The Fort Brooke Record

February 2001
Volume 7, Issue 2

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February’s Program, 

The CSS Hunley

Our newsletter editor, Mr. Rich Warner, even though a relatively new member of our camp, is a learned man in regards to Confederate history.

A few years after his birth in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina his family moved to Maryland and then in 1960 they moved to Dunedin where he attended Dunedin Schools. After another move to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Rich graduated from Great Valley High School in Exton, Pennsylvania.

From an early age, Rich was impressed with the importance of his Southern roots. Although he attended many schools, while his family followed the engineering career of his father, it was always impressed on him that he really was a true Southerner. For this his mother gets the lion’s share of the credit. But even the knowledge that his father’s side of the family, while living in the Chicago area at the time of the War, were diehard Copperheads made an impression on Rich. The Lincoln government closed down the newspaper which Rich’s direct forefather was the editor.

Today, Rich is a pilot with 18,000 hours flying time with Delta Airlines. He has BS degrees in Aeronautical Science and Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Although he is “on duty” with Delta 16 days of each month he is careful to see that his schedule accommodates his duties with the camp.

To our benefit, for the program this month, Rich will combine his interest in things Confederate with his keen interest in things technological. The title of the program will be the “The CSS Hunley, It’s development and recovery.” We will learn the amazing story of the successful efforts of the best and brightest of Southern engineering talent and ability to develop a state of the art underwater war machine. Although the CSS Hunley was the culmination of that effort, the journey to that fateful February night in 1864, when submarine history was made, will be the story we will hear.

Come and be with us Tuesday, February 20th at Buddy Freddys.

Flags Across Florida

An Update

-By 1st Lt. Cmdr. Marion Lambert

This is an update for the monument/flagpole to be dedicated April 7 at the White Springs exit (exit 84) located on I-75 six miles north of I-10. Remember that site will feature a 110 foot flagpole with a monument and all of the supporting landscaping.

By this time all full members of the Florida Division, SCV have received the solicitation flyer from Division for the site at White Springs. Also, all Legionnaires, all newsletter subscribers and many others have also received the flyer. If you have not the recipient of the flyer and wish to receive one do contact Marion Lambert @ (813) 839-5153 or email Marion @ .

Lee-Jackson Grand Ball & Dinner A Fabulous Evening –  for the Cause

  -By rebmaster Lunelle Siegel

Nearly 200 souls were in attendance on Saturday evening, January 27^th, 2001 for the Plant City Chapter #1931’s Lee-Jackson Grand Ball & Dinner. The main feature of the evening was the presentation of eight Southern Bell Debutantes, 3 of which are daughters or grand-daughters of John T. Lesley Camp Members: Miss Leigh Anne Lovelace, granddaughter of Camp member Richard Skinner, and Plant City UDC Mrs. Martha Sue Skinner; Miss Rebecca Lynn “Becky” Martin, daughter of Camp Chaplain Rev. Calvin Martin and Mrs. Martin; and Miss Brenda Blue Lambert, daughter of Camp 1^st Lt. Commander Marion D. Lambert and Mrs. Nancy Lambert. Lesley Camp Quartermaster, Jake English presented the Debutantes.

Miss Brenda Blue Lambert, escorted by father  and Camp 1st Lt. Commander Marion D. Lambert	Miss Leigh Anne Lovelace escorted by granddaughter of Camp member Richard Skinner

Rebecca Lynn “Becky” Martin, escorted by father 
and  Camp Chaplain Rev. Calvin Martin

Other Belles presented were: Miss Ashley Davis, Miss Marjorie Elaine Kurtwright, Miss Amber Davis, Miss Abigail Vanessa Mabry, and Miss Jennifer Roman. All Belles were presented by a family member and escorted through a sword line presented by the 4^th Florida re-enactment company.

A delicious traditional southern meal was offered of Pork Loin w/ Pecan Dressing or Cornish Hen with Pecan Dressing, Fresh Greens, Candied Yams with Peaches, Corn Fritters and corn bread. Rev. Calvin Martin lead the group in singing ‘Dixie” as the Robert E. Lee birthday cake was presented. Festivities were kicked off with the Grand March. The 97th Regimental String Band played for hours enabling all to have a wonderful time dancing the waltz and the Virginia Reel.

The Grand March

Dancing through the night

Lesley Camp Quartermaster Jake English,
 who presented debutantes with
Col. Jim Armitage

The Ball drew participation from as far away as Naples and Ft. Meyers and Sanford, not only from Southern Heritage groups, but the general public as well. Some groups represented were: Mary Custis Lee Chapter, UDC in Clearwater; Tampa Chapter #113, UDC; John T. Lesley Camp, SCV, Ft. Myers Chapter 2614, UDC, Annie H. Darracott Chapter 791 UDC in Lakeland, the League of the South and more.

The Plant City Chapter #1931, UDC would like to thank all Lesley Camp members who attended and supported the event. Because of your help we are proud to announce that the funds will be available to restore and replace the missing Confederate Iron Crosses on 16 Confederate Veteran graves in Oaklawn Cemetery in Plant City, Florida, CSA at a Confederate Memorial Day Service. Oaklawn Cemetery is the final resting place of some of the area’s most prominent founding citizens, who were Confederate Veterans.

In 1898, the General Organization of the UDC made plans to present bronze crosses to all Confederate Veterans. The Plant City Chapter of the UDC was created in 1927 (73 years ago), and bestowed its 1st cross to James Lauren Young. In 1929, the 2nd was presented to Charles Nelson. In 1933, H.C. Jordan received the 3rd and in 1935 Joel Henry Estes received the 4th.

The Chapter’s 2nd President, Edna Lovings set as her project for 1929-1930 to see that all Confederate graves in Oaklawn Cemetery were marked with Iron Grave Crosses. By 1931, 28 had been marked. There are a total of 39 Confederate Veterans buried in Oaklawn Cemetery.

The Chapter intends to replace the 16 missing Iron Grave Crosses and re-dedicate them on Confederate Memorial Day Services on April 29, 2001. Both Chapters will present this solemn re-dedication service to remember the service and sacrifice of the Southern citizen-soldier on Sunday, April 29^th at 2 p.m. The prestigious Lesley Camp Colour Guard will be present for the rifle salute. Distinguished guests and a keynote speaker. Reception on the grounds following the service.  Oaklawn Cemetery is located on Highway 39 (Wheeler St.) south of I-4 and north of Plant City. Take exit 13 (Hwy 39) off I-4.

Special thanks go to chapter members Mrs. Richard (Martha Sue) Skinner, Grand Ball Chairman, and to Mrs. Charles (Peggy Lee, Grand Ball Vice-Chairman and Miss Charlotte Lee , Debutante Co-Ordinator. This is the Chapter’s second Lee-Jackson event.

Camp Business

EMAIL DIRECTORY

Presently the Email Directory for the camp has 75 names and email addresses. This is a great increase over several months ago

If you are one of the people who have in the past received any emails addressed to “Lesley Camp Members and Friends” then you are on this camp email directory. If you have not then we need to add you and your email address to the directory.

To be added to this important list please send your request to be added to:

1st Lt. Commander Marion Lambert  at

If you would like to be added to the directory but do not wish that your email address be made known to others please so indicate in your request.

LeMat Replica Revolver

(J. E. B. Stewart's Revolver)

To be awarded at her March Fish Fry

As a member of the premier Southern Heritage organization in the Tampa Bay area this is your chance to show your support for our Heritage, our Flag, our Culture, and our heroes. I cannot even start to share in this brief note the very many, many ways that this very “On Fire” camp is involved in this community. Suffice to say, that if you love our flag and all that it stands for then you will want to do what you can to assist us in this fund raiser - the pistol drawing.

To be awarded at a Spring meeting the pistol is a replica CAVALRY MODEL LE MAT. General J.E.B. Stuart’s sidearm.  Features a lanyard ring, spur trigger guard, lever type barrel release and cross pin barrel selector. The Le Mat was probably the most romantic revolver ever manufactured.  Conceived by the fertile minds of a French seafarer and brilliant military man, Colonel Le Mat and General G. P. T. Beauregard, working together, perfected the ultimate military sidearm.  It was a favorite of Cavalry General J.E.B. Stuart, as well as many Confederate Naval and Infantry officers. 

History and First Impressions

One of the most deadly and powerful handguns of the War Between the States was invented by the Southern Officer Gentleman, Doctor Jean Alexander LeMat, and General G. P. T. Beaureguard. It was named for the Doctor and to this day inspires interest in one of the most unique weapons of the war. It was the LeMat Revolver.

The first models were produced by gunsmith John Krider of Philadelphia, but the demand of the Confederate ordnance purchasers was so high that European manufactures were sought. The first of these was Fredric Girard and Son. Their attempts were very poorly made and resulted in some catastrophic failures in the field. LeMat then moved the contract to Birmingham Small Arms Company in England where the quality was greatly improved.

Shipments of these weapons were smuggled past the union’s naval blockade and into Confederate hands. Just how many pistols made it to the Confederacy from Europe is not known for sure.

The pistol weighted 4 pounds and had 2 barrels. The upper barrel was a 9 shot, .40-caliber percussion revolver barrel. A lighter .35-caliber was also produced. The lower smoothbore barrel was 28 gauge, (.63-caliber), and was loaded with buck shot in the same manner of most percussion muzzle loading shotguns of the time period. The smoothbore barrel could be fired separately by means of a hinged toggle on the hammer that redirected the striker to the nipple of the smoothbore barrel.

One major problem followed the LeMat to the battlefield, the gun was designed to use a non-standard size ammunition, .36 and .44-caliber being the standard caliber for both Confederate and Union troops. The LeMat was .40-caliber and .35-caliber, this was changed in the later models, bringing it to the standard calibers. The revolver being offered is a true .44-caliber, the single shot barrel is of .65-caliber.

These fine weapons are known to have been used by Confederate Calvary officers and it is hinted that artillery units were issued these handguns for massed firepower in close quarters.

   Chaplain's Corner

      Our beloved Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America is being labeled as a flag that stands for slavery. You and I know that that is not the case but we are trying to educate the public about the true nature of our history. But I want you to look at the subject of slavery. Being a slave is belonging to someone as their property. Being their property you are to do their bidding. Slavery was not invented by the South. It was an institution that dates back thousands of years, and many different races have been slaves.

Now I'm here to tell you that to this very day every one of you are a slave. What???!!! You say. Yes a slave . Some are slaves to their jobs. some are slaves to habits, such as tobacco, or alcohol. But the worst kind of slave is being a slave to the Devil. If you don't have salvation and you are not serving God then you are a slave to the Devil, whether you want to believe it or not.

Now let me tell you about my Master,. yes I said my "Master". He is a kind benevolent Master who loves me and cares about me . And when I do things for Him it's out of love that I willingly obey His commands. For you see I am a love slave. I love my Master and He loves me. I know that there are plenty of you who know exactly what I'm talking about.

This being the month of love ( Valentines Day ), I'm reminded of the love our leaders had for their God and how they willingly obeyed Him and sought his guidance and leading. These men were also men who loved their wives and families. Just look at the many letters that were written by Gen Lee and Gen Jackson, and on and on the men who devoted their lives to God and their country and family.

I'm reminded of a story of a slave in Western Virginia who had the opportunity to run away from his master, Aaron Stockton. Mr. Stockton was a kind master and one of his loves was to ride on the river boats. And many of you have heard stories of the "river boat gamblers", well, Mr. Stockton was really on of them. He had gained his wealth in the salt business in the great Kanawha Valley. He had married the sister of William Tompkins ( one of my distant relatives). Stockton bought land every where and he built an Inn and tavern at Falls View, by the beautiful Kanawha Falls near Gualey Bridge.

His slave was a favorite house slave who ran off from the home at Falls View and worked at the salt furnaces at Kanawha Salines ( present day Malden W.Va. ). He soon grew tired and sneaked home ( Which was about 40 miles ). He was huddled in the kitchen begging for breakfast when the old sport, Aaron, entered to fix his morning julep. He saw but ignored the slave.

"Marse, Stockton," said the slave. "I'se home sah."

"Home?" said Stockton. "Why, have you been away? Never missed you."

Legend says that this so hurt the Negro that he cried. Stockton ordered that he be fed and never mentioned the matter again.

Now isn't that just the way our Heavenly Master is . Here we go away on our own and try things our way and when we find that sin just wasn't really all that enticing. And when we come back to our Master and say " Father forgive me , for I have sinned. He forgives us and then forgets it and never mentions it again.

And just like that runaway slave who came home to a loving and forgiving master , he stayed with him and served him willingly and lovingly.

So I end with this, are you a love slave ?

Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.

Rev Calvin T. Martin
Chaplain