OUR OPINIONS

    Editorial 

THE U.V.U. IN SACRAMENTO

     This past Memorial Day, the William T. Sherman Western Division of the Union Veterans Union, Inc. once again joined with the Elk Grove Civil War Round Table at Sacramento's Historic City Cemetery to conduct a tour of Civil War sites in the cemetery. Between 80 to 100 people showed up for the tour. We in the Union Veterans Union were proud to sponsor this event. We received great coverage in the media, with News10 reporting live and the Sacramento Bee doing a fine write-up in the next days paper. We have also been working to replace the historical markers in the cemetery, which are weather beaten and unreadable and we are also working to add three new markers----The Civil War Trees Memorial, GAR Plot #2 and Jane Norris-Sacramento patriot. In addition, we have printed up brochures on the Tree Memorial in the cemetery and also one on the Civil War Tree Grove in Capitol Park. Our newest brochure will be out next week---The Grand Army at the Historic City Cemetery. Now, I know we have steped on some toes here in Sacramento. The local Sons of Union Veterans are not happy with us because of our stand against the flying of the Confederate Flag on public buildings and the SUVCW's very public support of that same flag. Keep in mind that we are co-founders of George Wright Camp 22, Sons of Union Veterans here in Sacramento. We resigned when we were ordered by National Commander Wheeler to support the flying of the Confederate Flag. To this day, I don't understand why a Union Soldier Heritage Organization was passing orders to support the flying of the Rebel Flag! We have been accused by members of Wright Camp of being "negative" because of our standing up to the Neo-Confederates. That's fine. They can have their opinion. But let's take a look at what we did when we were members of the SUVCW. We took part in Sacramento History Days, Victorian Sunday, Celebrate History! in San Francisco, Memorial Day Programs throughout the region, Veterans Day at Mount Vernon Cemetery, Western Days and Veterans Day in Elk Grove and the moonlight tours at City Cemetery. We sponsored Civil War Sunday, Rememberance Days, Memorial Days, and the 110th Anniversary of the GAR Monument all at Historic City Cemetery. We planted 11 battlefield trees at Capitol Park, were given a State Senate Resolution award for our efforts. We planted another 11 trees in the Civil War Trees Memorial in City Cemetery. We wrote and published four booklets--"Sacramento in the Civil War", "Sacramento Soldiers Tour", "Old Sacramento Civil War Tour Booklet" and "A Walking Guide to Capitol Park's Civil War Tree Grove". In addition, we visited numerous schools doing living history programs and promoting Civil War History. Since resigning from the SUVCW, we reformed the Union Veterans Union. Our projects since joining the UVU include Memorial Day programs at City Cemetery, writing and printing brochures on the Capitol Park Tree Grove, a brief history of the G.A.R. at City Cemetery and the Civil War Trees Memorial. Working to get markers for the original tree grove, placing markers on the Civil War Trees in City Cemetery as well as caring for those trees for the past eight years. (We received the Sacramento Tree Foundation's 2007 Legacy Award for our efforts.) We are currently working to replace the markers as noted earlier and we are starting a project to indentify Union Veterans in local cemeteries which do not have government markers. And keep in mind, this in only a partial list of what we have done and are still doing. The question we must ask then is ---- what is the SUVCW doing in Sacramento? When we were with Wright Camp, we worked very hard to promote our Union Ancestors here in Sacramento. We worked hard to promote the Sons of Union Veterans. Since we left, Wright Camp doesn't appear to be doing much of anything. We found a reference to a grave marker ceremony in 2007 but nothing else. Their website says they take part in Memorial Day at City Cemetery but we haven't seen them there. The Sons of Confederate Veterans are pretty much unheard from, also. Chuck Davis is the only member of the SUVCW that has stepped forward and helped to promote the history and memory of our Union Ancestors here in Sacramento. I wish to publicly thank the members of the William T. Sherman Western Division of the Union Veterans Union and the Elk Grove Civil War Round Table for all your efforts in keeping the memory of these soldiers alive. As long as these two organizations are here, the gallant boys in blue will not be forgotten! (July 4, 2008)

Neo-Confederates

 For some time, we have been receiving various mailings from Neo-Confederate groups who slander us and our objectives of honoring our Union Veterans. Our organization made it clear from day one that we would be happy to debate these people on the issues and we made a pledge that we would always show our sources. We have lived up to that pledge. However, for some reason, we are being branded as a hate group because we have challenged those who spread lies and distortion. Nothing could be futher from the truth. We're not going to sit back and allow some of this nonsense to go unanswered. But at the same time, we're not going to waste our valuable time debating a bunch of Neo-Confederate wackos who make up stories and print them "as fact". Some examples of these are comparing Lincoln to Hitler! Give me a break! If you want serious debate, you need to act and conduct yourself like a serious student of Civil War History. When you make outrageous statements and don't back them up with documentation, you are not a serious student of history. You are a muckraker who is just trying to stir things up. If you are going to declare as fact that 250,000 blacks "fought" for the Confederacy, you better show me proof and plenty of it. If you think it's OK to remove the U.S. Flag from flagpoles in the South, then you need to quit your complaining when we demand the removal of the Confederate Flag from PUBLIC buildings. If you want monuments removed from the South that honor our Union Veterans, then you need to be prepared to support the removal of Confederate Monuments in the North. We all have better things to do then spend our time with the wackdoodles. It's time for the Neo-Confederates to get a life. Our time would be much better spent in honoring our ancestors who fought for this country. Our time would be much better spent in trying to preserve our historic sites as a memorial to our past. Our time would be much better spent in repairing and preserving the final resting places of our gallant ancestors. We are not going to pass a resolution supporting the flying of the Confederate flag. Our position on the flag is clearly set out in General Order No. 2. And we are not going to keep our mouths shut when our Union ancestors and their monuments come under attack. You want to call that hate? Go ahead. I call it standing up for those who fought to preserve the Union. You want to call us negative because we stand up for our ancestors? Go ahead. That is your right. We have freedom of speech in this country. If you want serious debate, that is fine. But if you just want to stir things up, go talk in the mirror. We have more important things to do. (January 2008)

 Sons of Union Veterans Upset with the UVU

     Several months ago, we began receiving emails from members of the Sons of Union Veterans. We assumed they wanted to open a dialogue with us. It soon became apparent that this was not the case. In replying to an email last week (May 2007) we included a bulletin which we sent to all our members and thought the SUV would find of interest. It concerned the Grove of Civil War Trees which we had planted in Historic City Cemetery in 1997-2000. This grove of trees just received the 2007 Legacy Award from the Sacramento Tree Foundation. We received several very angry and nasty replies. This project was started when we were members of the SUV. Only three members of the SUV actually did any work on the project. Chuck Davis, Steve Von Bima and Bob Bundy. When Mr. Von Bima and Mr. Bundy left the SUV, the local camp no longer supported the project. The Union Veterans Union, newly reformed by Mr. Von Bima and Mr. Bundy, took over caring for the trees. These trees would have died had it not been for the efforts of the UVU. The SUV were asked repeatedly for volunteers to help with this project and no response was ever received. On only one occasion has a member of that group volunteered his time and that was Mr. Fred Bohmfalk who joined us on one Sunday morning three years ago. Mr. Bolmfalk had tried to get more volunteers, to no avail. Members of the Sons of Union Veterans took exception to our account of the history of the Tree Grove at City Cemetery. Our account was 100% accurate. It is unfortunate that those members chose to attack a memorial to Union Soldiers and those that have been caring for these trees. The people who wrote to us, calling us a hate group and using foul language and never documenting their allegations, have never once offered to help with this project. When we are down there at the cemetery caring for those trees in 110 degree heat, where were they? When we are down there cleaning out the weeds and triming and pruning and picking up after a storm, where were they? When we are down there cleaning the headstones and repairing the GAR Monument, where were they? What a shame. We at the UVU are very proud of the fact that we took the time and effort to save the grove and promote its good name in honor of our Union Veterans. We are proud of the fact that on Memorial Day, we make an effort to get people to take the time to remember what our Union Veterans fought for.  We are proud of the fact, that here in Sacramento, the UVU is at the forefront in promoting Civil War History. Those who attack us are only showing their ignorance. (June 2007)

 NEO-CONFEDERATE HYPOCRISY

For the past several years and longer, the neo-Confederate movement has taken on a life of its own. These groups of Southern Apologists have no problem in spreading lies, half-truths and attacking anyone or anything that does not conform with their twisted sense of history. They are a disgrace to their ancestors. And they have no one to blame but themselves for their disgraceful actions.

    We at the Union Veterans Union always show the source of our information. We do not rewrite history. We report it. We don't make up stories and we don't tell lies. We tell it the way it was. And, unlike many neo-Confederates, we back it up with FACTS! We back it up with DOCUMENTATION!

   The problem with many people is that they accept what they see at face value. They assume if it is in print somewhere, it is true. They fail to do their own research to find out if what they are reading is true or not. So we urge all of you, when reading our material, to do your own research. Don't take our word for it. Check our sources. We, unlike the neo-Confederate movement, have nothing to hide.

GENERAL PALMER STANDS UP TO THE REBEL FLAG! -Philadelphia Inquirer Nov. 11, 1891

GENERAL ORDER #1 (NATIONAL GENERAL ORDER #2)

The Union Veterans Union has always opposed the improper use of the United States Flag as well as the Rebel Flag. Many people have attacked our stand on the Rebel Flag because they don't take the time to understand the order. It is their contention that the Rebel Flag must be honored whenever and wherever it flies. So if the Klan walks down the street waving that flag, it is OK with the flags defenders! It is not OK with us. What Neo-Confederates don't understand is that this is the reason that flag has become a symbol of hatred around the world. The UVU issued a general order which shows very clearly our position on the Rebel Flag. It belongs at Memorial Services, in Museums and at reenactments. It does not belong on public buildings, at rallies by White Supremecist groups like the Klan, the Council of Conservative Citizens and the League of the South (LOSers). It does not belong on beach towels or lunch pails. This is disrespectful. We stand by our order. So a note to all you rebels out there who are criticizing our stand. You keep complaining and whining about how the Rebel Flag is being viewed and we'll keep fighting to get that flag out of the hands of the bigots and racists who have stolen it. And a note to the Sons of Confederate Veterans who are removing the Pledge of Allegience and the United States Flags from your meetings. We are going to continue to challenge you too! You're always crying about the lack of respect for your "monuments" but you attack and oppose Union Monuments. That is called hypocrisy!

JOESPH WHEELER AND THE MARCH TO THE SEA

(With the continued attacks on General Sherman's good name, we are publishing a series of articles to document the conduct of Confederate troops during Sherman's final campaign. It is often overlooked and ignored by those who wish to only show one side of the story. We hope these articles will bring a little balance to this "discussion".

[From Charleston Mercury]

  Lower Three Runs, Barnwell District, S.C. December 31, 1864

To Hon. J. A. Seddon, Secretary of War, Richmond, VA

"I cannot forbear appealing to you in behalf of the producing population of the States of Georgia and South Carolina for protection against the destructive lawlessness of members of General Wheeler's command. From Augusta to Hardeevill, the road is now strewn with corn left on the ground unconsumed. Beeves have been shot down in the fields, one-quarter taken off, and the balance left for buzzards. Horses are stolen out of wagons on the road abd by wholesale out of stables at night. The writer saw an order from General Wheeler authorizing search to be made in his command for thirty-seven animals stolen from Mr. Fitzpatrick's plantation in Twiggs County, Georgia, only four of which had up to a few days ago been recovered. Within a few miles of this neighborhood Wheeler's men tried to rob a young lady of a horse while she was on a visit to a neighbor's, but for the timely arrival of a citizen, who prevented the outrage being perptrated. It is no unusual thing to see these men ride into camp with all sorts of plunder. Private houses are visited, carpets, blankets, and other furniture they can lay their hands on are taken by force, in the presence of the owners."

    Now isn't this an interesting letter? Why don't the neo-Confederates who are rewriting history ever mention the outrages by General Wheeler and his band of cuthroats and murderers?  

As General Sherman began his march to the sea, Joe Wheeler's Confederate Cavalry began their own campaign of terror against the population of Georgia and the Carolina's. Wheeler's Cavalry began scouring the countryside looking for any males they could find, regardless of age, and forced them to serve. Old men and young boys were goobled up, given weapons, and were sent to their deaths against the veterans of Sherman's Army. (Miles-"To The Sea"-p. 148)

A Savannah newspaper wrote that Wheeler's Cavalry was more feared by Georgians than Sherman. The soldiers and officers of Wheeler's command freely looted, stating that if they didn't take everything that came in their way, Sherman certainly would! John Bell Hood, rather then returning to Georgia to defend its population, chose to invade Tennessee instead. However, he gave specific orders to Wheeler to destroy all things in his front that might be useful to Sherman. Wheeler did his job well, burning and looting and blaming everyone but himself for his actions.

This is where the neo-Confederates run into a problem. As we all know, when a army is on the march, there are always those ruthless, unscrupulous "soldiers" who operate on the edges. They disregard orders, avoid real fighting, rob and plunder at will. They are nothing but outlaws. These types certainly operated on the fringes of Sherman's army. Neo-Confederates argue that General Sherman, as army commander, was responsible for these ruffians. That is fine. We agree that the army commander must accept a certain amount of responsibility for this type of problem. However, the neo-Confederates never extend this theory to their own commanders. If Sherman is responsible, than Joesph Wheeler, Joe Johnston, John Bell Hood, Bedford Forrest and Robert E. Lee all bear equal responsiblity for those operating on the fringes of their armies as well. You can't have it both ways. During the Gettysburg Campaign, ruffians operating on the fringes of the Army of Northern Virginia, spread out far and wide in search of escaped slaves. But they did not stop there. They seized free men as well. They also looted homes and farms. In 1864, Confederate Cavalry operating with Jubal Early's troops burned the town of Chambersburg, Pennsyslvania.  Neo-Confederates always say that they were justified in doing this because Union troops were doing the same in the South. In other words, its wrong when Union troops do it but it is fine when Confederate troops do it. (Two wrongs make a right?) It's time to take a look at what Confederate troops actually did. No whitewash. Just the facts. It's time for some honesty.

John Bell Hood called Sherman a criminal for firing artillery into Atlanta. But he never blamed himself for the Confederate lines that were dug through residential areas puting civilians in danger. Hood has no one to blame but himself and the Confederate officers who designed the earthworks at Atlanta. It was a cowardly act by these officers to do so.

Charleston Mercury-January 14, 1865-A letter from a private citizen to Secretary of War Seddon described how Wheeler's men "ride into camp with all sorts of plunder. Private houses are visited, carpets, blankets and other furniture they can lay their hands on are taken by force in the presence of their owners.

Robert Toombs, in a letter to Vice President Stephens, wrote; "I hope to God he (Wheeler) will never get back to Georgia....His band consumes more than the whole army beside and will accelerate the evil day". Often the bummers were confused with the bands of Southern freebooters, deserters, liberated convicts and drifters who, posing as Wheeler's cavalry, raided the same countryside. That the latter were as destructive as Union foragers was widely charged by responsible Georgians, Governor Brown and Beauregard criticizing their depredations.(Lewis 454)

February 1, 1865-"We hear that Wheeler has ordered that all supplies in the country be taken (by his own men) or destroyed excepting twelve days rations for the people". Wheeler had repeatedly been ordered to destroy all supplies ahead of the Federals' advance---by Beauregard and Bragg on November 18 and 25.(Osborn 93)

"To General Sherman in Raleigh came petitions from North Carolinians asking for protection against Confederate Soldiers--chiefly paroled men from Lee's Army--who were wandering through the country. Swain wrote him that Wheeler's men were "denuding" the land and that women and childen would soon starve" (Lewis p. 573)

In Mark Bradley's book, "This Astounding Close", Bradley relates story after story of these "gallant Southerners". "To the east, Joe Wheeler's cavalry rode through Raleigh---albeit notquickly enough for some residents. Among Southern civilians, "Wheeler's men" had almost as unsavory a reputation as Sherman's dresded bummers--s reputation sometimes deserved. Mrs. J. L. Pennington, the wife of the editor of the Raleigh Progress, complained that a handful of Wheeler's troopers had dug up her garden in a vain search for ther silverware and had left only because of a warning that Sherman's army was on the outskirts of town. The villainous stereotype of Wheeler's men proved difficult to overcome..... The wild and profoundly unmilitary character of Wheeler's cavalry made a lasting impression on the many residents of the capital." (Bradley 116-117)