The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-03

him.
 | Mobile, Ala. Aug l9, 1905.
 On the 27th of June, 1890, pursuant to
 call in The Register, about sixty Vet
 erans of the Army and Navy of the
 late Confederate States met in the Mu-
 nicfpal Building for the purpose of or
 ganizing Camp of Confederate Veter-
 ans Dick Roper called the assemb-
 lage to order and Col. Joseph Hodgson
 was made temporary chairman and
 Harvey E. Jones was temporary secre-
 tary. The camp was named Raphael
 Semmes. Between fifty and sixty of
 those present signed the roll that night.
 and on the 30th of June following the
 organization was completed by the
 adoption of the Constitution and the | election of officers.
 The first Commander was Col. R. NJ. . | Sands.
 The first Adjutant was Capt. Harvey | E. Jones.
 l During the first few months the mem | bership ran up to about 100 members
 The membership now is over 300. l Admiral Semmes, for whom the above Camp is named has been so sung in | song and story" a sketch was not sent from said Camp.
 The first camp of Confederate Vete- rans organized in Tuscumbia was in l 1894. Captain Arthur Keeler was f elected commander, and the camp was named for General James Deshler, whose father. civil engineer was inter ested In the first railroad in Alabama, running between Decatur and Tuscum- bia. and also in the project of a canal | around Muscle Shoals In the Tennessee | River, had become identified with this section of country and lived in Tuscum- oia General James Deshler was a stu | dent at West Point at the outbreak of the Civil War. and hastened to report at the military headquarters of the Con | federacy to offer his services for her | defense; and was appointed at the | age Of S3 years. General in the army Of Tennessee. He was supposed to be | the youngest general in the army. and | was killed in the battle of Chickamau- ga. His remains were brought to Oak wood Cemetery for interment and his grave is decorated by reverential hearts and hands each Memorial Day. As | memorial to his son, Colonel David Deshler bequeathed to Tuscumbia, square in the heart of the corporation l on which stood his residence. to be ded- | icated to the use of an ''undenomina- tional school for white females" So intense were his sympathies for our Southland, that through he came from Pennsylvania--when dying after the close of the war he stipulated in his will that no one presumably his heirs should entrust, or enjoy the least part of his amas ssed wealth, who had assisted in or taken up arms in this un- holy war against the South.
 This camp held several very enthu- siastic meetings-and on occasions when the ladies of the Memorial Asso- citation needed assistance or held ser vices and decorated the Confederate plot in the cemetery, the members at- tended and aided in the exercises-but fin short while both of these societies were without organization and became defunct. .-
 On April IT. 1897. a meeting of ex- Confederates was called by Captain JO- seph N. Thompson. for the purpose of organizing a camp of Confederate Vet erans. About fifty were present and the organization being perfected the name of w. A. Johnson was chosen, Captain Joseph N. Thompson elected commander. Captain J. D. Lester of Ku- KIux fame. secretary; James R. Grove, first vice-commanderl J. P. Grey. sec ond vice-commander; Joe Donnelly, third vice-commander; J. B. Bickley, Adjutant; Shelby Grissom, treasurer; M. D. L. Green, color bearer; T. T Row land, E. C. Downs, T. w. Myham, trus- tees. F-*
 twenty names were VDIcu upOn db honorary members of the camp-wives, sons and daughters of ex-Confederate soldiers Comrades were elected dele gates to the seventh national conven- ton to be held in Nashville, June. 1897. Preparatory to these delegates leaving for Nashville. Mrs. w. A. Johnson pre- sented to the camp q beautiful white silk banner which. together with "Sa- cred Peals of Dixie" the inspiration of AH. CaH irhu rra tnt a d.. dress and happy responses. impromptu talks from veterans and members in- fused into these patriotic hearts new zeal for their work, rendering the oc- casion one of pathos and enthusiasm.
 Up to this date there has been en- rolled IT members, twenty-five of whom have died very nearly all of whom have received crosses of honor. Not all are faithful attendants at their meetings nor working members. but the camp Is loyal and true, and not a Memorial Day Is observed but a com mittee Is appointed to assist the Tus- cumbia chapter to prepare the Confed crate graves for decoration and the veterans attend in a body.
 At a late meeting a committee was appointed to assist the Sons of Veter- ans to raise the necessary funds to erect a monument to the women of the Confederacy.
 Their committee for looking after the sick and needy old soldiers Is ever vigilant and helpful. and few camps are more alert to the demands made by the State division and the '. c. V. than the W. A. Johnson Camp.
 Captain James R. Grove. a member of General Harrison's staff. U. c. ", was commander of w. A. Johnson Camp for four years. He was formerly q citizen of Marion. Ala. served in the 4th Alabama regiment. is now a citizen of Sheffield. He was the first man to donate s1OO to the memorial for the women of the South. The present off, cers of the camp are:
 J. N. ThompEon, Commander. E. L. BIckley. First Lieutenant Com mander.
 W. H. Rutland. Second Lieutenant Commander.
 E. c. Downs. Adjutant.
 Shelby Grissan, Treasurer Goodloe Pride, Chaplain. Valuable Lot of Stamps. Thomas Talpin. of London, began collecting postage stamps when only