nw summer 2014 final web

LincoLn-cushing camp no. 2, sons of the union Veterans of the ciViL War

the neWs WaLkerVoLume 16, number 2 summer edition 2014

Inside This Issue

2 Cora Lee Johnson Funeral

3 Decoration Day Ceremony

4 Friends of Fort Ward Bus Tour

7 March Camp Meeting Highlights

7 Lincoln’s Tomb Ceremony

8 General Logan’s Order No. 11 Department Encampment Photo Highlights

Pl e a s e m ark t h e s e d ate s on you r c a l en d ar

Volunteerism Recently, I’ve been thinking about volunteerism and its role in the history of our great country. As members of the SUVCW, of course we are all descendants of Civil War soldiers and sailors. No doubt most of our ancestors were members of volunteer infantry regiments, cavalry regiments, artillery batteries, or volunteered to serve as sailors in the U.S. Navy or in the Revenue Cutter Service, although some may have been U. S. regulars. We are over 100 strong in Lincoln-Cushing. Wouldn’t it be a good project to compile a list of the various orga-nizations our ancestors belonged to? Taking it a step further, we could include a short paragraph outlining the war service of each organization. (continued on Page 9) 39th Commander, Richard Griffin

F r o m T h e C o m m a n d e r

richard Griffin

C a l e n d a r f o r t h e Y e a r 2 0 1 4

17 May Executive Meeting 11:15 am American Legion, Post 8, Capitol Hill, DC30 May Traditional Memorial Day Service 5:00 pm Arlington National Cemetery30 May Lincoln-Cushing Camp Meeting 6:30 pm Ft. Myer Officers’ Club, Arlington, VA19 July Camp Picnic 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Fort Ward Park14-17 August National Encampment NA Marietta, GA30 August Executive Meeting 10:00 am Ft. Ward13 September Lincoln-Cushing Camp Meeting 11:30 am Dubliner Restaurant, Capitol Hill, DC22 November Executive Meeting 10:00 am Ft. Ward6 December Lincoln-Cushing Camp Meeting 11:30 am Dubliner Restaurant, Capitol Hill, DC

DATE EVENT TIME LOCATION

L-C Brother rob Pollock elected dept. Commander, L-C Brother Ben hawley is dJVC Brin Lewis Appointed Department Communications Director

Brothers from the Department of the Chesapeake gathered in Lynchburg, Virginia on 27 April for the 127th Department Encampment. Honored guests included C-in-C Ken Freshley and his wife Sue along with Past C-in-C Perley Mellor and his wife Diane. Mrs. Mellor also serves as National President of the Auxiliary of SUVCW. (continued on Page 6)

Brother Rob Pollock receives his Dept. Commander’s Badge from his wife Cathy

10

the neWs WaLker page 2

Camp Website : www.l incolncushing.org

real daughter Cora Lee Johnson, daughter of Pvt. alonzo Johnson, Passes awayAll honor to the woman who held the hand of a man who helped save the Union.

Real Daughter Cora Lee Johnson-Jackson, of Washington, DC, passed away 7 February at the age of 94. Born on 20 June 1919, she was the 14th of 15 children born to Alonzo Johnson, late Private, Company F, 45th US Colored Infantry, a unit which was part of the 25th Corps. Private Johnson saw service in the last campaigns of the Civil War and was at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865.

Sister Johnson-Jackson was the aunt of Brother Ricardo Johnson, a long-time member of the Lincoln-Cushing Camp.

Brother Lee Stone, who attended her funeral, had this to say: “The church was almost full at her funeral, and there were many heartfelt tributes to her love of God, family, and community, and her grit and determination. She produced 20 (that’s twenty) children, and when the leader of the service asked ‘family’ to stand, nearly half those in the church stood up.”

On 15 February, Department Commander Mark Day issued Order #4 instructing the department and all camps in the Department of Chesapeake to honor her by draping their charters and every brother draping their badges in black during a 30 day mourning period.

SUVCW Commander-in-Chief Ken Freshley adopted Department Commander Day’s order and issued it as Na-tional Order #13 on 16 February, making the period of mourning for Sister Johnson-Jackson nationwide.

Camp Commander Richard Griffin sent condolences to Brother Ricardo Johnson and his family with these words:

“We all owe a debt of gratitude to Private Johnson and his comrades. We are also greatly indebted to

your aunt and all she did to preserve the memory of her father and the cause for which he fought. I know you must be very proud of her, and that pride must temper your sorrow at her loss.”

Brother Johnson, we all share your loss.

Brother Richard King (left) takes the oath from DSVC Rob Pollock

Brother Lee Stone representing Lincoln-Cushing Camp and SUVCW at Real Daughter Cora Jackson’s funeral


Join SUVCW: http : / /suvc w.org/member.htm

historic decoration day Ceremony at arlington national Cemetery30 may, 2014Camp Meeting to Follow at Ft. Myer OC with Brother Keith Young, PDC as Guest Speaker

On Friday, 30 May, 2014, at 5:00 pm the SUVCW will again carry forward the tradition of the Decoration Day cer-emony at Arlington National Cemetery’s Old Amphitheatre and Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns. This ceremony is derived from the 1893 ceremony performed by the GAR Farragut Post, No. 10 and SUV Cushing Camp, No. 30, the predecessor of the SUVCW Lincoln-Cushing Camp.

As in prior years, invited guests will include the National Leadership of the Allied Orders, MOLLUS, DOLLUS, and the Gettysburg Blues Color Guard. There will be brief comments and the laying of the wreaths by the SUVCW, Woman’s Relief Corps, Ladies of the GAR, Auxiliary of the SUVCW, Military Order of the Loyal Legion, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and the Dames of the Loyal Legion.

This year is the 150th anniversary of Arlington becoming a national mili-tary cemetery, as a result we will be partnering with the United States Army in our annual ceremony. One of the special guests in atten-dance will be Patrick Hol-linan, Executive Director of Army National Cemeter-ies. Mr. Hollinan will be announcing the renaming of the Old Amphitheatre in honor of a prominent Civil War veteran. Joining him will be our own JVCinC Eugene Mortorff. Following the ceremony, at 6:30 pm, the Lincoln-Cush-ing Camp meeting will take place at the Ft. Myer Officers’ Club located at 214 Jackson Avenue, Ft. Myer, Virginia. There will be a social hour, followed by dinner, and a presenta-

tion by our guest speaker, Brother Keith Young, PDC. Note, the RSVP deadline is 23 May. Due to limita-tions at the Officers’ Club EVERY-ONE must RSVP by the deadline.

Walk-ins cannot be accepted. Check the last page of this newsletter for menu options and the reservation form.

Brother Young will be giving a historical overview of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Wash-ington, D.C. The hospital is the nation’s first federal mental health facility and dates back to 1855. During the Civil War, St. Elizabeth’s played a small, but impor-tant, part by hosting Army and Navy general hospitals in addition to the mental patients. After the war the hospital played a major role in treating those soldiers psychologically damaged by

their wartime experiences. The hos-pital campus contains both wartime and post-Civil War cemeteries for both military personnel and civilians who died at the facility.

Brother Keith Young, PDC



Friends of Fort Ward Bus Tour: Civil War defenses of WashingtonBy Commander Richard Griffin

On March 22nd, Brothers Lee Stone and Dick Griffin participated in a tour of a portion of the Civil War defenses of Washington. The tour was spon-sored by the Friends of Fort Ward and led by Dr. B. F. Cooling, a recognized expert on the defenses of Washington. Amongst his many published works are Mr. Lincoln’s Forts (co-authored with Wally Owen, Curator at Fort Ward), The Day Lincoln Was Almost Shot: the Fort Stevens Story, and Jubal Early’s Raid on Washington. The first stop was Fort Foote, a battery situated on a bluff overlooking the Potomac on the Maryland side of the river. It was built to command the approaches to Alexandria and Washington and boasted 15 inch Rodman cannons. An original cannon is still there and has been remounted on a reproduction carriage, making an impressive display.

The rest of the tour stops, all in Northwest DC, were related to Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s July, 1864 attack on Washington: Fort DeRussy, Fort Stevens and Battleground National Cemetery. Fort DeRussy was built on a hill to pro-vide a cross fire upon the approaches to Fort Stevens on the 7th Street Pike (now Georgia Avenue). It was named in honor of Union Brig. Gen. Rene Edward DeRussy, a former Super-intendent of West Point. Dr. Cooling explained the role of the fort in controlling the 7th Street Pike and the country roads in the vicinity and in supporting Fort Stevens in Early’s attack.

After a picnic box lunch at Fort DeRussy, the tour continued to Fort Stevens, the focal point of General Early’s attack on July 11-12. Presi-dent Lincoln visited Fort Stevens on both days, and actually came under fire from Confederate sharpshooters on the 12th while standing on the parapet of the fort. A story, prob-ably apocryphal, relates that an army officer, noting that incoming fire was coming uncomfortably close to the President, shouted, “Get down, you damned fool!”

Fort Stevens was built to defend the approaches to Washington from the 7th Street Pike, the main thorough-fare from the north into the city. Dr. Cooling explained how the defenses of Washington were belatedly rein-forced by VI Corps troops released from the Richmond-Petersburg front and by field artillery batteries and invalid troops from Washing-ton. Some historians say the Con-federates missed an opportunity to punch through Union lines before the VI Corps reinforcements arrived and filed into the field fortifications; however, after a careful inspection of the fortifications in front of his position, General Early decided not to make the attempt and to disen-gage and return to the Shenandoah Valley. (continued on Page 5)

Group with Dr. Cooling at Fort Stevens

15 inch Rodman cannon at Fort Foote



The final tour stop was at Battleground National Cemetery, where casualties of the Battle of Fort Stevens are buried. The cemetery was constructed on part of the actual battlefield. Today, it is in the middle of an urban neigh-borhood, but the presence of forty-one graves of Union soldiers who died in defense of their country in the battle gives a powerful message to visitors. Besides the graves, the cemetery contains monuments to the 25th New York Volunteer Cavalry, 98th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry, and the 150th Ohio National Guard.

All in all, the tour was a very enjoyable and instructive. We commend Friends of Fort Ward tours to all who are interested in the Civil War.

Friends of Fort Ward Bus Tour (Continued from Page 4)

Keith Young was born in Colorado, raised in Arizona and has traveled extensively within the country to visit many Civil War sites. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and after serving in submarines he retired from the US Navy as a Captain. He currently teaches military history at the Green Acres Senior Center in Fairfax City, for the Osher Life Long Learning Institute at GMU and other military history groups. In the SUVCW, he is a past Camp Commander of the Lincoln-Cushing

Camp #2 in Washington, DC and is also a Past Com-mander of the Department of Maryland (now the Dept. of the Chesapeake). All are encouraged to attend both the historical ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and the camp meeting following. As stated, a reservation form for the camp meeting can be found on the back page of this newsletter and RSVPs are required.

Monument at Battleground National Cemetery

historic decoration day Ceremony at arlington national Cemetery(Continued from Page 3)

2014 officers and appointments | Lincoln-Cushing Camp Camp no. 2

Commander: Richard [email protected]

Senior Vice Commander: Brin [email protected]

Junior Vice Commander: David J. [email protected]

Secretary and Treasurer: Lee Stone, [email protected]

Patriotic Instructor: Donald [email protected]

Camp Chaplain: John E. Higgins, [email protected]

members of the Camp Council:

Calvin Zon, PCC Fr. Charles Nalls, PCCCharles “Ben” Hawley, PCC

mailto:[email protected]








attire: Business or SVr Uniform Cost for the meal is $40 per person. Checks should be made out to Lincoln-Cushing Camp 2 and sent to Secretary/Treasurer Lee Stone, PDC at the following address: Lee Stone, PdC 536 Wordsworth Circle Purcellville, Va 20132 Please mail your check in time to arrive by 23 May so that an accurate count can be given to the establishment. If you can’t get your check in by 23 May, please call Brother Lee at 540-338-5831 or 571-217-0160 and let him know that you plan to attend and bring your check with you. It is most important that you RSVP by the response date for this meeting. This meeting is very well attended, so reply quickly. Please see the back page for the reservation form.

next camp meetingo F T h e L I n C o L n - C U S h I n G C a m P n o . 2

our next Lincoln-Cushing Camp meeting will be held at 6:30 pm on 30 may, at the Ft. myer officers’ Club, 214 Jackson ave, Ft. myer, Virginia. The meeting will be held directly

following the 5:00 pm memorial day Ceremony at arlington national Cemetery. all members of the Camp, auxiliary, and their guests are encouraged to attend both events.

RSVP by 23 May Its absolutely mandatory, no walk-ins can be permitted Hope to see you there!

Our special guest speaker, Brother Keith Young, PDC will be giving a historical overview of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Wash-ington, D.C. The hospital is the nation’s first federal mental health facility and dates back to 1855. During the Civil War, St. Elizabeth’s played a small, but important, part by hosting Army and Navy general hospitals in addition to the mental patients. After the war the hospital played a major role in treating those soldiers psychologically damaged by their wartime experiences.

Brother Keith Young, PDC

The annual meeting was highlighted by the election of L-C Brother Rob Pollock as the new Department Commander, Brother Kevin Martin as the Senior Vice Commander and L-C Brother Ben Hawley as the Junior Vice Commander. Commander Mark Day handed off the gavel to Commander Pollock and was himself elected to the Department Coun-cil. Another L-C brother, Brin Lewis, was appointed to the office of Department Communications Director. Congratu-lations to all and best wishes for a successful 2014-15 year.

Brother Ben Hawley, now DJVC, was awarded the Andrew Johnson Award for outstanding service to the Department, while Sister Mildred Ames was presented the Mary Walker Award by Commander Day for her lifetime service to ASUVCW.

Attending for the Lincoln-Cushing Camp were Brothers Dick Griffin, CC; Lee Stone, PDC, PCC; Brother Brin Lewis, CSVC and Robert Pollock the new DC, PCC.

The day began with an early joint Memorial Service with the Auxiliary of SUVCW who held their Department Encampment across the hall. See encampment pictures on pages 10 and 11

L-C Brother rob Pollock elected dept. Commander (Continued from Page 1)



march Camp meeting held at Gadsby’s TavernIn March brothers gathered at historic Gadsby’s Tavern in Old Town Alexandria for our quarterly camp meeting. Brothers were treated to another stirring report from PI Don Bishop that enter-tained and educated, while an outstanding musical presentation was given by our guest speaker/musician Brother Douglas Jimerson highlighting the favorite songs of Abraham Lincoln. Brother Jimerson and his accompanist Brother Don Bishop talks it up

President Lincoln honored on the anniversary of death at his Tomb in Springfield, IllinoisBy Brother Lee Stone, PDCOn Saturday 12 April the National Organization of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, led by Command-er-in-Chief Ken L Freshley, partnered with the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the US, led by Commander-in-Chief Waldron Kintzing Post II, to honor Abraham Lincoln at his tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. Both organizations have done this for many years, on the Saturday nearest 15 April, the date Lincoln died in 1865. Unlike many past years, the weather was perfect, warm and sunny. After a solemn march-in and a flag raising, numerous organizations of the Allied Orders presented wreaths at the tomb, and Taps was sounded.

After the ceremony there was a luncheon at the head-quarters hotel. At 3 PM many of those who had at-tended the tomb ceremony traveled the 20 or so miles to Petersburg, Illinois, northwest of Springfield. At Rose Hill Cemetery they paid honor to Dr-and Major-Benjamin Franklin Stephenson, who founded the Grand

Army of the Republic in 1866 and be-came its first adjutant.

While in Springfield, some of the participants

visited the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the GAR Museum of the Woman’s Relief Corps, the rail-road station from which Lincoln gave his brief farewell speech to his friends and neighbors as he left to take up the burden of the Presidency, and the Old Capitol, the one Lincoln knew.

The Department of the Chesapeake was represented by its Commander, Brother Mark Day. Lincoln-Cushing Camp, and the 2d Military District of the Sons of Veter-ans Reserve, were represented by Brother Lee Stone, the National Color Bearer of the SUVCW.

Attendees in front of Lincoln tombC-in-C Ken Freshley addresses crowd at Lincoln tomb



General Logan’s order no. 11On the 5th of May 1868 as commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, I issued to our comrades throughout the land the following order:

“Head quarters Grand Army of the Republic. Adjutant Generals office No 444, 14th Street Washington, D.C. May 5th 1868.

General Orders No 11.I. The 30th day of May 1868 is designate for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades, who died in defense, of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every City, Village, and hamlet, church yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is pre-scribed, but Posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

--The first paragraph of Order #11 as issued

Join the Brothers of Lincoln-Cushing and the Irish Brigade: march in the national memorial day Parade, dC on 26 may Once again, the Lincoln-Cushing and Irish Brigade Camps will march in the National Memorial Day Parade, Mon-day 26 May, 2014. The parade will step off at 2pm. Following the parade, we will gather in the bar at the Willard Hotel in hope of finding either General Grant or General Logan. Parade dress is period attire or blue blazer with membership medal. Spouses and children in period attire are welcome, as are any members of the allied orders. Please contact me directly for further details: [email protected]. In fraternity, charity, & loyalty,D. Michael Beard, PDCIrish Brigade Camp & Lincoln Cushing Camp



Volunteerism (Continued from Page 1)

L-C Third annual Family Picnic19 July Fort Ward Park, alexandria, VaOn 19 July at 10:00 am-3:00 pm the Brothers of Lincoln-Cushing Camp #2 will gather with their families to once again enjoy an afternoon of food and fun. Brothers get a chance to meet with each other in a more casual environment and meet each other’s families while enjoying hamburgers and hotdogs in beautiful Ft. Ward Park. Food service begins about 12:00 noon. This is a free event for all Lincoln-Cushing brothers, so pack up the kids (and don’t forget your spouse), grab a Frisbee and enjoy an afternoon of fun. Look for a reminder email closer to the picnic date with directions, but mark your calendars now.

Such a list could form a significant part of our history and perhaps be included in the new member ori-entation presentation that Brother Brin Lewis so ably put together. Who will volunteer to take this on?

On May 30th, we will be commem-orating our Civil War ancestors in the annual Memorial Day ceremo-nies at the Old Amphitheater and Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. This year, we will be partnering with the U. S. Army, as 2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Ar-lington as a national military cem-etery. Once again, we will do this with members of our Allied Orders and other heritage organizations. The common thread, of course, is to honor our ancestors who fought and died to save this country, as General John Logan, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, intended. I encourage all brothers to attend and to participate in this noble activity.

Volunteerism is just as important today. As we all know, the U. S. armed forces are now an all-vol-

unteer force, but it was not always so. As Americans, we are all in-debted to the brave and dedicated volunteers who serve our country all over the world and who follow in the footsteps of our ancestors who served at posts and battlefields all over the world, beginning with Concord, Lexington, Saratoga, and Yorktown in the war that established our independence. In the Civil War, we are familiar with battles as ardu-ous and bloody as the Seven Days before Richmond, First and Second Bull Run, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Get-tysburg, the Overland Campaign, and many others. Volunteer Rough Riders served under Teddy Roosevelt at San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War. In World War I, U. S. Marines bled in Belleau Wood and earned a lasting legacy. In World War II, sailors, soldiers, airmen, and marines fought and died in numerous bloody battles all over the Pacific and in the European Theater. In Korea, Marines under General O. P. Smith “advanced in a different direction.” In Vietnam, soldiers, sailors, airmen and ma-rines battled the communist enemy

in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, Khe Sahn, and many other places. Some say the severest test came to those who were imprisoned at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Since then, United States forces have gone to war in Iraq and Afghanistan and either made the supreme sacrifice, or come home grievously wounded. Of course, many who served in these conflicts were drafted, but many others were volunteers. We honor all.

Finally, life today presents many opportunities for volunteer service outside of the armed forces. Of course, the SUVCW is an organi-zation of volunteers and cannot thrive unless brothers step up to the plate to serve at the local, depart-ment, and national levels. But there are many other ways to serve in a volunteer capacity. I know of broth-ers who serve their communities, churches, boy scouts, and other civic organizations unselfishly. Each one provides essential and even anonymous service that their organizations rely on. I salute each one of you. What is your volunteer story?



Past C-in-C Perley Mellor, ASUVCW National President Diane Mellor, C-in-C Ken Freshley and his wife Sue

2014 Department encampment

Brothers enjoy dinner on Friday night

Luncheon speaker Dr. Clifton W. Potter, Jr. who spoke about the Lynchburg POW Camp

2013-2014 Department officers with PC-in-C Mellor

and C-in-C Freshley



2014 Department encampment

Anne Frenette-Lewis, newly elected ASUVCW Department Press

Correspondent and Brin Lewis, CSVC, newly appointed

Department Communications Director

ASUVCW President Diane Mellor addresses the ASUVCW Encampment attendees

2014-2015 Department Officers are sworn in by C-in-C Freshley

Camp Commander Dick Griffin poses with the Andrew Stine award presented to PCC

Ben Hawley. Unfortunately, Brother Hawley was forced to miss the Encampment

r e S e r Va T I o n F o r m

Yes, I, __________________________will be attending the meeting and am bringing __________________________ as my guest, and

__________________________ as a potential candidate for membership.

Enclosed is my check for $________ ($40.00/ per person).

My entree choice: Chicken Piccata Baked Salmon

My guest’s choice: Chicken Piccata Baked Salmon

No, I, __________________________ regret that I will not be able

to attend, however, enclosed is a donation to our Camp’s charitable

works for $_______.

Please detach and mail to: mr. Lee d. Stone, PdC 536 Wordsworth Circle Purcellville, Va 20132

You do not need to buy a dinner to participate in the meeting.

SonS oF UnIon VeTeranSoF The CIVIL War

Brin Lewis, editor

3504 Wilson StreetCity of Fairfax, Va 22030-2936

return Service requested

Lincoln-Cushing Camp no. 2deParTmenT oF The CheSaPeaKe

STaTemenT oF PUBLICaTIon: ThI S neWSLeTTer IS The oFFICIaL hoUSe orGan oF The LInCoLn-CUShInG CamP no. 2 , deParTmenT oF The CheSaPeaKe, SonS oF UnIon VeTeranS oF The CIVIL War. Published in the City of Washington, DC, United States of America. News Walker (c) 2014 to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. All Rights Reserved. Brin Lewis, Editor. News Walker is distributed via Post and email to SUVCW members and friends. SUVCW, its officers or members accept no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or quality of any material forwarded to and published in the News Walker or any referrals or links to the content. There is no intent to use any verifiable copyright protected material. We accept no responsibility for any loss or damage suffered by any person relying directly or indirectly on any information from the News Walker. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, enter into a database, display, perform, modify, create derivative works, transmit, or in any way exploit any part of The News Walker, except for your own personal use.

R S V Pby 23 May

memorial day Camp meeting Lincoln-Cushing Camp no. 2

Camp Dinner Following Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery

Date: 30 May, 2014 RSVP: 23 May, 2014 Time: 6:30 pm (Social Hour) Dinner: 7:30 pm Location: Ft Myer Officers’ Club 214 Jackson Avenue Ft. Myer, Virginia

Dinner Selections: - Chicken Piccata - Baked Salmon Served with Rice Pilaf & Vegetables Apple Pie

Attire: Business or SVR Uniform

Cost: $40 per person (Cash Bar)

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