Our Member of the Year

We would like to extend a special congratulations to our 2010 member of the year: JEB Silver. He is more than deserving of this award. Thanks to everyone who made our annual Christmas banquet the huge success that it was!

Just a reminder, the Col. John B. Palmer Camp 1946’s annual Christmas banquet and awards program is tomorrow (Tuesday) evening – December 21, 2010. I hope you have your ticket! Southern Highland Brigade Commander Derrick Shipman will be speaking. We look forward to seeing you there!

Burnsville Christmas Parade

For the past nine years, the Col. John B. Palmer Camp and the Martha Reid Silver Confederate Memorial Association have participated in the Burnsville Christmas Parade. And, much like today, it is usually cold. Frequently, the groups head over to the Bakersville parade, but this year, it was cancelled. We hope you enjoyed the group’s float this year.

Home school days

On October 30, the Col. John B. Palmer Camp 1946 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Martha Reid Silver Confederate Memorial Association set up a living history for home school families in Yancey County. We had a chance to move over 80 people through stations on local history, common soldiers, firearms, children’s toys, cooking, and care packages, along with artillery. Everyone had a great time! Make sure to check out our flickr account for more photos.

Burnsville Old Timey Days

For the past several years, members of Camp 1946 have gathered on the square for the annual Burnsville Old Timey Days. It is a great time to talk with old friends, meet new folks with information about our area, and who are interested in the Sons of Confederate Veterans. We’ve posted a few photographs on our flickr account – check it out on the left.

Helping a worthy cause

This past Tuesday, members of the Palmer Camp and the Silver Association gathered to hear Skip Smith of the 26th North Carolina Troops, Reactivated, speak on the plight of captured and surrendered Confederate battle flags. The presentation was spectacular, and at its end, both groups donated $200 to the current effort to preserve the flag of the 16th North Carolina Troops captured at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. Company C of the 16th North Carolina Troops hailed from Yancey County.

In the picture above, from left to right, are Mike Ledford, Amanda Ledford, and Skip Smith.

September Meeting

Everyone is invited to join us tomorrow evening, at 6:30 pm, for the monthly meeting of the Col. John B. Palmer Camp 1946, Sons of Confederate Veterans. We meet at the Towncenter in beautiful downtown Burnsville.


This month, our special speaker is Col. Skip Smith, commander of the 26th North Carolina Troops, Reactivated. Smith will be speaking on the Returned Battle flags. I’m sure there will some discussion of flags (like those of the 16th NSCT and 58th NCT) for whose preservation the 26th NCT Reactivated has raised funds.

Once again, everyone is invited. We look forward to seeing you there.

Gouge Cemetery - Mitchell County

A couple of weeks ago, members of the Col. John B. Palmer Camp 1946, Sons of Confederate Veterans, had a chance to participate in a Confederate Iron Cross dedication at the Gouge Cemetery in Mitchell County. Garrett D. Gouge was a private in Company K of the 58th North Carolina Troops. He left many remarkable pieces of his war-time experiences, including a jacket which is now at the Greensboro Historical Museum, and a set of letters that detail his experiences during the war. It is an honor to participate in such events that preserve our history.

Mitchell County Confederate Monument

Good news! On Monday evening, the Mitchell County Historic Courthouse Board of Directors voted to allow the Colonel John B. Palmer Camp 1946, Sons of Confederate Veterans, to place a Confederate monument on the grounds of the Historic Mitchell County Courthouse in downtown Bakersville. The Commission recently finished restoring the courthouse to house the offices of the Mitchell County Historical Society, and to provide a community meeting place. The Colonel John B. Palmer Camp of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans has already raised the $5,000 needed for the monument, and we are already planning the dedication ceremony for next May. This is the second Confederate monument that Camp 1946 has erected. The first, located on the grounds of the Yancey County Court House in Burnsville, was dedicated last year.

A special thank you to everyone who made this dream happen.

What a year...

Recently, Camp 1946 had to complete its year-end report - what a year!! You can see below that Camp 1946 is one of the busiest Camps in all of the North Carolina division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. If you are not a member, please consider joining today.

3 days resetting stones in the Old Bakersville Cemetery (Mitchell County)
1 Confederate monument Dedication (Yancey County)
5 Living Histories
1 County Fair (Yancey County)
3 Confederate Headstones (Buncombe & Mitchell Counties)
Camp field trip to CW sites in Knoxville, TN
Completed restoration of the Hill Cemetery (Mitchell County)
3 Civil War roundtables (Avery, Mitchell & Yancey Counties)
Completed fence around Zion Cemetery (adopted by camp, Yancey County)2 School programs (Avery & Mitchell Counties)
1 Find your Confederate Ancestor Day (Mitchell County)
2 Confederate Memorial Day services Mitchell & Yancey Counties)
Placed 450 flags in observance of Confederate Memorial Day (Avery, Mitchell & Yancey Counties)
Had a float in 2 Christmas parades (Mitchell & Yancey Counties)
Reached our fundraising goal of $5000.00 for the purchase of a Confederate Veterans Monument for Mitchell County.
Meet with the county commissioners from Mitchell County (concerning placement of Mitchell monument).
Adopt a Highway 4 trash pick ups.

Two upcoming events.

Monday, August 16, Dr. Michele Gillespie, from Wake Forest University, will be speaking on reconstruction in the Appalachian Mountains. She will be the featured speaker of the Mitchell County Historical Society. The meeting will take place at 7:00 pm at the Old Bakersville Courthouse.

The monthly meeting of the Col. John B. Palmer Camp 1946, Sons of Confederate Veterans, will be on Tuesday, August 17, at the Burnsville Towncenter. Speaking this month is Dan Slagle, and his topic is on the Shelton Laurel Massacre. Everyone is invited. Dinner begins at 6:30 pm.

We hope to see you there and make sure to bring a friend.

Come check out the Col. John B. Palmer Camp 1946’s display at the Burnsville Craft Fair, August 6 and 7, 2010.

The Col. John B. Palmer Camp 1946 had a great meeting last night. New member Greg Robinson was sworn in, and the Rev. Stephen Honeycutt stepped in to fill the role of chaplain. (In the picture above, Greg is on the right and Stephen is on the left). Elizabeth Hardy did a great presentation on what people were reading during the mid-19th century.

If you get a chance, make sure you join us for our August meeting. Skip Smith, colonel of the 26th North Carolina, will be speaking on efforts to raise funds to preserve the flag of the 16th North Carolina State Troops.

Camp Van

Have you seen the Colonel Palmer Camp Van? Thanks to Camp Adjutant Robert Morgan, the van has a new grill, new brakes, a bath, and a wax job! Thanks Adjutant Morgan!!!

Compatriot Michael Dowling

We are saddened to report the death of our friend and compatriot Michael Dowling. He passed on to the other side this morning (Sunday, June 27, 2010). He was a United States Marine Corps Veteran (Vietnam), and past Adjutant of the Col. John B. Palmer Camp 1946, Sons of Confederate Veterans. We will miss Mike greatly. It just seems like yesterday that he was joining us to place the stone for Sergeant Rumples in Buncombe County. Details of his forthcoming memorial service will be announced once they become available.

You can help save land at Bentonville

As many of you know, there are several key events during the war which are connected with North Carolina, i.e., the 26th North Carolina Troops at the battle of Gettysburg. Another of those key events is the last large battle of the war: Bentonville. Yesterday, an email from the Civil War Preservation Trust went out, announcing a new effort to save land at Bentonville. The email, and subsequent press release, read in part:

Today, we are announcing a new campaign to save 240 acres of this remarkable Civil War battlefield – the opening effort of a larger campaign to save 455 battlefield acres in North Carolina. These 240 acres, in four different parcels, will bring the total saved by CWPT at Bentonville to 1,142 acres! Even better, CWPT has secured a tremendous matching that will double the giving power of every dollar you donate to this campaign.

You can learn more (and donate) by checking out this web page here.

The Civil War Preservation Trust has even put up a gallery of flags used by the soldiers (Gray and Blue) at the battle of Bentonville. You can check that out here. Part of the page includes the image of the flag of the 40th North Carolina Troops.

There were quite a few soldiers from the Toe River Valley (mostly in the 58th North Carolina Troops ) at Bentonville.

Confederate Memorial Day Activities

On May 8, members of the Colonel John B. Palmer Camp 1946, Sons of Confederate Veterans, gathered to celebrate North Carolina’s Confederate Memorial Day. As in years past, members of the Camp met in front of the courthouse, where the Confederate National flag was run up. Next, the names of Yancey County’s Confederate dead were read, and then three volleys were fired in honor of the more than 1,000 men from Yancey County who served in the Confederate army.

After brunch, members of the Camp headed to the historic Bakersville Court House. From noon until 4:00 pm, a “Find Your Confederate Ancestor” program was held, and several individuals stopped by to chat or have us look up someone. Following this event, several members of the camp journeyed to the Green Cemetery in Northern Mitchell County to place two Veterans’ Administration markers on Confederate graves. One was for Jackson Stewart of the 58th NCT, who was also Mitchell County’s first sheriff. The other was a centotaph for Jasper Stewart, who was killed in action at Kolb’s Farm in 1864.

Finally, members of Camp 1946 gathered in the old Bakersville Cemetery for a candlelight service. There are ten Confederate soldiers buried at old Bakersville Cemetery. The event was well attended and we were happy to see some old friends and to make some new ones. As an added bonus, Jan and Randy Stewart brought their cannon and added three rounds of artillery fire to the rifled-muskets.

Overall, we had a great weekend, recruited some new members, and honored our Confederate ancestors.

Make sure you check out our Flickr account for more photographs.

For the past three or four weeks, members of the Col. Palmer Camp have been out placing flags on the graves of Confederate soldiers in the cemeteries of the Toe River Valley. This year, as in years past, the camp has placed about four hundred flags in Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery Counties. We added some new cemeteries this year and found some new graves. In Northern Yancey County, we were able to document the graves of these soldiers:

John Taylor Beaver, Company C, 58th North Carolina Troops
Jerry M. Ferguson, Company B, 29th North Carolina Troops
John W. Wilhite, Company D, 7th North Carolina Cavalry
Henry Howard, Company G, 29th North Carolina Troops
John H. Tomberlin, Company K, 50th North Carolina Troops
Charles Sconce, Company G, 32nd North Carolina Troops

We also found several others in Northern Mitchell County that we are currently looking into.

The Colonel Palmer Camp will be very busy this Saturday with programs in Yancey County at 9:00 am, Bakersville at 12:00 pm, and the old Bakersville Cemetery at 8:00 pm. We hope to see you there.

The picture on the page is that of members of the Colonel Palmer Camp at the grave of John Houston in the Henson’s Creek Cemetery in Avery County.

Upcoming Confederate Memorial Day Activities

Upcoming Confederate Memorial Day Activities

Saturday, May 8, 2010

9:00 Memorial Service on the grounds of the Court House in Burnsville, Yancey County.

12:00 – 4:00 pm Find Your Confederate Ancestor Day at the old Bakersville Court House, Mitchell County.

8:00 pm Candlelight service, old Bakersville Cemetery, Mitchell County.
All events are free and everyone is invited.

Camp Workdays

Compatriots – Camp workday, tomorrow evening – at the Bailey Cemetery.

Also, this Saturday, all over Mitchell and Yancey Counties, to put up flags. Come out and help us honor our Confederate Veterans.

Welcome Dan!

Camp 1946 welcome’s its newest member, Dan McKinney.

Col. William B. Creasman

Since our program this month is on the life of Col. William B. Creasman of the 29th North Carolina Troops, we thought we would continue our look at the life of the Toe River Valley’s high ranking Confederate soldiers. As you might remember, Lt. Col. Samuel Silver of the 58th NCT was our first soldier we examined.

William Burton CREASMAN was born in 1825 in North Carolina, probably in that part of Buncombe County which today is Yancey County. Creasman married 6 April 1848 Joyce Caroline WHEELER, daughter of John WHEELER and Rhoda RAY. They would have eleven children. In 1857, William Creasman was one of the men who helped retrieve Dr. Elisha Mitchell’s body off the mountain after he had fallen to his death. In June and July 1861, Creasman recruited what became known as Company B, 29th North Carolina Troops. He was elected captain on July 3, 1861. Creasman was promoted to major on June 26, 1862; lieutenant colonel, March 16, 1863; and on September 8, 1863, to colonel of the 29th North Carolina Troops. It is believed that Creasman spent a fair deal of time on courts-martial duty in Asheville in 1864. He resigned on or about December 29, 1864, for unknown reasons. Prior to the war, he was a farmer and cabinet maker. After the war, he moved to Buncombe County, where he died on July 9, 1869. His last child, Alice Burton Creasman, was not born until November of that year. Creasman is buried in the Bethel Baptist Church in Buncombe County.

One of Creasman’s great, great, grandsons will be speaking at our meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, at our regular meeting. Everyone is invited to attend.

Your are invited to join us this Saturday

April 17, 2010

For a walking tour of
Civil War Era

Burnsville

We will meet at 1:00 pm
on the green in front of the library.
This event is FREE and everyone is invited.

Camp workday – Old Zion Church Cemetery.

Compatriots – we will meeting this Saturday (April 3, 2010) at the Old Zion Church Cemetery. We hope to get the fence finished.

Stone for Robert A. Rumples

Members of Camp 1946 recently joined with members of the Zebulon Baird Vance Camp 15 out of Asheville to place a stone for Robert A. Rumples of the 29th North Carolina Troops. Rumples is buried in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

According to the Troop books, Rumples resided in Yancey County where he enlisted at the age of 28 on July 3, 1861. He was mustered in as a private in Company B, 29th North Carolina Troops. Rumples was promoted to sergeant on May 2, 1862, and was reduced back to the rank of private prior to March 31, 1864. He was last reported on the records of his company on December 19, 1864 (the records of the 29th NCT are woefully incomplete).

Rumples was the brother-in-law to another Yancey County Confederate: William B. Creasman, who served as colonel of the 29th North Carolina from September 18, 1863 to December 29, 1864. Creasman is buried just a few feet from Rumples.

Check out our flickr account for a few more photos.

Workday this Saturday

Work day this Saturday – we are meeting at Hardees in Burnsville at 10:00 am, and will then be traveling to Asheville to place the tombstone for Sgt. Rumples of the 29th NCT at the Bethel Baptist Church. We hope to see you there.

Upcoming events

We have a lot of exciting events coming up in the near future and we look forward in seeing you there.

On April 17, we are sponsoring a program entitled “The Civil War in Burnsville: A Walking Tour.” Join members of the camp at 1:00 pm as we explore downtown Burnsville and its role during the War, including the April 1864 Burnsville Raid.

This spring, members of the Camp will gather to place flags on the graves of Confederate soldiers in the Toe River Valley. North Carolinians have been decorating the graves of Confederate soldiers since 1867, and Confederate Memorial Day is a state holiday.

On May 8, the public is invited to participate in a host of events to commemorate Confederate Memorial day. There will be a public service on the grounds of the Yancey County Court House in the morning, followed by a Find Your Confederate Ancestor program in Bakersville. That evening, there will be a candlelight service at the old Bakersville Cemetery.

On May 29 we are planning to day trip to Knoxville to explore War Between the States sites. More details on this will follow soon.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Colonel John B. Palmer Camp 1946 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will be on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at the Towncenter in beautiful downtown Burnsville. We meet at 6:30 pm. Cmd. Joel Fesperman from Stanley County will be speaking. David Long, who is selling off part of his War Between the States library, will be present – bring your check books and a friend.

29th NCT at the battle of Allatoona, GA

There were approximately 514 men from the Toe River Valley who served in the 29th North Carolina Troops. One of their major efforts during the war was at the battle of Allatoona, Georgia, in October 1864. There is currently an effort underway to erect a monument to the 29th NCT and its sister regiment, the 39th NCT, on the Allatoona battlefield. Below is the after action report of the 29th NCT’s commander, Maj. Ezekiel H. Hampton.

Report of Major Ezekiel H. Hampton, Twenty Ninth North Carolina Infantry, Ector’s brigade.
Headquarters Twenty Ninth North Carolina Infantry Regiment Tuscumbia, Ala., November 1, 1864

Sir: My regiment was formed on the left of Young’s brigade on the 5th of October, at 9 a.m., ready for the action at Allatoona. At 10 a.m. we were ordered forward upon the enemy. My regiment moved forward as a unit through the timber, which was very thick. The enemy were meanwhile pouring a heavy fire into our ranks. My regiment had to advance through the forest farther than the other regiments of the brigade, and not being able to see the brigade got separated from and in advance of the brigade. Upon arriving to where the timber was all felled I saw my regiment was separated from the other regiments, and being exposed to heavy fire from the enemy, and supposing the remainder of the brigade to be in advance, I ordered my regiment forward at the double quick to within forty feet of the enemy’s outer works, where I halted, ordered the men to lie down, rest and load. After resting from three to five minutes, I ordered my regiment forward. The order was promptly obeyed. They moved into the enemy’s works, where they had a hand to hand encounter with sword, bayonet, butt of muskets, rocks, &c., killing a good many and capturing 25 or 30 prisoners and the enemy’s entrenchments; thence the regiment moved forward to within twenty yards of the foe’s last and strong fort, where they remained contending with the enemy until with drawn by order of Major General French, when they fell back in good order.

I took 138 aggregate into action and came out minus 12 killed and 39 wounded, and 3 missing.

All honor is due my regiment, both officers and men, for their promptness in obedience to orders and their gallantry on the field. And although every man did his duty, I must speak of the conduct of Sgt. John Rich. Lieutenant Alexander, and Sgt W.J. Parker. Sergeant Rich was carrying the colors in front of the regiment crying "come ahead boy’s" when he was severely wounded and fell. The colors were scarcely to the ground before they were hoisted by Lieutenant E.B. Alexander, commanding Company C. He threw them to the breeze saying "come on, my brave boy’s!" but he did not get more than fifteen paces before he was killed. Sergeant Parker of Company F, took up the colors and again threw them to the breeze, and carried them to and planted them on the enemy’s inner works. Here he was severely wounded in the face. He then took up the flag, captured a fine horse, and came out with flag, horse, and his first Lieutenant, who was severely wounded in the leg.

Very respectfully submitted by your obedient servant, E.H. Hampton Major, Commanding Twenty-ninth North Carolina Regiment.

Field and Staff Major Ezekiel H. Hampton was from the Jacks Creek Section of Yancey County. He had previously served as Captain of Company G. Appointed Major on August 15, 1864, to rank from March 16, 1863.

Color Sgt. John R. Rich: Born in Buncombe County where he resided prior to enlisting at age 19, August 6, 1861. Mustered in as Color Sergeant. Appointed Ensign (1st Lieutenant ) on October 28, 1864 to rank from September 24, 1864. Took the oath of Allegiance at Waynesville on May 1, 1865

Company A Cherokee County
Pvt. James M. Brown - Captured 10/5/ 1864
Pvt. James A. Payne - Captured 10/5/1864

Company B Yancey County
Pvt. William A. Cody - NC pension records indicate he was wounded 10/4/1864

Company C Buncombe County
1st. Lt. Erasmus B. Alexander - Killed in action at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864
Pvt. William J. Gudger - NC pension records indicate he was wounded at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864

Company D Madison County
No men reported killed or wounded at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864

Company E Haywood County
Pvt. Aseph W. Allison - Mortally wounded 10/5/1864
Pvt. Rueben Beasley - Last reported in the records of this company on 10/3/1864

Company F Jackson County
Capt. James L. Conley - Killed in action 10/5/1864
Sgt. William J. Parker - Wounded at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864

Company G Yancey County
Pvt. Robert Edwards - NC widows pension states he was killed in action at Altoona, GA on 10/5/1864
Pvt. John B. Heath - Captured 10/5/1864

Company H Buncombe County
Pvt. Calvin Robinson - Captured 10/5/1864

Company I Mitchell County
Pvt. Emmanuel M. Rose - NC pension application indicates he was wounded in the right thigh at Altoona, GA in October 1864
Pvt. William Young - NC pension records indicate he was wounded in the right arm 10/5/1864

Company K Yancey County
Sgt. Newton A. McIntosh - Wounded in the right arm and breast 10/5/1864
Pvt. Albert McIntosh – captured.

Workday

The workday at the Old Zion Church Cemetery on Saturday, February 27, has been cancelled due to the weather. We will reschedule this for a later date.

Looking for these soldiers.

All of these men were from the Toe River Valley area and served in Company B, 29th North Carolina Troops. A few transferred to Company K. If you know where any of these men are buried, please drop us line.

Thomas Calloway Pvt.
John L. Case Pvt.
Thomas Elkins Pvt.
Mark England Pvt.
Allen Fender Pvt.
Isaham Fender Pvt.
Samuel Grant Pvt.
James Greene Pvt.
James W. Harris Pvt.
Nathan M. Harris Pvt.
Nelson Harris Pvt.
Thomas D. Harris Pvt.
W.A. Harris Pvt.
Abram Hensley Pvt.
Andrew J. Hensley Pvt.
Bacchus S. Hensley 2Lt.
G.M Hensley Pvt.
Howard Hensley Pvt.
James B. Hensley Pvt.
Jesse Hensley Pvt.
John A. Hensley Pvt.
Lewis W. Hensley Pvt.
Silas Hensley Pvt.
W.M. Hicks Pvt.
William Hubbard Pvt.
D. V. Hunter Pvt.
D.M. Ingle Pvt.
A.L Johnson Pvt.
Emory Jones Pvt.
James B. Kaiser Pvt.
James W. Kendrick Pvt.
Robert E. King Pvt

Lt. Col. Samuel M. SIlver

Sometimes, you just can’t believe what you read. A few months back, I had a discussion with someone at one of our local historical festivals, involving who commanded the 58th NCT during the battle of Bentonville. Standing on the square in the town of Burnsville, without any notes, I was quite certain that it was Maj. G. W. F. Harper. My friend was sure he had read it was Lt. Col. Samuel M. Silver. I now understand where my friend got his information.

Samuel Marion Silver was born on December 30, 1833, in present-day Mitchell County. He enlisted in Capt. John Keener’s Company on June 25, 1862. Keener’s company became Company K of the 58th North Carolina Troops on July 29, 1862. Silver rose through the ranks, being elected a lieutenant, and when Keener was promoted, Captain, of Company K.

In 1864, with a high rate of attrition of field officers in the 58th NCT, the position of Major was open. Colonel Palmer, who was no longer assigned to the regiment, but remained its colonel, recommended Captain Silver. One of Silver’s fellow line officers, Captain A. T. Stewart (Company E), believed that the promotion should be his. Stewart would get the promotion, but was killed on August 31, 1864, at the battle of Jonesboro. Silver was promoted to lieutenant colonel on October 29, 1864, and commanded the 58th North Carolina Troops. He served in this position un March 16, 1865, when he submitted his resignation, claiming that he was “sufficiently educated to perform the executive duties of the office” he had, and that the situation of his family in western North Carolina, subjected to “tories and deserters,” necessitated his presence. Interestingly, Silver’s application was rejected. However, he had left the regiment.

In 1901, in response to a query for histories of various regiments, Isaac Bailey, a former Captain of Company B, sent in some notes, mostly about the battle of Chickamauga. Bailey was wounded during the battle of Chickamauga and would eventually retire. He was not present during the battle of Bentonville. Concerning the battle, Bailey wrote: “On 19-21 March at Bentonville, the last battle ever fought by our war-worn soldiers, [the 58th NCT] was a part of General Jos. B, Palmer’s Brigade and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Silver, fought with accustomed valor. (Clark’s NC Troops)

However, this is not what those who participated in the battle wrote. On March 29, 1865, just a few days after the battle, Brig. Gen. Joseph Palmer praised the 58th NCT, writing that “Capt. G. W. F. Harper, commanding Fifty-eighth North Carolina… handled [his] command with ability and bore [himself] handsomely through the day…” (Official Records, vol. 47, pt. 1:1101) One of the first things you are taught regarding historical research, is to put more credence in what was written at the time, not what was written forty years later by someone who was not there.

Following the War, Samuel Silver moved around. He lived in Mitchell County and McDowell Count; he then went to Texas, and finally settled in Oregon where he died in 1922.

Congrats to our newest member, Compatriot James Street.