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Camp Cresset Finley’s Brigade

Camp #1614

Havana, Florida

Recipient – 2011 and 2012 Dr. George R. Tabor “Most Distinguished Camp” Award

"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 also cherish."

Special Guest Speaker for Confederate Memorial Day Service at Soldiers Cemetery in Quincy, Florida April 11, 2015 at 3pm.

Miss Jessica Sizemore will be the Keynote Speaker at our

annual Confederate Memorial Day Service at Soldiers

Cemetery in Quincy. Miss Sizemore is the President

General of the Children of the Confederacy. Jessica has

addressed the Florida Division SCV Reunion, the National

SCV Reunions at Vicksburg and Richmond,

Sesquicentennial events in Franklin, TN and Marianna,

Florida and many more events across the Confederacy.

Miss Sizemore is an inspiration to all who meet her. Jessica

is the daughter of Mark and Donna Sizemore. Please plan

on attending or annual service at Soldiers Cemetery and

bring your children and grandchildren!

Soldiers Cemetery is a special place for Finley’s Brigade.

Once an abandoned cemetery in disrepair; it has been

made a place of honor and dignity, in respect of the

Confederate Veterans who perished in Quincy and

Gadsden County who are buried there. Restoration and

research still continues. We will see you there on the 11th.

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This Month’s meeting is dedicated to the honor and memory of:

Private William R Minton, Company B, Milton’s Florida Light Artillery

Camp Meeting April 14th

Re-enactor and Author Mark

Foor will be our guest speaker at

the April Camp meeting. Mark

has written a book entitled:

“Legacy of ‘the Cause’ an

alternative history novel of the

American Civil War”. Mark’s

book will be available for

purchase. Mark is a long-time re-

enactor known to many of our

members. Mark is from up-north

but resides in Tallahassee and is

employed by the State of Florida.

Mark says that he has been

known to sing “Dixie”! See you

there!

Confederate Memorial Day Service in

Crawfordville April 18

Finley’s Brigade Color Guard will be assisting the R. Don McLeod Chapter

of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in their annual Memorial

Service at Hudson Park in Crawfordville, Florida at 10:30am. Several

Heritage Groups will be represented and Finley’s Brigade is proud to be a

part of the service. The Keynote Speaker at the Memorial will be Lunelle

Siegel, Monuments and Memorial Markers Chairman of the Florida

Division United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Seating and shade will be available. Refreshments will be served

afterwards. All are welcome!

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Chaplains Comments - Mortality

Chaplain John Howell

What are your thoughts, impressions, or “feelings” when you think of your own mortality?

Are you sad, happy, excited, depressed, or maybe a little scared by these thoughts?

Have you ever faced a life/mortality threatening illness or disease; such as double pneumonia, cancer, or any other multiple physical event that can, and does occur in a lot of people? In this case, you will understand what I mean when I asked the question leading in to this article.

If you are living as the Bible prescribes, then I would say you should be excited to know that you are going home, a home prepared for you by your Savior. If you are harboring doubts, you will probably be depressed. This is caused by your uncertainty. In that case, perhaps you need to renew your commitment. This will help you regain your inner peace and this will make you happy and excited!

Now, here is the bottom line…REMEMBER THIS! GOD LOVES YOU! YOUR BROTHERS IN CHRIST LOVE YOU! WITH GOD AS YOUR GUIDE, YOUR PARTNER, YOUR CONFIDANT; YOU CANNOT LOSE! FOR IF GOD IS WITH YOU, WHO CAN BE AGAINST YOU?

GOD BLESS YOU

JOHN HOWELL, CHAPLAIN

FINLEY’S BRIGADE CAMP 1614

The Florida Veterans Hall of Fame

As you may have heard by now, the Florida Governor and his Cabinet have refused to approve the

induction of three Confederate heroes in the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. Graham and Libby Smith, along with Compatriot Dave Lang addressed the Cabinet on behalf of the Confederates and the Sons of

Confederate Veterans. The Cabinet’s reasoning for excluding General E. A. Perry, Sgt Samuel Pasco, and Colonel David Lang was a technicality in the statutes that voids pre-statehood veterans and Confederates.

Colonel Lang’s case is unique, in that he served as the Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard for

several years in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam tried to gain Colonel Lang’s admission in to the FVHF, based on his post-war service as the organizer of the Florida National Guard. However, Gov. Scott and others voted this down. Their reasoning was another technicality that

excludes National Guard and Reservist from being eligible. This ruling is being challenged and we anxiously await the outcome. We will keep you informed.

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Welcome Finley’s New Members!

Dale Cox joins Finley’s Brigade on the service of his ancestor, Private Joseph B. Cox of Captain Poe’s Company First Florida Reserves. Private Cox was at the Battle of Marianna and he was on the field at the Battle of Natural Bridge. Stephen Douglas Moon, Jr. joins Finley’s on the service of his ancestor, Captain Samuel Foster Rou who commanded Company F of the 2nd Florida Cavalry. As a lieutenant, he was involved the defense of Fernandina and Jacksonville. When promoted to Captain, his company was on duty at Gainesville, Station #4 FL Railroad, and Baldwin, Florida. Captain Rou was on the field at the Battle of Olustee. George Pridgeon joins Finley’s on the service of his ancestor, Private John Moore of the 20th Battalion Georgia Cavalry Company A (Millen’s Partisan Rangers). Millen’s Partisan Rangers served along the Georgia Coast until early 1864 when they were assigned to the Army of Northern Virginia. There they were in the Wilderness Campaign and battles around Cold Harbor, Reams Station, and the James River. Russell Pridgeon joins Finley’s on the service of his ancestor, Captain Quarterman B. Staten of the 50th Georgia Infantry Company G. The 50th Georgia were assigned to the Army of Northern Virginia where they participated in every campaign from Second Manassas to Appomattox Court House. 1LT Staten was elected Captain after the death of Captain O’Steen on Oct 25, 1862. He resigned his commission due to illness in March of 1863 but, was elected 2LT, then 1LT, and was appointed as Captain again on July 31, 1863. He was wounded at Cedar Creek, Virginia on October 19, 1864. Scott Sutton joins Finley’s on the service of his ancestor, 2nd Sgt Michael Henry Rou of Company F 2nd Florida Cavalry. Sgt Rou joined at Gainesville and served there and at Fowler’s Bluff, Camp Cooper, and Olustee. He was present on every roll and paroled at Baldwin, Florida on May 17, 1865. He is the younger brother of Captain S. J. Rou.

Confederate Memorial Day at Old City Cemetery in Tallahassee

The Anna Jackson Chapter 224 will be hosting its annual Confederate Memorial Day Service at 3pm on April 26, 2015. The service is held in the Confederate Section of the Old City Cemetery. Finley’s Brigade will be providing the Color Guard for the memorial. All are

welcome and encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

Photo left: Memorial Service in the Confederate Section of the cemetery. (early 1900’s)

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Commanders Comments

April is Confederate History month, and as you can see, Finley’s Brigade is going to be busy! This Saturday, April 4th will be our annual clean-up of Soldiers Cemetery in Quincy. Click on link for directions:

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMBT46_Soldiers_Cemetery_Quincy_FL April 11th at 3pm will be our Annual Confederate Memorial Day service at Soldiers Cemetery. This is one of Finley’s most important annual events. We really need you to attend and bring young family members with

you. Hope to see you there!

In this newsletter you will find a flyer for the Florida Division SCV Reunion to be held in Ocala the first weekend in June. The Reunion is open to all members of the SCV, not just officers. I will send out the

registration and other info in a separate e-mail.

Thank you to all the members and Ladies who participated in the 150th Battle of Natural Bridge event. You make Finley’s Brigade proud!

In the bonds of the South,

Kelly Crocker

Official Appointment

To the members of Finley’s Brigade: Compatriot Lamar Cox has been appointed as the Assistant Chaplain. Congratulations Lamar!

Florida a Hundred and Fifty Years Ago from “Florida A Hundred Years Ago” compiled by the Florida Library and Historical Commission

April 1, 1865 – Major General Sam Jones writes to the Confederate Commander at Augusta, Georgia: “BG Scammon commanding U.S. forces at Jacksonville has agreed to receive and receipt prisoners of war paroled for exchange. I presume the prisoners now at Andersonville will be sent there without delay. If so, Captain Dyke’s company of Florida Light Artillery, now at Andersonville, may be spared; and if so, I am anxious to have it in this district for service at St, Marks.” According to a report issued today by the Federal military command at New Orleans: Two camps of instruction for colored troops have been established at Tallahassee and Andersonville. Governor John Milton was found lying on his bedroom floor, with blood flowing from his head. Lying tilted across one foot was an old muzzle-loading shotgun. The Governor was dead. April 2, 1865 – Abraham K Allison, president of the Florida Senate, is now acting Governor as authorized by the state constitution. Allison is no political novice in Florida, and has had a long legislative career in the State legislature.

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Cadet Prospere D DeMilly April 4, 1848-March 31, 1904

This month we will continue to explore the brothers who served together at the West Florida Seminary. Prospere DeMilly was the third son of John L DeMilly of North Carolina and Maria DeVere of France. The

DeMilly’s lived in Tallahassee proper where they operated a hotel and John was City Tax Collector. In 1860, School teacher Fanny Hathaway lived in the DeMilly home. Prospere or “Pros” later attended the West

Florida Seminary with his younger brother Henry Ware DeMilly. Older brothers Louis L and John F served in the Confederate Army. According to Cadet William A Rawls; Prospere DeMilly was one of the young boys who went to fight at the Battle of Olustee. By the time of the Battle of Natural Bridge, Prospere had been

promoted to Cadet Sergeant. After the Union army occupied Tallahassee in May of 1865, Confederates were made to sign paroles. Prospere DeMilly is one of the 25 Cadets whose parole records still exist.

After the War, Prospere lived for while in the home of his brother-in-law, Asa Clark, who was a

Confederate Navy Paymaster. Pros is listed as a farmer on the 1870 census. Prospere married Miss Emma Collins on June 4, 1879 in Leon County. Emma was the daughter of Joel B Collins and Emily Garwood. The

DeMilly’s had four children: Louisa, John W, Prospere D, and Emma Marguerite. They

lived in the Collins home. In 1881, Prospere was elected town clerk of Tallahassee. In

1887, he was elected Town Marshall, which is the same as Chief of Police, today. In 1889,

Prospere’s wife Emma passed away. Pros and the children continued to live in the Collins

home until his death in 1904.

Cadet Sergeant Prospere DeMilly is lying in an unmarked grave in Tallahassee. Family

members say that he is buried in the Family Plot in the Old City Cemetery. The Veterans

Administration is not satisfied with the families beliefs, and has refused to issue a headstone until more “proof of burial” can

be provided. We are still working on honoring this Confederate Veteran with a

proper marker for his grave.

Photo Left: This photo is said to be Prospere DeMilly and his wife Emma Collins

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Finley’s Brigade is still collecting printer ink cartridges, old laptops, and old cell phones. If you are not recycling or refilling your ink cartridges already, please bring them to the next meeting and we will recycle/dispose of them for you. The Camp has found a source that will pay us a small fee for old cartridges,

laptops, and phones.

“Show me the manner which a nation or a community cares for its dead and I will

measure with mathematical exactness the tender sympathies of its people, their respect

for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals." – Lord Gladstone.

Help Wanted

Newsletter editor and contributing writers, Contact Commander Crocker for details

Heritage Opportunities

April 4 – Annual clean-up at Soldiers Cemetery in Quincy 9am April 11 – Confederate Memorial Day at Soldiers Cemetery in Quincy, Florida 3pm April 18 – Confederate Memorial Day at Hudson Park in Crawfordville. 10:30 am UDC officiating April 26 – Confederate Memorial Day at Old City Cemetery at 3pm Anna Jackson UDC officiating May 23 – Dedication of Forrest Circle in Historic Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama 1:00pm May 30 – Sesquicentennial Heritage Rally in Shreveport, LA http://confederate150.com/2015.html Jun 5-7 – Florida Division SCV Reunion in Ocala, Florida Jul 15-18 – SCV National Reunion in Richmond, Virginia Sept 26 – Memorial for Pvt James C Branch at Mount Olive Cemetery in Altha, Florida time tbd For times, locations, and details for the following events please contact Commander Crocker at kvcroadking@yahoo.com or 850-339-3051.

Our meetings are always held on the second Tuesday of each and every month at the Golden Corral restaurant on North Monroe Street across from Lake Ella. The program will start promptly at 6:45 so be sure to arrive early (6:00) to enjoy a fine meal and socialize before the meeting starts.

The Camp Cresset Newsletter is the official publication of Camp 1614, Finley’s Brigade Sons of Confederate Veterans. No content

may be reproduced in part, or in whole, without the expressed written authorization from the Editor-in-Chief. All parts herein remain

the sole property of SCV Camp 1614. ©2014