For those who had Collins ancestors who fought in and were captured during the "War for Southern Independence", this may be of interest: The 14th annual Pilgrimage to Pt. Lookout's Confederate Memorial Park. October 8th from 9 am to 5 pm. There will be historical displays, raffles, book signing, Confederate merchandise, as well as encampments! The Camalier SCV Camp will host the cemetery's memorial service at 10 am. Afterwards, the PLPOW Descendants Org's living history area opens next door in CMP. There will be timed slots for artillery firing of the cannon, musket drills and our own Lee's Miserable Prison skits. Everyone is invited to our descendants meeting at 6:30 pm with Guest Speaker, Kirk Lyons. The public is also invited to attend church service on the grounds at 8 am on Sunday, the 9th. Please view our web site as time draws nearer to the event for any updates or changes. www.plpow.com and click on 2005 Event. Note that the ceremonies are being held at the Confederate Memorial Park and NOT at Point Lookout State Park. The Confederate Memorial Park is located on Maryland Route 5, next to the federally owned Point Lookout Confederate Cemetery. If you remember, the V.A. and the Janet Reno Justice Department under the Clinton Administration ruled that the Confederate flag was "inherently racist" and ordered that the Confederate flag could not be flown at Point Lookout Confederate Cemetery, except for special memorial services and those limited only to Memorial Day and Confederate Memorial Day. A series of laws suits resulted, going all the way to the Supreme Court. The Clinton/Reno Justice Department won when the Supreme Court refused to take the case on appeal. Following that, both the Maryland State Parks and the U. S. Veterans' Administration began to censure the speeches given at the Point Lookout Confederate memorial services and required the text of what was being said to be submitted in advance. Finally, a tract of land next to the Confederate Cemetery was acquired by the Point Lookout POW Descandants. They now can hold their event without censure or pre-approval by the V. A., the Justice Department, or the Maryland State Parks. Four members of my Collins family fought in the War, with two of them, my GGGrandfather Randall Collins, and his brother, Samuel, spending time at Point Lookout. RANDALL PARROTT COLLINS: He enlisted on 21 April 1861 in the Lumberton Guards, Company D, 12th North Carolina Infantry, and became a Corporal and then Full Sergeant by 30 August 1861. The following year, on 24 February 1862, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in Company B of the 50th Regiment of North Carolina Infantry. 50th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in April 1862, at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, North Carolina. Men of this unit were raised in the counties of Person, Robeson, Johnston, Wayne, Rutherford, Moore, and Harnett. Ordered to Virginia, it fought under General Daniel at Malvern Cliff, then returned to North Carolina. Here the 50th saw action at New Bern and Washington, transferred to J.G. Martin's Brigade, and for a time served at Wilmington. Later part of the regiment was stationed at Plymouth and part at Washington. In December 1862, he was at Drewry's Bluff (later a battle in the defense of Richmond). Lt. Collins was hospitalized on 5 May 1864 in Wilmington, North Carolina for an unknown injury/illness. In November, 1864, it moved south and shared in the defense of Savannah and skirmished along the Rivers' Bridge. Sent back to North Carolina it was placed in General Kirkland's Brigade. The unit contiued the fight at Averasboro and fought its last battle at Bentonville. It totalled about 900 effectives in November 1864, mustered less than half that number in March 1865. Lt. Collins was captured by General Sherman's Army on 11 May 1865 at Fayetteville and was sent first to the Union POW prison at New Bern, then was confined at Point Lookout Prison Camp in Maryland on 3 April. He was then sent to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington D.C. on 4 April, and on 11 April was transferred to the prison at Johnson's Island, Ohio. The unit surrendered a force of nearly 250 on 26 April. The field officers were Colonels Marshall D. Craton, James A. Washington, and George Wortham; Lieutenant Colonel John C. Van Hook; and Major Henry J. Ryals. He was released on 18 June 1865 on taking an Oath of Allegiance, at a POW depot near Sandusky, Ohio. His release document described him as: age 22, dark complection, light hair, and hazel eyes. The 50th fought on the following dates: Fought on 15 June 1862 at Richmond, VA. Fought on 30 June 1862 at Malvern Hill, VA. Fought on 16 April 1863 at Rodman's Point, Beafort County SC. Fought on 25 September 1863 at Wilmington, NC. Fought on 10 November 1863 at New Berne, NC. Fought on 13 November 1863. Fought on 15-22 February 1864 at Washington, NC. Fought on 24 March 1864 at Cone Creek, NC. Fought on 15 July 1864 at Plymouth, NC. Fought on 29 September 1864 at Plymouth, NC. Fought on 29 September 1864 at Tyrrell Co, NC. Fought on 31 October 1864 at Plymouth, NC. Fought on 05 December 1864 at Fort Fisher, NC. Fought on 08-24 December 1864 at Savannah, GA. Fought on 01 January 1865. Fought on 05 January 1865 at Savannah, GA. Fought on 11 January 1865 at Augusta, GA. Fought on 15 January 1865 at Savannah, GA. Fought on 03 February 1865 at River's Bridge, Salkehatchie River, SC. Fought on 07 February 1865. Fought on 14 February 1865 at Charleston, SC. Fought on 04 March 1865 at Robeson Co., NC. Fought on 08-12 March 1865 at Fayetteville, NC. JOHN H. COLLINS (brother of Randall): Enlisted as a Private and promoted to Corporal on 6 September 1861 in Company A, 31st Infantry Regiment North Carolina. The 31st fought on the following dates: Fought on 08 February 1862 at Craven County, NC. Fought on 08 February 1862 at Roanoke Island, NC. Fought on 08 March 1862 at Bermuda Hundred, VA. Fought on 02 October 1862. Fought on 15 November 1862 at Goldsboro, NC. Fought on 16 December 1862 at White Hall, NC. He was demoted to Full Private on 30 June 1862 (Reduced to ranks), then promoted to Full Sergeant 1st Class on 16 January 1863. Transferred from Company A, 31st Infantry Regiment to Company B, 50th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 16 January 1863. SAMUEL S. COLLINS (brother of Randal and John): Enlisted as a Private on 15 February 1862 in Robeson Co., NC at the age of 33 in Company B, 50th Infantry Regiment North Carolina. He was hospitalized on 01 September 1864 at Goldsboro, NC (09-11/64). Was captured and made a POW on 12 March 1865 at Fayetteville, NC, then transferred on 30 April 1865 at Point Lookout, MD. He took Oath of Allegiance on 26 June 1865 at Point Lookout, MD WILLIAM T. COLLINS (brother of Randall, John, & Samuel): Enlisted as a Musician on 25 January 1864 in Robeson Co., NC at the age of 16 in Company B, 50th Infantry Regiment North Carolina Cheers, Michael Kent Island, Maryland --------------------------------------------------------------------------------