Looks like a group of Confederate reenactors were told by event organizers in Smithfield, Virginia that while they will be allowed to march in an upcoming parade, they will not be allowed to fire their weapons. The reenactors decided that the only reasonable thing to do was to “secede” for reasons of authenticity.
In other news, the state of Georgia along with the Sons of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Children of the Confederacy, and the Georgia Civil War commission [Have I left anyone out?] are going to honor the state’s Jewish Confederates. I just want to say that as a Jew this ceremony is long overdue. It’s nice to know that the service and sacrifice of tens of thousands of Jewish Confederates is finally being recognized. Seriously though, has anyone taught these people how to make a good potato latke?
About Kevin Levin
What?? Why couldn’t the reenactors fire their weapons? Thats the best part! I
I agree with you on the Jewish commemoration. I had no idea that Judaism was that prevalent in that time period. Though I am not myself Jewish, I still believe there is respect due to Jewish soldiers–to both sides.
Actually Logan, I was laughing at both of these stories. In reference to the latter, there may have been as many as 2,000 Jewish Confederates. Why there is a need to honor their service is beyond me.
Ah, so that is why it seemed somewhat odd. I was asking myself, “Tens of thousands of Jewish Confederates?” For an army limited in numbers to begin with thats an awful lot of Jews haha. But I am confused-I thought you wrote that from something you read?
Proof of the old aphroism that you can get a Confederate reeenactor to go anywhere as long as he can fire his musket.
And a Federal reenactor is happy as long as he can criticize any and all aspects of the whole event.
I say this as someone who has reenacted both sides for 30 years, so don’t anyone get their knickers in a knot.
Tom,
That’s an interesting observation about Federal reenactors. It sounds not too far from how modern sailors are. A “bitching sailor” is a happy sailor.
Robert Moore
When I visited Pickets grave in Richmond I saw a monument that kind of took me by surprise. I have never heard anyone discuss Jews in the Confederate Army. http://www.rrphillips.com/Genealogy/HollyWood_Cemetery/slides/100_2746.html
I like the custom of leaving a stone when you visit a loved ones grave. The first time I saw this was about a year ago in Arlington when our guide brought it to our attention. Its a custom that I have adopted when I visit my fathers grave.
http://www.rrphillips.com/Genealogy/Joseph_Haskett/pages/100_2553.htm
The link above is to an interesting tombstone. Does not have anything to do with the Civil War but I have never seen anything like it before.
I took photos at the New Bern cemetery because my grandparents are buried there as well a other family members. Joseph Haskett, one of the 22 soldiers hung in Kinston by Pickett is buried here.
http://www.rrphillips.com/Genealogy/Joseph_Haskett/pages/100_2539.htm
http://www.rrphillips.com/Genealogy/Joseph_Haskett/pages/100_2545.htm
Allen Eubanks, Lucinda Stanley, and their children are buried in this cemetery. Eubanks is a family I have researched. Allen purchased Lucinda to take care of his mother. They would live together until his death and she would be the executer of his will. Allen was a rich man in New Bern. Lucindas ancestry changes depending on what census you look at. She is called white, black, mulatto, and her death certificate says colored.
http://www.rrphillips.com/slavery/slavery.htm
Allen and Lucinda lived together and their children went to school. I do not suggest that this is the norm in the south but their appears to have been a substantial mixed race population in New Bern before the Civil War. John Carruthers Stanley was a mixed race man who owned slaves and plantations. Usually when you see a free black with slaves they are family members but John Stanley owned 160 slaves. Again this is not the norm but an aberation but its intersting. I should also note that these mixed race people were not running to join the Confederate Army but they did join the Union Army. Former slaves formed a community called James City across the water from New Bern. My direct ancestor, Edward Phillips was their in 1900. He had served in the Union Army from NC. I never figured out what Edward is doing in James City for 10 years. He is just about the only white man their. There has got to be a story there.
I would love to know who is responsible for this marker. Thanks for the link.
I don’t know about that particular gravemarker, but the 18th-century Jewish cemetery in Newport, RI has many gravestones that display incongruous Christian iconography:
http://vastpublicindifference.blogspot.com/2008/12/christian-iconography-jewish-cemetery.html
Thanks so much for the link.