Confederate Sailor returns home

By: Scott Young, Atlanta Camp # 46

I had the honor to assist George Hagan and the devoted CSS Jackson Crew in escorting Lt. Johnston's remains back to Fernandina, Florida. The re-burial service took place October 26th in Fernandina, Florida. Lt. Johnston was buried in Massachusetts about 140 years ago after dying as a prisoner of war at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. He had been a Sailor on the Ironclad, CSS Atlanta of the Confederate States of America.

We put about 8,000 miles on the 2 Vans rented for the "Return Home". The Ceremony in Massachusetts was well attended with all the major New England media represented and producing all positive media coverage. Dana Chapman of Georgia gave a moving and emotional talk about her 9-year quest to return Lt. Johnston home to Fernandina, Fl. Local support was enthusiastic in New England about the "Return Home" efforts. The family was well represented. The Governor of Massachusetts, Jane Swift, had an impressive proclamation presented to Lt. Johnston's descendants. Many top veterans and officials of the area gave impressive support, including a U.S. Naval Color Guard, a group of Boston Bag-Pipers, Commissioner Kelly and Bob Hall of the VA were a tremendous support, a "Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition" from Congressman Steven Lynch was presented, CSA & USA re-enactors, plus many, many more supporters.

As we left for the South with Lt. Johnston's remains, 2 Massachusetts State Troopers escorted us to the Rhode Island State Line, there we were met with Rhode Island State Trooper escort to the State Line, 2 Connecticut State Troopers escorted us to the New York State line, there we were again met by an Honor Guard escort from a New York State Trooper, as we neared New York City, a NYPD officer and a New York/New Jersey Port Authority officer joined in the escort assisting us getting through New York City with 3 police lighted vehicles with their sirens screaming they escorted us in an extremely efficient manner, we probably made a world record for getting through New York City traffic in record time.

Later that night, at a Northern Virginia Hotel, at about 1 AM, while the 6 of us were trading off our 24 hour honor guard watch vigil for Lt. Johnston, one in our party (the Fireman) was seen handling his re-enactor's rifle by someone in the Hotel. Since this is the area where innocent people are currently being shot by a sniper, the police rushed in, in force, and quizzed 2 in our party. They came to the conclusion after looking at Lt. Johnston's coffin through