Missouri parks chief: Confederate flag could fly at 'special events By Scott Charton Associated Press Writer 01/27/2003 02:39 PM COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- The Confederate battle flag may be raised during ``special events'' at two Missouri historic sites, but the banners probably will never again be flown year-round, the state parks director said Tuesday. ``In conjunction with special events, I see no difficulty there with the flag's display,'' said Doug Eiken, parks chief at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, in a telephone interview. ``But otherwise, no, it would not fly again regularly.'' Eiken's boss, DNR Director Steve Mahfood, ordered Confederate battle flags removed from poles at the two sites on Jan. 14, after Mahfood learned that Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt of St. Louis said the banners shouldn't fly anywhere. The abrupt removal of the flags has stirred anger among Confederate heritage groups, who call the action politically motivated. The DNR has said the banners flew for decades without complaint at the Confederate Memorial State Historic Site at Higginsville, which includes a cemetery with the graves of hundreds of Southern soldiers, and at Fort Davidson in eastern Missouri, site of the 1864 Battle of Pilot Knob. The Sons of Confederate Veterans, a heritage organization that denounces the flag's use by white supremacists, offered several compromise proposals to Eiken during a recent meeting, said state commander Gene Dressel of Jonesburg. The proposals included flying the flag on its own pole -- but lower than the U.S. flag -- close to the cemetery and the fort, or returning the Higginsville site to control of a private group. ``We want to not only see that our veterans are honored, but we want the good name of the Department of Natural Resources to be cleared,'' Dressel said Monday. ``To take the flag down, they've violated a sacred trust.'' Eiken said Tuesday the DNR is reviewing the proposals, but that he couldn't foresee any situation where the flag would fly again year-round on state property. ``As part of a special event, that's one thing,'' Eiken said. ``But to place the flags and permanently keep them out there, that's inconsistent with the directive of taking the flags down.'' He said a special event could include a Civil War re-enactment. Eiken said it could also include an annual tradition at Higginsville during which a private group places small flags on hundreds of Southern graves in early June to commemorate the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. During a meeting Monday in Higginsville attended by about 80 supporters of the Confederate Memorial Friends Association, audience members criticized the sudden removal of the flag. The audience was told by two DNR staffers the agency wouldn't stop descendants of Confederates buried at the site from placing small battle flags on graves year-round, so long as the displays were kept tidy. But Eiken said Tuesday that such year-round displays ``wouldn't be consistent'' with Mahfood's order. Meanwhile, the vice president of a volunteer group that supports the Fort Davidson site said he resigned ``with sincere sorrow'' to protest the flag's removal. Ron Warren told The Daily Journal in Park Hills his ancestors fought at Fort Davidson and the flag's display there saluted bravery -- not slavery. Warren said Americans would be similarly upset if the government of France ordered U.S. flags pulled down at a cemetery in Normandy where veterans of the D-Day invasion are buried. ``I feel DNR's insulted me with their actions. It's personal to me,'' Warren told the newspaper. Desoto Joe/The Record Man

FreeRepublic.com "A Conservative News Forum" Petitions launched to restore Confederate flag over cemetery Jefferson City News Tribune ^ | January 28, 2003 | AP Posted on 01/28/2003 7:42 PM PST by stainlessbanner HIGGINSVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- Supporters of a state memorial site that includes the graves of hundreds of Southern soldiers launched a petition drive Monday urging state officials to once again allow the Confederate battle flag to fly over the cemetery. They also criticized Steve Mahfood, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, who ordered the flags removed at Higginsville and another state historic site on Jan. 14 after Democratic presidential hopeful Dick Gephardt of St. Louis said they shouldn't be flown anywhere. Gephardt and Gov. Bob Holden -- Mahfood's boss who once worked for Gephardt -- also were lambasted by descendants of Confederate veterans buried at Higginsville. "This was a political decision that pays no regard to historical context," said Gene Dressel of Jonesburg, Missouri Division commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a heritage group that opposes the flag's use by white supremacists. Dressel told those gathered at the meeting that he met recently with state officials to propose compromises including flying the Confederate battle flag on a separate pole closer to the cemetery -- or having a non-profit group take over the site from the state so the flag could be flown again. He is awaiting a response. Frank Haston of Higginsville, president of the memorial association, said the petitions would be circulated statewide and then presented to state leaders "to show them that there are many Missourians who don't view this flag as a symbol of hatred, and don't appreciate the politics behind this decision." Gephardt entered South Carolina's flag controversy by issuing a statement after a campaign trip earlier this month, saying it shouldn't be displayed "anytime, anywhere." Mary Still, Holden's director of communications, said she saw Gephardt's comments in news reports and relayed them -- without Holden's knowledge -- to Mahfood. She said the decision to pull down the flags immediately was Mahfood's, although Holden last week endorsed the decision. The audience at Higginsville took turns berating the sudden decision and heard from an official of the Department of Natural Resources who acknowledged the decision was prompted by politics. While defending Mahfood, his boss, as a "fine man," James Rehard, district supervisor of DNR's historic sites, said the flag was "taken down so it would not embarrass Rep. Gephardt." "I believe it has been a mistake to lower it here," Rehard said, stressing that he was speaking for himself, not DNR. "If there is a place it should fly in Missouri, it was here ... it is down because the politicians want it down." Rehard stood for half an hour listening to the complaints, and audience members later shook his hand and commended him for facing the anger. He promised to pass along the comments to Mahfood. Audience members said the flag's display is appropriate at Higginsville because its cemetery has remains of 694 Confederate veterans and 108 wives. The 192-acre historic site, some 40 miles east of Kansas City, was once the location of a state-run Confederate veterans home. The Fort Davidson site in eastern Missouri commemorates the 1864 Battle of Pilot Knob. To: stainlessbanner The politicians of Missouri would do well to learn what honorable behavior is from the only organization that was given the authority to speak for the Grand Army of the Republic. RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT DISPLAY OF BATTLE FLAGS OF THE CONFEDERACY 119TH NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT OF THE SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR LANSING, MICHIGAN AUGUST 19, 2000 A resolution in support of the display of the Confederate Battle Flag. WHEREAS, we the members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, condemn the use of the confederate battle flag, as well as the flag of the United States, by any and all hate groups, and WHEREAS, we the members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War support the flying of the confederate battle flag as a historical piece of this nation's history, and WHEREAS, we the members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War oppose the removal of any Confederate monuments or markers to those gallant soldiers in the former Confederate States, and strongly oppose the removal of ANY reminders of this nation's bloodiest war on the grounds of it being "politically correct," and WHEREAS, we, as the descendants of Union soldiers and sailors who, as members of the Grand Army of the Republic, met in joint reunions with the confederate veterans under both flags in those bonds of Fraternal Friendship, pledge our support and admiration for those gallant soldiers and of their respective flags; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we the members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in 119th Annual National Encampment hereby adopt this resolution. Dated in Lansing, Michigan, on this nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord Two thousand. By Order of: Danny L. Wheeler Commander-in-Chief Attest: Todd A. Shillington National Secretary

----- Original Message ----- From: "G. Brooks Martin" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 12:16 AM Subject: [MO-CW] Last CW Vet in Dent Co. Mo. (CSA) > > > > > Need help! > My G.G. Grand father was Enoch Musgraves. Born 12 Apr. 1844, Evansville, > Indiana. Married, raised a large family and was buried in Salem area of Dent > Co. Mo. In his last years he lived and died with his daughter Victoria Cleve > Musgraves,(Mrs. Lee Talbert). > > He was the last Confederate to die in Dent Co. I would like to know where he > served and with whom. Even a piece of info and I think I can find the rest > of what I want. > > He may have been in the Mo Guard or CSA regular. Any clues will be helpful. > > Also, I have a David Bressie Sr.,"Died in the Civil War". That's all I know > other than he is my G. G. Grand mothers father. Married to Lucinda Sullivan. > All are from Dent Co. Mo. and buried in Tune Cem. Spring Creek, Dent Co. Mo. > or Cedar Grove Cem.,Dent Co. > > My G.G. Grand mother was Charity Luzette "Etta" Musgraves until she married > Earlie Green Martin. > > Thanks, > > Brooks Martin > [email protected] > > These names popped up on a list.Confederate: Musgrave Lafayette B. MO 10th Inf. Co.G Cpl. Musgraves Francis M. MO 10th Inf. Co.G TUNE CEMETERY (OLD CRADDOCK GRAVEYARD) ON SPRING CREEK, DENT CO. MUSGRAVES, ENOCH 4/12/1844, Evansville IN - 2/22/1939, home of dau. Mrs Lee Talbert, s/o John & Martha who d. when he was young; m. Elizabeth Bressie, 5/10/1863 (Bressie home on Dry Fork), ch.: Nor May d. as child (bur. Blackwell Cem.), John D. (m. Tina Elmer)--both bur. Cedar Grove Cem., Stella (Mrs. Christopher C. Carty)--bur. Flint MI, Abraham (m. Kandas Anna Holl, bur. Blackwell Cem.), Mary Jane Reddick (bur. Neodesha KS), Victoria Cleve (Mrs. Lee Talbert)--bur. Cedar Grove Cem., Louemma (Mrs. W. T. Martin), & Etta (Mrs. Earlie G. Martin); to MO as youth & to Dent Co. 1861; he was last surviving Confederate Soldier, Civil War, Dent Co. MUSGRAVES, ELIZABETH, w/o Enoch 9/14/1845 - 5/18/1914, d/o David Bressie (who d. Civil War) & Lucinda Sullivan Bressie (bur. Cedar Grove Cem.)--niece of Eaphraim & Yancy Bressie of Spring Creek MARTIN, LOUEMMA "EMMA" w/o W.T. 2/8/1876 - 3/11/1912, d/o Enoch & Elizabeth Bressie Musgraves MARTIN, EARLIE GREEN , 11/10/1872, Dent Co. - 8/6/1944, home, St. Louis, s/o George & Fannie; m. Etta Musgraves, 8/8/1895, Dent Co. (by M. R. Daugherty), 10 ch.: Elmer V., Edward, Ebert, William, Leatha (Mrs Unie Gibbs), Ethel (Mrs George Rimmel), Hazel Loos, Carl O., Lena E. & Inf son -- all ch. bur. Tune Cem. except Hazel who survives MARTIN, CHARITY LIZETTA "ETTA", w/o E. G., 2/9/1871, Dent Co. - 1/18/1960 Ellisville, nee Musgraves, d/o Enoch & Elizabeth; lived Dent Co. & St. Louis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Try here: Musgrave Family Genealogy Forum http://genforum.genealogy.com/musgrave/ I am trying to make the link back to my great-great grandfather John Musgraves. His son Enoch Musgraves(my great grandfather) was supposedly born in Evansville, IN 12 Apr, 1844. His wife's name is thought to have been Martha. Enoch married Elizabeth Bressie in Dent Co. Mo. http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/an/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties.vanderburgh/1851 St. Francis County, MO, Deed Book C, 1840-1845 40 N/A Bressie, Susanna Bressie, David and Yancy 6-1-1840 8-15-1840 http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/mo/stfrancois/deeds/1840-45f.txt 1827: Cherokee Sullivan Born Lucinda Sullivan was born in Tennessee. I don't have any specific particulars on parentage or any connections to the "Trail of Tears" and I would be greatly interested in any knowledge that anyone might have. Lucinda later moved to Oklahoma and then was married in Crawford County, Missouri to David Bressie. David Bressie died in the Civil War. By: Cheri Riley Email:[email protected] Bressie Cemetery Noble County, Oklahoma http://www.rootsweb.com/~okcemete/noble/bressie/bressie.htm Josiah Welch, born Abt. 1819; died Unknown. He married Mary Ann "Polly" Bressie Jul/13/1843 in Crawford Co., Missouri; born in Missouri; died Unknown. Notes for Mary Ann "Polly" Bressie: Mary Ann's brother Eaphriam Bressie, 3/25/1804-4/11/1850. The Bressie family settled MO soon after LA Purchase-1803; Eaphriam owned a large acreage in Dent Co. & was the largest slave owner in the area. He also operated a store & inn at this site on the White River Trail, 2 miles NW of Salem. The second post office in Dent Co. Montauk (Indian origin) was located at Bressie's store. The farm was later owned by the Watkins family (presently by Inman family). http://www.tri.net/~kheidel/genealogy/welch.html BRESSIE PLOT SPRING CREEK, SANFORD INMAN FARM, DENT CO. http://www.rootsweb.com/~modent/bressie.htm Welcome To The Dent County, Missouri USGenWeb Site! http://www.rootsweb.com/~modent/index.html?sourceid=00228464116565227481 Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Group Wants Confederate Flag Restored http://www.austin360.com/aas/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V2264.AP-Confederate-Fla.html Desoto Joe/The Record Man

ref Enoch Musgraves & David Bressie SR..Couldn't find any Bressie on my lists but have many Brezzie or Breccie.....I show a Francis M Musgraves Missouri 10th Inf. Company G. and a William with the 11th Cav, 11th Regt ,Co C ,State Guard....Hope this helps >>>Bob Ballinger,Muncie,IN Missour_a by birth G. Brooks Martin wrote: > > > > > Need help! > My G.G. Grand father was Enoch Musgraves. Born 12 Apr. 1844, > Evansville, Indiana. Married, raised a large family and was buried in > Salem area of Dent Co. Mo. In his last years he lived and died with > his daughter Victoria Cleve Musgraves,(Mrs. Lee Talbert). > > He was the last Confederate to die in Dent Co. I would like to know > where he served and with whom. Even a piece of info and I think I can > find the rest of what I want. > > He may have been in the Mo Guard or CSA regular. Any clues will be > helpful. > > Also, I have a David Bressie Sr.,"Died in the Civil War". That's all I > know other than he is my G. G. Grand mothers father. Married to > Lucinda Sullivan. All are from Dent Co. Mo. and buried in Tune Cem. > Spring Creek, Dent Co. Mo. or Cedar Grove Cem.,Dent Co. > > My G.G. Grand mother was Charity Luzette "Etta" Musgraves until she > married Earlie Green Martin. > > Thanks, > > Brooks Martin > [email protected] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > born Feb 1827 in Tenn. > > _________________________________________________________________ > STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > > > ==== MO-CW Mailing List ==== > "Boys, these people are talking about surrendering, and I am going out > of this place before they do or bust hell wide open." > Nathan Bedford Forrest > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy > records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Seeking information regarding this line. John Robert Marsh married Lyda Francis Kelley. Violet Templeton married Kelly Robert Marsh. Phyllis from Sunbury, Ohio

Jefferson County, Missouri Veterans Wall Of Honor To All Veterans, their families and friends; Each of the Veterans Service organizations of Jefferson County ( VFW's, American Legion's, AMVETS, Gold Star Mothers, American War Mothers, Korean War Vets, Viet Nam Veterans and Special Forces Units) are coming together to develop a Wall of Honor, to honor each Jefferson County Veteran. This Wall of Honor recognizes veterans that have completed honorable service during times of conflict or non-conflict at any period from July 4th 1776 to the present. This is to include service in the regular, militia, reserves or National Guard of our services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force and those that served in the Merchant Marine during World War II (Dec 7. 1941 - August 15, 1945). This Wall of Honor, a computer driven video wall, will be located in the lobby of the new Jefferson County Administration Center in Hillsboro, Missouri. Each veteran, can have his military service, including conflict/campaigns served, medals awarded and the place of residency in Jefferson County, Missouri recognized. A photograph of the Veteran can be displayed. Jefferson County is proud of each of our veterans. This Wall of Honor recognizes and honors this honorable service to our country. Please complete this Jefferson County, Missouri Veterans Wall of Honor Data sign-up Form. Talk with friends, family and neighbors and submit a form for each veteran to be honored. A copy of the page showing your record of service, given to you at the time of separation from service is needed. Return the completed form and attachments to: Jefferson County Missouri, Veterans Wall of Honor, P O Box 265, Festus, MO 63028-0265. Volunteers are needed to complete this Veterans Memorial. Committee meetings are normally held at the Festus VFW Post 3777, Festus, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month at 10:00 A. M. Call Tess Tenison at 636-677-8943 for additional information. Tax deducible contributions can be sent to: Jefferson County Missouri, Veterans Wall of Honor, P O Box 265, Festus, MO 63028. Desoto Joe/The Record Man

http://www.jeffco.edu/news/wallofhonor/wallofhonor_dataform.htm Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Help needed for monumental fix of park statue http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/01262003/news/9567.htm Desoto Joe/The Record Man

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/01262003/news/9567.htm Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Marc Kollbaum Author of Gateway to the West: A History of Jefferson Barracks, Vol. 1: 1826-1894 signs his book. Date(s): Sun Nov. 3 Time: 1-4:30 p.m. Price info: free Additional info: Visitors Ctr. Jefferson Barracks Park Address: Kingston & Telegraph St. Louis, MO 63125 Phone: 314-544-5714 Desoto Joe/The Record Man

I put up a picture of the flag that was taken down at Fort Davidson & added to the events listings. More to come. http://members.tripod.com/~DesotoJoe1/index-13.html Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Confederate Flag Flap Becomes 2004 Campaign Issue http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200301%5CCUL20030121c.html Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Need help! My G.G. Grand father was Enoch Musgraves. Born 12 Apr. 1844, Evansville, Indiana. Married, raised a large family and was buried in Salem area of Dent Co. Mo. In his last years he lived and died with his daughter Victoria Cleve Musgraves,(Mrs. Lee Talbert). He was the last Confederate to die in Dent Co. I would like to know where he served and with whom. Even a piece of info and I think I can find the rest of what I want. He may have been in the Mo Guard or CSA regular. Any clues will be helpful. Also, I have a David Bressie Sr.,"Died in the Civil War". That's all I know other than he is my G. G. Grand mothers father. Married to Lucinda Sullivan. All are from Dent Co. Mo. and buried in Tune Cem. Spring Creek, Dent Co. Mo. or Cedar Grove Cem.,Dent Co. My G.G. Grand mother was Charity Luzette "Etta" Musgraves until she married Earlie Green Martin. Thanks, Brooks Martin [email protected] born Feb 1827 in Tenn. _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

I recently read an article that the Forestry Department was going to hire researchers to insure that true history would be posted at historical sites. It has recognized that often only part of the history was revealed to keep it politically correct. This prompted me to visit our library. The book "The Lincoln No One Knows" by Webb Garrison caught my eye. Reading it has been slow because I have been confiming things listed in the book with secondary sources. So far it seems to be an accurate record with a totally different perspective. It definitely shows the war was not because of slaves. I hope folks with concerns do read it. Rose of Tenn

I finally have been able to access our web page to update. I will be adding more tonight when I get in from work. Yes I have to go in on Superbowl Sunday, but no team from Missouri is in, so no big deal :~) I'll be adding more Missouri events & links, as well as cutting out the dead ones. Time consuming, but fun. Hope everyone has a great day. P.S. I have a ton of replys to pen as well. Desoto Joe/The Record Man

----- Original Message ----- From: "the lankfords" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 5:50 PM Subject: [MO-CW] Branding prisoners > Joe, > > Have you ever heard of prisoners of war or Southern Sympathizers being branded when captured? My husband's great-grandfather was captured, branded, and held in an out building. He managed to escape. I related this story to a friend of mine, and he said it got him to wondering. He purchased a small branding iron with the letter "p" and now wonders if this might be a human branding iron. Have you heard of such incidences? > > Rose Mary Lankford > Sorry for the delay in answering but I think I finally have the bugs out of the system. I have many letters to reply to. Branding took place on prisoners on both sides, but it was never condoned by the upper command & did not take place everywhere. It was common to brand one's own soldiers for infractions as well. The first thing that pops into my mind, is when a soldier was accused of being a coward during an action. If found guilty, there were many punishments that could & were metered out. Branding a C on the man was one. The letter T for thief, if he was caught stealing was another. (This was also used for traitor as well) All kinds of harsh retributions were handed out during the conflict, but you do not hear of many brandings, but they did occur. Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Family History Day - The Fun of Military Records Jefferson City, MO Event Dates: 03/15/03 Location: Kirkpatrick State Information Center, 600 W Main Phone: (573) 526-5326 Do you want to learn more about your family's military history but don't know where to start? Are you interested in military records as the crossroads of personal, family, state, national, and world history? Then join Archives staff for a look at the many avenues of military research available within the resources of the Missouri State Archives. Free Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Meeting about flag set at Confederate site Fred Hastings, spokesman for the Friends of the Confederate Memorial Site in Higginsville, has called a special planning session meeting for 1:30 p.m. Monday. The meeting will be held in the Confederate Chapel at the state historical site, one mile north of Higginsville. Higginsville is in Lafayette County on Missouri 213 about a mile northeast of Missouri 13 (about 30 miles east of Independence). Neil Block, lieutenant commander of the Missouri Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said anyone interested in seeing "the Confederate flags restored to their respectful and historical place" is encouraged to attend. Desoto Joe/The Record Man

Flying the flag Descendants concerned history may be misinterpreted 01/21/03 Jonathon Dawe Email this story to a friend Preserving a piece of Missouri's-and the nation's history-is what concerns a number of local historians about the removal of an historic flag from two Missouri sites. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) his last week ordered the lowering of Confederate flags at two state historic sites - the Missouri Confederate Memorial Site near Higginsville and at the Fort Davidson Historic Site near Pilot Knob in Southeast Missouri. DNR Director Steve Mahfood order the lowering of the flags following a telephone conversation with an aide from Gov. Bob Holden's office. That telephone call was prompted by remarks by Missouri presidential hopeful Congressman Dick Gephardt. But local historians and decendants of Confederate veterans are upset with DNR's action. They see the move as an insult against those men and women who 140 years ago fought for a cause they believed in. According to Jim Mayo of Bloomfield, the current controversy surrounding the Confederate battle fla! g stems from what he sees is a lack of education on the Confederacy and the American Civil War. "When I think of the Confederate flag I think of my family's heritage," Mayo, also a member of the SCV, remarked. "And my family never owned any slaves. They were poor farmers that fought for something they believed in." What they fought for wasn't necesaarily the issue of slavery, but that of state's rights and the fundamental establishment of government in the nation. Historians point out that the vast majority of soldiers fighting for the Confederate States of America-from General Robert E. Lee on down to lowly privates-did not own slaves. Mayo, along with other members of the SCV, insists the differences between the Confederacy and the Union sides are not being taught in schools today. "Everyone talks about the Civil War being fought over slavery," Bruce Hillis, a member of the SCV and a resident of Dexter, said. "Our kids aren't being taught about the secession from the Union and (the issue of) states rights. They're being taught that the entire Civil War was fought over the issue of slavery." Hillis said a focus on what today is called "politically correct" points of view has caused much strife for those who observe the heritage of the Confederate soldiers. History lessons "The governor (Missouri governor Bob Holden) might also consider requiring a 'true and accurate' history lesson for both Mahfood and himself to learn a little something about Missouri's Confederate heritage and the true history of the Battleflag," Hillis stated in a recent essay. It is with the focus on history and pride in family heritage that the Col. Solomon G. Kitchen, Camp No. 1731 of the SCV meets regularly and not under the guise of racism or anything political. "This is not a political organization," Hillis remarked and later said the SCV is focused on preservation of Confederate soldier and sailor graves and many other areas of interest. Hillis also said the members of the SCV meet regularly to discuss the military and political history of the period. By many accounts Stoddard County, and the areas surrounding it, has a rich history from the Civil War. In a time when many feared invasion from the northern states and felt threatened by an imposing union, there were more than a few instances when Stoddard County residents actually saw fighting between brothers and other relatives. According to members of the local SCV group, Col Solomon G. Kitchen, a longtime Stoddard County resident, did other things besides fighting in the Civil War. Kitchen was the first licensed attorney in Stoddard County and he was instrumental in bringing railroads to the county. He was the president of the Cairo and Fulton Roadroad, which had more than 20 miles of rail laid prior to the start of the war. The outbreak of conflict in Missouri halted most railroad development in the state until after the war. Kitchen also served as a judge of the Stoddard County Court and represented his district for two years in the Missouri Senate. County heritage The First Division of the Missouri State Guard-a group of local volunteers-met and organized near Frenchman's Spring south of present-day Dexter. This was the beginning of the "Swamp Fox Brigade-an effective unit of Confederate troops who destruction was eventually called for by Union Gen. Ulyses Grant. At that original gatherin! g at Frenchman's Spring the words "Get ready to march to Bloomfield in the morning. We are too far from the enemy" were spoken. It is this heritage - and history from throughout the state - that has caused local Confederate historians to be alarmed at the state's action to lower the Confederate flags at two state historic sites. "If the order to remove the flags is not reversed it will be just a step in the process to remove all things Confederate from the public eye," Hillis said. "Flags from textbooks, monuments of Confederate heroes, perhaps even the Confederate soldiers' grave markers themselves (could be removed)." Preserving history Dexter resident Larry Arnold, also a member of the SCV, went through great personal expense to ensure the memory of his ancestors and the memory of several others would be left alone. A self-proclaimed history buff, Arnold said he spent nearly $10,000 from his own pocket to preserve an area in the Bloomfield Cemetery to commemorate the valor of 201 Confederate soldiers. The area is now known as the Stoddard County Civil War Cemetery. Aside from the stone, pointed monuments of Confederate veterans, Arnold erected two 30-foot flagpoles which fly the U.S. Flag, the contemporary Missouri Flag, the former Missouri flag and the Confederate flag. Amid the markers there is a rounded-top marker commemorating the valor and sacrifice of a Union soldier almost directly in the middle. Arnold went so far as to research as many of the soldiers as he could and had the history of 152 soldiers engraved on the back of the markers. Arnold, likewise, thinks a lack of education has caused recent problems surrounding the Confederate Battleflag. "I think it's a lack of education and history," Arnold remarked. "I think both political parties use it as a drawing card. That's the part that really ticks me off - right or wrong, the Confederate soldiers should be respected for their sacrifice because they fought gallantly." Arnold also objects to the way the SCV is viewed by some. "We're thought of as a radical group; but we're not," Arnold commented. Likewise, Gene Dressel, Missouri Division Commander of the SCV, said the group faces much opposition but offers little in the way of conflict. "We are all law-abiding citizens," Dressel said. "If anything that's our main weakness. "We have no more control over the regulation and use of the Battleflag than we do the use of white sheets (as used by members of the Ku-Klux-Klan)," Gary Kitchen, SCV member and Dexter resident commented. "So why don't we outlaw white sheets?" Dressel blames the negative light being cast on the Confederate flag on politicians as well as what he called "race-hustlers" looking to stir support for special causes. One politician in particular being focused on by Dressel is Missouri Governor Bob Holden. "I don't see how Holden can deny any involvement with the decision to take the flags down," Dressel remarked. "Even if he didn't know anything about it, he is still culpable because of the actions of his communications director. He is at fault either way." Holden's Director of Communications Mary Still has claimed responsibility for contacting Mahfood about remarks made about the Confederate flag by Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt. Gephardt made his remarks that the Confederate flag should not flay "anytime, anywhere" while campaigning for president recently in South Carolina. Still called Mahfood without Holden's knowledge. "The whole sequence of events just doesn't sound right," Dressel said. "As far as the political significance of the Battleflag is concerned, there are no political ties with anyone. Our heritage is just being attacked. The whole problem is a problem of a lack of education. "This ill-conceived action was orchestrated by presidential hopeful Dick Gephardt, who claims that he was unaware that these flags were displayed in Missouri, despite the fact that they have been up for decades. Evidently, Gephardt influenced Holden to ban the flags." As far as members of the SCV are concerned, the flag represents a part of America's heritage and has nothing to do with slavery. "I can't tell you that the problem would go away if everyone had a fine education in history," Hillis said. "I am disappointed, however, to see the lack of research into the subject by the national media who seem content on focusing on the emotional or 'feelings' point in the story of the Battleflag's symbolism." Hillis said he is bothered by the lack of complete Civil War history in modern textbooks. "The current attention being paid to the removal of the flag does present an opportunity for our organization to fulfill its charge," Hillis remarked. "That charge is, '...to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations." Desoto Joe/The Record Man