Newsletter

Olde Abbeville SCV Camp #39

THE CONFEDERATE COURIER

Newsletter of Olde Abbeville Camp # 39

Sons of Confederate Veterans

Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans:

"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we submit 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, and the perpetuation of those principles he loved and which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Remember, it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations."

Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, Commander General,

United Confederate Veterans, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1906

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Confederate Memorial Day - Local Observance - Sunday, May 18, 2008

Olde Abbeville Camp #39 will commemorate Confederate Memorial Day at 3:00PM Sunday, May 18, 2008 at Jefferson Davis Park. The park is located next to the Burt-Stark Mansion just off the town square in Abbeville. The keynote speaker will be Mr. Richard Cheney of Hodges, South Carolina. Mr. Cheney is a native of Greenwood, a retired school teacher, and an avid student and defender of Southern History. The Memorial address will be given about the life of Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, CSA. General S.D. Lee had ties to and relatives of the olde Abbeville district.

At the conclusion of the memorial service, a wreath will be placed by Commander Cook at the Confederate Soldier Monument on the Square in Abbeville.

The Burt-Stark Mansion will be open for tours following the memorial service. This will be an excellent time and opportunity to see the place where President Davis spent the night and held the final Cabinet meeting for the Confederacy. Mrs. Ashcraft (curator) will be happy to provide you with more information about the Burt-Stark home, events, and local citizens of the1861-1865 period.

It is the purpose of the SCV to preserve the traditions of the South and to tell the true story of the Confederacy. There is perhaps no better way to honor our Confederate ancestors than by attending important events like this. It is the duty of each member of the Olde Abbeville Camp to attend and all others are invited and encouraged to attend.

NOTE: Camp #39 will not meet on the second Monday as usual at the Grange Hall. It will instead hold a local Confederate Memorial Service on May 18th in place of our regularly scheduled meeting.

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From the Commander:

Last month SCV Field Rep Jack Marlar visited our camp and invited us to participate in a drive to raise money by selling fresh, bagged Vidalia Onions. Though a last minute opportunity, Camp 39 did participate and was greatly rewarded for its efforts. The Onion sale was a resounding success, possibly the best fundraiser ever for Camp 39. Hopefully it can become an annual event. Thanks to all who participated and to Compatriot Keith Rearden for transportation and coordination.

I hope to see each member on May 18th for Confederate Memorial Day at Jefferson Davis Park.

F. Keith Cook, Commander

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Tabernacle Cemetery Spring Cleaning

Thanks to those few men who helped with the cleanup of Tabernacle Cemetery. Thankfully the rainy weather held out long enough to get things in good order. There was an unforeseen setback - one of the large oak trees, probably 100 years old or older, was blown over by recent storms. Fortunately the tree has not destroyed any of the graves or markers. Most of the trees branches were cut and hauled away during the cleanup but the trunk remains lying across a portion of the cemetery and it will take some time and effort with chainsaws and manpower to remove. The camp will meet again at the cemetery in the near future for another round of cleaning. Hopefully, you too will be able to help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Confederate Memorial Day - Statewide Observance

Two members from Olde Abbeville traveled to Columbia to celebrate the statewide observance of Confederate Memorial Day. The weather was near perfect yet there was a smaller than normal crowd gathered for the ceremonies given at Elmwood Cemetery and the Statehouse. The keynote speaker at the Statehouse was Mr. H.K. Edgarton of Asheville, North Carolina. Special music was provided by New Dixie Storm, and as always the ceremony was honored by the presence and participation of the Palmetto Battalion of Confederate re-enactors assembled with Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery.

Thanks to the Wade Hampton Camp, the UDC, Palmetto Battalion, re-enactors from all over the South, and to all those individuals that worked so hard to provide the service in Columbia. We too often take for granted the enormous efforts required to conduct a service of this magnitude. Each year these good people have gone about making arrangements and coordinating with local law enforcement to make this great tradition possible. All of this as well as refreshments, entertainment, and keepsakes were made available to everyone who attended. All this was done without charging a fee.

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Heritage Indifference

It is a shame for our own people, especially Sons of Confederate Veterans, who are so indifferent, even selfish that they cannot give up a single afternoon to attend a memorial service which honors their fallen veterans and families of the Confederacy. What does it take for people to care? Does it now require gifts, entertainment, or food? Does it take controversy or some threat to our historic symbols? The lack of participation and poor attendance of long standing traditions like the statewide observance in Columbia last Saturday show clearly to the general public the importance (or lack thereof) of heritage to us. What lessons are being taught to the next generation if we cannot ourselves “sacrifice” an hour or two to remember and honor the greatest generation of Americans?

Why do we belong to the Sons of Confederate Veterans? Do we join for the special vehicle license plate? To prop up our personal resume? Is it in order to receive the magazine, Confederate Veteran? Or does one's membership allow him opportunity to boast of belonging to a time-honored, worthwhile organization among friends even if he doesn't actually do anything? What good is membership for all these reasons if no one is willing to provide support? Support is necessary if our Heritage is going to survive as we know it.

Collectively there is no excuse for our failure to attend and be counted among the ones that care about the heritage, history, and traditions of our forefathers. The way things are these days surely indicate that the current generation will leave behind a legacy & heritage of laziness and apathy. Idle talk around a drinking fountain, anonymous emails, and even bumper stickers provide little proof that Southern Heritage is something real and valuable. Flag waving and verbal outcries too are not a requirement of proof that we care. Showing up and simply being present is necessary. You don't have to work, speak, or participate - but you can at least be there.

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Confederate Museum (16th Reg.--Greenville, S.C.)

B/G Samuel McGowan Camp 40 (Laurens, S.C.)

Aw, Shucks (Southern News and Links)

Palmetto Camp # 22 (Columbia, S.C.)

Joe Wheeler Camp 1245 (Aiken, S.C.)

Sons of Mars SCV Camp 1632 (Laurel Hill, N.C.)

Bill Hodges Gift of Life (please visit--they need your prayers.Thanks!)

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For information about the Sons of Confederate Veterans, call

Olde Abbeville Camp #39 - SCV

1077 Harpers Ferry Road

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Burt-Starke Mansion, Abbeville, S.C.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to visit and support the Confederate Museum

located at 15 Boyce Avenue in Greenville, S.C.

Here is the link to the museum's website.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you find a broken link or have something to contribute to this site, then please


	Olde Abbeville SCV Camp #39 Home THE CONFEDERATE COURIER Newsletter of Olde Abbeville Camp # 39 Sons of Confederate Veterans May, 2008 Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans: "To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we submit 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, and the perpetuation of those principles he loved and which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Remember, it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations." Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, Commander General, United Confederate Veterans, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1906 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Confederate Memorial Day - Local Observance - Sunday, May 18, 2008 Olde Abbeville Camp #39 will commemorate Confederate Memorial Day at 3:00PM Sunday, May 18, 2008 at Jefferson Davis Park. The park is located next to the Burt-Stark Mansion just off the town square in Abbeville. The keynote speaker will be Mr. Richard Cheney of Hodges, South Carolina. Mr. Cheney is a native of Greenwood, a retired school teacher, and an avid student and defender of Southern History. The Memorial address will be given about the life of Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, CSA. General S.D. Lee had ties to and relatives of the olde Abbeville district. At the conclusion of the memorial service, a wreath will be placed by Commander Cook at the Confederate Soldier Monument on the Square in Abbeville. The Burt-Stark Mansion will be open for tours following the memorial service. This will be an excellent time and opportunity to see the place where President Davis spent the night and held the final Cabinet meeting for the Confederacy. Mrs. Ashcraft (curator) will be happy to provide you with more information about the Burt-Stark home, events, and local citizens of the1861-1865 period. It is the purpose of the SCV to preserve the traditions of the South and to tell the true story of the Confederacy. There is perhaps no better way to honor our Confederate ancestors than by attending important events like this. It is the duty of each member of the Olde Abbeville Camp to attend and all others are invited and encouraged to attend. NOTE: Camp #39 will not meet on the second Monday as usual at the Grange Hall. It will instead hold a local Confederate Memorial Service on May 18th in place of our regularly scheduled meeting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Commander: Last month SCV Field Rep Jack Marlar visited our camp and invited us to participate in a drive to raise money by selling fresh, bagged Vidalia Onions. Though a last minute opportunity, Camp 39 did participate and was greatly rewarded for its efforts. The Onion sale was a resounding success, possibly the best fundraiser ever for Camp 39. Hopefully it can become an annual event. Thanks to all who participated and to Compatriot Keith Rearden for transportation and coordination. I hope to see each member on May 18th for Confederate Memorial Day at Jefferson Davis Park. Deo Vindice, F. Keith Cook, Commander ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tabernacle Cemetery Spring Cleaning Thanks to those few men who helped with the cleanup of Tabernacle Cemetery. Thankfully the rainy weather held out long enough to get things in good order. There was an unforeseen setback - one of the large oak trees, probably 100 years old or older, was blown over by recent storms. Fortunately the tree has not destroyed any of the graves or markers. Most of the trees branches were cut and hauled away during the cleanup but the trunk remains lying across a portion of the cemetery and it will take some time and effort with chainsaws and manpower to remove. The camp will meet again at the cemetery in the near future for another round of cleaning. Hopefully, you too will be able to help. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Confederate Memorial Day - Statewide Observance Two members from Olde Abbeville traveled to Columbia to celebrate the statewide observance of Confederate Memorial Day. The weather was near perfect yet there was a smaller than normal crowd gathered for the ceremonies given at Elmwood Cemetery and the Statehouse. The keynote speaker at the Statehouse was Mr. H.K. Edgarton of Asheville, North Carolina. Special music was provided by New Dixie Storm, and as always the ceremony was honored by the presence and participation of the Palmetto Battalion of Confederate re-enactors assembled with Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery. Thanks to the Wade Hampton Camp, the UDC, Palmetto Battalion, re-enactors from all over the South, and to all those individuals that worked so hard to provide the service in Columbia. We too often take for granted the enormous efforts required to conduct a service of this magnitude. Each year these good people have gone about making arrangements and coordinating with local law enforcement to make this great tradition possible. All of this as well as refreshments, entertainment, and keepsakes were made available to everyone who attended. All this was done without charging a fee. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Heritage Indifference It is a shame for our own people, especially Sons of Confederate Veterans, who are so indifferent, even selfish that they cannot give up a single afternoon to attend a memorial service which honors their fallen veterans and families of the Confederacy. What does it take for people to care? Does it now require gifts, entertainment, or food? Does it take controversy or some threat to our historic symbols? The lack of participation and poor attendance of long standing traditions like the statewide observance in Columbia last Saturday show clearly to the general public the importance (or lack thereof) of heritage to us. What lessons are being taught to the next generation if we cannot ourselves “sacrifice” an hour or two to remember and honor the greatest generation of Americans? Why do we belong to the Sons of Confederate Veterans? Do we join for the special vehicle license plate? To prop up our personal resume? Is it in order to receive the magazine, Confederate Veteran? Or does one's membership allow him opportunity to boast of belonging to a time-honored, worthwhile organization among friends even if he doesn't actually do anything? What good is membership for all these reasons if no one is willing to provide support? Support is necessary if our Heritage is going to survive as we know it. Collectively there is no excuse for our failure to attend and be counted among the ones that care about the heritage, history, and traditions of our forefathers. The way things are these days surely indicate that the current generation will leave behind a legacy & heritage of laziness and apathy. Idle talk around a drinking fountain, anonymous emails, and even bumper stickers provide little proof that Southern Heritage is something real and valuable. Flag waving and verbal outcries too are not a requirement of proof that we care. Showing up and simply being present is necessary. You don't have to work, speak, or participate - but you can at least be there. Deo Vindice ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ambrotype photo of Eugene A. Allen, CSA, of Abbeville Photo of Lt. M. T. Hutchison Links Sons of Confederate Veterans (National) Sons of Confederate Veterans (S.C. Division) Confederate Museum (16th Reg.--Greenville, S.C.) B/G Samuel McGowan Camp 40 (Laurens, S.C.) McGowan's Brigade Monument William Farley OCR Chapter 15 (Laurens, S.C.) 16th S.C. Regiment Southern Cross Of Honor 14th S.C. Regiment Rosters Confederate Cemetery Lists Captain William Downs Farley SCV Missouri Division Sterling Price SCV Camp 145 (Missouri) Aw, Shucks (Southern News and Links) American Experience The American Civil War Homepage Savage Goodner SCV Camp 1513 Laurens County, SC Genweb Capt. Moses T. Fowler Camp 1721(Fountain Inn, S.C.) Palmetto Camp # 22 (Columbia, S.C.) Joe Wheeler Camp 1245 (Aiken, S.C.) Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton Camp No. 273 (Columbia, S.C.) Sons of Mars SCV Camp 1632 (Laurel Hill, N.C.) Bill Hodges Gift of Life (please visit--they need your prayers.Thanks!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For information about the Sons of Confederate Veterans, call 1-800-MY SOUTH. (There is also the link above.) Or Olde Abbeville Camp #39 - SCV 1077 Harpers Ferry Road Iva, SC 29655 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Burt-Starke Mansion, Abbeville, S.C. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Be sure to visit and support the Confederate Museum located at 15 Boyce Avenue in Greenville, S.C. Here is the link to the museum's website. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you find a broken link or have something to contribute to this site, then please , Imarebiam Home Top of Page