1
.
Brigadier General William Steele
(May 1, 1819 – January 12, 1885) was a career United States Army
officer who served with distinction during the Mexican–American
War. He later served as a Confederate general during the War of
Southern Independence.
Steele was born in Albany, New
York, in the spring of 1823; his mother
was from Florida and his father
originally from New England. He
attended the United States Military
Academy at West Point in 1836,
graduating four years later standing 31st
out of 42 cadets. He was appointed a
brevet second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S.
Dragoons on July 1, 1840.
Steele served at the Cavalry School for
Practice at the Carlisle Barracks in
Pennsylvania in 1840 and 1841, during which he was promoted
to second lieutenant on February 2, 1841.
He participated during the Seminole Wars in Florida in 1841
and 1842, engaged there in two skirmishes. Steele and the 2nd
Dragoons were on frontier duty at Fort Jesup in Louisiana from
1842 to 1844, and then in garrison at Jefferson Barracks in
Missouri in 1844 and 1845.
The 2nd Dragoons were part of the Military Occupation of
Texas in 1845 and 1846, just prior to the start of the Mexican–
American War. Steele fought at the Battle of Palo Alto on May
8, 1846, after which he was promoted to the rank of first
lieutenant in the 2d Dragoons on May 9. He then saw action at
the Battle of Monterrey that September, the Siege of Vera Cruz
in March 1847, and the Battle of Cerro Gordo in April. Steele
then fought in the Battle of Contreras and the Battle of
Churubusco on August 20, and the Battle of Molino del Rey
that September. Steele was appointed to the rank of brevet
captain for his performance at Contreras and Churubusco as of
August 20, 1847.
On May 30, 1861, Steele
resigned his U.S. Army
commission and moved to
Texas. Choosing to follow the
Confederate cause and his
adopted home state, he entered
the Confederate States Army as
a colonel in the 7th Texas
Cavalry on October 29. His first
assignment was heading the
Confederate forces in Mesilla
during the New Mexico
Campaign. Steele was
promoted to brigadier general
on September 12, 1862, and
then the following year was sent to the Western Theater. He
commanded the Confederate District of the Indian Territory in
Lt. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith's Department of the Trans-
Mississippi from January 8 to December 11, 1863.
Steele commanded the Department's Eastern Subdistrict of
the District of Texas, New Mexico, & Arizona beginning on
March 18, 1864. He participated in the Red River Campaign
that spring, and was praised for his performance in the Battle of
Pleasant Hill on April 9. He then briefly led a division of
cavalry until May 26, 1865, the day Gen. Smith surrendered the
department. Steele was paroled on August 4 from San Antonio,
Texas. (Continued on Page 5)
B.G. Albert Pike Camp #1439 Gen Lewis A Armistead Camp # 1846
Cols Lewis & Harrison Camp # 1854
Gen William Steele Camp # 1857 Major Thomas J. Key Camp # 1920
South Kansas Camp # 2064 BG Buckner & Chilton Camp #. 2227
Volume XV. Issue 05
May 2013
2
If you know of any ladies who would like to join the
Kansas UDC Chapter. A women's organization similar
to the SCV. Contact Linda at [email protected]
Please VOTE ASAP. It is finally happening--a movement to
remove the carving from Stone Mountain. Currently the NO votes are
at 89% but we need to defeat this by at least a 95% vote. James King
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/290674/3/Petition-wants-
Stone-Mt-Confederate-carving-removed Confederate flag at VA Hospital in Hot Springs, South Dakota
Poll http://rapidcityjournal.com/ Poll is located about half way
down on the right side.
Confederate Enlistment
New Recruits
B.G. Albert Pike Camp # 1439 None
Lewis A. Armistead Camp # 1847 None
Col’s Lewis & Harrison Camp #1854 William Steele Camp# 1857 None Maj. Thomas J. Key Camp # 1920 South Kansas Camp # 2064 BG Buckner & Chilton camp #2227
June Camp Agendas
B.G. Albert Pike Camp # 1439
May 11 No Info
Lewis A. Armistead Camp # 1847
May 11 No Info
Col’s Lewis & Harrison Camp #1854
May 18 CSA Alabama discussion mediated by
Cmdr Denver Erickson
William Steele Camp# 1857
May 7
Maj. Thomas J. Key Camp # 1920
. May 2. Mr. Rex Patty aka 1st Lt. Edwin F. Talcott
Asst. Surgeon (Medical practice 1861-1865)
South Kansas Camp # 2064
May 9, video on The Battle of Perryville.
BG Buckner & Chilton Camp #2227
May 27
Division Commander Kyle Erickson, Past Div Cmdr
Denver Erickson, Lt Div cmdr Dick Croft and Div Recruiting Chair Kevin Ivey were present at the charter presentation at the BG Buckner & Chilton camp #2227 meeting in Dodge city April 20th. Cmdrs Croft and Ivey were instrumental in getting the Dodge City camp started. They are working on getting another camp in Liberal Kansas started. See photos on page 4
May 8th Missouri History Day Major Thomas J Key Camp
#1920 will be at the Lone Jack Battlefield. Displaying WBTS Weapons
Dispatches from the Front
Intelligence from
the Wire… Events
in Kansas Division
Why not cross this
fence and join the SCV
brother?
3
Red Letters Generals Blue Letters Camp Meetings Black Letters Camp Members
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1.
M.G. John
Magruder
DOB 1807 Virginia.
B.G. Wm. Steele
DOB 1819, New
York.
2.
Camp #1920
3. 4.
5.
B.G. John M.
Jones
DOD 1864 wilderness battle
6. 7.
Camp #1857
8. 9.
B.G. William Jones
DOD 1824 Virginia
Camp #2064
10.
Lt Gen Thomas. J
Jackson
DOD 1863 Virginia
11.
Camp #1439
Camp #1847
12.
M.G. J.E.B. Stuart
DOD 1864 Virginia
B.G. Albert
Jenkins DOD 1864
13.
B.G. Junisus Daniel DOD 1864 Kentucky
14.
B.G. George Doles
DOB 1830 Georgia
Mike Weatherby
B-Day Key Camp
15.
M.G. Isaac
TrimbleDOB 1802.
Virginia
16.
Gen Ed K Smith
DOB 1824 Florida
17.
M.G. John
Brekinridge
DOD 1875 Kentucky
Garrett Tucker
B-Day Key Camp
18.
B.G. William Smith
DOB 1887 Warrenton
Camp #1854
19. 20. 21.
Bob Norton B-Day Pike Camp
22. 23.
Sam Dagget
Lewis & Harrison
Camp B-Day
24. 25.
26.
Jerry Spaur B-Day Pike Camp
27.
Dan Dooley
B-Day Key Camp
Don Holland B-Day Pike Camp
Camp #2227
28.
Gen P G Beauregard
DOB 1818 Louisiana
Lt Gen Stephen D Lee DOD 1908 Mississippi
29.
B.G. Cadmus
Wilcox
DOB 1824 N.C.
Dennis Garstang
B-Day Key Camp
30. 31.
Gen Pierre G Beauregard Gen Edmond K Smith Lt Gen Thomas Jackson Lt Gen Stephen D Lee M.G. John C Breckenridge M.G Earl VanDorn
M.G JEB Stuart M.G. Isaac Trimble B.G. Junius Daniel B.G. George Doles B.G. Albert Jenkins B.G. John Jones
. Stephen D. Ramseur B.G. William Smith B.G. William Steele B.G. Cadmus Wilcox B.G William T Worford M.G. John Magruder
4
The New Dodge City BG Buckner and Chilton Camp #2227 Receives Camp Charter and new members
Div Cmdr Kyle Erickson presenting Charter to Camp Commander Loren Ashlock presenting membership to
Camp Commander Loren Ashlock Camp Adjutant Russ McBee.
Camp Cmdr Loren Ashlock Div Cmdr Kyle Erickson, Back Row L to R Gary Bennett, Russ McBee, Wade Hampton,
Lt Div Cmdr Dick Croft South Camp Cmdr Kevin Ivey James Bennett, Kyle Erickson, Dick Croft Middle Row L to R
Devon Duffield, Steven Gregory (Both are potential members)
Loren Ashlock Front (Kneeling) L to R Denver Erickson, Kevin Ivey.
Not present were: Tate Bartlett, Mike Spurgin and Jeff Dodridge.
Photos of South Camp Commander Kevin Ivey at Reenactment camp at Wichita’s Cowtown Wichita's Cowtown 4/20.
5
The Alexander Majors’ Home Event The Key Camp hosted a living history campsite and
a weapons and relic display on the grounds of the Majors
House. The camp was set up Friday evening and
consisted of 11 tents forming one-half of a company
street. The 3 Battery Missouri Light Artillery CS, rd
the camp sponsored reenactment unit, brought out their
6-pounder field piece. The weather was good but a bit
windy. During the day, there were musket-firing
demonstrations with Travis Bullock doing a great job as
our infantryman. The cannon was fired numerous times
for the enjoyment of the crowd. All told, the day was a
tremendous success and a feather in our caps. The staff
of the museum was extremely appreciative of our efforts
on opening weekend.
KEY CAMP MEMBERS AT THE MAJORS HOUSE Left to right front row: Eric Martinez, Spike Speicher, Merle Leech.
Back row: Cade Smith, Jacob Martinez, Lane Smith, Travis Bullock, Carl Linck, Rick Bullock, Scott Lalumondier, and
Jacob Mirocke. Not in picture: Dennis Garstang, Carrie Martinez, Mike Smith, and John Weir.
Wornall Carriage House
Project
Saturday, April 13, found Key Camp members Lee
Crutchfield, Tom Hill, Dan Peterson, Lane Smith,
Mike Smith, Spike Speicher, Jim Thornton, and John
Weir reporting to the Wornall House Museum for the
first phase of our project. The original project was to
paint the Carriage House over two weekends.
Commander Speicher and Compatriot Greg
Miller, a professional house painter, surveyed the
project and decided it was not within the realm of
possibility to paint the entire structure in the time we
had allowed.
The project was scaled back to painting just the front 4 and west walls. Phase I was completed on Saturday
April13 when the two walls were scraped, sanded, caulked, and primed. The door on the west wall was framed
and fitted so it would work properly. Commander Speicher gives thanks to the eight men that showed up for all
their hard work.
Carriage House Project Phase II The second part, Phase II, was conducted on Saturday 20 April. The Carriage House had been primed so now
all we 5 had to do was paint the two walls. Unfortunately, we did not get Phase II completed as I had hoped.
Three men showed up to paint and we got the front wall completely painted as well as the first floor section of
the west wall. We will have to schedule another paint day in a few weeks to finish off the west wall.
The Carriage House looks so much prettier for the herb sale than it did before. Special thanks to 1stLieutenant
Commander Lee Crutchfield, 2nd
Lieutenant Commander John Weir, and Commander Spike Speicher for all
their work on Phase II.
6
(Continued from Page 1)
Upon his appointment as adjutant general in 1874, Steele concentrated on the organization and improvement of individual
militia companies, rather than on a statewide structure, thinking this more important at that time of northern suspicion of any
military buildup in the south, and following a period when the Texas Militia was identified with fraud and nepotism in Austin.
General Steele's report for the year ending August 31, 1878, showed a brigade of three regiments and a battalion, and 22
separate companies. In January, 1879 General Steele finished his service as adjutant general, leaving a militia organization
greatly increased in size, competency, and reputation, a base upon which, eventually, the present Texas National Guard was
built.
After the war, Steele returned to Texas and became a Commission merchant of cotton from 1866 to 1873. He moved to
Austin in 1873 and was then Adjutant-General of the State of Texas until his death in early 1885. He died in San Antonio,
Texas, at the age of 65, and is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.[6]
If you have an article you would like printed in the News Letter. Contact Newsletter Editor at Denver L. Erickson
[email protected] . or send by US mail to 3511 SE 35th Topeka, Kansas. 66605
Editing may be done in the sense of letter size and extraction of some pictures depending on the size
Kansas Division Color/Honor Guard Available
Compatriot Gerald V. Spaur of the BG Albert Pike Camp #1439 is suited and ready for the occasion.
Gerald is prepared for the opportunity to be present as a Color Guard for your event, or to take on the
responsibility of Honor Guard for the passing of a family member, friend or compatriot where an honor
Guard is needed.
Gerald will go anywhere in Kansas and be available for any and all Military services for compatriots, family
members, and friends. Feel free to contact Gerald at 2947 Walnut Wichita Kansas 67217-3128
Phone: 316-524-2555
TRIVIA FOR MAY
Can you name this Ship
Builder: John Laird Sons & Co.
Laid Down:1862
Launched: July 29 1862
Commissioned: August 24, 1862
Decomissioned: June 19, 1864
Motto: “Aide Toi, Et Dieu T’Aidera,”
Fate: Sunk in battle with USS Kearsarge
7
15th
Annual Kansas Division Convention
Sons of Confederate Veterans
June 21st & 22nd, 2013
Best Western Motel
3021 W. Highway 50
Emporia, KS 66801
620-342-7587
REGISTRATION FORM: (Required *)
*NAME _________________________________________ *TITLE/POSITION _________________________
*SCV CAMP NAME _______________________________________________*Number ________________
*PERSONAL ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________
CITY _______________________________ STATE __________________ZIP ________________________
*HOME PHONE (________) _____________________ WORK PHONE (________) ___________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS ______________________________CELL PHONE (________) ___________________
SPOUSE NAME (For Badge) _________________________________________________________________
GUEST NAME __________________________________ GUEST NAME ____________________________
COST FOR CONVENTION IS $10.00 PER PERSON
Included in the Registration: Convention book, lunch, lots of camaraderie, and excellent presentation from our guest
speaker. James Speicher topic is the H.L. Hunley Friday Evening Entertainment: We will begin Friday evening at 6:30 with a DVD feature presentation of Outlaw Jose Whales.
Followed by our Oratory contest at 8:00. This year’s Topic coming soon Ancestor Memorials: Have your ancestors name listed in the convention booklet. Cost is $10.00 and must be submitted
no later than May 23, 2013. (Up to 16 names for $10.00). Please include rank, Name, company, and unit on separate
sheet of paper).
Registration: Qty. ___ x $10.00 = $ _______
Friday Evening Gala: Qty. ___ x $ 5.00 = $ _______
Ancestor Memorials: Qty. ___ x $10.00 = $ _______ Total: $ _________
In honoring of the Sesquicentennial, our featured convention presenter will be. Col James Speicher of the Thomas J Key
Camp #1920. His topic of discussion will be the H.L.Hunley from beginning to present. He promises to give an extraordinary
presentation to the members of the Kansas Division. Lunch will be provided by the Motel
DEADLINE TO MAIL IN REGISTRATION FORMS
Is Monday May 31, 2013!!! Also find online at http://www.ksscv.org
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
KANSAS DIVISION SCV
Kansas Division Adjutant
Paul Honaker
4109 SW 29th
Topeka Kansas 66614
8
2013 KANSAS DIVISION CONVENTION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Saturday June 21, 2013
08:00 Registration: Registration Committee
Credential Committee: Committee Members 0830-0930 Executive Committee Meeting: Division Commander
0930 Call to Order by Hosting Camp (Cols Lewis& Harrison Camp #1854)
Posting of the Colors: (Cols Lewis& Harrison Camp #1854)
Invocation: Div Chaplain Tyrone Williams
Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag All Convention Members
Salute to the Confederate Flag All Convention Members
Singing of “DIXIE” All Convention Members
0930-1130 Business Session 1
Quorum Call: Division Adjutant
Appointment of Convention Officers: Division Adjutant
Division Staff Reports:
Chief of Staff Report Jess Estes
Division Adjutant Paul Honaker
Division Judge Advocate Simon ‘Chip’ Buckner
Border Brigade Commander Charles W. Walthall
Indian Brigade Commander Thomas Westbrook
Camp Reports:
General Albert Pike Camp #1439
General Lewis A. Armistead Camp #1847
Colonels Lewis & Harrison Camp #1854
Brigadier General William Steele Camp #1857
Major Thomas J. Key Camp #1920
South Kansas Camp #2064
Brigadier Generals Buckner & Chilton Camp #. 2227
1130– 1230 Lunch Prepared in the Main Lounge Area
1230– 1300 Program: “THE H. L. HUNLEY AND HER CREWS: DISCOVERY, RECOVERY AND
BURIAL” – An in-depth look at the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley and the fate of her three crews.
Looks at the technology employed on the submarine, how she was salvaged and closes with a first person
account of the funeral of the third crew on April 2004. 60 minutes with 45 PowerPoint slides.
1300-1330 Auction 1330– 1430 Business Session II
Committees / Committee Reports: Committee Chairmen
Division Awards: Division Commander
Constitutional Amendments: Division Judge Advocate
Voting Results: Division Adjutant
Closing Ceremony Division Commander
Benediction (all stand) Division Chaplain
Singing of “DIXIE” All Convention Members
Retiring of the Colors (remain standing) Division Color Sgt.
Adjournment Division Commander
Executive Committee Meeting (If needed): Division Commander
9
2013 KANSAS DIVISION CONVENTION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday June 20, 2013
16:30 hrs Gathering of members & Camaraderie
19:00hrs Opening Ceremony
Posting of the Colors: Cols Lewis& Harrison Camp #1854
Invocation: Div Chaplain Tyrone Williams
Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag All Convention Members
Salute to the Confederate Flag All Convention Members
Singing of “DIXIE” All Convention Members
19:10hrs About the Movie
The Outlaw Josey Wales is a 1976 American revisionist Western film set during and after the American Civil War. It was directed by and starred Clint Eastwood (as the eponymous Josey Wales), with Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Sam Bottoms, and Geraldine
Keams. The film was adapted by Sonia Chernus and Philip Kaufman from author Forrest Carter's 1973 novel The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales (republished, as shown in the movie's opening credits, as Gone to Texas). In 1996, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Josey Wales, a Missouri farmer, is driven to revenge by the murder of his wife and son by a band of pro-Union Jayhawkers—Senator
James H. Lane's Redlegs from Kansas. Wales joins a group of pro-Confederate Missouri Bushwhackers led by William T. Anderson. At the conclusion of the war, Captain Fletcher persuades the guerrillas to surrender, saying they have been granted amnesty. Wales refuses to surrender. As a result, he and one young man are the only survivors when Captain Terrill's Redlegs massacre the surrendering men. Wales intervenes and guns down several Redlegs with a Gatling gun. Senator Lane puts a $5,000 bounty on Wales, who is now on the run from Union militia and bounty hunters. Along the way, despite wishing to be left alone, he accumulates a diverse group of companions. They include an old Cherokee named Lone Watie, a young Navajo woman, and an elderly woman from Kansas and her granddaughter whom Wales rescued from Comancheros. In Texas, Wales and his companions are cornered in a ranch house which is fortified to withstand Indian raids. The Redlegs attack but are gunned down by the defenders. Wales, despite being out of ammunition, pursues the fleeing Captain Terrill on horseback. When he catches him, Wales dry fires his pistols through all twenty–four empty chambers before stabbing Terrill with his own cavalry sword. At the bar in Santa Rio, a wounded Wales finds Fletcher with two Texas Rangers. The locals at the bar, who refer to Wales as "Mr. Wilson," tell the Rangers that Wales was killed in a shoot-out in Monterrey, Mexico. The Rangers accept this story and move on. Fletcher pretends he does not recognize Wales, and says that he will go to Mexico and look for Wales himself. Seeing the blood dripping on Wales's boot, Fletcher says that he will give Wales the first move, because he "owes him that." Wales rides off. 19:15hrs .
19:50hrs Break
21:30hrs Closing and singing of Dixie
CAMP MEETINGS
GEN. ALBERT PIKE CAMP #1439 MAJOR THOMAS J. KEY CAMP #1920
LOCATION: Egg Crate Cafe, LOCATION: Zarda Bar-B-Q
8506 W 13th, Suite 150 Wichita, Kansas 67212 11931 W 87th St. Lenexa, Kansas.
DATE: Second (2ND) Saturday each month DATE: First (1st) Thursday each month TIME: 11:30 am fellowship 12:30 Meeting TIME: 6:30 pm. fellowship, 7:00pm.
COLS LEWIS & HARRISON CAMP #1854 SOUTH KANSAS CAMP #2064
LOCATION: Westside Christian Church, LOCATION: Rockwell Branch Library
432 SW Lindenwood, Topeka, Kansas. 5939 E 9th Street, Wichita, Kansas.
DATE: Third (3rd) Saturday each Month DATE: Second 2nd Thursday each Month
TIME: 10:00am. TIME: 5:30-7:30pm.
GEN. LEWIS A. ARMISTEAD CAMP #1847 GEN. WILLIAM STEELE CAMP #1857
LOCATION: Public Library Tech Conf Ctr. Rm. LOCATION: Bann Thai Restaurant
301 East Elm, Salina, Ks. 301 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.
DATE: Second (2nd) Saturday each Month DATE: Second (2nd) Thursday each Month
TIME 1:00-1:30 fellowship, 1:00-2:30 Meeting TIME: 6:00 pm. Fellowship 7:00 pm.
BG BUCKNER & CHILTON CAMP #2227
LOCATION: Cup of Jones,
909 West Wyatt Earp Blvd. Dodge City Kansas
DATE: Fourth Monday of month
TIME:7:00 pm
10
The Kansas Division
Sons of Confederate Veterans
190 NW Hawthorn St.
Topeka, Kansas. 66606
COMPATRIOT