El Dorado Camp Meeting Slated
coming soon
Cemetery Symposium November 7
The Searcy County Historical Society is sponsoring a Cemetery Symposium, Saturday, November 7, in Marshall, Arkansas. Symposium speakers are members of the Arkansas Archeological Survey and the Washington County attorney. They will cover Arkansas Cemetery Law, cemetery restoration, including funding, and the techniques and science of finding lost graves. An Arkansas Cemetery Law abstract is available at the website or by purchase. For more information and registration forms go to website: http://www.ancestorfair.us and click on ‘cemetery symposium’ or contact James Johnston at johnston@ipa.net or telephone 479-442-2691.
The Lee/Grant Debate Slated for November 12
On November 12, 2009, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History will host the exhibit opening reception for the Museum’s newest exhibit, “Lee and Grant,” a traveling exhibit provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Virginia Historical Society. Special guests attending the reception will be Al Stone and Barry Meadows, noted Civil War re-enactors who portray Generals Lee and Grant. Following the reception, the two will engage in a debate over the Civil War. Tickets for this fundraising event are $250 per couple and includes admission to the exhibit opening at the museum followed by the Lee/Grant debate at the adjacent Arkansas Arts Center. The debate is free and open to the public but seating is limited. Proceeds support the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. For more information or to reserve seating contact the Museum, 501.376.4602 or e-mail smcateer@littlerock.org or hbettinardi@yahoo.com.
Regarding the debate, Hot Springs’ Loy noted: The event is free but you have to reserve your seat. Call Heather Bettinardi at 501-376-4602 to reserve them and also to confirm the location of the debate. We as Sons of Confederate Veterans need to attend this and ask the tough questions that will be allowed after the debate. Al Stone and Barry Meadows are actors who will potray Lee and Grant and will debate each other on 1861-1865. We need to support General Lee 1,000%. Hope to see you there.Loy
New Website Design
Welcome to the new and improved website for the Arkansas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Last Saturday the General Executive meeting was held at the Arkansas Museum of Military History in Little Rock. Among the things discussed, the website overhaul was one. Another thing discussed was the marking of the mass grave in the Little Rock National Cemetery/Oakwood Cemetery.
The marking of the mass grave of over 900 Confederates has been a project that the Arkansas Division has been trying to establish for some time now. The mass grave committee noted that it was just a “matter of time” before proper permissions are granted in writing which will enable the release of the equipment for a ground-penetrating sonar and the subsequent placing of corner markers to denote the exact location of the mass grave.
As more information becomes available it will be posted on www.ArkansasSCV.org!
Southern Heritage Celebrated in Jonesboro
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Southern Heritage Celebrated
By Curt Hodges
JONESBORO — The flags placed for Confederate Heritage Month displays were fluttering and snapping on Saturday at the Southern Confederate Heritage Park, 117 Southwest Drive, Jonesboro.
The tent shelter set up earlier in the day was also feeling the effects of the wind. Several members of the Northeast Arkansas Southern Heritage Foundation weighted and protected brochures and other items on display.
Danny Honnoll of the Robert G. Shaver Camp 1655 Sons of Confederate Veterans said the organization was formed to educate people about the War Between the States and Southern heritage.
Honnoll noted that the flag commonly called the Confederate Flag depicts the Southern Cross, but it was not the only one flown during the Civil War.
“This is not a flag of hatred,” Honnoll said. “It is a symbol of our heritage. We’re not here to fly it in anyone’s face, but to talk about our heritage and the historical aspects of that period of time.”
Unit flag replicas on display Saturday included the flag of the Army of Virginia, a green Irish Brigade flag, the Gen. Richard Taylor battlefield flag (also known as the Trans-Mississippi flag), the Bonnie Blue flag with a white star in a blue field, the Missouri Battle Flag and flags of the Sixth and Seventh Arkansas Infantries. Honnoll also had the 30th Arkansas unit flag, a unit that consisted of men from the Jonesboro area.
The men on hand for the event were all dressed in Civil War-era costumes and displayed several weapons of the period.
Honnoll said the public response Saturday morning had been positive. Several people had stopped by around 11 a.m. to view the displays and talk to the men, all of whom had ancestors that served with the South during the Civil War.
The Southern Confederate Heritage Park has markers placed in honor of soldiers who served in the war. There is also a flag display, and funds are being raised with the help of Friends of the Foundation and others to erect a statue in honor of soldiers of the South during the Civil War.
“We’re very optimistic at this point that we will be able to raise the money to erect a pedestal and statue,” Honnoll said.
He said the concrete base has already been placed. Honnoll said the pedestal is estimated to cost $40,000 and the statue $50,000.
For more information contact Honnoll, president of the Northeast Arkansas Southern Heritage Foundation Inc., at 935-9830; James Langley, vice president, or M. Ray Jones, treasurer, at 933-7401 or by mail at P.O. Box 16876, Jonesboro 72403.
Shaver Camp Events and News
Friends of the Shaver Camp;
First I want to thank Bob and Ray for helping mow and clean up the Southern
Confederate Heritage Park.
April 25 – This Saturday – 117 SW Dr. Jonesboro – Founders Day at the
Southern Confederate Heritage Park 9a – 3p
Volunteers so far: Pete Harman; Jimmy Stevens, M. Ray Jones and Danny
Honnoll
April 21st – Shaver Camp Meeting – Vicksburg Siege – presentation by Comdr.
W.D. Honnoll – Also a report on Flag Day and Div Reunion at White Hall
May 15th Maynard School Pioneer Day All Day event times to be announced.
Bobbie and Dale Barnett; W. Danny Honnoll
May 16th Armed Forces Day – Activities to be announced.
May 17th – Bassett Memorial north of Joiner, Arkansas 2 pm
Pete Harman, Danny Honnoll, Jimmy Stevens, and Murray Therrell. (Capt.
Jones AWOL will leave the country!)
May 19th – Shaver Camp Meeting – Swords weapons of War – Jim Burton -
Esquire
May 25th – Memorial Day at the Craighead County Courthouse 9 am and
immediately following the Service at the Courthouse to our Southern
Confederate Heritage Park to place grave flags.
If you can help with any of these please let me know by emailing me or
calling me at 926-2985!!
Comdr.. Honnoll
1655 Shaver Camp
Shaver Camp Releases Event Dates
Friends of the Shaver Camp; Here is what we have on our schedule right now.
April 16th Mow and Clean Up Park at 117 SW Dr; Jonesboro 8:30amM. Ray Jones and Danny Honnoll
April 19 – This Saturday – 117 SW Dr. Jonesboro – Founders Day at the Southern Confederate Heritage Park 9a – 3pVolunteers so far: Pete Harman; Jimmy Stevens, M. Ray Jones and Danny Honnoll
April 21st – Shaver Camp Meeting – Vicksburg Siege – presentation by Comdr. W.D. Honnoll – Also a report on Flag Day and Div Reunion at White Hall
May 15 Maynard School Pioneer Day All Day event times to be announced.Bobbie and Dale Barnett; W. Danny Honnoll
May 17 – Bassett Memorial north of Joiner, Arkansas 2 pmPete Harman, Danny Honnoll, Jimmy Stevens, and Murray Therrell.
( May 19th – Shaver Camp Meeting – Swords weapons of War – Jim Burton – Esquire
If you can help with any of these please let me know by emailing me or calling me at 926-2985!!
Comdr.. Honnoll
1655 Shaver Camp
3rd Arkansas (El Dodado) Camp Announces Meeting
3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp #246
P.O. Box 10062
El Dorado, Arkansas 71730
(870)310-2304
sau96@yahoo.com
MEETING & PROGRAM: Our next camp meeting will be Monday April 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Miles House. We are pleased to announce our speaker will be Mr. Al Benson, Jr. co-author of the recently released “RED REPUBLICANS & LINCOLN MARXISTS”. Currently residing in Sterlington, LA, Benson has always been an avid student of the War of Northern Aggression and has conducted countless hours of research and authored numerous articles explaining the causes of the conflict. His works have been published on such online journals as The Patriotist, The Sierra Times, fireeater.org, and citizensforaconstitutionalrepublic.com. His articles may also be accessed in The Copperhead Chronicle online at albensonjr.com. Benson is also the creator of the HOMESCHOOL HISTORY SERIES described as a “real teaching alternative for pro-Southern parents”.
RECENT EVENTS: On April 3 & 4 our camp was represented at the 2009 Arkansas Division Reunion held in White Hall. Adjutant Mark Williams will bring us up to date on issues discussed at the convention.
In recent week, various government representatives have recognized the sacrifice of our Confederate ancestors by declaring April as Confederate History Month. The Honorable Mike Dumas, Mayor of the City of El Dorado, has again recognized our ancestors struggle for liberty and constitutional government by proclaiming April as Confederate History & Heritage Month in our city. Copies of the proclamation will be available at the meeting and please note that the wording is outstanding!
UPCOMING EVENTS: Several events in our division are planned for the month of April. On Saturday April 11, SCV members will gather on the grounds of the state capitol in Little Rock to celebrate Confederate Flag Day 2009. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. with the media present. All SCV members and the public are invited so bring a Confederate flag!
The 145th anniversary of the Battle of Marks Mills will be held near Fordyce on Saturday April 25 in conjunction with the 2009 Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival. The Saturday battle will kick-off at 4:30 in the afternoon. Please make plans to attend and support the reenactors who make this event possible.
CONFEDERATE HISTORY: On April 12, 1861 hostile United States military forces arrogantly refused to return control of Ft. Sumter to South Carolina. In an effort to evict the hostile troops, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered an artillery bombardment. Finally, after 36 hours, and with no deaths resulting, the U.S. forces rightfully agreed to evacuate the fort.
2009 Reunion Update
Welcome to a special edition of The Arkansas Toothpick- The Hub of the Civil War in Arkansas. Saturday, April 4, 2009 will see a very historic event. The first Confederate memorial service of its scope and intensity on the grounds of a historically black campus is slated for 2pm at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The service will be located at the Wright Cemetery situated in the northeast section of the UAPB football stadium parking lot. With the permission of the Chancellor is this service possible. Dr. Davis was awarded an Arkansas Division of the Sons of Confederate award in 2008 for his cooperation in the restoration and preservation of both the Jane Oliver Cemetery and the Wright Cemetery.
What makes this event so historical? The site of the memorial service is not only on the grounds of a historically black university state campus, but nearly 150 years ago, the immediate vicinity saw the use of 27 slaves on the Wright Plantation. It was on this same ground that Confederate troops were quartered: Camp Wright. Recent research has uncovered its significance in the Vicksburg Campaign, along with several other sites in and around Pine Bluff. Of these other sites that prove significant to the Vicksburg Campaign is Fort Pleasant, located only a couple miles from Saturday’s memorial service.
Among the speakers at the April 4th ceremony is a preservationist and member of the Patrick R. Cleburne SCV Camp. Edgar Colvin was responsible for the ordering of the markers, engraving, and maintenance of The Wright Cemetery and will give a talk on the various tasks in restoring and preserving the site. Local historian Doyle Taylor will be speaking on the historical significance of the vicinity, and descendants from two of the soldiers will be on hand for the one-of-a-kind memorial service.
In 1998, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff built a new stadium and thus relocated 37 unknown graves. In addition to remembering “The 37″, a special memorial service will be held for 3 Confederate soldiers and one marker commemorating the unknown dead from Walker’s Texas Division in the vicinity. Libations will be performed by the 1st Arkansas Infantry Co. D Living Historians, a military honor that has passed down from the old Roman Army traditions. Libations will be performed at each stone being dedicated.
Any ladies planning to attend this event are encouraged to participate in era-dress, as roses will be laid on each of the stones. The stones will be draped in a traditional Confederate Battle Flag, two of which will be presented by the Arkansas Division Commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to descendants of soldiers being honored. This is a rare opportunity that descendants are present during memorial services.
By special request, following the memorial service, a convoy of interested history buffs will travel from the Wright Cemetery to about 5 minutes east to one of the oldest standing structures in Arkansas: St. Mary’s Catholic Church situated on Plum Bayou. This church was erected in the 1830’s and boasts of an original bell struck in France. The cemetery located to the rear of the church serves as a final resting place to several of Arkansas’ first settlers and military heroes such as Francis Vaugine, one of only a handful of Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Arkansas.
Become a part of history and be at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s stadium parking lot by 1:45pm on April 4, 2009. From Little Rock, take Hwy 65 South when entering Pine Bluff. Turn left on University Ave. The stadium will be very hard to miss a few miles down. Anyone interested in joining the Sons of Confederate Veterans may also attend the catfish/chicken dinner at the 2009 Arkansas Division SCV Reunion at the White Hall Methodist Church at 6pm. Banquet tickets are only $10.
2009 SCV Reunion Schedule for April 4
9am-noon- Business Meeting at 300 Church Street (White Hall Methodist Church). From Super 8 Motel at Exit 34, there will be signs directing attendees to the Reunion location.
noon- Lunch at Larry’s Pizza (located at Hwy 270 and Jefferson Parkway)
2pm- Reunion memorial service at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Following the memorial service, a convoy will go out to St. Mary’s Catholic Church
6pm- Banquet- Awards, catfish/Chicken Dinner, auction of Civil War items
Faulkner County Judge Proclaims April as Confederate History and Heritage Month
- Proclamation from Faulkner County Judge
The Col. Allen R. Witt Camp #615 in Conway, Arkansas was recently presented a proclamation designating April as “Confederate History and Heritage Month”. This proclamation was presented to Lt. Cmd. Francis Casteel, Treasurer Bill Taylor and Cmd. Sheldon Gately by Faulkner County Judge Preston Scorggin.
