joe nokes, commander camp website: …humphreys1625.homestead.com/december_issue__2012.pdfmuseum of...
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Copyright Notice: The Delta General is the publication of the Brig./General Benjamin G. Humphrey’s Camp and should not be reproduced in any form
without permission. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted material published herein is distributed under fair use without
profit or payment to those who are interested in receiving the provided information for non-profit research and educational purpose only. Reference:
www.law.cornell.eduuscode/17/107.shtml
Joe Nokes, Commander Camp Website: www.humphreys1625.com
The Delta GeneralThe Delta GeneralThe Delta GeneralThe Delta General December, 2012 Volume 15, Issue 11
Dedicated to the memory of Brig. General Benjamin G. Humphreys
CONTENTS
Camp News – pp. 1-2
OCR News – p. 2
Division News – pp. 3-6
National News –p. 5
Loncoln the Racist – pp. 7-8
Battle of Fredricksburg – pp. 8-9
Museum of the MS Delta – p. 10
General Lee and Santa Claus –
pp. 10-11
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 12, 2013 – Camp’s Lee
and Jackson Banquet
January 25 – War Comes to the
MS Delta – Museum of the Delta
Exhibits open
February – Battle of Quitman
Reenactment at Quitman, MS
Commander’s Corner: Joe Nokes
Compatriots,
I hope this finds you all doing well. Our camp is moving forward and looking good on many fronts.
Our October meeting was a great success. Alan Doyle gave a very good presentation on the death and funeral
of Nathan Bedford Forrest. Many, many thanks to Annette McCluney for her hard work that evening.
Our November meeting will feature Cheryl Taylor, Director of the Museum of the Mississippi Delta
(formerly Cottonlandia). Cheryl will inform the camp what the museum is doing in preparation for the exhibit
entitled “War Comes to the Mississippi Delta”. We really need to come out both to receive the information
and to help us prepare for this one-in-a-lifetime Sesquicentennial event.
This is just a reminder that we need as many of you as possible at the November meeting to help begin the
planning for our Lee-Jackson Banquet in January. We need as much input as possible from you the camp
members.
I want to commend each and every one of you who attended Fall Muster at Beauvoir. From what I have
heard, there was a good time had by all. For those of you at the Champion Hill reenactment, I was glad to see
you there.
Adjutant Dan McCaskill has notified me of the handful of members who have not yet renewed dues. I
humbly ask that you continue your support of our fine organization. We are a one-of-a-kind group with a
one-of-a-kind membership.
In closing, let me urge you to be as active and as pro-active as possible in the coming months. We have
many events on the horizon that we need to support as fully as possible. I know that you all will continue to
be the leaders of the charge that you have always been.
My humblest thanks to you all,
Joe Nokes, Commander
Camp News:
Door Prizes and Capture the Yankee and December Meeting
To revitalize interest in camp meetings, Lt. Commander Larry McCluney has encouraged a door prize raffle
that is conducted and carried out by the OCR. The OCR has also revived the Capture the Yankee as a fund
raiser. There is a red chip for every member in the Camp in the pot and a white chip for every OCR member.
One blue chip symbolizing the Yankee. Chances are $.25 cents each and whomever captures the yankee gets
half the pot. That yankee has yet to be captured The pot is now up to $38.00 and growing. Come to the
meetings and lets see if you can capture that elusive Yankee.
Our December meeting will feature a pot luck supper for Christmas. Please everyone bring a covered dish
as we sit down to fellowship with one another and remember the meaning of the season.
Welcome New Member
Welcome Anthony Paul Browning our newest Camp member. He is the descendant of Private John W.
Browning of Co. K, 30th MS Infantry, his Great Grandfather.
2
Adjutant’s Report: Dan McCaskill
7:00 pm The Camp Meeting of November 1, 2012 was called to order by Commander Joe Nokes at 7:00 pm. The Meeting was opened with
an invocation and blessing by Camp Chaplain Earl McCown. Commander Nokes welcomed all members and guests attending the Meeting. The
Commander then invited all to partake in the evening meal. After the meal, Commander Nokes reconvened the Meeting. Color Sergeant Chris
Lewis was absent so Commander Nokes asked Member Henry McCabe to lead the members and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
United States Flag and salutes to the Flag of Mississippi and the Battle Flag of the Confederacy.
Program: Commander Nokes turned the podium over to 1st
Lt. Commander Larry McCluney. Larry introduced our speaker, Mrs. Cheryl Taylor,
Director of the Museum of the Delta, formerly Cottonlandia. Cheryl talked about the new exhibit at the museum titled “War Comes to the
Delta”. The exhibit will display artifacts representing different aspects of the War in Mississippi and the Delta. Areas covered will be
Mississippi’s Secession, Jefferson Davis becoming President, the Yazoo Pass Expedition, Fort Pemberton, Star of the West and women &
children on the home front. There will be items from the Old Capitol Museum in Jackson and from Vicksburg Park on display. The opening
ceremony will be held on Friday, January 25, 2013 with Bert Hayes Davis as the keynote speaker. Cheryl asked the Camp’s help supplying re-
enactors for the event. The museum will be getting a re-enactor to portray General Grant at the opening. The exhibit will be open to the public
on the 26th
and run through August 31, 2013.
Announcements: The weekend of November 9-11 will be the re-enactment at Jefferson College north of Natchez. In December, the Old
Courthouse Museum will host the annual Christmas Ball. Future events will be Confederate Memorial Service in April and State Reunion in June.
The National Heritage Rally at Beauvoir on March 16, 2013 and the re-dedication of Soldier’s Rest in Vicksburg on April 20, 2013.
Officer Reports: 1st
Lt. Commander Larry McCluney has a speaker lined-up for our December Meeting on the 6th
of December. The Meeting
will be our Pot Luck Christmas Dinner. 2nd
Lt. Commander Junior Stillman did not have a report. Adjutant Dan McCaskill reported that the Camp
had 49 paid members at the end of the Grace Period. Seven members have not renewed their membership. Camp funds stood at $ 1,121 in the
checking account with an additional $ 650 to be deposited and enough funds had been donated to meet donations to the church through the
end of October. Larry as Camp Editor inquired about everyone receiving the Camp Newsletter. As AOT Councilman, Larry reported that National
would exceed 34,000 members this year showing a positive growth. Division Commander Alan Palmer gave a brief report on the problems with
Bert Hayes Davis at Beauvoir. A report on the solution would be presented at the Division EC Meeting on December 8th
. Earl McCown reported
that the Gen. Charles Clark Chapter of the MOS & B needed a few good men. OCR President Annette McCluney reported that she will poll the
Chapter members about paying the expenses to get the Gen. Grant re-enactor down to Greenwood.
Camp Business: The first order of business was the induction of Robert Strawbridge into the Camp by Commander Joe Nokes. Camp Adjutant
Dan McCaskill presented the application of Anthony Browning for membership in the SCV for consideration by the Camp members. Earl moved
that the Camp accept Robert’s application and was seconded by Kenneth Ray and was accepted unanimously by the Camp. Commander Nokes
reported that the Camp needed to select a date for our annual Lee-Jackson Banquet. Dates considered were January 12th
, 19th
and 26th
. After
discussion the pros and cons, Alan Palmer made a motion to select January 12th
for the Banquet date. Earl seconded the motion and the motion
passed. The Banquet would be a pot luck dinner with the Camp providing the meat. A slate of potential speakers was given to Larry McCluney
with the order of preference. With no other business coming before the Camp, Commander Nokes thanked everyone for attending the meeting
and invited everyone back next month and asked Chaplain McCown to dismiss the Meeting with a word of prayer. Attendance for the evening
was 16.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dan McCaskill, Adj.
Order of Confederate Rose News Ladies, Our December meeting looks to be special with a covered dish pot luck gathering to remember Christmas. I would ask that all ladies bring a finger food dish to continue our fellowship phase of our meetings. As a reminder to the members of the Ella Palmer Chapter, our annual membership dues are now due.. We have a grace period till January 1. Renewals are $20.00 and can be paid to Annette McCluney at the meetings or by mail:
Annette McCluney 1412 North Park Dr
Greenwood, MS 38930 Make Checks out to: Ella Palmer Chapter #9, OCR
Unpaid Dues Members
As of this writing, there are 7 Camp members who have not yet paid their annual dues. They are listed below with contact information. To
date, all but one have been sent three notices for dues payment. For those who have not paid this could be your last newsletter. We hope you
will rejoin your brothers and sisters of the South.
Sid Aust [email protected] 662-392-0922
Brent Hiter I never could get anyone to provide me with Brent’s contact information
Wade Johnson [email protected] 662-299-4468
Robert C. Morrow no email 662-375-9975
Philip Neal [email protected] 714-757-4047
John Read, Jr. [email protected] 662-686-9803
Gator Stillman [email protected] 662-931-2089
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OFFICAL REGISTRATION FORM 118th Reunion – Mississippi Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans and 19th Reunion – Mississippi Society, Order of Confederate Rose
Rankin County – June 21-23, 2013 Hosted by: The Lowry Rifles Camp #1740 Rankin County
SCV MEMBERS NAME(S): _________________________________________________________________________
TITLE: _________________________________________ SCV CAMP & NUMBER: ___________________________
ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________________________________
PHONE # (H) ______________________(C)_______________________EMAIL______________________________
SPOUSE NAME (for badge): _______________________________________________________________________
OCR MEMBERS NAME(S): ________________________________________________________________________
OCR CHAPTER NAME AND NUMBER: _______________________________________________________________
GUEST NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________
GUEST NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________
All registered SCV members will receive a name badge, a convention medal, a program, and a bag of goodies. Registration at
the door will receive the same as long as supplies last. (OCR registrants will have a Tea in lieu of a medal.) Please register for
your respective organization below.
REGISTRATION AMOUNTS
SCV on or before June 07, 2013.……$30.00 each for registration ……...QTY ________ $ __________
SCV after June 07, 2013……………$35.00 each for registration ………QTY ________ $ __________
OCR on or before June 7, 2013 $10.00 each after June 07, 2013 $15.00 each QTY _______ $ __________
Ancestor Memorial: Each memorial is $10.00.…………………………… QTY ________ $___________
(Please Print or type each memorial on separate page, Thanks!)
Program Ads: $100.00 for full page; $50.00 for half a page; $25.00 for quarter page; $15.00 for business
card size advertising (Please submit ad information on a separate page before May 15, Thanks!) $ ___________
Banquet Registration (per plate) $30.00 ……………………………………………………………..Qty _________ $___________
(No Meal Registration after June 7, 2013) Dinner (TBD) ………………………………Total Amount $ ________________
Make Checks Payable to: Lowry Rifles Camp #1740
Mail to: Bill Hinson
238 South Fox Hall Road
Pearl, Ms. 39208
CONTACT INFORMATION: Bill Hinson: (H) 601-936-9048; or email: [email protected]
Convention Hotel: Cabot Lodge-Millsaps, Jackson, Ms. Reservations can be made by calling:
601-948-8650, ask for the Mississippi Division, SCV Convention Rates. Rates are $109.00 + tax
per night and plus happy hour from 5:30pm-7:30pm for hotel guest only. Reservations MUST BE MADE before June 07, 2013.
4
Division News:
Membership Retention Report
Gentlemen,
This is a brief report on the results of Membership Renewals.
The good news is 7 Camps have achieved 100% renewal while two
other Camps missed by one. Unfortunately, four Camps did not
submit any dues for their members. Membership from the last
Fiscal Year is down 20% which translates to a loss of 277
members. This does not include loss due to death. Fortunately the
Division has picked up past and new members totaling 88. Current
membership including Division Life Members now stands at 1,245
which is 86.6% of last year’s membership.
If any member knows of someone whose has not renewed their
membership, help your Camp Adjutant by encouraging them to
renew their membership. You can also help by recruiting new
members.
Your Servant,
Dan A. McCaskill
Division Adjutant
MS Division Executive Council Meeting
Gentlemen,
Our next EC meeting will be held on December 8 in the War
Memorial Building in Jackson at 10am. Anyone wishing to be
placed on the agenda needs to send their request to Division
Cheif of Staff Andrew McCaskill at [email protected]
and myself at [email protected] . Make plans now to attend.
Sincerely
Alan Palmer
Cmdr Ms Div SCV
First Annual Christmas at Beauvoir, Festival of Trees will kick off at Beauvoir BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI - The grounds of Beauvoir: The Last Home of
Jefferson Davis will be transformed to the 1880s this holiday
season, as the national landmark in Biloxi presents a two-month
celebration of Christmases past and the beginning of what
organizers expect to be a nationally recognized event.
On Thursday through Sunday evenings in November through
January, Beauvoir will feature church and school choirs, period-
garbed storytellers and actors, food vendors and civic groups
amidst a menagerie of lights, caroling, a Father Klaus workshop,
and activities, such as cranberry stringing and making paper
chains or pitching a game of horseshoes.
Mississippi's First Lady, Deborah Bryant, will be on hand Thursday,
November 8 to flip the switch to illuminate 100 brightly lit Oak
trees, during a $50 per person gala and tour. Otherwise,
admission to tour the grounds will be $20, with discounts for
seniors, students and military. It will end on January 6.
"I've seen this kind of thing done before, and I've always
wanted to see us on the USA Today Top 10 places to see
Christmas decorations," said organizer Andi Rushton Oustalet, a
volunteer at Beauvoir. "And when we started to think about fund-
raising ideas for Beauvoir, we thought, sure we could do another
dinner at a casino, or a live auction, or a silent auction. Those
things are all nice, but they’ve all been done.
"Instead, we've come up with something that will showcase a
National Landmark here in our midst, present living history from
the 1880s, and we'll create something in the fourth quarter of the
year, when tourism is notoriously slow, and it will be something
that people will be willing to travel to see.
"Our ultimate goal is to be on the USA Today list within three
years. So there's a plan and a goal, and we're going to make it
happen."
Christmas at Beauvoir and The Festival of Trees will allow visitors
to experience a historically accurate depiction of Beauvoir at
Christmastime in the 1880s, leading up to 1889, the last year that
Confederate President and U.S. statesman Jefferson Davis lived at
the beachfront estate.
The endeavor, not by happenstance, follows the vision of what
new Beauvoir Director Bertram Hayes-Davis hopes to see at the
west Biloxi site. "Beauvoir will be a nationally prominent
destination," the great, great-grandson of Jefferson Davis has
said, "and this Christmas event will be one of the inaugural steps
in helping realize that goal."
At the outset, the Beauvoir undertaking is expected to join a
year 'round lineup of such popular events as Cruisin’ the Coast,
the Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival, and Mardi Gras.
Oustalet is already on her way to creating a Christmas
menagerie of lights: She is arranging sponsors to string bright
lights among 100 of the Live oaks at the forefront of the 52-acre
Beauvoir property. "I realize that the lighted Live oak trees were
not something you would see in the 1880s," Oustalet said with a
laugh, "but people expect to see Christmas lights, and this will not
only highlight the stately oaks at Beauvoir, but it will provide an
inspiring backdrop for our celebration." Otherwise, historical
accuracy will be at the forefront. Local designer Sheila Gray is
creating a flowing red robe that will be worn by a traditional
Father Klaus, and each night of the Thursday through Sunday
schedule – 34 nights in all – will offer something new and exciting,
but all borrowed from the 1880s.
"We'll have Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, civic groups and church
choirs all hosting a night where they will be singing Christmas
carols, or organizing period activities. We'll have some of the best
local restaurants serving samples of some of their best dishes so
people can get a taste of the local cuisine."
A host of local civic groups and others are decorating 100 mini-
trees – about three feet tall – that will be auctioned at the Nov. 8
kick off.
And the finale of the event – on Jan. 6 – will also have historical
significance. "We'll end on Twelfth Night, which is the kickoff of
Carnival season, so our plan is to have a small parade, maybe a
float or two, from Beauvoir in west Biloxi to the Gulf Coast
Carnival headquarters in east Biloxi. We'll be passing the baton
from one season to the next."
Sponsorships for Christmas at Beauvoir and the Festival of
Trees range from $2,500 to $35,000. Potential sponsors or civic
groups interested in volunteering to take part in the affair –
caroling, tour guides or coordinating activities – can email
Oustalet at [email protected]
5
"Christmas at Beauvoir" Days and times: Each Thursday through Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m., Nov. 8 to Jan. 6. Celebration begins with the Festival of Trees on Thursday, Nov. 8, a $50-per-person cocktail party and silent auction featuring 100 three-foot Christmas trees decorated by south Mississippi businesses, groups and individuals. Gingerbread houses created by local pastry chefs will be raffled. What to see and do: The beachfront portion of the 52-acre site will feature church and school choirs, period-garbed storytellers and actors, train rides for children, a toy workshop featuring Father Claus, food vendors and civic groups amidst a menagerie of lights, caroling, and activities such as cranberry stringing and making paper chains, or pitching a game of horseshoes. Admission: $20 for adults; $12 for seniors, military and children ages 5-15; and children under 5 are free. Admission fee includes tour of grounds and Jefferson Davis home. Parking: Free parking available at Mississippi Coast Coliseum, immediately west of the grounds, on Beauvoir Road. Website: www.beauvoir.org Details: (228) 388-4400
Jackson Pre War Militia Flag
30" X 36", Blue Silk, Handpainted, Center Section Of The
Presentation Flag Of The "Mississippi Rifles", Escort And Honor
Guard To Jefferson Davis And Subsequently, During The Civil
War, Company A of the 10th Mississippi Infantry. In superb
condition, both the silk and paint as sound and bright as the day
the flag was presented. There is some 'unevenness' in the cut on
the bottom and the left side, but this is likely the result of the
hasty removal by the souvenir hunter rather than any
deterioration of the flag. The flag unquestionably did not
accompany the unit into the field during the Civil War, and was
likely in storage when discovered, and this center section cut out
and 'liberated' as a souvenir by a Union soldier.
While all pre war southern unit flags are quite rare, this superb
and beautiful example is especially important and desirable,
because of the unit's history as the personal honor guard and
escort to Jefferson Davis, along with its absolutely superb
condition and magnificent visual impact.
Painted in gold letters in an arc at the top "MISSISSIPPI RIFLES",
below which is a fierce eagle posed in the act of spreading its
wings and holding a red riband with the motto "TRY US" in the
center. It is interesting to note that rather than being perched on
a Federal shield which was more or less de rigueur for similar flags
of this period, the eagle is posed on a rock promontory
surrounded by clouds with blue sky above. Below, also painted in
gold letters is the original presentation "PRESENTED by the LADIES
OF JACKSON, MISS. JULY 4th 1860."
The "Mississippi Rifles organized as a volunteer militia company
in Jackson in January 1858. The unit's connection to the Mexican
War, 1st Mississippi Regiment that carried that moniker was
established through its 1st Lieut. Richard Griffith, who had served
as Regimental Adjutant of the 1st Mississippi in Mexico under Col.
Jefferson Davis. Griffith became Captain of the company in 1860,
and served in that capacity until early 1861 when he became state
Adjutant General, was subsequently appointed Brigadier General
in the Confederate Army and was mortally wounded at Savage's
Station in June of 1862.
Among the many parades and public gatherings occurring at
the time in Jackson, and recorded by the newspaper "The Semi-
Weekly Mississippian", are the details of the ceremony at which
this flag was presented to the company at the local fairgrounds on
July 4, 1860, at the hands of Miss Sally Hay, along with a speech of
acceptance by then 2d Lieut. Robert A. Smith who would succeed
Griffith as Captain of the Company in 1861.
On 9 January 1861, having seceded from the Union, Mississippi
established a Military Board and its own army. When the
Confederate States of American was formed, and Jefferson Davis
was, in February, appointed "Provisional President", the
Mississippi Rifles acted as "escort and guard of honor" to Davis for
his trip to Montgomery, Ala., then the Confederate capital,
Continued on page 6 . . .
6
Prewar Flag from page 5 . . .
doubtless accompanied by this magnificent flag.
The unit entered Confederate service at the first call for troops as Co. A of the 10th Mississippi Inf. with Capt. Smith assuming command as
Colonel in May of 1861. After 9 months service most of the members of the company re-enlisted for three years and were eventually
designated Company D of the 10th. The regiment was very heavily engaged throughout the war, with Col Smith being killed at Munfordville.
When the company surrendered with Johnston it could muster only 12 effectives. During its service the company lost 19 men killed and
mortally wounded and 37 wounded.
The flag is accompanied by a wealth of provenance and detailed research. An absolutely magnificent pre war southern flag, for both visual
impact and its superbly documented history. A rare opportunity for the flag collector of any genre. Estimate: $25,000 - up.
4th Brigade Commander “Boo” White Passes
My Fellow Compatriots
Fourth Brigade Commander "Boo" White's funeral was well attended by the Mississippi Division Tuesday in Livingston Alabama. It was a
beautiful service for a wonderful man and true southern patriot. We will miss him greatly.
My last visit with Boo one week before his passing was filled with talk about the division. I know how much Boo loved the Mississippi SCV,
and he would want us to carry on and continue the work that was most important to him, even as he lay in pain and immense discomfort.
It is now my duty as commander to appoint someone to finish Boo's term as the Commander of the Fourth Brigade. I have chosen Bill Hinson
and he has accepted, Bill has served previously as both the Fourth Brigade Commander and Councilman, and also served as the division 2nd Lt.
Commander under past commander Bill Atkinson. Bill has the experience we need to continue Boo's work in the Fourth Brigade.
Boo was a driving force in the Fourth Brigade and so remember Bill in your prayers as he takes on the job of Commander. Also remember the
members of the W.D.Cameron Camp of which Boo served as it's Commander, I know they feel his loss very deeply.
Remember we have an EC meeting Dec 8 in the War Memorial Building in Jackson beginning at 10am. I hope to see you there.
In your Service
Alan Palmer
Cmdr Ms Div SCV
The Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary) of
the Cause for Southern Independence is upon
us! The Sons of Confederate Veterans has
established a unique way you can show
support for our efforts and build a legacy for
the future. It is the SCV Sesquicentennial
Society! By joining this prestigious group you
will help in supporting two projects very
important to the future.
First- the General Executive Council made
the commitment in October of 2008 to start
the process to erect a new building 6 on our
property at Historic Elm Springs. One
of the uses of this new building is to give us office space and return Elm Springs to its original grandeur. However the main function is to house
the Confederate Museum. We are planning a museum that will tell the truth about what motivated the Southern people to struggle for many
years to form a new nation. It will give an accurate portrayal of the Confederate soldier, something that is lacking in most museum and in the
media. 75 % of the money received through this effort goes to that building fund.
Second-we need to leave a legacy for our Compatriots who will be the members and leaders of the SCV when the Bicentennial of the Cause
for Southern Independence arrives 50 years from now. One can only guess at the obstacles they will have to face in putting forth an accurate
commemoration. 25% of the money will go into a fund to be used by the SCV at that point in time.
Here is how you can take part. To join it is a minimum payment of $200.( You can give more if you wish!) You will receive a handsome SCV
Sesquicentennial Society Medal and Certificate. This program will end at at the close of the Sesquicentennial. You may pay all at once or you
can make non-refundable installments of $50 ( you will receive the medal and certificate when paid in full).
Send a check to:
Sons of Confederate Veterans
c/o Sesquicentennial Society
P.O. Box 59
Columbia, TN 38402
Or you can call 1-800-MY-DIXIE to pay by credit card. You may also use the on-line donation page at https://scv.secure-sites.us/donation.php
At this time the on-line page does not have a $200 option. You can select $250 (donating an extra $50) or you can donate $100 twice. If you
choose to pay by installment there is $50 option. Be sure to put Sesquicentennial Society in the box marked purpose of payment.
7
Lincoln the Racist (Or: Steven Spielberg, Call Your Office) by Thomas J. DiLorenzo Recently by Thomas DiLorenzo: The Forgotten Men You Should
Know About “Who freed the slaves? To the extent that they were
ever ‘freed,’ they were freed by the Thirteenth Amendment, which
was authored and pressured into existence not by Lincoln but by
the great emancipators nobody knows, the abolitionists and
congressional leaders who created the climate and generated the
pressure that goaded, prodded, drove, forced Lincoln into glory by
associating him with a policy that he adamantly opposed for at
least fifty-four of his fifty-six years of his life.”
Lerone Bennett, Jr., Forced into Glory: Abraham
Lincoln’s White Dream, p. 19
Let me introduce you to Lerone Bennett, Jr. Who was the
executive editor of Ebony magazine for several decades
(beginning in 1958) and the author of many books, including a
biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. (What Manner of Man: A
Biography of Martin Luther King) and Forced into Glory: Abraham
Lincoln’s White Dream. Bennett is a graduate of Morehouse
College in Atlanta and authored hundreds of articles on African-
American history and culture during his career at Ebony. He spent
more than twenty years researching and writing Forced into Glory,
a scathing critique of Abraham Lincoln based on mountains of
truths. Forced into Glory, published in 2000, was mostly ignored
by the Lincoln cult, although there were a few timid “reviews” by
reviewers that have never done one-thousandth of the research
that Lerone Bennett did on the subject. As a black man, he was
spared the mantra of being “linked to extremist hate groups” by
the lily-white leftists at the Southern Poverty Law Center, the
preeminent hat group off the hardcore Left. He was also spared
that hate group’s normally automatic insinuation that any critic of
Lincoln must secretly wish that slavery had never ended. They
mostly sat back and hoped that he would go away. Lerone
Bennett, Jr. Contends that it is almost impossible for the average
citizen to know much of anything about Lincoln despite the fact
that literally thousands of books have been written about him. “A
century of lies” is how he describes Lincoln “scholarship.” He
provides thousands of documented facts to make his case. If the
subject of Steven Spielberg’s new movie on Lincoln, which is
entirely about Lincoln’s supposed role in lobbying for the
Thirteenth Amendment that ended slavery, Bennett points out:
“There is a pleasant fiction that Lincoln. . . .became a flaming
advocate of the amendment and used the power of his office to
buy votes to ensure its passage. There is no evidence, as David H.
Donald had noted, to support that fiction. . . “ To the extent that
Lincoln did finally and hesitatingly support the amendment,
Bennett argues that it was he who was literally forced into it by
other politicians, not the other way around as portrayed in the
Spielberg film. (David Donald, by the way, is the preeminent
Lincoln scholar of our day and Pulitzer prize-winning Lincoln
biographer).
On the issue of the Emancipation Proclamation, Bennett
correctly points out that “J. G. Randall, who has been called ‘the
greatest Lincoln scholar of all time,’ said the Proclamation itself
did not free a single slave” since it only applied to rebel territory
and specifically exempted areas of the U.S. such as the entire
state of West Virginia where the U.S. Army was in control at the
time. (James G. Randall was indeed the most prolific Lincoln
scholar of all time and the academic mentor of David Donald at
the University of Illinois). Lerone Bennett is understandably
outraged at how the Lincoln cult has covered up Lincoln’s racism
for over a century, pretending that he was not a man of his time.
He quotes Lincoln as saying in the first Lincoln- Douglas debate in
Ottawa, Illinois, for example, that he denied “to set the niggers
and white people to marrying together” (Collected Works of
Abraham Lincoln, vol. 3, p. 209 ). In Forced into Glory Bennett
shows that Lincoln rather compulsively used the N word was a
huge fan of “black face” minstrel shows; was famous for his racist
joke; and that many of his White House appointees were shocked
at his racist language.
Lincoln did not hesitate to broadcast his racist views publicly,
either. Bennett quotes his speech during a debate with Douglas in
Charleston, Illinois on September 18, 1858 (Collected Works of
Abraham Lincoln, vol. 3, pp. 145-146): “I will say then that I am
not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the
social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am
not nor ever have any way the social and political equality of the
white and black races, that I am not nr ever have been in favor of
making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold
office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in
addition to this that there is a physical difference between the
white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two
races living together on terms of social and political equality. And
inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together
there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much
as any other man am in favor of having the superior position
assigned to the white race.”
Bennett documents that Lincoln stated publicly that “America
was made for the White people and not for the Negroes” (p. 211),
and “at least twenty-one times, he said publicly that he was
opposed to equal rights for Blacks.” “What I would most desire
would be the separation of the white and black races,” said
Lincoln (Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, vol. 2, p. 521).
Reading through Forced into Glory, one gets the clear impression
that Bennett got angrier and angrier at the non-stop excuse
making, lying, cover-ups, and fabrications of the “Lincoln
scholars.” He never takes his eye of the ball, however, and is
relentless in throwing facts in the faces of the Lincoln cultists. As a
member of the Illinois legislature Lincoln urged the legislature “to
appropriate money for colonization in order to remove Negroes
from the and prevent miscegenation” (p.228). As president,
Lincoln toiled endlessly with plans to “colonize” (i.e., deport) all of
the black people out of America. This is what Bennett calls
Lincoln’s “White Dream,” and more recent research of the very
best caliber supports him. I refer to the book Colonization after
Emancipation by Philip Magness of American University and
Sebastian Page of Oxford University that, using records from the
American and British national archives, proves that until his dying
day Lincoln was negotiating with Great Britain and other foreign
governments to deport all of the soon-to-be-freed slaves out of
the U.S. The Lincoln cult, which has fabricated excuses for
everything, argued for years that Lincoln mysteriously abandoned
his obsession with “colonization” sometime around 1863.
Magness and Page prove this to be the nonsense that it is. In
Illinois, the state constitution was amended in 1848 to prohibit
free black people from residing in the in the state. Lincoln
supported it. He also supported the Illinois Black Codes, under
which “Illinois Blacks had no legal rights. White people were
bound to respect.” “None of this disturbed Lincoln,’ writes
Bennett. Bennett also points out the clear historical fact that
Lincoln strongly supported the Fugitive Slave Act which forced
Northerners to hunt down runaway slaves and return them to
Continued on page 8 . . .
8
Lincoln continued from page 7 . . .
their owners. He admittedly never said a word about slavery in
public until he was in his fifties, while everyone else in the nation
was screaming about the issue. When he did oppose slavery,
Bennett points out, it was always in the abstract, accompanied by
some statement to the effect that he didn’t know what could be
done about it. And as a presidential candidate he never opposed
Southern slavery, only the extension of slavery into the territories,
explaining that “we” wanted to preserve the Territories “for free
White people” (Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, vol. 3, p.
311). In Bennett’s own words: “One must never forget that
Lincoln always spoke in tongues or in a private code when he was
talking about slavery or Negroes. And although he said or seemed
to say that slavery was wrong, he always qualified the assertion in
the same speech or in= a succeeding speech, saying either that
slavery was wrong in an abstract sense or that it was wrong in so
far as it sought to spread itself.” He was a master politician, after
all, which as Murray Rothbard once said, means that he was a
masterful liar, conniver, and manipulator.
All of these truths, and many more, have been ignored, swept
under the rug, or buried under thousands of pages of excuses by
the Lincoln cult over the past century and more in books and in
films like the new Lincoln film by Steven Spielberg. After spending
a quarter of a century researching and writing on the subject,
Lerone Bennett,, Jr. Concluded that “Lincoln is theology, not
historiology. He is a faith, he is a church, he is a religion, and he
has his own priests and acolytes, most of whom have a vested
interest in ‘the great emancipator’ and who are passionately
opposed to anybody telling the truth about him” (p. 114). And
“with rare exceptions, you can’t believe what any major Lincoln
scholar tells you about Abraham Lincoln and race.” Amen, Brother
Lerone. November 10, 2012
Sesquicentennial Article
The Battle of Fredricksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg at the end of 1862 was perhaps the Confederacy's most lopsided victory of the American Civil War (1861–1865).
Union Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, charged with aggressively pursuing and destroying General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern
Virginia, instead led his own Army of the Potomac to what was perhaps its greatest defeat. On December 13, Burnside sent six Union divisions
across an open field against Lee's well-fortified line, causing such slaughter that Burnside wept openly at the outcome and Lee was inspired to
utter his famous remark to his subordinates, "It is well that war is so terrible. We should grow too fond of it." The Fredericksburg defeat was
one of the lowest points for Union fortunes in the war. Eight months later, when Confederates experienced a similar fate at Gettysburg, jubilant
Union troops were heard to yell, "Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg!
"The President has just assented to your plan," Union general-in-chief Henry W. Halleck telegraphed to Burnside in November 1862. "He
thinks it will succeed, if you move rapidly; otherwise not." Burnside's proposal was to move the Army of the Potomac from the Warrenton area
along a line of operations following the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to one based on the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad
and crossing the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg. Burnside was never a terribly confident general, but he understood well the pressure
to pursue the Confederates vigorously. After all, U.S. president Abraham Lincoln had just removed his predecessor, Major General George B.
McClellan, from his position as commander of the Army of the Potomac because he judged McClellan to be excessively prudent. (McClellan,
Lincoln believed, had had a chance to pursue and smash Lee's army following the Battle of Antietam in September, but instead had held his
ground.) Consequently, upon receiving approval for his plan, Burnside moved quickly.
By November 19, after a series of rapid marches, significant elements from Burnside's army had reached the banks of the Rappahannock
River opposite Fredericksburg. Fortunately for Lee, mismanagement in Washington delayed the arrival of the pontoon bridges Burnside's forces
needed to cross the Rappahannock. As a result, Lee was able to reach Fredericksburg and establish a strong position on the hills just outside the
town. On November 25, the long-overdue bridges finally arrived, and Burnside began actively looking for opportunities to cross the river below
Fredericksburg in order to maneuver the Confederates out of their positions. The search proved fruitless, however, and Burnside was left with
an unpromising set of options: either anger Washington by calling an end to the campaign season and going into winter quarters, or make a
direct assault on Lee's formidable defensive position. Burnside chose the latter.
Early on the morning of December 11, Union engineers rushed forward to lay the pontoon bridges down, only to be met with harassing fire
from the town, courtesy of Mississippians under the command of Brigadier General William Barksdale. Burnside responded by opening fire on
Fredericksburg with nearly 150 cannon located on Stafford Heights. Although it took a heavy toll on the town, the artillery failed to drive off
Continued to page 9 . . .
9
Fredricksburg continued from page 8 . . .
Barksdale's men. Assault parties on boats finally
accomplished the task by late in the afternoon, and
by nightfall the pontoon bridges were
finally in place.
After crossing the Rappahannock into
Fredericksburg, Union troops engaged in
widespread looting and vandalism, effectively
destroying what was left of the town. "The town
was all ransacked. [B]ooks, chairs and every kind of
furniture was lying on the Streets," a Pennsylvania
soldier wrote in a letter to his brother. "Some of the
boys got books and some other things. Haze Boyd
got Milton's complete works lying in the Streets."
Lee responded to these developments by ordering
Lieutenant General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
to concentrate his forces on the Confederate right
at Prospect Hill and Hamilton's Crossing. (His corps
had been spread out along the Rappahannock
almost to Port Royal, some twenty miles away, in
case the Union troops crossed the river downstream
from Fredericksburg.) It was here that Burnside
planned to deliver the first blow against Lee's
position on December 13. By Burnside's thinking,
the Union left, under Major General William B. Franklin, would either crush the Confederate right or induce Lee to shift sufficient forces in that
direction. This would provide an opening for Major General Edwin V. Sumner's men against the Confederate left on Marye's Heights. Major
General Joseph Hooker, meanwhile, would wait in the center, ready to reinforce a breach in the Confederate lines, wherever it might occur.
Franklin's attack managed a brief success in the morning when a division commanded by Major General George G. Meade fortuitously hit a
weak spot in Jackson's line along a wooded ravine. Franklin's instructions from Burnside were vague, however, and he failed to put enough
force into Meade's attack to support or exploit Meade's extraordinary advance. This was partly out of concern for his southern flank, which was
then facing a barrage of Confederate artillery fire. A Confederate counterattack eventually drove Meade's Pennsylvanians back out of the
woods, ending the day for Franklin. He refused to engage Jackson further, despite Burnside's orders to the contrary.
With the failure of Franklin's attack, hopes for Union success came to rest on the ability of Sumner and Hooker to break through the
Confederate left, commanded by Lieutenant General James Longstreet. Here, however, Lee's line was nigh impenetrable, with Longstreet's men
well positioned at the base of Marye's Heights, enjoying the cover of a sunken road and the shelter of a low, half-mile-long stone wall. The
several hundred yards in front of them were to become a killing field. "We cover that ground now so well," one artillerist advised Longstreet
before the battle, "that we will comb it as with a fine-tooth comb. A chicken could not live on that field when we open on it."
Nonetheless, around eleven in the morning on December 13, Sumner dutifully moved his Second Corps forward out of Fredericksburg. In
order to attack Longstreet's position, the Union troops would have to cross a canal ditch, reestablish their lines, then make the final assault
over open ground whose terrain funneled them exactly in the direction of the stone wall. Under murderous Confederate artillery fire the entire
time, three divisions from the Second Corps crossed the field.
"We came forward as though breasting a storm of rain and sleet," one Union soldier later wrote, "our faces and bodies being only half-
turned to the storm, our shoulders shrugged." Confederate fire was so intense, another soldier wrote, that the Union lines seemed to melt "like
snow coming down on warm ground." Nonetheless, Sumner and Burnside persisted in their attacks, throwing two divisions from the Fifth Corps
and one from the Ninth against Marye's Heights. Not a single man reached the stone wall, and Longstreet was able to advise Lee that "if you
put every man now on the other side of the Potomac on that field to approach me over the same line, and give me plenty of ammunition, I will
kill them all before they reach my line."
Darkness finally brought an end to the slaughter. Even in victory, Lee and Jackson were frustrated that they had not been able to find an
opening for a counterattack. Burnside, meanwhile, found himself dealing with a recalcitrant Hooker. The corps commander, who would soon
take Burnside's job, had been openly critical of the decision to attack at Fredericksburg and, by his own initiative, had called off the assaults on
Marye's Heights on the grounds that he had already "lost as many men as my orders required me to lose." A devastated Burnside briefly
considered personally leading a final, desperate charge before being talked out of it on December 14. Instead, he asked for a daylong truce to
bury the dead, which Lee granted, and ordered his army to retreat across the Rappahannock the night of December 14–15. Of the
approximately 120,000 men in Burnside's army, more than 12,000 were killed, wounded, or captured, while Lee lost about 5,300 of the 80,000
men in the Army of Northern Virginia who were present at the battle.
The Battle of Fredericksburg brought an ignominious end to Burnside's attempt to rectify McClellan's mistake and to pursue the
Confederates more aggressively. The thousands of dead strewn across the field, their corpses black and swollen, many headless and limbless,
created a national crisis of confidence that seemed to mirror Burnside's personal one. (After the battle, Burnside wept and took full
responsibility for the carnage.) Union soldiers wrote letters home suggesting that "Virginia is not worth such a loss of life," while rumors in
Washington foretold a Lincoln resignation, a radical Republican coup, even a military government with an angry McClellan at its head. Morale in
the army was at an all-time low, with desertions totaling 86,330 by the end of January 1863—almost 27 percent of the entire Army of the
Potomac. The Richmond Examiner, on the other hand, celebrated "a splendid victory to the defender of the sacred soil," and the normally
reticent Lee was seen to be "jubilant, almost off-balance." His setback at Antietam had been redeemed, it seemed, and Confederate
independence, in December 1862, still seemed a real possibility.
10
War Comes to the Mississippi Delta: The Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Fort Pemberton
(Greenwood, MS) The Museum of the Mississippi Delta commemorates the sesquicentennial of the Civil War in the Delta with the exhibition
War Comes to the Mississippi Delta, opening January 26, 2013 and running through August 31, 2013.
The exhibition tells the story of the Union forces’ attempt to navigate the intricate rivers of the Mississippi Delta during the winter of 1863.
Known as the Yazoo Pass Expedition, the attempt ultimately ended in failure, as Confederate forces held strong at a hastily built outpost near
Greenwood known as Fort Pemberton.
The most noted aspect of the Confederate defenses was the ocean steamer Star of the West, originally a Union transport ship, listed as the
first ship fired upon during the Civil War at Fort Sumter. After being captured by Rebel forces, the ship met her demise when it was sunk next
to Fort Pemberton to block the passage of Union ships through the channel as they headed toward their destination: Vicksburg.
The Museum will display Civil War artifacts from its collection including a partial steering wheel from the Star of WesThe Lady Polk, a cannon
used in the Battle of Fort Pemberton, is on permanent view at the Museum. There are only 17 examples of the Civil War-era cannon left in
existence today, and the Lady Polk is the only one that has been restored for firing. Vicksburg National Military Park will loan items recovered
from the Union ironclad. U.S.S. Cairo.
Stellar examples of period clothing including a butternut officer’s frock worn by Cpt. T. Otis Baker is on loan from the Mississippi Department
of Archives and History, along with an officer’s sword, muzzle-loading pistol, a British import carbine and a forage cap worn by Maj. Gen.
William Walthall. A rare 1860s homespun dress will help tell the story of women on the home front.
The exhibition opens January 26th
in a special free event which includes portrayals of General Ulysses S. Grant, Confederate and Union re-
enactors and period music.
The exhibition is funded in part by grants received from the Mississippi Humanities Council and the Greenwood Convention and Visitors
Bureau. Additional funds have been provided by Staplcotn, Wade, Inc. and several local companies, as well as private contributions.
************************************************************
The Museum of the Mississippi Delta was founded in 1969 as Cottonlandia Museum. The collection consists of historical items related to the
cotton industry, agriculture and military history (with emphasis on the Civil War), a regional art collection and the largest collection of Spanish
Colonial trade beads in the Southeast. The Native America Gallery houses the most extensive collection in the country of Avenue Polychrome
vessels dating back to 15th
century.
Museum of the Mississippi Delta
1608 Highway 82 West
Greenwood, MS 38930
662-453-0925 P
662-455-7556 F
www.museumofthemississippidelta.com
Hours: Mon-Friday 9:00-5:00 Saturday 10:00-4:00
Admission Charged; Tour groups welcome ; Guided tours available ; Closed Major Holidays and Sundays
Editor’s Note: Anyone interested in putting on loan artifacts they may have for this exhibition please contact Larry McCluney at 662-453-7212 or Cheryl
Taylor, Director of the Museum of the Mississippi Delta at 662-453-0925. They are looking for more weapons, personal affects, and pictures of
ancestors that fought in the war with all military information on them. If you bring items to camp please tag them with your name, address,
and phone number and Larry McCluney can deliver those items.
GENERAL LEE AND SANTA CLAUS
First appearing in 1867 as part of Mrs. Louise Clack's Christmas Gift To Her Little Southern Friends, this wartime exchange between General
Robert E. Lee and three young girls has become a bit of Yuletide warmth shared among Southerners -- even if only connected by the internet.
Originally published by Guild Bindery Press, Mrs. Clack's children's book contributed quite a bit to the post-War revelation of another side of
Lee's character. His personal honor and courageous audacity on the battlefield was the given. The kind and gentle nature with all, particularly
children, was the other. But the story was never intended for profit. All the royalties from Mrs. Clack's gift to her little Southern friends went to
the orphans of the South. She wanted it that way. And in 1996, when the tale was reprinted by Alexander Books, a part of the profits were
earmarked to assist in the upkeep of Stratford Hall, Lee's birthplace. Is it a true story? Who knows? But historical wisdom gently admonishes
and reminds: Is there any evidence it didn't happen? If not, then let us believe it. As the undisputed inspiration of them all goes: "Yes, Virginia,
there is a Santa Claus!"
[This piece is taken from the book GENERAL LEE AND SANTA CLAUS, originally published in 1867, pages 32-35, now in the public domain.]
Continued on page 11 . . .
11
Dear General Lee:
We think you are the goodest man that ever lived, and our auntie says you
will go right straight to heaven when you die; so we
want to ask you a question, for we want to know the truth about it, and we
know that you always speak the truth.
Please tell us whether Santa Claus loves the little rebel children, for we think
he don't; because he did not come to see us for
four Christmas Eves. Auntie thinks you would not let him cross the lines, and
we don't know how to find out unless we write
and ask you. We all love you dearly, and we want to send you something; but
we have not any thing nice enough; we lost all
our toys in the war. Birdie wants to send you one of our white kittens--the one
with black ears; but auntie thinks maybe you
don't like kittens. We say little prayers for you every night, dear General Lee,
and ask God to make you ever so happy. Please let
us know about Santa Claus as soon as you can; we want to know for something
very, very, very particular; but we can't tell even
you why until Christmas time, so please to excuse us.
Your little friends, Lutie, Birdie, and Minnie
The above letter was sent the following day, and in about a week the answer
was received:
My dear little friends:
I was very glad to receive your kind letter, and to know by it
that I have the good wishes and prayers of three innocent little
girls, named Lutie, Birdie, and Minnie. I am very glad that you
wrote about Santa Claus for I am able to tell you all about him.
I can assure you he is one of the best friends that the little
Southern girls have. You will understand this when I explain to
you the reason of his not coming to see you for four years.
The first Christmas Eve of the war I was walking up and
down in the camp ground, when I thought I heard a singular
noise above my head; and on looking to find out from whence
it came, I saw the queerest, funniest-looking little old fellow
riding along in a sleigh through the air. On closer inspection,
he proved to be Santa Claus.
Halt! Halt!, I said; but at this the funny fellow laughed, and
did not seem inclined to obey, so again I cried Halt!. And he
drove down to my side with a sleigh full of toys. I was very
sorry for him when I saw the disappointed expression of his
face when I told him he could go no further South; and when
he exclaimed, Oh, what will my little Southern children do! I
felt more sorry, for I love little children to be happy, and
especially at Christmas. But of one thing I was certain--I knew
my little friends would prefer me to do my duty, rather than
have all the toys in the world; so I said: Santa Claus, take every
one of the toys you have back as far as Baltimore, sell them,
and with the money you get buy medicines, bandages,
ointments, and delicacies for our sick and wounded men; do it
and do it quickly--it will be all right with the children. Then
Santa Claus sprang into his sleigh, and putting his hand to his
hat in true military style, said: I obey orders, General, and
away he went. Long
before morning he came sweeping down into camp again, with not only every thing I had ordered, but with many other things that our poor
soldiers needed. And every Christmas he took the toy money and did the same thing; and the soldiers and I blessed him, for he clothed and fed
many a poor soul who otherwise would have been cold and hungry. Now, do you not consider him a good friend. I hold him in high respect, and
trust you will always do the same.
I should be pleased to hear from you again, my dear little girls, and I want you ever to consider me,
Your true friend,
General Robert E. Lee
12
THE DELTA GENERAL
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Greenwood, MS 38930
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