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The Rifles Register

The Rifles Register Official Newsletter of Camp 1860 Company E Phillip’s Legion Blue Ridge Rifles, Sons of Confederate Veterans Volume 9, Number 9                                                                                   September 2009 www.scvcamp1860.org   Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans   “To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier’s good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you cherish.”   Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, Commander General United Confederate Veterans, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25, 1906     Compatriots,           August was a red letter month for Camp 1860. To start, on the 14th our Camp held a reception for the members of the Georgia Civil War Commission. We not only had a great turn out from our membership, but we also had Bill Scott, County Commissioner District One, Steve Proper, Director of Lumpkin County  Parks and Recreation, Mark French, Financial Manager for Lumpkin County and Jimmy Anderson of  the Lumpkin County Historical Society. The Commission was headed up that evening by Army of Tennessee Commander and financial officer for the Commission, Kelly Barrow. Commander Barrow spoke to the group and told us what the purpose of the Commission is and what its goals are for the upcoming Sesquicentennial celebration of the War Between the States.           Luke and Amy Stetson and I met the afternoon before the meeting to set up the room and luckily for us there was another meeting taking place that ran a bit over time, so we did not have to drag out the tables and chairs. OCR members Amy and Kelly set up the refreshments and served as hostesses for the event and did a great job. Thanks ladies. Adjutant Tom Garrett provided the chicken and other goodies.  All in all it was a great event and we were told that our camp had held the best reception given for the commission to date. Great job and another feather in the kepi of Camp 1860.           The next morning several of the Commission members along with Myself and Commissioner Scott met at the McDonald House. A tour was given and some of the history provided on both the property and Jesse McDonald.  The Commission members were impressed with the house and were very encouraging towards the project. I’ll have more information at the meeting. All then went to North Georgia College for the actual meeting. There were five of our members present, but sadly no County officials. Our Camp was once again given credit for the reception and it’s in their meeting minutes regarding the professional manner in which we conducted the reception. Those of us there learned a lot about the Commission and the challenges they face. Their budget has been cut, and they are working on alternative methods for funding. Hopefully they will be successful. The next six years could very well bring the Confederacy back into the consciousness of the public the same as the centennial celebration did on 1960.           That evening our Camp celebrated its ten year anniversary. Shane’s BBQ catered the meal and a great time was had by all. The local paper was represented and pictures were taken of the full membership along with a second shot of the remaining charter members. All of the remaining charter members were present except for Mike Freeman who could not get here from Virginia.                                                              The WP Price grave site project is almost completed. Several members met to put up the fence and we got down to the last corner when we discovered we had run out of fencing. Not sure if it was our measurements or the companies, but two panels we’ ordered and we should be able to get finished up by the Saturday after our next meeting unless something happens, like the weather. It looks great and as soon as we get finished we will start making plans to hold the iron cross ceremony and rededication. Expectation is early October. We’ll need at least 30 days prior for sending out pres releases. I’ve added a couple of pictures of what the sight looked like when we started and where it’s at now.                    Compatriots, the work that has been done is evident. Our camp has done a professional job of this project and all involved should be proud. With the Reception and the coverage we got from the paper on or 10th anniversary, along with the upcoming Price ceremony or Camp has had a great year, and it’s only September and there’s more to come. I’ll save that for the meeting. See you there.                                                          Deo Vindice,                                                          Timothy P Ragland, Commander .               Next Meeting September 2nd, 2009 Meeting at 7:30PM   “Any people, anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suites them better. This is a most valuable and most sacred right – a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world. Nor is this right confined to cases which the whole people of an existing government may choose to exercise it. Any portion of such people, that may revolutionize and make better their own of so many of the territory as they inhabit.”   Abraham Lincoln January 12, 1848