Monthly Archives: November 2013

The Flag of the 1st Texas

texas-flag-seven-pines

Private W.E. Berry of the fourth Texas, John Bell Hood’s Brigade, was captured on September 17, at Sharpsburg in the cornfield. While he was waiting to be sent to the rear he wrote of an incident that happened and of the attachment to the Confederate Flag, even though it was not the flag of his regiment. “While standing there I saw coming up the road from the battlefield some colors, with an escort. When they arrived the Major asked the Yankee with the colors where he got them. He said the cornfield. He turned to me and inquired if I knew the colors. I told him they belonged to the First Texas Regiment, remarking at the time that where he got the flag there was many a dead Texan there. He said there were thirteen dead men lying on or around it when he found it. I asked him to hand it to me a moment, which he did. I took it in my hand, kissed it, and handed it back to him, tears blinding my eyes.” This is a photo of that flag. The flag of the 1st Texas, captured at Sharpsburg.

Upcoming Meeting – November 2013

In out October meeting we hosted compatriot Doug Garnett, Commander of the Bob Lee Camp in Bonham, Texas. Doug brought us a presentation on battlefield medicine of the war years. Doug is a retired EMT and has a rather extensive knowledge of this subject.

In our November meeting we will host compatriot David Moore. David is our Texas Division Lt. Commander and a member of the Robert E. Lee Camp in Fort Worth. He will be speaking on the subject of photography during the war period. David is retired from the teaching profession, where he was involved in audio visual studies.

By way of reminder, we meet at Soulman’s BBQ, Ridge Road and I-30. Dinner is at 6 pm, meeting at 7 pm.

Lastly, as I announced in our last meeting, the camp has purchased a Confederate $5 dollar bank note to be awarded to the first compatriot who can bring us 3 new camp members on his own.

Dispatch – November 2013

Compatriots, Brothers and Friends,

Our November meeting is upon us immediately on Monday, Nov. 11, at Soulman’s Barbeque in Rockwall. This meeting is important as we will hold nominations and elections for our 2014 leadership, and also because my friend and compatriot David Moore, Lt. Commander of the Texas Division, will be with us to present on the subject of photography of the wartime period. David knows this subject well, and it should be very informative and enjoyable.

As this year begins to draw to a close, I have unfinished business and unfulfilled goals, which I will just have to continue into the future. I have been sometimes distracted by personal concerns, but I suppose that is life in a volunteer organization. It was my goal to double the size of the camp up to 40 members, and though we have had some growth, it appears we will fall way short of the goal, and I bear most of that, for the simple fact that it was a goal I set myself. Here is the good deal that comes out of this, though. I don’t have to be camp commander, or hold any office at all, in order to continue working on that goal, and this I will do. Maybe it will better that way. When we do grow up to 40 members, we can all smile and feel a sense of accomplishment, together, as it should be.

I am happy to report that, except for one regrettable occurrence early in the year, we have avoided some of the turmoil visited upon a few other camps in the Texas Division. Also, with much appreciation going out to compatriot Tom Wilson for the production of our Texas Division challenge coins, we now have some respectable funds in the camp bank account which will greatly aid the camp going into 2014. My final report as Camp Commander to you will be issued in the December issue
of this newsletter.

Your Obt’ Servant,
Daryl Coleman, Commander
Rockwall Cavalry Camp