The TelegraphKey

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OFFICIAL DISPATCH FOR THE MAJOR THOMAS J. KEY CAMP #1920KANSAS DIVISION, SCV • JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS

The Commander’s CornerThomas J. Key Camp Commander, Jim Thornton

I love to listen to classic Rock-n-Roll music, 60’s thru the 80’s. Today I heard asong that truly speaks to what we are currently experiencing in society. It was anold Bob Dylan song from 1964 called “The Times They Are a-Changin'”. Thethird verse is the part that struck a nerve with me in regards to our current fight tosave our monuments and our history. Here is that verse:

“Come senators, congressmenPlease heed the callDon’t stand in the doorwayDon’t block up the hallFor he that gets hurtWill be he who has stalledThere’s a battle outside and it is ragin’It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your wallsFor the times they are a-changin’”

Yes, there is a battle outside and it is indeed raging. And sadly this battle has become violent and deadly on occasion. But does it have to? Why the need to battle and argue?

Yes, the times are changing. We can all acknowledge that. It is a fact. Time does not stand still. It is constantly in flux and changing. But, that does not mean we have to attempt to change history or ignore history.

Times change and circumstances change BECAUSE of history. Can’t we simply accept that fact? It is the events of the past that lead to change, hopefully for the better. Why do we not stick our fingers into a flame? Because we learned IN THE PAST from an event not to do that. We learned from history and changed our actions.

Our monuments and memorials to the gallant soldiers who fought in the War for Southern Independence shouldstand as teachers and reminders of past events. Let us learn from them. The “times are a-changin’” because of them. They changed the course of history and time once, 150 years ago. Maybe they can do it again. Let us look deeply into their lives, into their beliefs, into the truth of what they were fighting for.

To me, the line “for he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled” refers to those who wish to tear down our monuments. They are stuck, or stalled, in the past and see our monuments as reminders of a sad time in our history, not as a memorial to the men who gave so much of themselves and were truly fighting for freedom from a tyrannical, all-controlling, centralized government.

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As Bob Dylan wrote and sang, the times are a-changin’. Let’s just hope it does not change history.Deo Vindice! Your Commander, Jim Thornton

The Telegraph Key

The Telegraph Key is a newsletter published for the Major Thomas Key Camp #1920 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). The SCV is a non-profit organization with a patriotic, historical, and genealogical orientation and is not affiliated with any other organization. Opinions in this newsletter reflect the views of the writers and are not necessarily a statement of the views of the SCV, the Kansas Division, the Kansas Brigades, nor any other camp. Comments and articles are solicited.

Key Camp Website Resources

Key Camp: www.MajorKey1920ksscv.orgSCV National: www.SCV.org

Kansas Division: http://www.ksscv.org/

Key Camp Officers

COMMANDER 1 ST LT. COMMANDER 2 ND LT. COMMANDERJim Thornton John Weir Scott Lalumondier

ADJUTANT CHAPLAIN NEWSLETTER EDITORSteve Crawford Carl Linck VACANT – NEEDED

The Key Camp will meet on Thursday, October 5TH, at Zarda Bar B-Q on the southwest corner of 87th and Quivira in Lenexa, Kansas at 6 p.m. for dinner and conversation, with the official meeting at 7 p.m.

Our featured speaker for the evening will be Compatriot Dennis Garstang who will be providing us a presentation on 'The Kidder Massacre'.

Join us for camaraderie, dinner, and education. As always, your wife or significant other is welcome.

Don’t forget to bring a prospective recruit!

KEY CAMP MEMBERS TAKE PART IN HEADSTONE DEDICATION

On Saturday, August 12, a Confederate grave in Galena, Kansas was marked with a proper Veteran’s Administration issued headstone through the efforts of Compatriot Scott Sarley of the Campbell’s Company

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Camp #2252 in Republic, Missouri. Compatriot Sarley sent out an invitation to the Kansas Division for any available compatriots to attend.

The Key Camp was represented by Compatriot Bennie Hamilton and also by Compatriot Carl Jowers and his wife, Myra, who were also representing Forrest's Escort Camp #1239 and the SCV Mechanized Calvary (Dismounted) Department of Florida. Bennie, from Joplin, MO and Carl, from Fort Scott, KS took part in the dedication dressed in period correct attire.

The Key Camp extends our thanks to Compatriot Sarley for his efforts in properly marking a Kansas Confederate grave and extending the invitation to the Kansas Division; Also our thanks to Compatriots Hamilton and Jowers for representing the Key Camp at this significant event.

The grave marked belongs to Private John H. Leeman, 22nd Regiment, Texas Cavalry. A native of Kentucky, Leeman enlisted at age 27 and served in the Confederacy’s 22nd Regiment, Texas Cavalry. He showed up with his own horse and gun, according to his military service record. After the war, Leeman and his family lived in

the Miami Territory (Oklahoma), where he served as a physician, during the early 1880s. He and his family arrived in Galena in 1885, and after retiring from being a physician, Leeman became a city constable. He died at the age of 79 on June 29, 1914

Rest in Peace Private Leeman.

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KEY CAMP COMPATRIOTS RECEIVEAWARDS and MEDALS

At the September 7, 2017 monthly meeting of the Major Thomas J. Key Camp #1920, Commander Jim Thornton presented several awards and medals that were conferred upon members of the Key Camp during the 2017 National Reunion held in Memphis, Tennessee. These awards require submission of a nomination form to the Sons of Confederate Veterans International Headquarters for approval of the award or medal.

The SCV Distinguished Service Medal is presented to SCV members for outstanding service in a position of responsibility. Nominees must have served the SCV in an outstanding manner for an extended period of time in a position of responsibility. The 2017 SCV DistinguishedService Medal was awarded to Adjutant Steve Crawford. Unfortunately, Steve was ill with the flu and unable to attend the meeting. His award will be presented to him at the October meeting.

The SCV Meritorious Service Medal is presented for outstanding performance of duty to the SCV. The SCV Meritorious Service Medal for 2017 was awarded to Compatriot Matt Sewell.

The SCV Commendation Medal is presented to members for meritorious service or achievement at the Camp, Brigade, or Division level. Key Camp Compatriot Dan Peterson was awarded and presented with a Sons of Confederate Veterans Commendation Medal for 2017.

The SCV Superior Achievement Award is given to individuals in appreciation for superior services or achievement to the SCV. Nominees must have performed exceptional service to the SCV for an extended period of time or on a specific assignment of great importance. Receiving the Sons of Confederate Veterans Superior Achievement Award for 2017 were Compatriots Dennis Garstang, Lane Smith, Jim Tucker, Walt McKenzie, and 2nd Lt. Commander Scott Lalumondier.

Over the past SCV year (August 2016 to July 2017), these gentlemen have gone above and beyond in their support of the SCV and the Major Thomas J. Key Camp. Many times, their service and efforts go unnoticed as it is performed behind the scenes.

Please offer your congratulations to these compatriots and extend your gratitude to them for everything they do to keep the Key Camp visible in our community and to keep our camp running smoothly.

PRESENTATION OF WAR SERVICE MEDALTO COMPATRIOT GARY NEAL HAYDEN

The War Service Medal is to honor people of Confederate descent who have served in our country's military service during wartime. Men and women of Confederate descent who served honorably for at least 90 days during the war-service periods defined in US Department of Defense directives and American Legion guidelines. Eligible service positions are the same as those for the National Defense Service Medal.

At the Key Camp meeting on September 7, the Sons of Confederate Veterans War Service Medal was presentedto Compatriot Gary Hayden, recognizing his service to the nation during the Vietnam War era.

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Compatriot Gary Neal Hayden entered United States military service as a private in the United States Army on 30 December 1966 and continued to serve until being honorably discharged on 29 December 1969 as a Specialist 5th Class.

Compatriot Hayden rendered service in the

United States and in Germany while also receiving training in Military Justice. His final assignment was with the 7th Army, 77th MP Detachment in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

It is the Key Camp’s privilege and honor to present to Compatriot Gary Neal Hayden the Sons of Confederate Veterans War Service Medal for services rendered during the Vietnam War era.

LONG-DISTANCE EVENT FOR KEY CAMP

On Saturday, September 2, the Major Thomas J. Key Camp took part in what is probably the most distant event in camp history. Compatriots Bennie Hamilton and Carl Jowers (and his wife Myra), along with 2nd Lt. Commander Scott Lalumondier, represented the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Key Camp at the Crawford County Heritage Days Festival in Pittsburg, KS.

Compatriot Hamilton had been contacted by the Crawford County Historical Society regarding the coordinationof a Confederate group to assist with their “War on the Border” portion of the event and the living history camp site. They informed Bennie that they had no issues with Confederate symbols and he was even welcome to have a recruiting booth along with the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

From Key Camp home base to Pittsburg, KS is 120 miles or so. Other than reunions and conventions, this event probably qualifies as the distance record for a Key Camp undertaking.

Thanks to Bennie Hamilton for coordinating this event and keeping true to the SCV Charge. And thanks to Scott Lalumondier and Carl & Myra Jowers for taking part. Keeping us involved in events like this is the best recruiting tool we have.

A NEW ADDITION TO KEY CAMP WEAPONS DISPLAY The Key Camp has received a new addition to its replica weapons display for use at our educational and historicevents. The camp has received a very generous donation of a replica

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1856 LeMat Revolver.

At the Missouri Civil War Days Educational Event at Lone Jack Battlefield on September 15, Compatriot Walt Schley arrived carrying the LeMat to be used for our weapons display and educational program. During the course of the day, as the men were discussing the pistol and its service history during the war, Compatriot Schley stated he would like to donate the pistol to the camp for use with our weapons display.

This is a very significant donation and will become a valued piece of our display and educational presentation on the weapons of the war, as the LeMat is a very unusual and rare weapon of the Confederacy. The LeMat revolver was manufactured from 1856 to 1865, with approximately 2,900 being produced for the Confederacy.

The LeMat revolver was a .42 or .36 caliber cap & ball black powder revolver invented by Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans, which featured an unusual secondary 20 gauge smooth-bore lower barrel capable of firing buckshot. When war broke out, LeMat received Confederate contracts through the efforts of General P. G. T. Beauregard for the production of five thousand revolvers, and plans were laid to manufacture the gun abroad and then import them into the Confederacy, which lacked the necessary facilities to produce the weapon locally. Confederate gun runners were able to slip shipments of the gun through the Union naval blockade and itis estimated that about 2,500 made it into Confederate service.

In addition to General Beauregard and Colonel LeMat, LeMat’s revolver was used by such Confederate officersas Major Generals Braxton Bragg, J. E. B. Stuart, Richard H. Anderson, and Major Henry Wirz. Confederate Major General J. E. B. Stuart is said to have favored the LeMat revolver over all other personal side arms. General Beauregard's personally engraved LeMat, which he carried throughout the war, is preserved at the American Civil War Museum (formerly the Museum of the Confederacy) in Richmond, Virginia.

The Major Thomas J. Key Camp #1920 extends a sincere “THANK YOU” to Compatriot Walt Schley for his generous donation of the replica 1856 LeMat Revolver for use with our weapons display.

KEY CAMP MEMBERS PROVIDE AN EDUCATION IN WEAPONRY

On September 15, six members of the Major Thomas J. Key Camp took up their assigned station at Lone Jack Battlefield as part of the annual Civil War Day put on by the Lone Jack Battlefield Association for approximately middle school students of the Warrensburg, MO middle schools. Commander Jim Thornton, Adjutant Steve Crawford, and Compatriots Paul Allen, Walt McKenzie, Jack Poynter, and Walt Schley represented the Key Camp and manned the “Weapons of the War” station.

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As students approached our station, they were greeted with a poster created by Compatriot Jack Poynter outlining the timeline of events in Missouri beginning in February 1861. Steve Crawford then led off the presentation with a synopsis of the Federal invasion of Missouri and how the different weapons were used and their development progressed. Steve then handed off toWalt Schley who explained and demonstrated our newest item in the collection, the LeMat Revolver.Jim Thornton then took the reins and explained the other items that would have been carried and utilized by a cavalry soldier, including a demonstration of the tedious loading procedure of the revolver. Walt McKenzie provided a wool

uniform for the students to examine and get an idea of the weight and discomfort of the uniform. Paul Allen provided an example of exploded artillery with a display of shell fragments.

As the presentation was being given, Walt McKenzie and Jack Poynter kept watch on the items being passed around to insure their return to the display tables. Jack also had his field camera set up and provided each of theteachers with the option of access to his recordings of their group at our presentation.

A lunch was provided for all the presenters and volunteers by the Lone Jack Historical Society.

The Key Camp wishes to thank Adjutant Crawford for coordinating the event with Alinda Miller of the Lone Jack Historical Society each year, in both the spring and fall. Adjutant Crawford has a personal interest in this Key Camp activity as his ancestors were participants in the events of the Battle of Lone Jack.

The Key Camp is proud to take part in many perpetual service projects throughout the year.

Upcoming 2017 Events

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Presentation to Boy Scout Troop at Mine Creek Battlefield Saturday, October 14th Mine Creek Battlefield

Shawnee Indian Mission Fall Festival Saturday, October 14th and Sunday, the 15th 10am to 5pm

Fairway

Mine Creek Fall Workday Saturday, October 21st 10am to 2pm

Mine Creek Battlefield

Ottawa Veterans Day Parade Saturday, November 11th 10:00am to 3:00pm

Ottawa

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