January Meeting--Tennessee at Gettysburg!

On behalf of the officers and men of the Camp, The General's Orders wishes each and every one of its readers a prosperous, healthy, and happy new year!

The Camp will meet at 7:30 P.M., on Thursday, January 14th, at All Saints Southern Episcopal Church, located at the corner of 46th and Park Avenue (just one block south of Charlotte Avenue), in West Nashville. Fellow camp member Joe Cooper will present a program on Tennessee at Gettysburg.

The record will show that Tennessee was represented at Gettysburg by three of its most famous infantry regiments: the 1st, 7th, and 14th. On the day of the grand charge (July 3, 1863), they were attached to Fry's (Archer's) Brigade of Pettigrew's (Heth's) Division, in the heart of the Confederate line. What happened to these regiments and whether they planted their colors in the Union lines will be the subject of Joe's program.

Camp veterans will remember that Joe presented a program on Murfreesboro several years ago, one of the best the Camp has ever heard. Joe is thorough, and you can be assured that he will know his subject. Bring friends and family with you. Arrive early for best seating. Doors open at 6:30 P.M.

Inclement Weather Policy In case of bad weather (snow, ice) on the day of any camp meeting, call the Camp's telephone number (780-3598) anytime after 5 P.M. for a recorded message. If a meeting has been canceled, a recorded message will say so. (Otherwise, the caller will hear the Camp's standard message of introduction. If so, the meeting has not been canceled.)

December Dinner Banquet

Almost sixty men and guests enjoyed dinner, music, speeches, and awards last month at the Belle Meade Country Club. The Camp thanks Malcolm Liles for his efforts in organizing this splendid event, Bob Notestine for his excellent hosting skills, and Willie Porter for preparing the programs and giving the invocation (to say nothing of his leading us, a capella, in a rousing version of Dixie).

Tennessee Division Commander Russell Bailey of Covington brought us up to date on the state of the Division and impressed us with his vision for the Division's future. We were particularly interested in his comment that the Division might consider the purchase of a permanent headquarters building, possibly in Middle Tennessee. Commander Bailey promised us that the Division Reunion next April, in Franklin, would be an exciting event.

As the evening came to a close, many of the participants paused in front of the Country Club's famous old painting of General Robert E. Lee, "Marse Robert" himself, for the perfect photo opportunity. The banquet was a wonderful ending to a wonderful year for the SCV's most distinguished camp.


Camp Awards

At the December Dinner Banquet, the Camp presented the following awards:

Man of the Year Special Achievement Best Program Recruiting

Dick Knight Jack Kershaw Skip Earle Lucien Dale

Each award was accompanied by an engraved trophy and, with the Man of the Year Award, a framed copy of Mort Kuntsler's Rebel Sons of Erin. In accepting his award, Dick Knight said that he was in "good company," noting that prior recipients included Joe Payne, Wes Shofner, Ross Massey, Read Majors, Bill Dorris, Henry Hood, and Bob Watson.

In presenting the Special Achievement Award to Jack Kershaw, Commander Bob Notestine cited Jack for his many years of service to the SCV and his herculean efforts in building the Forrest statue that today reposes in the Confederate Flag Park along I-65 north of Brentwood. Bob also announced that the Camp's Executive Committee had decided to rename the Special Achievement Award in honor of longtime volunteer, Remo Circo, an honorary member of the Camp.

Skip Earle's award-winning two-part program was titled "Stonewall Wasn't There," a fascinating presentation on what might have happened if Stonewall had been present at Gettysburg and The Wilderness. Skip's program generated quite a bit of positive publicity, and The General's Orders is happy to note that Skip is now in great demand as a speaker.

Command Post By Bob Notestine - Camp Commander I would like to take this opportunity to wish each compatriot a healthy and prosperous 1999. As we enter this new year, it is good to reflect back upon the many accomplishments of our camp in the past year, not the least of which was being named camp of the year in the SCV at St. Louis. My primary goal, as commander, for 1999, is not to rest upon our past achievements, but to pursue the many opportunities that will present themselves in the upcoming year. Our camp has earned a position of being a model camp within the Confederation. The eyes of the Confederation will be upon us to continue in this capacity. I will need your assistance this year and I look forward to working with each and every one of you in 1999. I also wanted to give you a brief update as to the status of camp activities as the New Year dawns. I am still attempting to negotiate a lease on the Mt. Olivet Memorial Hall site, but things are moving slowly. I have spoken to Mt. Olivet officials who have assured me that they want to see the project completed, but their legal staff has not yet moved on this matter . I hope to have more information for you in January. A continuing, and heretofore unanswered , question which has brought to my attention is whether our camp has received 501 (c) (3) tax recognition from the IRS. I have investigated this matter and I have received assurances from the National HQ that we are a 501 (c) (3) organization as a sub-division of the national organization. We even have been assigned a tax-exemption ID number which I have available to compatriot's if needed. The bottom line is that donations to the Camp are tax deductible as the camp has been recognized as a charitable and/or educational institution by the IRS. I am working on scheduling speakers /programs for 1999. If anyone has a desire to present a program please contact myself or any officer of the camp as soon as possible. Finally, my personal New Years resolution is to meet all camp members and to get as many of you involved in camp activities as possible. I looking for the compatriot's who have been less active in the camp to step to the forefront this year. The opportunities are there, so don't be afraid to ask about how you can be of assistance.

New Member

The Camp extends a hearty welcome to Albert Crawford Gross, Jr., who is joining the SCV on the record of his grandfather, Malcolm Shaw Richardson, a private in Company F (later Company A) of the 38th Tennessee Infantry regiment. Private Richardson was paroled on May 1, 1865. Private Richardson was from Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee. The Camp looks forward to a long and collegial relationship with Compatriot Gross.


Pryors Transfer

Mike and Ty Pryor (father and son) have transferred to The Randall McGavock Camp #1713 of Hermitage, Tennessee, a new camp in their neighborhood. The transfer was expected--it was only a matter of time. Now Mike and Ty have a 5-mile drive, instead of a 50-mile drive.

We cannot allow the Pryors to leave without mentioning their contribution to the Camp. Mike was previously chief of staff, and was chairman of the 1997 General Convention Opening Ceremonies Committee. Mike will be remembered for his folksy sense of humor and a collegiality second to none. Ty was editor of The General's Orders in 1996 and 1997, and during that time this newsletter was designated "best" in both the Tennessee Division (1996) and the SCV (1997). Ty was chairman of the 1997 General Convention Publications Committee.

Best of luck, gentlemen, and sincere thanks. Keep in touch.


Master Calendar--Clip and Save

Thursday, February 11--Camp Meeting Thursday, March 11--Camp Meeting Thursday, April 8--Camp Meeting Thursday, May 13--Camp Meeting Saturday, May 15 (tent.)--Camp Field Trip Saturday, June 5--Confederate Decoration Day Thursday, July 8--Camp Meeting Thursday, September 9--Camp Meeting Thursday, October 14--Camp Meeting Thursday, November 11--Veterans' Day Parade; Camp Meeting Thursday, December 3 (tent.)--Annual Dinner Banquet [NOTE: The camp does note meet in August.]

Dues Bulletin--Important!

If you have not yet paid your dues for 1998-99, please submit them ($35) right away! Make your check payable to "Gen. Jos. E. Johnston Camp #28, SCV" and mail it to Camp #28, SCV, P.O. Box 40859, Nashville, TN 37204. The Camp cannot undertake another first class mailing, so it is relying on unpaid members to use this bulletin as a reminder of their dues payment. And remember: The Camp achieved a rate of 100% retention for 1997-98, so every man is encouraged to send his dues in ASAP so that the Camp can repeat this remarkable feat.


Call for Speakers

Calling all speakers! The Camp strongly encourages each member to speak on the topic of his choice, so long as it is related to the War for Southern Independence. Already scheduled for 1999 are Joe Cooper (January, see page 1); Russell Bailey (in February, "General Cadmus Wilcox"); and Phil Turner (in March, "Heroic Confederate Verse and Poetry"). Speakers are needed for April and beyond!


Nashville 2002???

The Camp is mulling a bid for the SCV General Convention in Year 2002. As members know, the Camp hosted the 1997 Convention, and it was one of the most successful on record. In deciding whether to submit a bid to the SCV's Time and Place Committee, several factors must be seriously considered. First, does the Camp have adequate manpower? Second, can the Camp put together a bid by the deadline date (the middle of March 1999)? Third, can the Camp put together a convention package that is both attractive and affordable?

There are two other satellite issues: The Memphis-based Forrest Camp #215 may be considering a bid. If so, our camp will undoubtedly yield. The Forrest Camp did a magnificent job on last year's Division Reunion, and there is every reason to believe that they would produce a magnificent General Convention. Also, Year 2002 is an election year. It may make more sense to bid for the convention the following year, thus giving delegates and their families more time to tour the local sites, including Elm Springs.

Nashville, of course, is the ideal location for a general convention. It is in the heartland of the Confederation. Dallas, Orlando, and Richmond are each about the same distance from Nashville. All roads and flight paths lead to Nashville. Tennessee is the site of more battles than any other state (except Virginia). So, there is a strong case for Nashville.

If you have an opinion on whether or not the Camp should put in a bid for the Year 2002 General Convention, please speak with Milton Henderson, Dick Knight, Ross Massey, Brad Mizell, Bob Notestine, or Bob Watson as soon as possible.


So, why not Orlando???

While we are on the subject, this is a good time to plant the suggestion that an Orlando-based General Convention might easily set an attendance record, let alone be one of the most enjoyable on record. One of the things the Camp repeatedly heard in 1997 was that more activities needed to be planned for both the ladies and the children. For many of the would-be delegates, the Convention is summer vacation, so it is absolutely necessary that the program have the feel of summer vacation--otherwise, the ladies and children aren't going to attend. If they don't attend, neither do the would-be delegates. So, why not Orlando???


Let Governments Compete by Joseph Sobran,

Middle American News (8/98)

The columnist George Will reminds us that in the year 1500 there were about 500 distinct political entities in Europe; by 1800 the number had been reduced to a few dozen, and was soon further reduced by the unification of Italy and Germany.

But since 1920 the number of European states has doubled again, and Will cites a French scholar named Pascal Boniface who calls secession the principal threat to peace. As in Kosovo.

Yes, it's a mess over there in the former Yugoslavia, and the only thing you can say in its favor is that it's not a world war. Let's count our blessings. Two world wars were enough. Some reactionaries might even say that one was enough, but that would be isolationism.

Certain words, "secession" being one, are used in tones of horror that imply there is no point in discussing their possible merits. But if secession is always bad, history can move in only one direction: toward a single global state, from which nobody must be allowed to withdraw, no matter how tyrannical it may become.

Will uses a set of alarming-sounding synonyms for secession: "disintegration," "fracturing," "splintering." But why not "independence," or "liberty"?

When the U.S. Constitution was up for ratification, the country debated whether its adoption would lead to what they regarded as the worst of political evils: "consolidated" government, a synonym for tyranny. The idea of the federal design was to prevent any level (state or national) or branch (legislative, executive or judicial) of government from getting a monopoly of power.

Several states ratified the Constitution on the express condition that they retained the right to secede from the Union at any time they saw fit. Nobody denied their right to do so. The great precedent was, of course, the Declaration of Independence, which affirmed--and exercised--the right of secession.

Eventually, several states did secede, but by then the Union was strong enough, and ruthless enough, to crush them. The United States was in the grip of the great centralizing craze that was sweeping the modern world, all the way to Czarist Russia.

Not only did Italy and Germany come into existence as unified states; they continued centralizing under the ideologies of fascism and National Socialism. And in the 20th century the great nation-states (which were also empires) collided in the two most terrible wars of all time.

The explosion began with the assassination of a single man in Sarajevo in 1914. The alliances among the European states drew everyone into war, including, within three years, Midwestern farm boys who had never heard of Archduke Ferdinand. This would have been impossible if Europe had still consisted of those 500 independent political entities of the year 1500. Europe had seen many wars, but they had mostly been local. The "Great War" was something totally new, dwarfing even the Napoleonic Wars.

The lesson of the 20th century is that our ancestors were absolutely right: We have far more to fear from the consolidation of states than from secession and dispersion. With 500 small states, there are sure to be local conflicts at almost all times. But it would be relatively easy to flee them. With only a few huge states, the danger of a general holocaust is constant.

Secession may be a "threat to peace" in the sense that nobody could impose peace everywhere at once. But the existence of the superstates armed with nuclear weapons, along with the unlimited power to tax and conscript, is a much more serious threat to peace.

Secession, small states, limited government, dispersion of power--these are the real paths to peace. The more political entities there are, the more the rulers are forced to complete with each other for subjects, who can migrate to less oppressive regimes. But when only huge states exist, with monopolies of power extending for thousands of miles, escape is difficult.

Everyone now understands the importance of free competition in the marketplace. When will we recover our understanding that competition among governments is even more essential to freedom? (Copyright 1998 Universal Press Syndicate)





Quotable Quotes

"We wish only our rights to be secured. We must have such amendments as will secure the liberties and happiness of the people, on a plain simple construction, not on a doubtful ground . . . . But in its present form we never can accede to it. Our duty to God and to our posterity forbids it." --George Mason, arguing against ratification 1788, Virginia Constitutional Convention