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| HIGHLANDER DISPATCH |
(3)
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DECEMBER
2002
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""Daring Covert Acts" Confederate agents involved in the plot with a sizable supply of the substance, but none had experience using the mixture. The raiders, toting 402 bottles of Greek Fire, checked into various hotels and set to work. Rubbish and clothing were set afire, but they did not burn as expected, and the fires were extinguished by midnight. A spectacular blaze was set at Barnum's Museum, however. Miraculously, not one of the 2,500 people gathered there for a lecture was injured. Most of the conspirators escaped into Canada, with only Kennedy, a former West Point student from Louisiana, being caught. The judgment on Kennedy from the commission of General John A. Dix, commander of the Department of the East, was harsh. It read, in part: "The attempt to set fire to the city of New York is one of the greatest atrocities of the age. There is nothing in the annals of barbarism, which evinces greater vindictiveness. It was not a mere attempt to destroy the city, but to set fire to crowded hotels and places of public resort, in order to secure the greatest possible destruction of human life." The punishment was equally harsh: "Robert C. Kennedy will be hanged from the neck till he is dead at Fort Lafayette, New York Harbor, on Saturday, the 25th day of March." After the hood was lowered, just before he was hanged,
Kennedy sang: "Trust to luck, trust to luck, Stare Fate in the
face, For your heart will be easy, If it's in the right place...."
[Source: Atlas Editions; Civil War Cards]
O Almighty God, the Sovereign Commander of all the world in whose, hand is power and might, which none is able to withstand; we bless and magnify thy great and glorious name for this happy victory, the whole glory whereof we do ascribe to thee, who art the only giver of victory. And, we beseech thee, give us grace to improve this great mercy to thy glory, the advancement of thy Gospel, the honor of our country, and as much as in us lieth, to the good of all mankind. And, we beseech thee, give us such a sense of this great mercy, as may engage us to a true thankfulness, |
such as may appear in our lives, by an humble, holy,
and The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
I will be ending my term as Camp Commander after the initiation of officers at the Lee-Jackson Banquet and new officers will be taking over as our leaders. It has been a rewarding three years to serve in this office. It had been my philosophy that it is not what the Commander does, but it is what the officers, aides-de-camp and members do that make a successful camp. I tried to select members who would always act in the best interest of the camp, then let them fulfill their duties. We earned the respect of those above us in the Division, AOT and Headquarters who gave us praise for our work for the "Cause" - - HERITAGE. I greatly appreciate the work of our membership - everyone gave full support in the camp activities - at meetings, living history programs in the schools and community, recruiting camps, assisting other camps, memorial services and yes financial support too. A special "Thank You" to our officers and Aides-de-Camp
who went beyond the call of duty in many incidents. I trust we will
all offer the same support to the new Commander and Officers. I feel
confident that the Camp will grow in membership and we will prevail
in the spirit of Gen. Stephen D. Lees' "Charge" that he gave
to the SCV. We must keep the true history alive and vibrant. Your Obedient Servant, |
