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The Telegraph

Key - .... . / - . .-.. . --. .-. .- .--. .... / -.- . -.--

OFFICIAL DISPATCH FOR THE MAJOR THOMAS J. KEY CAMP #1920

KANSAS DIVISION, SCV • JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS

The Commander’s Corner Thomas J. Key Camp Commander, Jim Thornton

The noise. The commercialism. The incessant music repeating over and over

again. The crowds at the shopping malls and retail stores. I just can’t take it.

The true meaning of Christmas and the Holiday Season has been lost; replaced

by greed and worship of material goods and the almighty dollar. Thank you

corporate America. My family playfully will be calling me Mr. Grinch for the

next few weeks.

Let’s travel back in time. Let’s go back about 155 years. Back to a simpler

time. Back to when the Christmas season held true spiritual meaning;

especially in the South and the Confederate States. During this time period, Christmas held special meaning. It

was a time when families would gather together and give thanks for the good fortune that had come their way

over the previous year. The family would celebrate and break bread over what was probably their biggest meal

of the year. Following the fine Christmas meal, all would gather around the fireplace or stove to listen to the

family patriarch recite “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (or, as better known, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”)

or possibly Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”.

But wait! Was that gunfire? What was that loud boom? It sounded like artillery shells! No, it couldn’t be! War

and invasion had come to the South. For many, the holiday was a reminder of the profound melancholy that

had settled over the Confederate States of America. Southern parents warned their children that Santa might not

make it through the blockade, and soldiers in bleak winter quarters were reminded, more acutely than ever, of

the domestic bliss they had left behind. For the people of Fredericksburg, Virginia, which had been battered

only a matter of days before Christmas, or Savannah, Georgia, which General Sherman had presented to

President Lincoln as a gift, the holiday season brought the war to their very doorsteps.

Christmas during the War of Northern Aggression served both as an escape from and a reminder of the awful

conflict rending the country in two. Soldiers looked forward to a day of rest and relative relaxation, but had

their moods tempered by the thought of separation from their loved ones. At home, families did their best to

celebrate the holiday, but wondered when the vacant chair at the table would again be filled.

As we return from our trip back in tame, let us not forget our ancestors and their Christmas seasons. Let us

honor their memory by doing our best to celebrate the true meaning of the season. We should avoid the

VOL. 19, NO. 10 October 2018

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material temptations of the season and celebrate our families. Let us gather our families and loved ones around

us at the dining room table and break bread together, celebrating our good fortunes. Let us raise a glass and

toast our ancestors. If it were not for their sacrifices and perseverance, we would not be here.

The holiday season does not have to be as I described in the opening paragraph. Each of us can take it upon

ourselves to avoid all the materialism and commercialism. Let us instill in our own families the values and

reverence for the season that our ancestors held. If we can hold on to those values and reverent traditions,

maybe we can make this nation and this world a better place for everyone.

Our ancestors from that long ago war gave us the example of what the true meaning of the Holiday Season is.

Let us live by that example and pass it on to our children as they tried to do for us.

Deo Vindice!

Your Commander, Jim Thornton

The Telegraph Key

The Telegraph Key is a newsletter published for the Major Thomas Key Camp #1920 of the Sons of

Confederate Veterans (SCV). The SCV is a non-profit organization with a patriotic, historical, and genealogical

orientation and is not affiliated with any other organization. Opinions in this newsletter reflect the views of the

writers and are not necessarily a statement of the views of the SCV, the Kansas Division, the Kansas Brigades,

nor any other camp. Comments and articles are solicited.

Key Camp Website Resources

Key Camp: www.MajorKey1920ksscv.org

SCV National: www.SCV.org

Kansas Division: http://www.ksscv.org/

Key Camp Officers

COMMANDER 1ST

LT. COMMANDER 2ND

LT. COMMANDER

Jim Thornton John Weir

ADJUTANT CHAPLAIN NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Steve Crawford Walter Schley Garrett Hayden

The Key Camp will meet on Thursday, December 7th, at Zarda Bar B-Q on the southwest corner of 87th and

Quivira in Lenexa, Kansas at 6 p.m. for dinner and conversation, with the official meeting at 7 p.m.

Our featured speaker for the evening is Mr. Sam Gill, who will be giving us a presentation on the "Attack on

Pearl Harbor".

Join us for camaraderie, dinner, and education. As always, your wife or significant other is welcome.

Don’t forget to bring a prospective recruit!

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THE COLDEST EVENT IN CAMP HISTORY??

The e-mail went out from Commander Jim Thornton. The camp was poised to take part in the annual

Ottawa Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 10. But Mother Nature had a brutal forecast

planned – cold temperatures unheard of for this time of year with morning temperatures expected in the

20’s. Commander Thornton wanted input from the membership. Do we risk frost bite and honor our

commitment to participate? Or do we back out?

Commander Thornton received several responses, with the overwhelming majority, in no uncertain

terms, giving a resounding “YES WE PARTICIPATE”. So, on Friday night an e-mail went out to the

membership advising that the parade was a GO and with advice to bundle up in layers against the chill.

On Saturday, November 10, five compatriots of the Major Thomas J. Key Camp gathered in the

traditional meeting spot of the bank parking lot at 5th and Walnut in Ottawa. It was a whopping 19

degrees with a very stiff wind out of the southwest. Commander Jim Thornton, 1st Lt. Commander

John Weir, Compatriots Paul Allen, Walt Schley, and Cameron Weir were outfitted in their

Confederate uniforms and prepared to represent the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

With Walt and Cameron providing rifle escorts, Paul carried the U.S. Flag, John carried the Kansas

State Flag, and Jim carried the Battle Flag (yes we proudly displayed and carried the Battle Flag in the

parade). There were quite a few parade entries who elected not to participate and did not show up; and

the crowds along the parade route were noticeably smaller than in years past.

As the Key Camp color guard marched the parade route, they were greeted with numerous cheers and

shouts of “Thanks for coming” or “Thanks for being here”. Many photos of the group were taken.

Most importantly, not a single negative comment was shouted at the group or at the sight of the Battle

Flag. At least none that were heard. It was, as always in Ottawa, a fun and positive event and

experience.

Now it was time to return to the warmth of the vehicles, pack up, and head back north to home. And

guess what? It had warmed up to a whopping 29 degrees by the time we left!

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WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA AT FORT

LEAVENWORTH NATIONAL CEMETERY

By Jim Thornton

On Saturday, December 15, the Wreaths Across

America Program will be placing wreaths on the

veterans graves at Fort Leavenworth National

Cemetery. If you recall, the Major Thomas J. Key

Camp purchased 7 wreaths to honor the 7

Confederate Veterans interred at the cemetery. This

was promoted and coordinated by the late

Compatriot Scott Lalumondier.

The Wreaths Across America Program coordinator, Diana Pitts, has invited the Sons of Confederate Veterans

and the Sons of Union Veterans to take part in the event and has asked for volunteers in uniform to take part in

the wreath laying. Ms. Pitts was also the organizer this past summer for the “Living History” event at the

National Cemetery and had invited us to take part in that as well. Compatriot Lalumondier and Key Camp

Chaplain Walt Schley represented the Confederacy at the “Living History” event.

This is another community outreach opportunity for the Key Camp that must be taken advantage of. We have

been presented an opportunity to not only show the community who we are, but to honor our fallen Confederate

Veterans. We need to provide some compatriots in uniform to take part in the wreath laying ceremony and to

represent the Confederate Veteran. This ceremony will allow us to also promote the fact that the Confederate

Veteran is indeed recognized by the government and associated organizations as a United States Military

Veteran.

The ceremony and wreath placement will be: Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery; 395 Biddle Blvd; Fort

Leavenworth, KS 66207; Saturday 15 December, 2018; 11:00 a.m.; base of the American Flag pole (really bad

weather it will be held at the Frontier Conference Center, directly across the street from the cemetery). Parking

will be within the Frontier Conference Center (overflow parking if necessary will be located at the Munson

Army Health Center located at the NE corner of the cemetery). Recommend arrival for the event is no later

than10:30 to make sure you are through the main gate of Fort Leavenworth and at the cemetery.

Fort Leavenworth will be an "OPEN INSTALLATION" for this event. Please know this means that any one 16

years of age and older will need only a current I.D. to access the main gate of Fort Leavenworth. You will NOT

need to get a visitors pass on this day.

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KEY CAMP ELECTION RESULTS FOR 2019-2020

This year, 2018, marked an election year for the Major Thomas J. Key Camp #1920. During the month of

October, election ballots were distributed to the membership who then cast their votes. At the November

meeting of the Key Camp, camp election official Jim “Hoss” Tucker announced the new slate of officers to

serve the Key Camp for 2019-2020.

Compatriot Matt Sewell will take over the reins as Commander; Compatriot John Weir will continue in the

office of 1st Lt. Commander; Compatriot Dan Peterson will fulfill the duties as 2nd Lt. Commander; and

Compatriot Lawson Rener will assume the tasks of camp adjutant.

These fine men will be given the Oath of Office at our December meeting and the transfer of command will

officially take place during the Lee-Jackson Banquet in January. The new officers will preside over their first

official camp meeting at the March 2019 meeting.

Current camp commander Jim Thornton will continue to assist the newly elected officers in coordinating events

in and around the community, such as the Mine Creek Heritage Day and the Shawnee Indian Mission Fall

Festival. He has also agreed to continue writing for the newsletter and working with Compatriot Garrett

Hayden in producing and distributing the camp newsletter.

Please offer your congratulations, and most importantly, your support to the new Key Camp Officers for 2019-

2020.

Commander Elect: Matt Sewell 1st

Lt. Commander: John Weir

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CHRISTMAS 1862 at WARRENTON AN ACT OF KINDNESS

By Jim Thornton

In the spring of 1862, the Confederate Army fell back from Manassas, Virginia and Union soldiers settled into

the northern part of the state for the winter. With the enemy living in their little town, the residents of

Warrenton faced a gloomy winter and Christmas. The stores had no merchandise to sell, there was little money,

and Southern soldiers dared no longer dash into town with news of the war.

To help add cheer to some of the children’s lives, one local woman, whose husband was a Confederate general

serving in Richmond, taught dance lessons. Twice a week, 16 young girls and boys from the town learned to

dance waltzes while she played the piano.

As Christmas approached, the children wanted to find a way to express their gratitude to the dance teacher for

the pleasure she had given them during these trying times. The children’s mothers had earned a little money by

baking pies, cakes, and breads for the occupying Union soldiers who had provided them the ingredients. The

mothers gave the children $3 in “greenbacks,” as they called Yankee money, to spend on a gift of sugar, tea,

and coffee. But the Yankees’ sutlers were not allwed to sell to the locals for fear the provisions wouls somehow

find their way into the hands of the Confederate soldiers.

One of the girls in the group mentioned to the others that a very nice Yankee was headquartered in a tent next to

her house, and they should ask him. So, five scared young girls volunteered to face the enemy to try to buy the

gift. They approached the sentinel in front of the tent and asked if they could see Colonel Gardner (Colonel

David Gardner, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry) on “important business.” Showing unusual kindness, the colonel

listened to the girls and said their goods would be delivered to them that afternoon.

2nd

Lt. Commander: Dan Peterson

Adjutant Elect: Lawson Rener

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Later that day, Colonel Gardner’s quartermaster appeared with $15 worth of sugar, coffee, and tea along with a

personal letter from Gardner. In the envelope he returned the children’s $3 and wrote that he was glad to aid the

brave young ladies who wanted a Christmas present for the dance teacher who had given of her time for their

amusement.

Colonel David Gardner’s generous act of Christmas kindness has been remembered by the community of

Warrenton for many generations. A display of the true meaning of Christmas during a horrible time of

devastation and destruction.

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ITEMS NEEDED FOR LEE-JACKSON BANQUET CAMP AUCTION

The Lee-Jackson Banquet coming up on January 26, 2019 not only serves as an opportunity for us to gather in a

formal setting, it also serves as the ONLY fund raiser for the Major Thomas J. Key Camp. Our fund raiser

takes the form of an auction and in order to have an auction, you have to have items to sell. Guess what? It is

up to us to provide those items.

So, start cleaning out your closets, your garage, your basement, your storage lockers, anywhere you have

stashed items no longer used or for which you no longer have a purpose. It does not have to be related to the

Confederacy or the war. Anything you feel someone else could make use of or that someone else would

treasure and value can be donated. In years past, we have had chess sets donated, wine decanters and glasses

donated, a chaplain’s flask donated, World War II ammo boxes donated, etc. Even fishing gear no longer used

would be a great auction item. Start searching through your “stuff” and consider donations to the Key Camp

Fund Raising Auction.

To make arrangements for your donation, please contact a member of our Auction Committee. Committee

members and their e-mail address are:

Jim Thornton ------ JDThornton85@live.com

Larry Tatum ------ LarryTatum@aol.com

Matt Sewell ------ matthew@seboservices.com

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RAFFLE OF HANDMADE QUILT TO BE PART OF BANQUET AUCTION

Through the efforts of Key Camp Chaplain Walt Schley, the camp will be having a special feature added to our

annual Lee-Jackson Banquet auction this year. The camp is selling chances on a custom, handmade quilt

specially designed with a Confederate theme.

Walt has arranged for Ms. Lynn Humphreys, who he contacted through the Marine Corp League, to construct

and produce a one-of-a-kind Confederate themed quilt to be raffled off at the Key Camp’s annual Lee-Jackson

Banquet. Walt, along with Adjutant Steve Crawford, met with Ms. Humphreys in late September to discuss a

design and to review possible ideas. The labor and time are being provided to the camp at no cost by Ms.

Humphreys. The only cost to the camp will be the materials, approximately $300.

The quilt design or theme chosen will be “Confederate Generals at Gettysburg”. The quilt size will be 60

inches by 60 inches (5 feet by 5 feet). The center panel of the quilt will be a portrait of the Confederate

Generals of Gettysburg. The remainder of the quilt will be in a pattern constructed from a pattern known as

“Shiloh”. Shiloh circa 1880 by Nancy Gere is a Civil War inspired floral collection in richly hued shades of

navy, red and purple.

Chances for this quilt will be $10 for one ticket or three for $25. Tickets are on sale now! Chances may be

purchased at the December and January camp meetings as well as at the banquet on January 26. Don’t miss out

on this awesome opportunity to win a one-of-a-kind, handmade Confederate themed quilt!

Template of quilt design. This is not what the final quilt will look like, only an approximation.

Center panel of quilt featuring the Confederate Generals.

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The Key Camp is proud to take part in many perpetual service projects throughout the year.

Upcoming 2018 Events

Annual Lee & Jackson Banquet

Saturday, January 26th