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THE SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR
THE CLARION
CALL
VOLUME No. 10 ISSUE No. 1 Summer 2013
G.A.R.
1866
S.U.V.C.W.
1881
Contact the Editor at: THE CLARION CALL 20 Howland Terrace, Worcester, MA 01602 Email: williegrout25@verizon.net
WINNER OF THE 2005 MARSHALL HOPE AWARD FOR BEST DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER IN THE SUVCW!!!
131st Department of Massachusetts Encampment
Marlborough, MA: On Friday March 29, and Saturday March 30, the Department Encampment
was held. A new Department Commander emerged as George Maple, PDC turned over the helm to
newly elected Ed Norris. At the Marlborough Marriot the following members become department
officers:
Commander: Edward Norris (Camp 25), Senior Vice Commander Dexter Bishop (Camp 5), Junior
Vice Commander Conley Ford (Camp 3188), Secretary Richard Carter (Camp 26), Treasurer Daniel
Murray (Camp 5), Council Peter Rotando (Camp 25), Council Kevin Tucker (Camp 104), Council
George Maple (Camp 25), Patriotic Instructor Albert Smith (Camp 5), Chaplain Robert Knight
(Camp 15), Counselor Kevin Tucker (Camp 104), Graves Registration Officer Stephen Twining
(Camp 61), Civil War Memorials Officer Reynaldo Rodriguez (Camp 25), GAR Highway Officer
Robert Borden (Camp 50), Eagle Scout Coordinator Timothy Callahan (Camp 104), Historian
George Kane (Camp 15) and Camp Organizer Stuart Chambers (Camp 25).
2
Commander-in-Chief at a
Veterans Day Parade
Worcester, MA-On Sunday November 11,
2012, CinC Perley Mellor joined members
of Willie Grout Camp 25 in marching in
the Veterans Day Parade. Immediately fol-
lowing the parade, all who marched at-
tended a ceremony at the Sacred Heart
Church on recognizing the 50th anniver-
sary of a monument dedicated to the 9th
U.S. Infantry Division for its actions in
World War II.
Commander-in-Chief attends the
Clara Barton Military Nurses
Memorial Dedication Fitchburg, MA– On Sunday September 16,
2012, a ceremony coordinated by Bay State
Camp 61 Commander Steven Twining was held
at Monument Park. The ceremony began with a
march which included CinC Perely Mellor, the
department colors led by Peter Rotando, and the
15th MA infantry into the park. The monument
was transferred from the City Mayor Lisa Wong
to the SUVCW and after being rededicated, it
was transferred back to the city.
GAR HALL: SCITUATE Scituate, MA: In 1866, Joshua Jenkins of Scituate
spent $600 to purchase the Baptist Society Church
built in 1825. Jenkins built a stage and changed the
meeting house into a hall which he rented for social
and benevolent groups. By 1883, the building be-
came the George W. Perry Post #31 Grand Army of
the Republic Hall. The G.A.R. Hall became a loca-
tion where patriotic speeches and stories of the war
were retold by veterans of the Civil War. A Sons of
Union Veterans Camp, Charles F. Bates was formed
and met there. Other uses for the hall included high
school recitals, dances, minstrel shows, lectures, de-
bates, liberty loan drives, holiday pageants, auctions, and other events. The last G.A.R. mem-
ber, Civil War Veteran Francis M. Litchfield passed away in 1936 but the Hall continued in re-
membrance of the civil war being used by the Women’s Relief Corps and the Sons of Union
Veterans of the Civil War. In 1953 the town of Scituate took over the Hall and it continued to
be a useful piece of property. Unfortunately by 1997, like many old structures it fell into disre-
pair. The Scituate Historical Society purchased and saved the building and by July 26, 2008, the
oldest public building in Scituate reopened, refurbished and restored for it’s one hundred and
eighty-third year of use.
3
CHARLESTOWN MONUMENT
Charlestown, MA: On April 7,2013, in
Charlestown, the Civil War Monument was re-
dedicated. Brothers from Camp 5, Camp 61,
Camp 104, and Camp 3188 attended this annual
event. The members met at 12:30pm at the
American Legion Post No. 26 on Adams Street.
The ceremony included a civil war guest
speaker, greetings from the mayor’s office and
participating organizations followed by G.A.R.
style wreath laying on Charlestown Training
Field. The Charlestown Soldiers and Sailors Monument (an monument by Martin Milmore) had
been recently been restored. Members from the Department were joined by other organizations
on a beautiful day to remember the past. One of the purposes of the ceremony is to bring atten-
tion not just to the rich “Revolutionary War” history of Charlestown but also its contribution to
holding the union together in the War of Rebellion.
4
Springfield, IL– Commander-in-Chief at Lincoln Monument
CIVIL WAR CINEMA
THE HORSE SOLDIERS
On April 24, 1863, Union General Benjamin H. Grierson
led a US Cavalry force that struck the Vicksburg-Meridan
rail route, tore up tracks and burned the depot at Newton
Station. This attack into Mississippi was one of the
planned incidents that preceded the siege of Vicksburg.
The event was actually portrayed in a movie only Holly-
wood could alter. In 1959, The Horse Soldiers staring John
Wayne and William Holden appeared in movie theaters
everywhere. The actual military action was known as Gri-
erson’s Raid. General Grierson led 1,700 troopers over six
hundred miles through hostile enemy territory from south-
ern Tennessee through Mississippi to Baton Rouge, Lou-
isiana. Other than tearing up railroad, the cavalry actually
freed slaves and inflicted ten times the casualties that they received. The cavalry
unit consisted of the 6th and 7th Illinois as well as the 2nd Iowa. The movie has
the raid led by Colonel Marlowe who is constantly at odds with the surgeon and a
captured southern belle. Although the movie is not entirely accurate, there are mo-
ments that are. The scenes of tearing of the railroads as well as a final skirmish at
a bridge. Also throughout the movie, the forces second in command, a political
officer repeatedly brags how the raid will help his political career. From becoming
the governor all the way to the White House. It might not be historically accurate
but take time to view this classic which has familiar civil war song. Later, do
some research on the real Grierson raiders.
5
Department of
MASSACHUSETTS
OFFICERS
2013-2014
Commander
Ed Norris
PH:978-365-7628
Email: norris.ed@comcast.net
Senior Vice Commander
Dexter Bishop
PH:978-887-2264
Email: genord9@comcast. net
Junior Vice Commander
Conley W. Ford
Email: cfordcon@comcast.net
Treasurer
Dan Murray
PH: 603-340-6571
Email:d_murray@yahoo.com
Secretary
Richard Carter
Email: sgt20001@aol.com
Chaplin
Robert H. Knight, PDC
P.O. Box 384
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
(413-786-0730)
Council Member
Couselor
Kevin Tucker
(781)-662-7758
Email: ktsuv@outlook.com
Council Member
George Maple Jr.
Email: gmaplejr@gmail.com
Council Member
Peter Rotando
76 Sterling Street
West Boylston,MA 01583
(508)-835-4896
Patriotic Instructor
Al Smith
Email: ohjudyoh@yahoo.com
Belchertown, MA
Graves Registration Officer
Stephen W. Twining
70 Sawmill Pond Road
Fitchburg, MA 01420-6041
Email: suvcw1@gmail.com
Eagle Scout Award
Timothy Callahan
Email: timpapacallahan@comcast.net
(781-848-5304)
G.A.R. Highway
Bob Borden
Email: arachneas@aol.com
(781-878-4446)
Historian
George Kane
Email: gkane217@live.com
(413-592-2166)
Civil War Memorials Officer
Reynaldo Rodriguez
Email: williegrout25@verizon.net
(508-793-8210)
Camp Organizer
Chip Chambers
Email: chipsravensnet@yahoo.com
(508-872-3163)
Signals Officer
Jack Manning
Email: JManning@suvmass.org
ROTC AWARD In 2012 eighteen ROTC awards were presented to cadets by members, Don
French, Tim Callahan, George Maple, and Dick Carter. So
far in 2013 the award has been given:
On May 3rd, Rey Rodriguez presented the ROTC Award to
Cadet Rafael Diaz at South High School in Worcester.
On May 9th, Don French presented the ROTC Award at
Taunton High School in Taunton.
On May 9th, Ken London presented the ROTC Award to
Cadet Ken Zou at North Quincy High School in Quincy.
The Next NERA (New England Regional Association) meeting
will be held at the Weirs in Laconia, New Hampshire on Saturday
July 20, 2013.
Recruiting While recruiting is a mission that every brother shares,
Brother Stuart “Chip” Chambers has been on a mission.
Within the last year alone he has been joined by Roy
Henry, Mal Grant, Rey Rodriguez, Tim Shea and others
at events throughout the state. Places like Rockland,
Uxbridge, Fitchburg, Worcester, Acton, East Bridge-
water and Grafton, Massachusetts have all found Chip
behind a table with his enthusiasm and welcoming ap-
proach to recruiting for membership.
Shown here with Chip
are American Revolution
and Colonials. All on the
same mission to recruit
and more importantly
educate the public about
our shared HISTORY!
Civil War Fact: In addition to the infantry, artillery and cavalry units also devoted long
hours to drill; all soldiers had to be able to operate efficiently and quickly as a cohesive unit
on the battlefield.
6
Charles H. Bond Memorial
Cambridge, MA: On May 5, 2013, Charles H. Bond Camp 104 held their memorial service at
the Mount Auburn Cemetery for their camp’s founder and name sake Charles H. Bond.
The service began with Camp Commander Timothy Callahan, “Brothers, we have met
here as Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War to consign to that house prepared for us all the
living, the memory of a soldier of this country, Charles H. Bond. The march of this soldier is
over. Let us remember Comrade Bond here at rest the under blue skies of Heaven guarded by
the silent stars that in life watched over him when he bivouacked on the battlefields or lay down
weary and foot-sore on foreign soil…”
The service included words from Chaplain Richard Nichols, “God of the battles and
peace, ruler of the destinies of countries and of men: IN this silent camping ground of the dead
we come before Thee asking Thy blessing as we honor the memory of this defender of our
country’s honor Charles H. Bond…”
Brother Kevin Tucker added for the Unknown Dead, “Above their rest is no sound of
weeping, only the voice of song’ birds thrills the air; Unknown their graves, yet they are in
God’s keeping, There are none ‘missing’ from His tender care…”
Commander Callahan ordered, “Officer of the Day! Let the guard of honor set up the
symbol of the army, and let a soldier be detailed to guard it.”
Brother Kevin Tucker moved to the monument and placed a Springfield rifle with a
fixed bayonet, canteen and haversack hanging from it. He also placed a knapsack leaning
against the stock on to the monument. Brother Ken London placed a rose followed by Brother
George Rutter with another wreath.
Commander Callahan concluded the service, “Taps are sounded, Lights are out, the Sol-
dier sleeps.”
Picture from Ms. Marie Bond & Andrew Bond
7
The Gettysburg Pilgrim Club
By George Kane
Historian, Camp 15
On a cool fall evening in 1888, 150 ladies and gentlemen waited
to board a train at the Boston & Providence railroad station for an excur-
sion to the Gettysburg battlefield. All of these travelers were members of
the Gettysburg Pilgrim Club. All club members wore a blue ribbon with a
shepherd’s crook at the top and the inscription “GETTYSBURG / PIL-
GRIM CLUB / PILGRIMAGE OF / 1888”. At 6:30 pm, the train left the
station for Providence where 20 more pilgrims and 200 members of the
Association of the Seventeenth Maine Regiment would board the train
and accompany the club to Gettysburg. The train would make one more
stop at Jersey City, where 20 more pilgrims would also join the pilgrim-
age. Together, the two organizations would assist in the dedication of the
Seventeenth Main Regimental Monument in the “wheat field” of the Get-
tysburg battlefield.
The Gettysburg Pilgrim Club was the result of an 1886 merger of
two Boston area clubs that had previously journeyed separately to Gettys-
burg. The Gettysburg Club was formed in 1883 by civil war veterans and
friends who joined together to acquire favorable rates from railroads, ho-
tels, and restaurant. In 1885 there was an attempt to change the name of the club to the Gettys-
burg Veteran Association, but it was voted down. A similar organization that chose the name
Gettysburg Pilgrims was formed for an 1885 trip to Gettysburg.
In January 1886, Colonel Charles H. Hovey, President of the Gettysburg Club, was a
guest speaker of the Gettysburg Pilgrims annual dinner. His speech urged that the two clubs
merge. Sometime in 1886 or 1887 the two clubs united to from the Gettysburg Pilgrim Club.
The club would continue through at least 1938, when the last newspaper account of their trip
was printed. Although a pilgrimage was not held every year, the annual dinner was. The event
was held originally at the Quincy House but later at The Thorndike, two prominent Boston ho-
tels known for their restaurants. The pilgrimages were almost always completed by train. At
least one year, part of the voyage was completed by ship.
From the time of the merger until his death in 1906, the club would be headed by James
H. Cruff. Cruff, a veteran of the 11th Massachusetts Infantry, had enlisted in June 1861 and was
captured at the first battle of Bull Run. After he was exchanged, he returned to his regiment,
fighting in most of the major battles in the East, including Gettysburg. He was discharged in
1864, returning to Boston. The Connecticut native would become a successful real estate agent
in Roxbury. He was also appointed a constable with the duties of a process server. He was a
member of the Stevenson GAR Post No. 25 of Roxbury. After his death in 1906, there is little
mention of the club until the 1938 pilgrimage. No other mention of the club would be found in
local papers, except for “This date in History” columns in 1963 and 1988. For at least 55 years,
the club had traveled to worship at the altar of the greatest battlefield in American history, an
enviable record of devotion. It also lobbied the Massachusetts legislature and the US Congress
for funds to erect and maintain civil war monuments and battlefields.
8
Frank Harlow Day East Bridgewater, MA: On May 4, 2013, a living history was held on the town common and
included drilling, marching, local history displays, music and lot of interaction with spectators.
A memorial program was held with a parade to the grave site of Frank Harlow. The event
which was held from 10:00am to 4:00pm included a table set up by General George L. Hartsuff
Camp 50.
Among those
who attended
and staffed the
table were Roy
Henry and Stu-
art Chambers.
REFUSED TO SURRENDER!
On March 25, 1865, First Sergeant Calvin Francis
Harlow of the 29th Massachusetts Volunteer In-
fantry Regiment who had joined on March 18,
1861 for a bounty of $125.00 found himself sur-
rounded by Confederates. The regiment fought in
the Battle of Fort Stedman, the Confederate’s final
offensive during the Siege of Petersburg in Vir-
ginia. The Rebel Army had occupied the fort and
engaged the 29th in hand-to-hand combat. The
battle itself lasted four hours. In the end the regi-
ment lost 10 killed and First Sergeant Harlow was
among them. During the fight he found himself
surrounded by Confederates and refused to surren-
der. He and the Rebel Officer who demanded his
surrender fired a shot at each other at the same
time. The shot that hit him was fatal.
9
War of Words Propaganda is the spreading of information, ideas, or rumors to
help a cause-or hurt an opposing cause. During World War II,
Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party were ingenious with their use of propa-
ganda through motion pictures. Although the medium was new,
propaganda wasn’t. The Civil War was a bitter and bloody con-
flict which included propaganda. One of the causes was the anti-
slavery sentiment pushed by abolitionists in various media form.
Two forms which were highly popular were books and newspa-
pers. One well known book used was Harriet Beecher Stowe’s
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a newspaper included William Lloyd Garri-
son’s The Liberator and a magazine like Harper’s Weekly. While
the North had its propaganda, so did the South. Other forms used
by both sides were broadsides, political cartoons, photographs and
speeches. A popular cartoonist was German born Volck who used
cartoons to arouse Southern patriotism and rekindle soldier’s en-
thusiasm for the cause. To show how valuable propaganda can actually be, most of the Southern
propaganda helped to gain some support from foreign nations like Great Britain. Although
Great Britain ultimately did not send military support to the South, it did send its sympathies
which is the emotional response propaganda creates.
PICTURES FROM CAMP 50
SUVCW Table at Rockland GAR Hall being staffed by
Brother Stuart Chambers. (Right)
A General George L. Hartsuff Camp 50 Service held for a
member who passed away. (Below)
VISIT THE DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS WEBSITES AT:
www.suvmass.org and www.facebook.com/suvcwmass The Clarion Call 20 Howland Terrace
Worcester, MA 01602
The Clarion Call is published quarterly by the Department of Massachusetts Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The publication is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in
whole or part, in any manner without the expressed written consent of the Department of Massachusetts, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
The Clarion Call Newsletter of the Department of Massachusetts
SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR
G.A.R. S.U.V.C.W.
1866 1881
Final Muster Brother William Chandler of LA Tift Camp 15 passed away on April 29, 2013.
Brother David L. Judd of LA Tift Camp 15 passed away on May 25, 2013.
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