Confederates Receive Honor in England with Grave Markers

Although places in America are protesting the public display of Confederate markers, flags, etc., the exact opposite seems to be happening in Great Britain. According to a recent issue of the Confederate Veteran magazine, a senior Sons of Confederate Veterans member visited Britain only to discover that the country had honored fallen soldiers by placing Confederate flags on their graves. There are several thousand Confederate veterans buried in Britain, as well as in nearly every other country throughout the world.

During the War Between the States, there was a profound connection between England and the South of which we will probably never know the exact proportion. It is estimated that 200,000 British-born soldiers fought on both sides, and that 141,000 of the South's citizens were born in the British Isles.

There are over 1,000 Confederate reenactors and two SCV camps existing in Britain at present. It seems British officials are far more supportive about Confederate events and activities, and recently flew a Confederate flag over a government building: the first time since 1865. This is in sharp contrast to what the U.S. is experiencing. In Richmond last year, an article ran that blatantly proclaimed Southern ancestors who fought for the Confederacy to be "terrorists." Unfortunately, nary an SCV member complained, but members in England did voice their protest. In Great Britain, it is considered a privilege to honor those brave ancestors who fought for Southern independence.

"Shenandoah" at Desoto Civic Center in Mississippi

This afternoon I had the immense pleasure of seeing a local theatre production of the musical "Shenandoah." It was a wonderful experience: the actors were fascinating, the music and singing were astounding, and the story was heart-wrenching. I especially liked the part in the play where two twin brothers (one in Union garb, the other in Confederate) sang about going home, and wondered if it would still be the same.

There were many poignant scenes in the play, and the talented actors were impressive, to say the least. Many have participated in numerous community theatre productions. One actor, who is only 12, has been in fifteen plays. Amazing!

Today was the final performance, so afterward, members of Company 6, 11th Mississippi Infantry reenacting unit coaxed the crowd outside to witness a cannon salute. My son, who is visiting from California, stated, "Only in the South would you see a play about the Civil War and then see them firing off a cannon!" God save the South!

Palm Sunday and Easter

Christianity played a tremendous role in soldiers' lives during the Civil War. Although men of other faiths were represented, Christians were by far the majority. Revivals were frequently held until the burden of war weighed so heavily on the soldiers that, by 1863, religious services were generally pushed by the wayside. Still, men carried Testaments, and prayed fervently before battle. Even the Confederate battle cross is representative of St. Andrew, who was Jesus' disciple, and the patron saint of Scotland; the red on the Southern Cross representing Jesus' blood, and the white border representing God's protection.

General Robert E. Lee was arguably the most passionate about his religious convictions, believing that God's divine will would determine the outcome of the war. He prayed regularly, and must have continuously fought his inner demons to justify all the pain and suffering the Confederate army inflicted under his command. What is most profound, though, is that he surrendered his army to General Grant on Palm Sunday. I wonder what must have been going through his mind at that time.

Easter to Christians represents rebirth, rejuvenation, and, of course, the resurrection. In a way, it is ironic that, in 1865, the country started out anew right around Easter, becoming "The United States of America" instead of individual states. Sadly, President Lincoln was shot on Good Friday, expiring the next morning. Although Easter should be a day of celebration for all Christians, in 1865, it was a day of mourning for both the North and the South, and a premonition of the heartache that was yet to come.

Song of the South

No one knows for sure where the word "dixie" originated. Some believe that it was a shortened nickname referring to the Mason-Dixon Line, while others think it came from ten-dollar notes that were widely used and issued from Louisiana ("dix" is French for "ten). By the 1850's, the term "dixie" was directly associated with the South.

The song "Dixie's Land" is commonly believed to have been written by Daniel Emmett, although others emerged who contested this. The melody became popular in black face minstrel shows, and after the start of the War Between the States, became the Southern anthem. (The North felt as though it needed an anthem as well, so it adopted the "Battle Hymn of the Republic, which I will discuss further next week.) Many variations in the lyrics appeared at this time, as was common practice back then. The song was played at both Presidents Lincoln and Davis' inaugurations. It was a favorite of Lincoln's, who also requested that the song be played during the Grand Review after the war was over. And, of course, it was played at Emmett's funeral.

Unfortunately, during the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's, "Dixieland" became associated with negative, racist implications, rather than having been considered as an important piece of history, ancestry, and Southern heritage. Recently, it was banned from being played at Ole Miss sporting events. When local school children in Mississippi were asked if they knew the song, none of them recognized it. Personally, I think that's a shame.

Southern Hospitality

Who says Southern hospitality doesn't exist? Sergeant Gilbert H. Bates of Wisconsin proved that is does. Four years after the end of the Civil War, he set out to march through the defeated South carrying the Stars and Stripes.

Sergeant Bates, a Union veteran, bet a friend that he could walk from Vicksburg to Washington, and without a cent or a weapon, live on the hospitality of Southerners. His goal was to disprove the common Northern notion that disloyalty to the Union was still predominant below the Mason-Dixon line. He also set out to prove that he could make the march without being murdered!

The march was reported in national headlines. Along the route, Sergeant Bates sold postcards of himself for twenty-five cents, the proceeds of which went to widows and orphans of soldiers, both North and South. After a grand send-out by the mayor of Vicksburg, Bates successfully completed his 1,400 mile march, which took him approximately three months, without one major incident along the way. Ironically, Bates was allowed to raise his flag over numerous official buildings in the South, including the state Capitol in Richmond, but not at the Capitol in Washington! He was, perhaps, the predecessor to the "cause" marches and walks we have today.

Lee-Jackson Dinner

Last Saturday evening, I had the honor of attending the annual Lee-Jackson dinner, which was held by the Pvt. Samuel A. Hughey Camp 1452 Sons of Confederate Veterans and President Jefferson Davis Chapter, Military Order of the Stars and Bars here in Mississippi. This was the first time my husband and I had participated in such an event, and I must admit, it was impressive. About forty people were in attendance, including the commanders of the camp. The guest speaker was the Honorable Greg Davis, who is the mayor of a small (and growing) city here in Northwest Mississippi known as Southaven. Mr. Davis gave a heartfelt speech about how Robert E. Lee has inspired him through the years. He said that people are amused when they enter his office to see pictures of Lee adorning his walls.

Mr. Davis stated that General Lee’s qualities were admirable, and should be upheld today, those being loyalty, truthfulness, and faith. Living here in the Bible Belt, it’s easy to take being Christian for granted, but in other parts of the country, it certainly isn’t as prevalent. Here, it is no big deal to give a prayer of thanks before each gathering, whether it be a picnic, meeting, or whatever. Mayor Davis talked about how the history books have distorted the truth, and sadly, how every person associated with the Confederacy is automatically associated with racism as well. He discussed how he pushed to name a local library after General Lee, and succeeded with a minority vote after persuading the board that reasons were related to heritage, not racism.

The mayor stated how he thought it was important to get involved, and how he did this himself by riding along on a garbage pickup one Saturday afternoon. Needless to say, he so appreciated the sanitation department afterward that he gave everyone a raise! Mayor Davis also talked about how it is important to forgive and forget, to turn the other cheek, and to have faith, because everyone has to go through hardships to appreciate the end result. He stressed that we should not focus on the “what ifs,” but to have fearless faith, as General Lee did.

Following the mayor’s speech, the camp adjutant, Mr. Alan Latimer, led the group in a candlelight vigil honoring everyone’s Confederate ancestors. When a soldier’s name was called, his descendant blew out their candle until the room was left with only three candles lit in the front: one for Robert E. Lee, one for Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, and one for the Southland, which was left burning.

The group enjoyed a wonderful dinner, received door prizes, and hopefully, left inspired. I know I did. In the program we were given, it discussed how General Lee was a tall, impressive man. To me, he was not only tall in stature, but in presence as well. Because of his admirable qualities, he is still endeared by many today. General Lee resigned his position from the U.S. Military to fight for the Confederacy because he didn’t want to raise arms against his beloved Virginia, where his family lived. Following the Battle of Gettysburg, he wanted to resign his post, most likely knowing that the Confederacy was doomed, but continued to fight after being persuaded by President Jefferson Davis. And after the war, General Lee obediently served as the president of a college in Lexington, Virginia until his death, which occurred only five years after the end of the war. He is noted as trusting in God to lead him, for he was a man of depth-less religious conviction, as well as a master of military strategy. May he always be admired for those reasons, and not be associated with racism or discrimination, which was never his intention.

Captured Confederate Flag Still in Wisconsin

I recently learned that a First National Flag of the Confederacy, the Stars and Bars, is being held captive in Boscobel, Wisconsin. The flag was captured during the first day of battle near Gettysburg in 1863 by Private Richard Huftil, and has since been known as the “Huftil Flag.”

During the course of one hundred and forty-six years, the flag has been passed from the Grand Army of the Republic, to the Women’s Relief Corp, to the Grant County Historical Society. It has been on display at Boscobel’s G.A.R. Hall, one of only three that still remain in the upper Midwest.

There has been controversy surrounding the flag for many years. The Preservationist Society is concerned that if the flag is returned to its rightful owners, i.e. the Sons of Confederate Veterans, harm will come to the county’s historical preservation in the way of their “heritage, traditions, and tourism.” Although I see their point and understand their concern, the bottom line still is this: the flag belongs to the SCV, so give it back! (We are finding out about more flags that are still up North as well, so I’ll keep you posted.)

Vicksburg: a Sight to See

Last weekend, my husband and I traveled to Vicksburg to see the battlefield. It is impressive to say the least. Interestingly, the paved roadway through the park is lined with majestic monuments and busts of long forgotten heroes. On the west side of the park is a spectacular view of the Yazoo River, and it’s easy to visualize the strategies used by Generals Grant and Pemberton. But the highlight of the battlefield, in my opinion, is the ironclad gunboat, the U.S.S. Cairo.

In 1862, the U.S.S. Cairo was hit by Confederate underwater torpedoes, now called mines, and sank in twelve minutes into the Yazoo. Everyone aboard jumped ship and survived. After discovery was made of its whereabouts in 1964, the gunboat was brought back to the surface, and many of the artifacts inside survived the test of time. This is due to the fact that silt on the river bottom preserved the ship’s contents, as well as the skeleton of the vessel itself. The restored ironclad is now on display at the park, alongside a museum housing its artifacts.

The park ranger informed us that in the 1930’s, the government came up with the not-so-brilliant idea of planting trees alongside the roadway. Now the trees have grown into a scrubby, overgrown mess, and the NPS is deciding whether it should mow the trees down, which obscure sight of the battlefield. The visitors center is informative, with an old movie from (my guess) the 60’s describing the event, as well as dioramas depicting soldiers during the siege, a cave inhabited by Vicksburg citizens, and freedmen fighting for the North. The scene is poignant, and left me with mixed emotions. Within the park, Union soldiers are buried in the National Cemetery, as was the way with battles won by the North. The Confederates are buried in the old Vicksburg cemetery, which is located, sadly enough, on Lover’s Lane.

The town of Vicksburg is marvelous, but in terrible disrepair. The historic downtown district, which brags an old-time apothecary, as well as the Coca Cola Museum (the soft drink started distribution here), is full of empty storefronts and loiterers. However, the old antebellum houses and churches are fascinating. Vicksburg is on its way, pulling itself up from the depths of terrible oppression that it suffered over 145 years ago. Unfortunately, it still has a long way to go.

Flags Long Ago Unfurled

Last night I had the pleasure of listening to a gentleman by the name of Larry Hawkins give a discussion about battle flags used by soldiers during the Civil War. His main concentration was flags from Mississippi, and his deep concern was that these relics would be lost forever. That is why he is compiling a book about the flags, with pictures included.

He expressed the fact that many flags have vanished and are irreplaceable. His fear was that these flags would not withstand the test of time, in that political views have changed since the mid 1800's, and people would no longer wish to keep them as a reminder of the Confederate cause.

I truly hope this never happens. There is already too much negative association tied to the Confederacy, because ignorant people automatically link it with the Ku Klux Klan. This isn't the case, however, as they are two separate entities entirely. The Sons of Confederate Veterans only wish to preserve their ancestors' legacy, and slavery isn't even an issue, just as it wasn't an issue for Southern soldiers. They didn't give up their lives for abolition, but for self-preservation. They fought to defend their homeland, just as their ancestors had during the American Revolution. Preserving the past is our responsibility, and our duty to our ancestors. Whether we hold their same beliefs or not is irrelevant. They sacrificed their lives for a cause they believed in, and we should honor them for that above all else.