonic cesspool as the movements in this nation to slander historical figures & traditional symbols of America..."

Using the allegations of racism, and in our current culture of political correctness, it seems that anything could be construed as racist. Instead of laughing at the ridiculousness of the claim and throwing it out, as should have been done, this federal commission is giving legitimacy to the most ludicrous of claimed offenses, and thus setting a precedent for even more of this nonsense to follow.

Many folks, including some good and well intentioned people, were suckered into joining the chorus of voices calling for the public banishment of Confederate flags and symbols in the last year. Some of those people would have encouraged us to replace our "rebel flags" with those of "the original American rebellion against tyranny." Now they are finding out that we what we were saying all along is true.

I call on all Americans who love freedom and the historical symbols under which it has been defended to stand with the Sons of Confederate Veterans in the defense of Confederate flags & symbols! If the politically correct myth makers fail at changing perceptions of our symbol they'll have less of an incentive to go after yours!

A QUICK REMINDER: SCV Membership dues were up on August 1st. If you haven't paid your HQ and camp dues yet, you only have so much time before the grace period ends, so please renew your membership as soon as you can.

Also, a meeting for Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 has been scheduled for October 8th! Camp members, please save the date and watch for emails for further information about the meeting.

Before I close, I apologize for the lack of updates recently, but they'll pick up again soon. To help keep up with updates as I post them, I've added a subscription bar, which you can find over on the right side of the page. Just type in your email, submit it, and then follow the instructions to confirm your subscription.

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI)
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Beginning the 41st Year of the SCV in the Great Lakes State!

     Today marks the installation of new officers for Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 (Dearborn, MI), and is also unofficial start of our 41st year as a chartered camp in the SCV! Also, today marks the one year anniversary of this blog has being active!

     Since this day marks such special occasions, I feel that it is an appropriate time to rededicate the blog, and give a little history of Semmes Camp #1321 & the SCV in the state of Michigan. If you're not familiar with the SCV, or you are wondering why such an organization would be represented as far north as The Great Lakes State, then you have come to the right place!

     Almost 25 years after the conclusion of The War Between the States (often incorrectly referred to as "The Civil War"), the veterans of the Confederate military forces formed a fraternal veterans organization, much like today's Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization, called the United Confederate Veterans (UCV). Divisions & chapters of this organization popped up all over the country wherever Confederate veterans may have lived.

     From 1889-1951, the UCV was simply a fraternal organization of veterans who served on a particular side in a particular war. It's primary functions were to provide for widows & orphans of former Confederate soldiers, preserve relics & mementos from the war, care for disabled Confederate veterans, preserve the records of Confederate soldiers' service, and organize fraternal reunions & gatherings.

     In 1896, seven years after the UCV was formed, 24 delegates met in Richmond, VA for the purpose of organizing a "national organization, adopting a constitution similar in every respect to that governing the United Confederate Veterans, and permanently organized under the name United Sons of Confederate Veterans." The purpose of this new fraternal organization for descendants of Confederate veterans was stated in it's Constitution as "[t]o encourage the preservation of history, perpetuate the hallowed memories of brave men, to assist in the observance of Memorial Day, and to perpetuate the record of the services of every Southern Soldier.″ They further stated that their aim was ″not to create or foster, in any manner, any feeling against the North, but to hand down to posterity the story of the glory of the men who wore the gray.″

     By 1906, many Confederate veterans & UCV members were aged, infirmed or dying. Leadership in the UCV knew that their membership would not long have the strength to continue carrying out their goals. It was for this reason that then UCV Commander-General, Lt.Gen. Stephen D. Lee, passed the torch and gave the following charge to the members of the SCV on April 25, 1906 in New Orleans, LA...

"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish." 

     Thus, the Sons of Confederate Veterans is the direct successor of the UCV and the oldest hereditary organization for male descendants of Confederate Soldiers. It continually strives to keep that charge given by Lt.Gen. Lee through the work of it's tens-of-thousands of members worldwide! The organization has camps in two-thirds of this country's states, plus internationally in England, Scotland, and Germany! In the 150 years since the war's end, descendants of Confederate veterans have spread throughout the world, and many of us are proud of our Confederate heritage.

     It should be no surprise then, that the SCV would have a presence here in Michigan. Many Confederate veterans & their descendants would have migrated to this state, and region, in the mid-to-late-1800s to find work in the timber industry. Then, of course, came the advent of the automobile in the early-1900s, and Southerners migrated to the Detroit area in droves to get good paying, secure jobs throughout the glory days of  "the big three."

    One man of Confederate heritage, Jerry Edward Moore, a then recently-retired corporate executive, joined the SCV on May 24, 1974, and immediately began working tirelessly to start a camp based near his home in Dearborn, MI, throughout 1974-75. Already a respected member of numerous other heritage societies and a certified genealogist, his efforts were bolstered by a great deal of assistance from his friends James Edwards (SCV Commander-in-Chief, 1974-1976), Brig.Gen. William D. McCain (long-time SCV Adjutant-in-Chief), and his beloved wife, Jeannette "Jan" Hotchkiss Moore. In October of 1974, SCV CiC. Edwards announced the creation of a new 'Great Lakes Division' of the SCV, and that Jerry had been appointed this new Division's Commander, "with such power as to organize and establish in the name of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, camps within the states of Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio." Despite suffering from various health problems, this man in his late 60s worked like one in the prime of his life in organizing & founding the Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321, which officially received it's charter on August 14, 1975.

     Two of the camp's eighteen charter members were 'Real Sons' of Confederate Veterans, and both of them had connections to Adm. Raphael Semmes.

• The first was Samuel Prewitt Semmes, grandson of the admiral, and son of Confederate Capt. Samuel S. Semmes. It was Compatriot S.P. Semmes who gave permission to Cmdr. Moore to name the camp after his grandfather. Compatriot Semmes was elected to be the camp's "Commander Emeritus" at their first meeting. Compatriot Samuel Prewitt Semmes passed away on September 5, 1981 at the age of 85.

• The second "Real Son" of the camp was Walter T. McCoy, son of Confederate Marine Pvt. Michael W. McCoy (who served aboard the C.S.S. Sumter, which Adm. Semmes commanded). Compatriot Walter T. McCoy passed away on November 11, 1979 at the age of 86.

     Jerry Moore's term as Camp Commander was scheduled to last two years, but sadly Cmdr. Moore passed away on April 18, 1976, three months before his 70th birthday. Enough cannot be said in praise of his work for the SCV in Michigan and the Great Lakes Region. He is truly missed, and we forever honor him for founding this camp and for all he did to faithfully keep 'The Charge.'

     Following Cmdr. Moore's passing, Culver E. "Mac" McCoy, son of the aforementioned "Real Son" Walter McCoy, was elected on July 18, 1976, to serve out the remaining portion of the late Commander's term. The grandson of a Confederate Marine who served aboard the C.S.S. Sumter under Adm. Semmes, the son of a U.S. Navy veteran, and a Navy veteran of World War II himself, Cmdr. McCoy worked hard to pick up the pieces and sustain membership levels with much assistance from his wife, Frances, and also from Cmdr. Moore's widow. Cmdr. McCoy presided over a slight "restructuring" of the camp, and in one of his last official acts as Commander, McCoy represented our camp in August of 1977 as a delegate to the 82nd General Convention & Reunion of the SCV in Dallas, TX.

     Even after his term ended in September of 1977, Culver continued to serve the camp in other officer-positions into the early 1980s. It is thanks to Past-Commander McCoy that hundreds of pages of camp & member records from it's first seven years & prior survived through the 1980s, and are still being used to accurately document the history of our camp today. Past-Commander McCoy departed this life on September 11, 2008, the date of his 87th birthday.

     Following Cmdr. McCoy's term, two other men served as the camp's commander, but unfortunately Camp #1321 became inactive in 1982. In early 1989, Stanley Thomas White, a Past-Commander of the B.F. Foley Camp #1448, reactivated Camp #1321, and remained it's steadfast leader for more than 25 years! During his tenure the camp was involved in many great works, including:

• The donation of $1000.00 to Elm Springs, for the purpose of establishing it as the headquarters of the SCV.
   
• The mounting a Confederate Color Guard at the Memorial Day service in the Confederate Stockade Cemetery on Johnson's Island in Ohio for many years.
   
• The donation of over fifty books to various organizations and libraries, including the Museum Of The Confederacy in Richmond, VA.
   
• Instrumental in having the statue, that stands in the Confederate Officers Cemetery on Johnson's Island Ohio, repaired by the V.A.
   
• Instrumental in initiating the renovation of the President Jefferson Davis gravesite at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.
   
• The placement of headstones on the graves of 17 Confederate Veterans in the Confederate Section of Springhill Cemetery in Charleston, WV.
   
• Maintained a SCV recruitment and Confederate History tent at numerous reenactment events, including Jackson MI. & Greenfield Village, Dearborn MI.
   
• Camp members participated in numerous ceremonies and events honoring Confederate soldiers and sailors. These included: the dedication of the Confederate monument at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN; the rededication of the Confederate monument at Oakwood Cemetery in Chicago, IL; memorial services at Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery in Columbus, OH.

     On February 9, 2015, with assistance & encouragement from Cmdr. White, the 'Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne' Camp #2257 of Grand Rapids, MI was chartered under the organization & leadership of Cmdr. James D. Perkins, himself a former member of Semmes Camp #1321.

     In 2016, Cmdr. White declined renomination for election after building the camp and leading it in many great works for the SCV. In June of 2016, long time 1st Lt. Cmdr. Darron M. Williams was elected to be the 6th Commander of Camp #1321, and his term of office began on August 1st of that year.

     The members of the 'Semmes' & 'Cleburne' SCV Camps work together in the state of Michigan in keeping the charge that Lt.Gen. Stephen D. Lee gave more than a century ago. If you are a Michigan resident, and you are the male descendant of a Confederate Veteran (or think you might be), we'd love to have you join us as we spread the truth of Confederate history & insure that our ancestors are honored for their military service in the Confederate States of America!

DEO VINDICE!
- Jonathan McCleese
2nd Lieutenant Commander / Treasurer
Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321
Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans