RE Lee Camp #1

ARTILLERY PIECES - Cover the landscape and grounds of the Soldiers' Home, and in many photos of the soldiers on the grounds, there's an artillery piece close by. The Charleston Cannon, looks to be a Rodman Naval cannon, and once at the front door several paces away was moved a few years ago to the front and side area of the Confederate Memorial Chapel

The historical marker on the Charleston Cannon is the "R. E. Lee Camp Confederate Memorial Park", and as it was located in front of the Soldiers' Home (Robinson House) - that was a very clear statement that the "R. E. Lee Camp Confederate Memorial Park" was located all the way down to the grounds of the Virginia Historical Society. The project of restoration of this Charleston cannon should be undertaken by the Museum and the Commonweal...th, as it is a historic treasure that needs to be preserved.

The artillery pieces in front of the UDC and in back have recently been restored, and in my opinion, the grounds of the R. E. Lee Camp Confederate Memorial Park need some artillery pieces laid out for the children and adults to come take a look at, and they need an understanding of what these grounds were about. An artillery piece, so loved by those Confederate Veterans, would be a perfect item to have placed and identified, for interpretation by all visitors to the grounds. It would then be part of the wishes and thoughts of those Confederate Veterans of the R. E. Lee Camp No. 1 C.V., who provided a Grant Deed to the Virginia Arts Association in exchange for a "Contractual Promise".

(My Great Grand Dad, had need of the services rendered at the Home in his final years. He was a member of The Richmond Howitzers 1st Company).

Special thanks to Bobby Edwards for allowing me to use this post !

This should be mandatory !

Way too many Yankees moving south that are unregistered !
This card should be made MANDATORY !

Y'all have a nice day!

Paranoia ?

That's not the only thing Abe did Backwards !

Yankees BEWARE !

Yankees' HERE ? NOT ON MY WATCH !

Just Looking For The Truth !

I have looked for years for this information, I found it this morning! For the longest time I heard about it but could never find out anything! So I didn't think it was true! HOWEVER---

The First Company Richmond Howitzers-------

"John Parker, a slave from King and Queen County, was employed as a laborer on breastworks and artillery batteries near Richmond, but when the Union army began its advance on Manassas, the Confederate military ordered all colored people must come and fight. Arriving two days before the battle, Parker and four other slaves were assigned to a battery after a brief stint of training. He and his fellow slaves, as Gun Battery no.2, opened fire at 10.00 A.M. that fateful morning with grapeshot, and Parker quickly had his hands full handling ammunition, swabbing the cannon, and staying alive."

( Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia, by Ervin L Jordan)

Intersting stuff for a descendent of two Richmond Howitzers.

Add the above find to ---‎

"Federal Official Records, Series 1, Volume 4, p.569 - Report of Colonel John W. Phelps, First Vermont Infantry:

"CAMP BUTLER, Newport News, Va., August 1 I, 186I - SIR: Scouts from this post represent the enemy as having retired. they came to New Market Bridge on Wednesday, and left the next day. They-the enemy-talked of having 9,000 men. They were recalled by dispatches from Richmond. They had twenty pieces of artillery, among which was the Richmond Howitzer Battery, manned by negroes. . . Their numbers are probably overrated; but with regard to their artillery, and its being manned in part by negroes, I think the report is probably correct."

I have searched through Howitzer records, Letters from my Ancestors, just about every source I could find. I'm not 100% convinced that the Howitzers had Black Men at the cannons.

But the evidence is adding up.

It don't matter in the grand scheem of things one way or the other. Sure it would be cool if it's true, but that is the paramount factor / " THE TRUTH" !

I will keep ya posted !

Battle Flag.

I support the Battle Flag of my great grand father to honor his courage.

He defended his home state of Virginia, for four years against an invading army!

He had broken no law. Instead he faced overwhelming forces, better armed, and vastly outnumbered! And kept them at bay for four years.

That is something worth honoring! And if "those people" can not understand that concept I do not know what else to say.The hate groups who have adopted the Battle Flag are out of my control, but the honor my ancestors deserve for their efforts will not be lost in the mist of time.

Dave Tatum.

Y'all Come!

My Friend Mike sent me an invitation !

Figgured I'd share it with Y'all !