Brigade Structure:

Army of N. Virginia

Longstreets Corp.

Alexander’s Battallion

Lt. Colonel Phill Matteson

Major Craig McCann

Captain Mike Karnitz

NCOs:

1 First Sergeant

1 quartermaster Corporal

1 Corporals

Ordinance:

3 – 3" Light Artillery with Limbers

Phone Numbers:

Lt. Col. Phill Matteson-(716) 694-0947

Major Craig McCann-(585) 225-8984

$50.00 Family

Time to hibernate.

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Captains Corner: It has been a strange year for us. We had some major changes. We lost one gun then later reacquired it back when the new owners joined us. The major National event for the year, Gettysburg 140th, was postponed a month. This hurt everyone; we lost over half our people, because they couldn't change their schedules to make this event. We had some of our most loyal and dedicated members unable to attend events due to personal conflicts. All in all, we survived and actually grew.

Macedon
We fielded two guns and ran with short crews. Those that attended had a great time. The weather was typical for early September, warm days, cool nights.

Chickamauga and Franklin
This Event wasn't on our list of events for this year. The event was at Appamattox, Va. We had a couple of members attend. Lt. Col. Phill Matteson was Confederate Artillery Commander and 1st Sgt. Roland Meiers was brevetted Major and was Phill's Aide de Camp. Major McCann arrived on Sunday and helped out on the field.

Cedar Creek
After the rain stopped and it warmed up, it turned out to be a good event. We were tight in camping, as we were to represent the Union Army. They had room to the North and South of the artillery camp that could have been used to spread everyone out. We all survived so it couldn't have been that bad.

New Members
We have picked up new members to the unit and I wish to welcome them to our family. They are: Eric and Eileen Smith, They bring with them "Maryland" our third gun. Eileen's brother, Marty ? , Gordon and Rosemary Clifford, Sue Schulz , Amanda-Chris Chapman's girlfriend (my apologies to Marty and Amanda, I forgot their last names, C.R.S.)

On a sad note, we have lost two members. Barry Hoffman and Linda Maher have decided to move on. We wish them well.

Unit Meeting Date:
December 7th at 1:00 pm till 4:00 pm at the Brockport United Methodist Church.
We will be discussing the past year, our present situation and the coming year.
Please try to attend, as your presence is important to us all.

I have a few projects that I'm working on and hope to have finished by the start of next year. I'm working on a camp diagram and need to know your tent sizes and, if you use one, your fly size. What I'm planning to use this for is when we go to an event we can have a camp layout already in place before we arrive. This will help us keep the correct military set-up. We will not allow setting up your tent wherever you feel like it, as has been the case with a few members in the past. I will discuss this at the meeting. In other words officers in officer's row, the NCO's starting the street and then enlisted personnel. Flys will be encouraged to be set-up on the side of the tent unless we have the space in the street. My other project is to have a Manual for the NCOs. This manual will outline their duties, commands, and other information they need to know. The purpose of this is to get back to the military feel that we have lacked lately. I will expect that all NCOs be able to hold formation and march the unit to dress parades, the battlefield, or wherever with confidence.

We need to recruit, we have barely enough to man all our guns and I would like to get a fourth gun by 2005. This would make us a true Confederate Battery. I feel if we return to military protocol, stop internal problems and actively recruit we can achieve this goal. We have a great base to work with, we just need to be more committed. As I stated in the last newsletter there is a need for Section Leaders and NCOs. What we look for is ability and dedication. Both qualities are intertwined. I kept a record of attendance this year. The officer's attendance was 90%, NCO's attendance was 60% and the enlisted men's attendance was 36%. You will see a correlation between rank and attendance. The more events you attend, the more experience you get, the more experience you get, the more knowledge you acquire. With more knowledge and experience you become more reliable. I have seen people in our unit that have the skills to be an officer or NCO but lack the attendance aspect. It doesn't do us much good to have an officer or NCO that doesn't make events. We are an Artillery Unit and without each member present we cannot field our guns. It takes six members to field each gun and eight members to field a gun according to the 1860s guidelines. In the past we asked the Ladies or the officers or both to work on a crew. This is hard on the Ladies, as they also cook and it's an imposition on them. It keeps the officers from doing their duties. Some NCOs feel uncomfortable commanding an officer on the gun. We, the officers, don't feel right bumping an NCO off his position as gunner nor do we feel right working on a gun when we are needed at the command level. So the way to fix this dilemma is to get enough people in the unit to make the events. I know not everyone can make every event. If we had more people, there would be a better chance that enough would attend each event making it easier to field the guns with everyone keeping their positions in the unit. If we have full crews and extra members, we will find a useful duty for them. We could take hits, have cannon guards, etc. This is something for us all to work on for next year.

Here are some figures on the cost of running the unit:

We have 12 family and 2 single members. This equals $660.00 in membership dues.
We received $970.00 in Powder Bounties.
We received $1500.00 for Registrations.
 

We spent:$1302.00 on powder$1478.00 on Registrations
$867.38 on Misc.; Insurance, Longstreet's Corps dues, etc.

We fired 207 rounds and had 5 misfires. This cost us $1527.77.

Next year we should collect $660 for member's dues.
We will need to buy Primers (cost $.85/primer), we will need around 300, cost $255.00.
We will need to buy enough powder for three guns. The last time we fielded three active guns it cost us $2357.70 for 425 lbs. of powder. The cost per lb of powder is now $8.68 and may go up.

I estimate we will need in excess of 450 lbs. of powder this year for a cost of $3312.00, add the cost of Primers and we will spend an estimated $3567.00.

I expect to receive approximately $1825.00 in Powder Bounties (And

I heard that it cost more to field an infantry unit than an artillery unit). Does anyone know where we can get good quality powder cheaper?

A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS

All soldiers had their thoughts on family and friends at home. Whether he was in camp or at the front, memories of previous holidays with loved ones were foremost in thought and conversation.. His mind was on his family and what they were doing for the holidays. Remembering the decorating, the food, and the celebrations with family and neighbors helped a soldier to get through the holidays. Soldiers also played "Rounders" (baseball) and when permitted the Commissary supplied special meals. During the Battle of Fredricksburg in December of 1862, the First Lady Mrs. Lincoln raised funds plus donated food and alcohol from her personal stores at the White House for use in the hospitals in Washington City for the wounded soldiers "to brighten their day". She arranged for Christmas dinners of duck, turkey, chickens, ham and fresh apples to be delivered on Christmas Day and she even visited the hospitals to ensure that the unscrupulous Hospital Stewards did not get the best of the goodies.

Christmas trees (the first recorded as being set up in America was in Cleveland Ohio in 1851) were a part of the home front where decorations were homemade and very simple. Popcorn balls and strings of popcorn as well as dried fruits and nuts would be used. Some families may have had wax, paper, or spun glass ornaments. Colored ribbon and candles would have been used to help decorate the tree also. Handmade ornaments might be shaped like angels, doll faces, the Christ Child, and animals. Most trees would sit on a tabletop with unwrapped presents underneath. A bucket of water was nearby in case there was a fire from the candles on the tree. Candles could only be lit once and then for just a few minutes. A child would be responsible for watching for fire. Greenery such as pine, holly, ivy, fir, and mistletoe would be found throughout the house to add fragrance for the holidays.

It was only a matter of time before the Christmas tree made its way into military camps. Alfred Bellard of the 5th New Jersey camped along the lower Potomac River remarked:

Christmas carols were sung both at home and in the camps. Some of the most popular ones were "Silent Night," "Away in the Manger," "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," and "Deck the Halls". Singing made the soldiers homesick but it also helped them to feel connected to their loved ones. The song "Christmas Bells" written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was written during the Civil War. Two of the stanza’s were removed later because they related to the war.

By 1863, Santa Clause had difficulty reaching the Southern coasts due to blockades. With scarcity of goods and high prices for what was available, store-bought presents and materials for homemade gifts could not be afforded. Many children were told that even Santa Claus would not be able run the formidable blockade.

Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas of Augusta, Georgia, told how a simple act of faith on the part of her children caused her to dig deeper for a holiday offering on Christmas Eve:

"I have written so much that it is now after 9 o'clock and yet I have said nothing of Turner's and Mary Bell's party which we gave them last week in lieu of the Santa Claus presents. Mary Bell has been told that Santa Claus has not been able to run the blockade and has gone to war--Yet at this late hour when I went upstairs Thursday night of the party I found that the trusting faith of childhood they had hung their little socks and stockings in case Santa Claus did come. I had given the subject no thought whatever, but invoking Santa Claus aid I was enabled when their little eyes opened to enjoy their pleasure to find cake and money in their socks."

Santa Claus had a much easier time visiting northern homes. According to a letter Sarah Thetford sent to her brother George, "Santa arrived in here in Michigan dressed in a buffalo coat with presents fastened to his coat-tail...and a corn-popper on his back." She continued that she had "often heard Santa Claus described, but never before saw the old fellow in person."

Following General William T. Sherman's capture of Savannah, Georgia in 1864, about 90 Michigan men and their captain gave a token of charity to Southern civilians living outside the city. Christmas Day, the soldiers loaded several wagons full of food and other supplies and distributed the items about the ravaged Georgia countryside. The destitute Southerners thanked the jolly Union Santa Clauses as the wagons pulled away under the power of mules that had tree-branch "antlers" strapped to their heads to turn them into makeshift reindeer.

Today there are still many soldiers at the front that will be thinking about the holidays at home. And some of us may have family and friends that are away from home be it that they are in the service or just moved away from home. We will all be thinking of loved ones that we cannot share the holidays with. May peace and love fill their hearts as well as yours.  I know that I will be thinking of you all for the holidays and praying that you all will have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

The Civil War information above and the picture are all from research I have done on the web looking up "Civil War Christmas".

I am looking forward to seeing you all at the year end meeting. By the way, if you wish to, and have a holiday specialty snack you would like to share, please bring it to the December 7 meeting. We all know that we can’t go long with food and sharing with great friends makes it even more enjoyable.

Respectfully, Miss LuAnn

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battle-field, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WILLIAM H. SEWARD Source:

By the President: Secretary of State "The Official Records of the War of The Rebellion"

The Controversial General James Longstreet

Becoming part of the Bedford Light and BLA being a part of Longstreet's Corp only heightened my interest in James Longstreet, and the great controversy, which surrounds him after the war of northern aggression. I continued my research with a book entitled "The Confederacy's Most Controversial Soldier" by Jeffry Wert, and numerous other articles on Longstreet.  James Longstreet was a graduate of West Point Academy 1838-1842. He then served in the U.S. Army during and after the Mexican war 1846-1847. At the onset of the civil war his loyalties and blood ran deep to the south, therefore he resigned his US commission and offered his service to the Confederacy. He was raised in Georgia by an uncle but, his family was slaveholders in South Carolina. During the war he advocated freeing the slaves to fight for the south.

Early in the war Longsteet was made Corp commander of the First Corp. Thomas Stonewall Jackson was Second Corp Commander. Both were greatly admired and favored by Robert E. Lee. Although I believe there was rivalry between the two commanders.  I think Longstreet had a closer relationship with Joe Johnston than with Lee.
He was a frequent visitor, dinner companion, card partner, and drinking buddy with Johnston. Throughout the war Longstreet kept requesting to be allowed to join Johnston in the army of Tennessee. Joe Johnston was wounded in Virginia during the battle of Seven Pines. After Johnston's recovery Jeff Davis had him reassigned to lead the Army of Tennessee. There was also much controversy between Davis and Johnston that would start before the war and last long after the war. That controversy would reflect on decisions made by Davis regarding his handling of Longstreet. There was also controversy in Longstreets handling of orders given by Johnston at Seven pines regarding the movement of troops. That was one of Longstreet's black marks during the early part of the war. In general Longstreet was a very adaptable leader in a war that was unlike any previous war. Weapons progressed to fast for the times. Smooth bore as apposed to rifle bore cannons and musket's made old tactics out dated. I believe Longstreet proved himself to be a master in the art of changing war tactic's and strategy throughout the war.

Early in Fredericksburg, Chickamauga and later in the Wilderness his leadership proved to be devastating to Federal troops.  Longstreet and George Pickett's friendship was long lasting before and after the war. They served in the Mexican war together. Longstreet recommended Pickett for promotion to Brigadier General. After the battle of Fredericksburg Lee sent Longstreet to Richmond to confer with Davis. Longstreet with his wife and children stayed with Sallie Corbell - Pickett's lady friend. After Longstreet returned to his command, he was recalled to Richmond as all of his children had come down with scarlet fever. Three of the four died right away however, the forth, his eldest son, Garland hung on. Longstreet and his wife were so distraught they could neither arrange nor attend the funeral. Pickett and Sallie Corbell made all the arrangements and the children were buried in the city cemetery. Later in the war it was Longsteet that sent Pickett into the dreadful charge at Gettysburg.

Gettysburg - one of the other great controversies in Longstreets career. Both Longstreet and Jackson advised Lee not to go north to invade the United States They both felt it to risky because: 1. To be that far north away from a supply line and 2. Maybe leaving Richmond open to attack. Longstreet also advised Lee against Pickett's charge. Longstreet had been accused of moving slowly. I've often wondered if this was part of the reason Longstreet finally got his transfer to the Army of Tennessee in September '63. Maybe Longstreet and Lee had a major difference of opinion. I have never been able to find anything to support this but I have often wondered about it.

Longstreet went westward in September of 1863 just in time to walk into the middle of the battle of Chickamauga and becoming the hero of the battle. After the battle of Chickamauga Longstreet, General's Mc Claws, and Simon Buckner and others tried to have General Braxton Bragg removed from duty. Bragg being a very close friend of Jeff Davis, would not hear of it and this only caused Longstreet more problems. After that things started to slide for Longstreet in the west. To the point that in March of 1864 he asked to be removed from command. Davis refused saying he had no one better to replace him. Finally in April Lee requested Longstreet be returned to the Army of Northern Virginia. By this time Grant had taken overall command of the U.S. forces.  Longstreet and Grant had been long time friends before and after the war.  Grant arrived at West Point Academy in 1839, the year after Longstreet started.  In fact, Longstreet had attended Grant's wedding before the war.

Soon after returning east Longstreet was his old self again. His brilliant maneuvers in the Wilderness brought him back to his old fighting self . He was severally wounded during the battle by some of his own troops. Being shot in
through the shoulder and into his throat his men thought their great leader was dead. But he did eventually recover and returned to fight again. After the war Longstreet was shunned by many of his former comrades partly due to his criticism of Lee at Gettysburg. His ties to President Grant also caused him great controversy. He changed his political affiliation to the Republican Party thereby receiving numerous political appointments such as Ambassador to Turkey; appointments to several leading railroad positions and then becoming a member of Grant's cabinet.

On January 4,1904 James Longstreet died of pneumonia in Gainesville Georgia still defending his reputation and his loyalty to the south. Many of his fellow comrades attended the funeral and draped flags over his coffin. Two priests and Bishop Keiley, one of his old soldiers, conducted the services.  I feel history has dealt harshly with this great General as controversy still surrounds General James Longstreet even today.

Pvt. James Miller