Newsletter of the

Past in Review

4th Military District Lt. Col. Jack Grothe, Commanding Volume 1 Edition 1 September 2009

From Our Commander I am very pleased to have a new 4th Military District Newsletter as the old Thin Blue Line is not as thin as in the past. The 4th Military District SVR is starting a new campaign year in good shape. The number of troops has gone from 250 to 324 men. There are four new units, Co. A 49th Regt. IA. Inf. "The Iowa Rifles", The Rockford Zouaves, The 1st Mo. State Militia Inf. , Columbia Tigers and Ship's Company USS Carondelet. The 4th Military District is the first SVR district to have a naval unit.

The School of the Piece put on by the 4th Military District SVR and Region XII NCWAA, June 27, 2009 at Jefferson Barracks County Park in south St. Louis County, Missouri went very well. 59 position cards were issued at the end of the school, in addition to instructor and inspector cards. Communication between the district staff, the district units, the SUVCW and the public has taken two big steps forward, thanks to the following 1. Cpl. Kent A. Peterson, Inf. 4th MD Hq. Co., volunteered to set up and run a 4th Military District website. It is up and running. 2. Cpl. Gary L. Scheel, Co. C 5th Regt. Mo. Vol. Cav., Volunteered to publish a district newsletter. You are now reading it. I thank these two NCO's for taking on these extra duties that are so important to the district. I strongly encourage all officers, NCO's and men of the district to assist them with their duties. The troops of the 4th Military District SVR will work with all the Allied Orders of the GAR in the district to honor the memory of the Boys in Blue. In F C & L Lt. Colonel Jack G. Grothe, 4th Military District SVR Cmdg. (Editorial Note: Photograph shows Brigadier-General Robert Grimm presenting Lieutenant Colonel Jack G. Grothe with his promotion papers. Photograph courtesy of Captain Emmett Taylor)

Company A, 49th Iowa Volunteer Infantry The Iowa Rifles

The Iowa Rifles assembled for an official SVR Unit photograph in Redfield, IA at the site of the Grand Army of the Republic Hall. The Rifles also presented the National Colors at the beginning of the Department of Iowa Officer’s Meeting, which was held in the G.A.R. Hall

Honoring Private Ebenezer Ayres, 9th Connecticut Volunteers on 8 August

With temper-eratures exceed-ing 100 degrees on this very hot

day, my Regimental Color Sergeants and myself spent approximately two hours in uniform rendering appro-priate military honors to Pvt. Ayres and supporting the efforts of his family in seeing that his grave site was properly adorned with a stone and plaque honoring his service. The discovery of Pvt. Ayres burial in Iowa brings to 41 the number of know Revolutionary War veterans buried in this state. For our efforts, the Forty-ninth Iowa was present-ed with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Sons of the American Revolution. Respectfully submitted in F, C & L, 1st Sgt David M. Lamb Commanding, Company “A” 49th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment “The Iowa Rifles”

Company C, 34th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Rock River Rifles

THE FIRST MEDAL OF HONOR AWARD OBSERVATION DAY!

In 2008 the federal government declared the 25th of March to be Medal of Honor Award Day. Commander William L. Groth Jr., William T. Sherman, Billy Yank, Camp # 65, Department of Missouri Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and the Missouri Department ‘Medal of Honor’ Chairman, contacted the

2

Valhalla Cemetery, St. Louis County, Missouri and asked them permission to hold such an observation in their cemetery, since they had two Medal of Honor men buried there. They welcomed the proposal. We later learned this was one of two such observances in Missouri. Corporal James K. Merrifield, Medal of Honor, Co. C, 88th Illinois Infantry, Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. During hand to hand combat Corporal Merrifield captured two colors and returned them to headquarters. Corporal William Robert Button, USMC, Gendarmerie d’Haiti. Along with fellow St. Louis Sgt. Herman Henneken, USMC, for extraordinary heroism resulting in the death of Charlemange Peralte, supreme bandit chief, killing, capture and dispersal of about 1,200 of his outlaw followers. Sgt. ‘Hard Hat’ Hanneken (Brigadier General) is buried in San Diego, California. Both received the Medal of Honor for the same action. Arrangements were made with a number of military organizations and patriotic organizations. Major Jack G. Grothe, Commander of the 4th Military District was commanding officer of the event. Participants include: from Jefferson City, Brigadier General Stephen Danner, Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard; Color Guard and Rifle Squad, South St. Louis Detachment Marine Corps League #183, Riflemen for color guard, Army, and bugler M. Sgt Brian House, Air Force, Missouri Military Funeral Honors Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery; Major Keith Brown Sr. National Society of American Revolution Missouri; Tom Embree, St. Louis Mayor Slays office; SUVCW Missouri Department Commander Emmett P. Taylor III, U.S. Army retired; Commander 1st Sgt Charles Funck, Co. C, 34th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry SUVCW-SVR; Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War camps include Wm. T. Sherman Camp # 65; Gen. Asboth Camp #5, Col. Hecker Camp, Vifquian Camp, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Past National President Ruth M. Funck, Julie Dent Grant Camp #16 and Auxiliary SUVCW Maggie Grothe. Valhalla Cemetery had for us at the main entrance, tent, covered chairs and speaker stand with mike. Their participation was noted and welcomed. After Camp # 65 Chaplain Joseph L. Difani Sr. invocation, the program began. Major Grothe spoke of the actions of the men. General Danner gave Medal of Honor history and appreciation. Greetings from Mayors office, Proclamation from Sunset Hills was read. After Rifle salute and taps and prayer, the procession proceeded to the grave sites of the men. Wreaths were laid at both grave sites in somber memorial military manner. Media was represented by KSDK, Channel 5-TV and John Auble. Respectfully submitted: 1st Sgt. Charles Ed Funck III, Co. C, 34th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry ‘Rock River Rifles’ SUVCW-SVR. (Submitted March 2009)

Company B, 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry On April 29 four of our members presented a living history program to about 120 8th grade students at the Atlantic Middle School

On May 1, five members were involved in giving a living history program to about 200 4th grade students at the Hitchcock House, an ‘Underground Railroad’ station at Lewis, IA. Four members presented a living history program to about 280 8th grade at Lewis Central Middle School, Council Bluffs, IA. on May 5. WOW TV, Channel 6, from Omaha filmed parts of the presentation. A reporter was also present from the Council Bluffs Nonpareil daily newspaper. Ten members attended the Atlantic, IA Memorial Day ceremonies on May 25. As has become the custom the last few years, our cannon was fired to begin the ceremonies. Pvt. Dave Burkett, PCC of Col. W. H. Kinsman Camp #23 laid the GAR wreath on behalf of the SVR. Three of our members also formed part of the rifle squad. The Civil War Monument in the Atlantic square lost its shield during a spring storm. At the June 2 meeting, Brother Bob Pauls urged the Company to help in restoring the statue. The Camp donated $100 to the project. We were the first to donate to the cause. At the 2009 Carson Re-enactment, Co. B, 10th Iowa held a joint memorial for Brother Bill Russell. A cased flag was presented to the family. Also, the SUVCW and SVR raised $125.00 for the repair and restoration of the Iowa Monument to Herron’s Division. Kinsman Camp #23 matched this with a $100.00

pledge. Co. A, 49th Iowa, SVR assisted in this effort. 3

A new veteran’s monument was dedicated at the new Carson Community Building on June 14. Co. B, 10th Iowa, assisted by re-enactors of the Western Iowa Brigade, provided the color guard, rifle squad and bugler. The SVR received many thanks for making the ceremony special. On June 20-21, Co. B, 10th Iowa, held a living history event at the Dodge House in Council Bluffs. On the evening of June 20, a special ceremony was held at the Kinsman Monument in Fairview Cemetery. Three members of the Kinsman family were present. A stormy Aug. 15 saw six members of Co. B, 10th Iowa took part in the “Atlanticfest” activities to raise funds for repairs to "Lady Liberty", an 15-foot bronze statue that graces the very top of the Cass County Civil War monument. The names of local Civil War veterans are on bronze plaques along the base. Atlantic's V.F.W. & American Legion were also present to help raise funds. "Atlanticfest" was held at the city park where the monument is located (Submitted by 2nd Lieutenant Mike Carr, Company B, 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry)

Company A, 49th Iowa Volunteer Infantry The Iowa Rifles

The unit, also called the “Iowa Rifles”, was raised by the efforts of Dept. of Iowa Chief of Staff David Lamb in the period April to June 2009. There are seventeen charter members from six of Iowa’s eleven Camps. On April 24, 2009 members assisted in dedicating the new Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery near Van Meter. On May 25,1st Sgt. Lamb was in charge of the color guard that was presented prior to the Iowa Cubs baseball game at Principal Park in Des Moines. On June 13, several members of the unit attended the re-enactment in Carson, IA hosted by Co. B, 10th Iowa. A grand total of $125 was raised by Sgt. Lamb and DC Court Stahr for the restoration of the Iowa monument to Herron’s Brigade at Vicksburg. This amount was added to by a matching grant of $100 by Kinsman Camp #23. On June 20 the majority of the Regiment gathered for a group photo at Redfield, IA, prior to the Dept. Officer’s meeting. For the 4th of July, members of the “Rifles” attended the Independence Day festivities at Corydon, IA. The unit provided a color guard, and First Sgt. Lamb was the keynote speaker at the celebration. Members of the “Rifles” held a recruiting and fund raising event at Dahl’s grocery store in Ankeny on July 23. Over $200 was raised for the monument fund. Company "A" 49th Iowa took part in the re-dedication of the grave of Revolutionary War veteran Ebenezer Ayers on the 9th Connecticut Volunteers yesterday in the Eastern Iowa town of Fort Madison on Aug. 8. We had been asked by the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution to provide an Honor Guard for this ceremony for one of our nation's founding heroes. Approximately fifteen months ago, one of our own Guardsmen (Michael Rowley) was contacted by a descendent of Pvt. Ayers and informed that they had located an unmarked grave in a small cemetery ("Hickory Grove") just North of Fort Madison on a piece of land once owned by the Ayers family. Brother Mike is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and was, at that time, serving as the President of the Iowa chapter of that august organization. He has also been deeply involved in veteran grave registration and tombstone replacement projects for the Department of Iowa, SUVCW for some years. Michael did the necessary paperwork to have a new gravestone issued to him so that he could re-set the stone at the gravesite for Pvt. Ayers and then he assisted the family in setting up this memorial celebration and re-dedication. The event was attended by 45 descendants of Pvt. Ayers and about 150 community members, officials, and press from the Eastern Iowa area. (Submitted by Adjutant Mike Carr, Company A, 49th Iowa Volunteer Infantry)

4

Battery A, Cushing’s 4th U.S. Artillery

Cushing’s 4th U.S. Bat A of the 4th M.D., S.V.R. spent Sunday Aug 23rd at the Malone Historical Society fundraiser. Malone, a small farming community in Wisconsin’s Hartland surrounded by the future in the imposing form of power generating wind mills yet willing to remember the men who sacrificed all. Turned out in impressive numbers to support their historical society, ate ice cream sundays, listen to hit and miss engines, see an impressive train display, and watch the battery drill and fire through out the day. Cushing’s Battery brought a 3” Ordinance Rifle and limber, pitched several tents, battery Gideon, and flag pole with 36 star flag, allowing the 9 members present (all members of Alonzo H. Cushing Camp #5 SUVCW) to talk to, teach and demonstrate the life of ordinary men who did extraordinary things during the war between the states. Cushing’s Battery does many living history events through out the year as well as several school days in the spring. (Submitted by 2nd Lt. Richard Young, Battery A, Cushing’s 4th U.S. Artillery)

Nebraska Rangers Last year in Sept. we did living history at Indian Cave State Park, Labor Day weekend. Marched in Applejack Parade in Nebraska City and also did recruiting. Oct. we had a Civil War reenactment in Brownville, NE. In Nov. we had Gettysburg address in Lincoln at the State Capitol Building. The events for our year have been: Feb. stand guard at the Lincoln memorial at the state capitol building on Feb. 12th, then displayed my artifacts on Feb. 14th at a high school in Lincoln, where there were other activities going on to celebrate Lincoln's birthday. March 19th did a tribute to Governor Thayer. April, we stood guard at Lincoln Memorial at the State capital, to honor his death day. May we had a headstone dedication at Hoskins, NE. On Memorial Day we saw completion and dedication of a War monument in Madison, NE. Also in Lincoln, flags were placed in 2 cemeteries and honor guard formed for Memorial Day services. June we took part in Homestead Days at Beatrice. NE., did living history and was part of the honor guard for President Lincoln. We dedicated a church window in Weeping Water, NE. at the end of June. July, we attended the Lyons, NE. the of July celebration and did living history in the park and marched in the parade. The end of July found us at Tilden, NE. with a very busy weekend. Another brother and I stood guard at the Vietnam Traveling Wall, we took part in the dedication service of the wall and had a grave dedication, marched in the parade and did living history. Aug. 30th I will travel to Hanover, KS and do living history as part of their Pony Express celebration. I have attended 3 honor courts for Eagle scouts and prepared 7 certificates to date. Also I have participated in 3 presentations at the Civil War Veterans' museum in Nebraska City, NE. this year. In F, C, & L. Bill Dean Nebraska Rangers

Battery L, 1st Illinois Light Artillery Mulligan’s Battery

1st Illinois Light Artillery Battery L (Mulligan's Battery) at à Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Wheaton, IL May 23, 2009 taking part

in a Memorial Service. ßThree generations of Sons: Thomas Hauff, 1st Sergeant, Robert Hauff, Corporal (Toms' son), and John Hauff, Private (Tom's grandson) at Pleasant Hill.

Rockford Zouaves We the Rockford Zouaves, are proud to be a new member of the Sons of

Veterans Reserve, having been given our Charter at the National Encampment in Louisville the weekend of August 13, 14 &15. We chose this name because we live in or around the Northern Illinois City of Rockford, where in 1856 a military company was organized under the name of Rockford City Grays. Two years later a young man arrived in Rockford the summer of 1858, from Mechanicville, New York Elmer E. Ellsworth would soon become the drillmaster of the Grays at the invitation of Garrett L. Nevius, their Captain also from the State of New York. The two became good friends and would on January 3, 1861 transform the Rockford City Grays into the Rockford Zouaves where they would go on to attain an even higher degree of proficiency. The Rockford Zouaves would become Company D, of the 11th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Garrett L. Nevius would have the Rockford Grand Army of the Republic Post named after him. So it is with that spirit of 'elan and dash, that ten members of the John A. Logan Camp # 26 chose to form an SVR unit and carry on that sense of "Vigor in Action and Style." Regards in F. C. & L. Terry R. Dyer C.C. John A. Logan Camp #26. Adjutant, Rockford Zouaves

Company C, 5th Missouri Cavalry Regiment

Co. C, 5th Regt. MO Vol. Cavalry, SVR has had a rather busy schedule this year. In addition to participating in several full scale reenactments, the unit was present for duty at the following events:

• February 22, 2009 Sherman Ceremony at Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis, MO • April 18, 2009 Lincoln Tomb Ceremony, Springfield, IL • April 27-30, 2009 Rockwood School District Civil War Days, St. Louis, MO • May 25, 2009 Memorial Day Ceremony, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery • July 11-12, 2009 Living History, Ste Genevieve, MO

6

ß Captain Emmett Taylor and Lieutenant Greg Decker attacking the 9th Missouri Sharpshooters at the Ste. Genevieve Living History.

5th Missouri Cavalry SVR, Calvary Cemetery for Sherman Ceremony at General William T. Sherman grave site. à Capt. Emmett Taylor and Sergeant Harold James attended the SVR Breakfast during the resent 2009 SUVCW National Encampment in Louisville, KY. The unit is currently making plans for its 2009 “Regimental Christmas Dinner” which will be held on December 12th at the Cupboard Restaurant in Hermann, MO. As in the past, members of other SVR units and their ladies are invited to attend. Be looking for more information to be posted soon on the units website, www.thecavalry.org.

7 ßAt this time, Co. C, 5th Regt. MO Vol. Cavalry announces that Trooper William McGehee is being deployed to Iraq with his Army Reserve unit. He and his family will be in the unit’s prayers during his 1-year tour. This young soldier is a credit to the 5th Missouri Cavalry, the SVR, the U.S. Army and his country. Respectfully Submitted,

Capt. Emmett P. Taylor, SVR

Company E, 47th Missouri

Infantry The 47th Missouri Infantry, Company E, has had several activities à this year. Beginning in April 2009, we were honored to provide the color guard for the 4th Military district at the Lincoln Death Day Ceremonies in Springfield, IL. This was the unit's first big event and the first one that we participated in outside of the state of Missouri. General James R. McCormick Camp 215's auxiliary (the newly formed Louisa Volker Auxiliary 215 - ASUVCW) also came along to support us. 7

Then in May we were involved in two events. We participated in the ceremonies at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis and the newly formed Louisa Volker Auxiliary 215 - ASUVCW also came along to support us here as well. Also at the last of May, we hosted a gravestone dedication ceremony for Private Reuben Brewington of the 1st Tennessee Mounted Infantry, Co. C - U.S. near a little town called Arbor, MO. Our auxiliary participated as well as a few reenactor friends.

ßFinally, we come to the G.A.R. Monument dedication in Bonne Terre, MO on July 4, 2009. Our first sergeant, Bob Schmidt, purchased a monument to honor the G.A.R. Post 215 from Bonne Terre, MO and its 125th Anniversary. This is a bronze plaque with the names of the charter members. The event was going to start the day's festivities, however, rain came and attempted to stop our efforts. We proceeded anyway, and held this event, and then marched in the city's Fourth of July parade. Yours in F, C, & L, 2LT Chris Warren, P.C.C. Commander - 47th Missouri Infantry, Co. E

Headquarters Company, 4th Military District HQ Company Marches Through Summer Members of the 4th MD Headquarters Company marched in several parades recently. On May 30th, the unit marched in the Reclaiming Our Heritage parade, through the grounds of the Zablocki VA Medical Center & Milwaukee’s Old Soldiers Home. On July 5th, the men traveled to Kenosha, about 30 miles south of Milwaukee for that city’s Civic Veterans Parade. The most recent event was the South Shore Frolics Parade, held on July 11th, on Milwaukee’s south side. The men shown marching in the photo (left to right) are Capt. Steve Michaels, Pvts. Bill Doan, David Howard, Dean Collins, Al LaMott, and

Tom Brown. On the color guard is Pvt. Patrick Kulas of Cushing’s Battery. The women are members of C.K. Pier Badger Auxiliary #4. On Labor Day Weekend, the company will march in the St. Francis Days Parade and on November 7th, it’ll participate in Milwaukee’s Veterans Day Parade. 4th Military District Holds School The 4th Military District and the Nat. Civil War Artillery Assoc. co-hosted a School of the Piece on June 27th, at Jefferson Barracks County Park, St. Louis. Sixty-six Union and Confederate attendees, representing Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas participated in the safety course on muzzle loading artillery.

Local NCWAA instructors included 1Lt. Randy Baehr, SVR, and NCWAA Region XII Chief Inspector 8

Capt. Mike McCubbins, SVR. BG Charles Corfman, SVR, of Ohio, assisted with instruction. BG Corfman conducted classroom instruction, and NCWAA Chairman-Elect Ethan Barnett presented safety basics to all participants with a demonstration crew. The group was divided into crews for hands-on instruction on the guns by the NCWAA staff. The School concluded with many of the participants crewing three of the pieces for a series of demonstration firings. The District’s next school will be held in May 2010 in Boscobel, Wisconsin.

Caption: SVR members at the school included (L to R) Pvt. Dean Venardos, 1Sgt. Greg Zelinske, Pvt. David Wilson, Cpl. Charles Ed Funck, Pvt. Vern Stottlemeyer, Maj. Jack Grothe, Pvt. Marty Aubuchon, 1Lt. Randy Baehr. Seated at right are Pvt. Paul Winslow and BG Charles Corfman.

S.V.R. National Headquarters

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Petrovic Our National Commander, Brigadier General Robert Grimm has chosen Adjutant Robert Petrovic of Company A, 2nd Missouri Infantry,4th Military District as his new Chief of Staff. General Grimm presenting Lt. Col. Petrovic his promotion à during the SVR breakfast at our National Encampment in Louisville, TN. (Photo courtesy of Cher Petrovic)

Reconnaissance 8 thru 10 October 2009 Burial of remains found at Franklin, TN See press release below 21 November 2009 is Remembrance Day at Gettysburg PRESS RELEASE: Contact: Jay Sheridan Dr. Sam Gant (615) 364-5143 (615)957-1230 jay@sheridanpr.com samcgant@yahoo.com

9

UNKNOWN SOLDIER RECOVERED FROM FRANKLIN BATTLEFIELD To Be Reinterred at Historic Rest Haven Cemetery in Franklin, Honored with Monument

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – A construction project in the area where the calamitous Battle of Franklin was fought on Nov. 30, 1864, has disturbed the resting place of an unknown soldier who was buried in a shallow grave 145 years ago during the tragic last days of the Civil War in Tennessee. The City of Franklin’s Battlefield Task Force, along with local historians and government officials, led the recovery of the soldier’s remains and will direct a funeral ceremony to re-inter his body at the Historic Rest Haven Cemetery in downtown Franklin, where other brave veterans – both Union and Confederate – were laid to rest. It is not known for which army the unknown soldier fought. A coffin containing his remains will lie in state at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 510 West Main Street in Franklin – the circa 1827 sanctuary which served as barracks for Federal troops during their occupation of the town in 1864 – from 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 until the funeral ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. One Union and one Confederate honor-guard sentry will be posted at the front doors of the church during the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. visitation period each day and prior to the ceremony on Saturday morning. The soldier will receive full military honors from re-enactors representing brothers- in-arms from both the Union and the Confederacy. On Saturday morning, a Union and a Confederate Chaplain will conduct a brief funeral service in the church. Following the service, the casket will be borne from the church by uniformed pallbearers (Union and Confederate) and placed on a waiting, horse-drawn caisson in front of the church. Accompanied by a color guard, honor guard, and Civil War-era bagpiper, the caisson will move north on Main Street, crossing Fifth Avenue, circling the Square, proceeding north on Third Avenue, and then west on North Margin Street to the Rest Haven Cemetery gates. As the procession leaves St. Paul's and continues up Main Street, townspeople and visitors are invited to fall in behind the ranks of the marching re-enactors. After arriving at Rest Haven Cemetery, a brief eulogy will be delivered by the chaplains, and will conclude with period-appropriate military honors including a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps” by a uniformed bugler. A Monument to The Unknown Soldier who died on the Franklin Battlefield will be unveiled as part of the ceremony. Active participation in the ceremonies at Rest Haven and at St. Paul’s will be restricted to uniformed re-enactors only, but the public is invited to view the ceremonies from designated areas. Any re-enactment unit that wishes to participate is encouraged to contact Robert Huff at (615) 500-8211, or via email at rghuff123@aol.com. For information on Franklin and Williamson County, go to www.visitfranklin.com.

10