SUVCW-L Archives

Archiver > SUVCW > 2008-06 > 1212522966


From: "gdy2shosflthybst" <>
Subject: Re: [SUVCW] giant confederate flag in the news
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 15:56:06 -0400
References: <cf9.3553cb4f.3575ef0f@aol.com><3dace140806021817l3f0e00e0w4fbd62c7c950125e@mail.gmail.com>


While I support the resolution and order to support the display of the
confederate flag and confederate monuments I would also state most
emphatically that we do not have to tolerate the distortion of our history
or the Union soldier's and sailor's role in it.

What I have discovered here in the South is that there are actually two
factions withing the SCV and that , ironically, the SCV seems to be at war
with itself. There are what I will call the preservationists and historians
who are interested in an open debate about the war and cooperate with us on
a regular basis. Then there are the militants who seem to have S.D. Lee's
charge branded on their hearts and actively seek to distort history either
intentionally or through ignorance. Those are the ones we need to be wary
of! They are the ones who perpetuate the myth of the lost cause so carefully
crafted by Jeff Davis and other former confederate leaders seemingly from
the moment the war ended.

This myth has caused a lot of unfortunate lessons to be foisted on an
unsuspecting student population and even visitors to historic sites. I can
list three from people who purported to be experts here in Georgia: 1.
Andersonville wasn't so bad, it was just a system that went wrong. 2. The
Yankess got whipped at Resaca ( It was actually Johnston who quit the field
on the second day)3. The Battle of Picketts Mill was a decisive Confederate
victory that almost casued Sherman to abandon the Atlanta Campaign! (
Sherman didn't even mention the battle in his official report and Thomas
only spent four lines on the subject).

So yes, I agree we need to reach out to the reasonable men of the SCV, some
of whom I count among brothers of my Department, but we must be ever
vigilant against that militant class who seek to justify the lost casue
through distortion and outright lies.

DC Eric Peterson
Dept of Georgia and South Carolina
----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug McMillin" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 9:17 PM
Subject: Re: [SUVCW] giant confederate flag in the news


> Wow,
>
> Gotta love these discussions. sort of a "light fuse and stand back"
> thing.
> lol. while we discuss this subject we should remember past CnC Danny
> Wheeler's general order #14 on this subject. Here is the link.
> http://suvcw.org/go/go14-99.htm
> I agree we need to be active in promoting true history and am all for
> going
> full bore with the missions of the GAR, but at the same time we have a
> very
> delicate tap dance to do with our confederate cousins. Estranged though
> they seem to wish to remain. Our two orders truly need each other. it is
> a
> relationship in blood spilled and forged by the fires of war. We may not
> agree with them on all things, but we are two sides of the same event in
> history. If the truth of that history is to be preserved we must remember
> that both sides of the issue need to be explored fairly and accurately.
> The
> question seems to be how to do that effectively.
>
> Doug
>
> On 6/2/08, <> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Brother Peterson,
>>
>> You have selected an excellent general for portraying... plenty of
>> discussion to follow with such a portrayal, I am sure. While I haven't
>> portrayed
>> anyone at a high level, I am rather proud of my Southern kin (in Va.,
>> Md.,
>> & Ky)
>> who opted against CS service and either upheld their views as civilian
>> Unionists and/or joined the Union army. Talk about courage. I'll have to
>> look up the
>> statement made by David Hunter Strother on such things - as a Virginian,
>> he
>> felt like the only sane man in a house of insanity when the secesh
>> started
>> (he
>> also thought that the system did an excellent job in trying John Brown -
>> he
>> was a "system man" and believed that the same should have held true
>> before
>> the secesh crisis took over in Va.) Also, ever hear about some of the
>> men
>> in
>> the 27th Ky infantry fighting through Confederate lines just to enlist?
>> Quite
>> the story.
>>
>> Robert Moore
>> CC, Camp #1881
>> PI, Dept. of Md.
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 6/2/2008 8:22:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>> writes:
>>
>> Good thoughts from Brother Beard.
>>
>> I spend a lot of my time portraying General Thomas at re-enactmenst and
>> its'
>> become both amusing and sad to note the number of people who call
>> General
>> Thomas a traitor for fighting for the Union becasue he was a Virginian
>> by
>> birth. General Thomas also realized that he was an American by birth
>> too,
>> and that had to take precedence over his State loyalty.
>>
>> You should see the shocked looks on their faces when I remain in first
>> person and give them an assessment of General Lee as the most gifted
>> traitor
>> the rebels had. I then go on to explain that Lee took an oath to defend
>> the
>> United States against ALL enemies when he accepted a US Army commission
>> and
>> then betrayed that oath in accepting a commission in the confederate
>> army.
>> General Thomas thought that oath as a gentleman and a patriot should
>> count
>> for something.
>>
>> Mr. Beard is right. We need to call the SCV on their distortions. I
>> think
>> its fine for them to remember their rebel ancestors but they need to
>> admit
>> that their cause was one of the worst for which any people ever took up
>> arms.
>>
>> Dept Commander Eric Peterson
>> Dept of Georgia and South Carolina
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with
>> Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
>> (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?&NCID=aolfod00030000000002)
>> The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) list received the
>> blessing of National in July 2007. It was established in January 2007
>> to
>> assist in disseminating information and seeking assistance to members,
>> associates, and potential members who have an interest in the SUVCW, GAR,
>> the people and events of the period of the War Between the States.
>>
>> The opinions expressed and information provided in messages are those of
>> individuals and are not necessarily the official opinions, views or
>> beliefs
>> of any Camp, Department or National SUVCW.
>> -------------------------------
>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
>> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes
>> in the subject and the body of the message
>>
> The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) list received the
> blessing of National in July 2007. It was established in January 2007 to
> assist in disseminating information and seeking assistance to members,
> associates, and potential members who have an interest in the SUVCW, GAR,
> the people and events of the period of the War Between the States.
>
> The opinions expressed and information provided in messages are those of
> individuals and are not necessarily the official opinions, views or
> beliefs of any Camp, Department or National SUVCW.
> -------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes
> in the subject and the body of the message

This thread: