Fall 2003 Indiana Legion Newsletter - Sons of Union Veterans of the ...

for captured Confederates who sufferednorthen winters in inadequate shelter, amisery further compounded by limitedrations, promulgated by CommissaryGeneral of Prisoners as a cost-savingmeasure.From 1862 to 1865, the camp wouldreach a peak population of 5,000.During this period there were 1,763deaths and more than 150 escapes—attimes achieved by throwing stones todraw fire and then simply rushing theguards.After the war, despite the privationsthey experienced, former prisonersremembered Camp Morton with somefondness by erecting a statue of its 1862commander, Colonel Richard Owen inthe State Capitol.Over the years the borders of theState Fairgrounds shifted, and the exactColonel Richard Owen, Commander of Camp Morton in1862. Pictured is a replica in the Indiana University MemorialUnion of the original statue in the State Capitol.The sculptor was Belle Kinney (1890-1959). Born thesame year that Owen died, she was commissioned todo the work in 1911 by S. A. Cunningham of Nashville,Tennessee, editor of the Confederate Veteran.Dedicated in 1913 in the presence of many Civil Warveterans of both sides, the sculpture was called “a bondbetween North and South.” — See Elise L. Smith,“Belle Kinney and the Confederate Women’sMonument,” Southern Quarterly 32 (1994) 2-27.location of the original Camp Mortonbecame uncertain. Several years ago,the Brothers of the Ben Harrison Camp,determined to recitify this situationby designing markers, researching theexact boundaries, and raising moneyto manufacture them. A task finallyOn 15 July 2000, Mike Baldwin, chairman of the Camp MortonMarker committee of the Ben Harrison Camp, carefully guides amarker stone onto its pedestal.achieved in the summer of 2000 whenthey were at last installed. In Octoberthe camp will recognize those contributionsin a special ceremony (see insetnotice).REAL MEMORIAL DAYOn Friday, 30 May, members of theBen Harrison Camp gathered atCrown Hill Cemetery to celebrate thereal Memorial Day at the modest graveof Colonel Ivan N. Walker, not far fromthe more elaborate stones of Col. EliLilly and President Benjamin Harrison.Walker served with the 73rd IndianaVolunteers; after the war he was activein state government, and in 1895became Commander-in-Chief of thenational G.A.R.During the ceremony, camp membersheard John A. Logan’s General OrderNo. 11, establishing Memorial Day, anaccount of Colonel Walker’s career, anda reading of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmesfamous Memorial Day Speech, usuallytitled, “In Our Youth Our HeartsWere Touched With Fire.”CHANGE OF MEETING PLACEIn September, the Ben Harrison Camp,after several years at the Indiana WarMemorial, has now changed the timeand place of its meetings. Except forthe special gathering on 5 October, untilfurther notice the camp will muster onthe second Saturday of the month at theSpeedway American Legion Post. Themeeting will commence at 11:15 A.M.and will be followed by lunch. The nextregular meeting will be on 8 November.3The post is located at 1926Georgetown road, three blocksnorth of the Georgetown and16th street intersection.CAMP MEMBER HONOREDCamp members werepleased to learn of theaward granted to one of theirown. In July, Brother Alan T.Nolan was named an “IndianaLiving Legend” by the IndianaState Historical Society, addingto the many honors he hasreceived over a distinguishedcareer as a civil rights attorney,and as a Civil War scholar.His books include The IronBrigade, Lee Considered, Giants in TheirTall Black Hats, Myth of the Lost Causeand Civil War History (all published bythe Indiana University Press), and RallyOnce Again (Madison House Publishers).He was a founder of the IndianapolisCivil War Round Table and has beenawarded the Nevins-Freeman writingprize by the Chicago Civil War RoundTable, the Civil War history lifetimeachievement prize by the MilwaukeeCivil War Round Table and an honorarydoctorate from Indiana University.He is a former president of the IndianaHistorical Society.— David Wiley & Stephen BauerNoticeOn Saturday, 25 October, at 8:00A.M. the Ben Harrison Camp#356 will hold a formal recognitionceremony for all those who workedso diligently on the Camp MortonBoundary Markers. The ceremonywill be held at the Camp MortonShelter (19th and Alabama Streets)rain or shine. The SVR has beenasked to provide a color guard.Parking will be available on thestreet. Following the ceremony themembers will move to the CampMorton Civil War show to be held atthe Indiana State Fairgrounds at thecorner of 38th and Fall Creek.All members and friends of theSUVCW and their guests are invited.

Father Corby CeremonyPlanned at Notre Damewould like to invite all SUVCW membersin the Department of Indiana I toPlaque commemorating Father Corby at Gettysburgattend a ceremony at Father Corby’sstatue on the University of Notre Damecampus on Saturday, 8 November 2003.The ceremony is set for 9:00 A.M.eastern standard time.Dr. Ed Frome. (Notre Dame ‘56) and the statue of FatherCorby at Gettysburg.The reason for the ceremony is thatFather Corby was a Chaplain with the88th New York Infantry, which was apart of the Irish Brigade. He also es-tablished G.A.R. Post 569 on the NotreDame campus in 1897, which wasunique in that it was made up only ofclerics.The statue is a replica of the one onthe Gettysburg Battlefield and depictshim giving General Absolution to theIrish Brigade on the 2nd day of the battle.This occurred just before the brigadewent forward to help General Sickles,who had extended his line out into thePeach Orchard and Wheat Field area.—Alan LoomisDavid D. Porter Camp CommanderAN ALUMNUS REMEMBERSBrother Ed Bensman of the Ben HarrisonCamp tells us that FatherCorby’s statue is known as “Fair CatchCorby.”The uplifted right arm is part of theCatholic ritual for a General Absolutionof sins. It was also the original gestureused by football officials to designatea fair catch. As a result, for the generationsof students who knew him onlyas the statue immediately in front ofCorby Hall on the Notre Dame campus,he was Fair Catch Corby. “Amazing,”writes Ed, “the important data one recallsfrom college!”Camps Participate in JeffriesMonument DedicationRecently, John Boyd Nelson of Marion,a World War II veteran who sawaction on Iwo Jima, erected headstonesat the graves of his great-great grandfatherSmith S. Jeffries, Sr., a War of 1812veteran, and for his great uncle, Smith S.Jeffries, Jr. at the Oak Chapel Cemeteryin Jadden.Smith S. Jeffries Jr. enlisted for oneyear in Company D of the 54th IndianaVolunteers and died of wounds on 29January 1863. He was only 21 years, 11months and twenty-three days of age.Mr. Nelson requested a suitable dedicationceremony at the cemetery thatwas planned by Alan W. Moore, PC-in-Chief, of the Orlando A. Somers Camp,Kokomo.Attorney Martin Lake of Marion andhis War of 1812 re-enactors broughttheir 1812 cannon and participated in4the event. A color guard was providedby the Marine Corps League of Marion.The ceremony was held on Sunday29 June. Approximately 115 personswere in attendance.At the Jeffries Monument Dedication left to right, NedBaker carrying wreath, Alana W. Moore, master of ceremonies,John Boyd nelsonm Mrs. John B. nelson andMr. nelson’s niece.At the Jeffries Monument dedication from left to right,Company Singers, Martin Lake in 1812 uniform,John Ayers, and Mrs Francis Frederick in Civil WardressAlan W. Moore welcomed the gatheringand assisted in the memorial remarks;Gib Young of the Champion HillCamp in Huntington, read “The Nameof Old Glory” by James Whitcomb Riley;Francis Frederick of the Link Campin Fort Wayne placed the Colors andflowers on the graves; Ned Baker ofthe Somers Camp laid wreaths, and JonAyes, also of the Somers camp, spokethe benediction.Mr. Nelson provided a dinner for allthose in attendance at the Oak ChapelChurch, just across the road from thecemetery.— Alan W. Moore, PC-in-C

Dedication Ceremonyat Rolling Prairievery special and moving ceremonyA is now in preparation for 8 Novemberat the Rolling Prairie Cemetery inRolling Prairie, La Porte County.The David D. Porter Camp will dedicatea new headstone and G.A.R. flagholder in memory of Benjamin FranklinWilliams, Private, 21st Indiana LightArtillery.Expected to participate with appropriatesalutes are re-enactor units fromthe 21st and 7th light artillery, the 9thand 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantryand the 102nd Infantry USCT.Kokomo ‘s Gun CarriageIs About to RollAs the Kokomo Tribune reported in afive-column story in August, “It’sbeen a long haul for the thirty-six membersof the Orlando A. Somers Camp #1,but the conclusion of a two-year historicalproject is in sight.”The story featured an interview withNed Baker, Somers Camp Commander;Tom Crawford, Past Department Commander,and Department CommanderAlan Teller.Now, as October begins, the endis indeed quite near, but more help isneeded to restore a neglected cannon toits full splendor on a new carriage.Some background is in order. Once,in distant memory, a 12-pound howitzermounted on a carriage with limber attachedsat at the entrance of Kokomo’sHighland Park. Now only the tube remains,stored in a garage at the Parksand Recreation Department.Research reveals the cannon to beone of nine manufactured by Leeds andCompany of New Orleans. Only threeare known to exist; two are in the handsof the federal government; the other isone of two field pieces brought to Kokomoby the General Thomas J. HarrisonPost #30 of the G.A.R., followingcongressional authorization in 1882.The Somers Camp needs to raise$9,500 to completely restore the cannonand its carriage. The Community Foundationof Howard County has awardeda $3,000 grant, so the Brothers of theSomers camp have been busy raisingthe balance.AlanTeller walked five and a one half miles to raisemoney on a dare from Alan James, a radio personalityon the Z 92.5, a Kokomo FM station. He raised $1,300for the cannon fund on that short jaunt. That’s why heis smiling!DepartmentalOfficers Directoryfor 2003-2004CommanderJ. Alan Teller, 3003 LamplighterLane,Kokomo, IN 46902-8125,765-455-0484,atller@iquest.netSenior Vice CommanderGilbert H. Young, Jr.,1352 Etna Avenue,Huntington, IN 46750,260-356-7643, gsgsg@onlyinternet.netJunior Vice CommanderDavid W. Wiley,3800 WoodmereWay,Bloomington, IN 47403-4123,812-337-0649,dwiley@cecasun.utc.eduDepartment Council1. Ron Gill, PDC,655 SheffieldDrive,Valparaiso, IN 46385,219-462-1984,rrgill:11@netnitco.net2. Russell W. Kirchner, PDC,39 HiddenAcres, Greentown, IN 46936,765-628-2236,russ@hpally.com,3. Thomas C. Crawford Jr., PDC,1916 S.Webster,Kokomo, IN 46902,765-452-4773,crawford@netusa1.netSecretary/Treasurer,Shawn C. Clements,1080 GreenfieldAvenue,Noblesville, IN 46060,317-773-8672,natalie@in-motion.netDepartment Patriotic InstructorBruce R. Kolb,11073 Devon Ct.,Fishers, IN46038, 317-842-4367,bkolb2@yahoo.comDepartment ChaplinRichard W. McConnell CollegeAve,Huntington, IN 46750,260-356-3413, rmcconnell@huntington.eduDepartment CounselorWilliam Gordon,533 Warren Street,Huntington, IN 46750, 260-356-3973,mai1@geodanlawers.cpmDepartment HistorianSteven T. Jackson, PDC, 306 EdgewoodPlace East, Anderson, IN 46011,765-643-9897,stevejackson@spitefire.netDepartment GAR Highway OfficerFrancis R. Fredrick,450 Clermont Drive,FortWayne, IN 46807-2713,260-456-6138, sf1152@juno.comDepartment Graves Registration OfficerRussel W. Kirchner, PDC,39 Hidden Acres,Greentown, IN 46936,765-628-2236, russ@hpalloy.comDepartment CW Monuments OfficerPhilip D. McClure,10140 E. State Road46,Columbus, IN 47203,812-579-5127, philjudy@bcremc.netDepartment Signal OfficerEdward J. Krieser, PC-in-C,1354 GilleevanDrive,Valparaiso, IN 46383,219-462-7163, EJKSUV@msn.comS A V E T H E K O K O M O C A N N O N ! !The Somers Camp intends to have the restored cannon publicly displayed in honor Howard County’s Civil War Veterans and toact as a reminder of Kokomo’s participation in this great conflict. We are still in need of approximately $3,200 and are requestingdonations to aid this endeavor. Checks can be made to “Sons of UnionVeterans of the Civil War Advised Fund” and mailed to theCommunity Foundation of Howard County, 202 N. Main, Kokomo, IN 46901. This fund is tax deductible under IRS regulations.PLEASE HELP!5

Captured Confederate troops, from a contemporary sketchDispatches . . .• On 20 September the Indianapolis Star reported that the Hartford City Cemetery Board refused an offer of $10,000 tosell a cannon that had served in its cemetery for over a century as a monument to the veterans of the Grand Army of theRepublic. The board declared, moreover, that it would never sell the cannon. They are to be congratulated, but the temptationremains for many trustees or boards of public and private institutions that have cannon in their possession.•The Star article quotes Past Department Commander Tom Crawford’s estimate that about 5,000 Civil War artillerypieces remain in the nation, about 114 in Indiana. Marion, for example, once had three Civil War Cannon; now in theGrant County seat only one remains.TheIndiana LegionSons of Union Veterans of the Civil War,Department of Indiana3800 W. Woodmere WayBloomington, IN 47403-412330 September 2003Notes to Brothers in Cyberspace:Because more and more brothers have spam blocking devices, and because some InternetService Providers are blocking attachments—particularly large ones—you may have hadsome difficulty opening this copy of the Legion. Indeed, there may come a time when electronicdistribution of the publication may no longer be practicable. We shall see.Let me know if you have difficulty, or if you have any other comments or suggestions.This issue is optimized for the screen and for quick download; photographs may not looktheir best when printed. Set Acrobat at 100% for best viewing of photos on screen, thoughyou may want to go to 150% for easier reading.Faithfully in Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty,Your Editor,David Wileydwiley@earthlink.net