Monday, June 7, 2010

The Confederate Soldier's Prayer

Discovered folded in the pocket of a fallen Confederate soldier

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among men, most richly blessed.


Recited by JHM Camp Chaplain Ben Kennedy at the Annual Confederate Memorial Day Service held at the Pewee Valley Cemetery, June 5, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Cave Hill Memorial Day Service

The Memorial Day service at Cave Hill was well attended.  U. S. Congressman John Yarmuth was in attendance not only at Cave Hill, but also at the major Memorial Day service at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery latter that day.  Again this year, the VA authorized the John Hunt Morgan Camp to decorate the graves of the CSA soldiers buried within the National Cemetery with CSA battle flags.  Lee Squires, the superintendent of Cave Hill, also authorized the camp to decorate the CSA graves  in the private section of the cemetery.  The main speaker was Colonel Leopoldo Quintas, the Regimental Commander of the 16th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Knox, who gave a very touching address.

Commander

Confederate Heritage Projects in England

Our dear friends in England and Europe are working hard to locate the graves of our Confederates and their families. Many thanks are due to Bob Jones of Liverpool for this valuable addition to our history. Bob and others have blazed a Confederate Heritage Trail across that great city, home of the CSS Alabama. Like all of us, these folks study, record and even fight for our flag in England, all with only a "thank you" as their reward. Unfortunately, even the British have become bigoted against our flag, as I have learned from our friends in England.  


Below are excerpts from Bob Jones' e-mails:
Did I ever mention to you that the grave of the first wife of Captain John Low, CSN, was located last year by John Hussey?  It seems that everyone thought that she had died in Savannah in 1864, but I have a copy of her death certificate and she died in 6 Elizabeth Street with John Low in attendance.  It would appear that she had read in the papers of the sinking of the CSS Alabama on 19 June 1864, and she knew her husband was on that vessel from the time she sailed out of the river Mersey.  She was not, however, aware of the fact hat he had been put in command of the CSS Tuscaloosa until she was later seized by the authorities in South Africa.  John returned eventually to England but in her haste to find out what had happened to him, she immediately ran the blockade to get to Liverpool.  Low was not listed on any of the reports of those killed, drowned, missing or injured and in hospital, or those rescued.  She must have been frantic with worry, and on arriving in Liverpool she would have made straight for the offices in Rumford Place, where she would have probably met John standing large as life.

. . . 

As I say she was living at 6 Elizabeth Street which is at the junction of Pembroke Street and Crown Street which is at the back of the New Royal Hospital in Liverpool.  Mary Elizabeth Low died 20 November 1864, having arrived in Liverpool in early August 1864.  I have attached the death certificate to show the cause of death.

Credit for finding Mary Elizabeth's grave must go to John Hussey, as he was looking for the grave of a British sea captain and noticed this grave of Mary Low and took a photo of it for me.  He was on Radio Merseyside his morning talking about his book Cruisers, Cotton and Confederates.  John did a lot of hard work on the graves of Irvine Stephens and James Dunwoody Bulloch prior to the re-dedication of Irvin's grave last 18 July.

I have added some shots of John  placing a Georgia flag on the Wyly children's grave, sitting in the Liver Hotel under the Battle flag on the wall and with other items linking this establishment with the Confederacy, and working hard to plant the Southern Cross of Honour to the Bulloch Brothers as well as helping to clean up James' headstone. The blue primulas were planted on Mary Low's grave by John last year, and they have survived the harsh winter and flowered this year.

Confederate Grave Decoration at Cave Hill

Many thanks to the group that helped set the 300+ flags on CSA veteran's graves at Cave Hill Cemetery.  The cemetery is beautiful this time of year. Every year the VFW sponsors a very nice Memorial Day service to honor all of the veterans who gave their life in defense and service to their country.  May they rest in peace knowing that they will be remembered for the ultimate sacrifice that they gave.

Commander