From Behind Yankee Lines - November 2016

Greetings Compatriots & Friends!

It's been a while since the last update. My Camp Commander instructed me to slow down a bit on the blogging for fear that I might get burned out, but events of the last few weeks have brought forth thoughts and I feel the need to convey them here.

On Sunday, November 6th, I was so blessed with an opportunity to honor our boys in gray, particularly Confederates who suffered and died in Union prison camps, as a part of a Veterans Day Celebration at a church in the suburbs of Detroit. Aside from allowing me to display Camp 1321's battle-flag among their War Between the States artifacts, I was permitted to sing 'The Legend of the Rebel Soldier,' which tells the story of a Southern POW dying in a Northern prison, begging for assurance from the attending chaplain that his soul would be permitted to pass over his beloved Southland before entering into eternal rest. I was nervous, for aside from the fact that I hadn't sang in front of my congregation in more than a decade, I also wasn't certain how such honor for the Confederate soldier would be received so far from Dixie. I was beyond moved at the warm reception and the kind words said afterwards about the tribute given for our brave boys. I sang this song in memory of my two cousins, James & Ananias Moore. A pair of brothers, the Moore boys both served as Privates in the Confederate cause - James with the 31st Virginia Cavalry & "Nias" with the 5th Kentucky Mntd. Infantry. They were both caught and imprisoned at Rock Island, IL, where they would die just two days apart in March of 1864.

Also here in the Great Lakes State, on October 23rd, the Maj.Gen. Patrick Ronayne Cleburne Camp #2257 (Grand Rapids, MI) joined with Robert Finch Camp #14 of the Sons of Union Veterans at Oakwood Cemetery in Traverse City, MI to honor Sgt. David C. Duane of Co. F in the 53rd Virginia Infantry at his gravesite. A nice crowd that included three generations of Sgt. Duane's granddaughters came out on this gorgeous fall day to honor this Southern soldier's memory. Special thanks goes out to SUVCW Camp #14 Commander David Smith for all that he and his men did to make this ceremony happen.

On the flip side, a Traverse City police officer was recently suspended after being caught off duty, in civilian clothing, with a Confederate flag on a personal vehicle, while near a rally against the new President-elect of the United States. (He has since been compelled to resign from his job.) It is the opinion of this author that the flag of our honorable Confederate ancestors should not be used as a modern day political tool by those on either side of the political spectrum; with that said, this is not the first time in recent months that a law enforcement officer in the United States has faced professional repercussions for displaying the Confederate flag in a personal manner, which has nothing to do with the performance of his job. It's a sad state of affairs, here in what is supposed to be "the land of the free," when a person must fear consequences from his employer for what he does when not on official business or on "company time."

This was not the only act of discrimination involving Confederate symbols in the last week following the results of the recent U.S. Presidential election. Rallies protesting the election results occurred in a number of major U.S. cities, including Richmond and New Orleans where Confederate monuments to Lee (in NOLA), Davis & Maury (in Richmond) were vandalized as a result. How ironic that also in protest of the election result several states have seen movements rise up calling for their secession from the Union! While the SCV is a non-political, non-partisan organization, we sometimes find the politics of the modern day and the past intersecting, and I cannot help but recall to memory our great Southern President's prophetic words...

"The principle for which we contend is bound to reassert itself, though it may be at another time and in another form." - Jefferson Davis

Contentious elections, civil unrest drummed up by those who would see us at each others' throats, lies and relentless anti-Southern propaganda... these are all things our ancestors were all too familiar with. Hold fast in the struggle to preserve Southern heritage and honor the brave men of the Confederate armed forces, don't get weary in well doing, and remember that while the darkest hour is just before dawn, we are promised that joy comes in the morning!

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

Honor for the Confederacy at the Michigan State Capitol

If I were to ask, I'd venture to guess that very, very few could actually tell me the event of Confederate significance which occurred in Michigan during the fall of 1941. It was, however, on September 20th of that very year when the State of Michigan returned to the Southern states 13 battle flags and three swords, which were taken as spoils of war during The War Between the States more than 75 years earlier.

Taking place on the east steps of the state capitol building, it was described by Maynard Hill in the State Journal newspaper (out of Lansing, MI) as "one of the most colorful open-air ceremonies ever held here (in Michigan)." The event was broadcast nationwide on the radio, and covered by numerous print & photo journalists.

Gen. Julius F. Howell, CiC. of the United Confederate Veterans addresses, with Gov. Van Wagoner of Michigan. [This copy of the original 1941 image is in the Camp #1321 archives, but all rights belong to the photographer and original publisher and it is used under the Fair Use Doctrine.]

Michigan was one of the last of the northern states to return captured Confederate relics. It was through the initiative & efforts of local radio broadcaster Duncan Moore, his radio station (WJR) & the city of Detroit that the legislation was passed in the state congress to make this event happen. Also very influential in making the flag return possible was Mrs. John Bushnell of Detroit; Mrs. Bushnell was a past President of the Robert E. Lee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Detroit, and was also the mother of George Bushnell, a then-current Michigan Supreme Court Justice.

Representatives were sent from 12 of the former Confederate states to receive these southern war-artifacts on behalf of their respective states and the entire south. The representatives were:

TN - Gen. Julius F. Howell, Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans
VA - Gov. James H. Price, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
KY - Hon. Rodes K. Meyers, Lt. Governor of Kentucky
TX - Hon. Hatton W. Sumners, U.S. Congressman from Texas' 5th District
AL - Peter A. Brannon, Alabama State Military Archivist
AR - John Pipkin, Arkansas Commissioner of Public Welfare
FL  - Lt.Col. Phillip Stockton May, Florida Governor's Staff
GA - Mrs. Arthur M. Wilson Jr., President of the Atlanta Ladies Memorial Association
LA - Roland Cocreham, Executive Assistant to the Gov. of Louisiana
MS - Dr. W.E. Holcomb, Representative of the Gov. of Mississippi
NC - Dr. C.C. Crittenden, Secretary of the North Carolina Historical Commission
SC - Edward B. Houseal, Representative of the Gov. of South Carolina

Faded & frail, the flags were packaged in gift boxes trimmed with red, white and blue, and the swords were similarly wrapped. Each was presented to the respective Southern representatives by the Governor of Michigan, Murray Delos Van Wagoner. As each presentation was made, the drum and bugle corps of the Morley S. Oates post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was on hand to punctuate it with a blare of trumpets.

As a military event, this one was particularly unique, with men, both on the speakers' platform and in the audience, wearing military uniforms that spanned more than 75 years of American military history! There were Southern veterans in Confederate gray uniforms, several Union veterans in their blue uniforms, veterans of the (first) World War in their khaki uniforms, a cream-colored uniform worn by a Georgia military aide, and the brand new gray uniform of the then newly formed Michigan state "home defense" troops.

Heading up the delegation of distinguished Southern representatives was the 95-year-old Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, Gen. Julius F. Howell, who was representing the state of Tennessee. Upon receiving a flag and a sword from Michigan's Governor, General Howell thanked the Governor in a clear, firm voice, saying that it was "a most gracious gesture."

The event was tightly scheduled because of time constraints on the radio broadcast, and speakers were asked to make their remarks brief, but when a military aide tried to hurry General Howell, Howell just waved him off (which caused quite a laugh from the crowd) and proceeded to tell stories from his time in the war. Thankfully the radio affiliates were understanding, and respectfully continued their coverage despite going a little over the allotted amount of broadcast time.

In his address, speaking to the Southern delegation collectively, Gov. Van Wagoner said, "I speak for all of Michigan in thanking you for your graciousness in receiving them (the artifacts) in the spirit in which they are given," adding that the relics being given back "have not in a generation been looked upon as trophies. Instead, they have served as reminders of the the glory and the honor that [was] ... [Robert E.] Lee. They have served to remind us of our debt to those who bequeathed us a vast wealth of rich character, and a never-failing source of inspiration. Love and understanding have replaced all bitterness and hate. Mutual respect and fraternal fellowship have come to bless the common purpose of our national endeavor."

Much of the information on this event has been gleaned from the pages of the Winter 1942 edition of the Michigan History Magazine. At the end of the report, the following comments were included by the quarterly publication's editor, George N. Fuller, who wrote:

"We honor these flags, as we honor the brave men who marched beneath them in days that are gone. They are but flags, yet they speak to us of the thousands of boys in Gray, who with faith and hope of youth went into battle for a cause they held dear, the preservation of the ideals and traditions of the Old South. With the eye of fancy, we can see these boys as they stand in line, - as the word is given, see them charge, and form, as the air rings with the storm of battle, some of them never to return to the courageous wives and mothers who sent them away with their blessing. These flags tell of hopes, and of fears, and of prayers for these boys. And now these flags return home, and there they will speak silently to the sons and daughters of the men who bore them, of losses that can never be forgotten..."

[Image from the 1991 50th Anniversary Commemoration of Michigan returning it's Confederate relics.]

Before I close, I would be remiss if I did not mention that this event was remembered on it's 50th anniversary by the Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #1321 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans with a parade & certificate of appreciation ceremony at the Michigan State Capitol.

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

Sources:
[Hill, Maynard. "Return of the Confederate Flags." Michigan History Magazine 1942: 5-23. Print. Volume XXVI, Winter Edition]
[Taishoff, Sol, ed. "Studio Notes." Broadcasting & Broadcast Advertising 6 Oct. 1941: 47. Print.]
[SCV Camp 1321 Archives]

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