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Group honors Confederate soldiers
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Sunday, May 10, 2009 4:49 PM

 Group honors Confederate soldiers

By Matt Shaw | Times Staff Writer


The crack of rifles, the Ka-Booms! of a cannon, the playing of Taps -- it was loud enough to reassure the Confederate dead that they are not forgotten.

More than 120 people came to Maplewood Cemetery Saturday afternoon for the annual Confederate Memorial Day service, held by the local chapters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

State Commander Tom Smith challenged those who have called Confederate memorial services outdated, even embarrassing.

"God help us if we forget honor, duty and courage -- that's what these men were defending," Smith said.

"We're here to honor men who left their homes to defend families and farms from an invading army," added Commander Lee Carson of the Gen. William Dorsey Pender Camp 1916.

The South fought to protect its rights and way of a life, Carson said. That required courage and sacrifice from its troops.

"We never have to make any apologies for them," he said.

Guest speaker Harry Thompson, a noted Civil War expert and curator of the Port O' Plymouth Museum, talked about the Battle of Plymouth, N.C., in 1864, during which nearly 3,000 men were killed.

"They were buried in mass graves where they fell, in backyards, in local cemeteries, anywhere they could find to put them," he said.

Wilson during the Civil War

In April 1862, the Confederate government converted the Wilson Female Academy, between Academy and Vance streets, into a military hospital. Hundreds of wounded soldiers arrived via the Wilmington-Weldon Railroad. Those who died were buried in two small cemeteries, but their bodies were exhumed in 1894 and reburied in the Soldiers Mound at Maplewood Cemetery. The Confederate soldier statue was added in 1902.
He commended Wilson for its efforts to memorialize the soldiers who died at the military hospital.

City Councilman Bill Blackmon presented Carson and Commander Terry Bryant of the Capt. Jesse S. Barnes Camp 771 unit with framed copies of the city's proclamation of May as "Confederate History and Heritage Month."

The service ended following the laying of a wreath and the military salute by costumed re-enactors.

Several people went to the Soldiers Mound to look at the plaque with the names of those buried there. Brad and Amanda Whitley were interested in a "Thomas Smith" because that's a common name in her family.

Brad Whitley said he is related to a Pvt. Wiley Whitley, who was wounded and spent a year in a notorious Union prison. He was paying tribute Saturday to his relative and others.

"Those are examples of lives lived with honor, duty and strong family values," he said.

mshaw@wilsontimes.com | 265-7878
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Stonewall Soldier said...

I will not be moved, nor will I be swindled by those who think that the Confederacy was wrong. It is not for those living today to decide. The memory of those who are decendants are the ones who must carry the flag for those who suffered in vain. I will not cater to those who have no compassion towards those who fought on home land and gave the ultimate sacrifice so people can tarnish their memory with their distorted truths and half lies !

Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 6:52 AM
JCD said...

We have a joke of a holiday for martin king! Why can,t these people honor true heros?

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 5:37 PM
American said...

You can't hide history and it's important that all US History is remembered. If we don't tell our children and their children, no one will and all those who died in this war and all wars will have died in vain, because no one will remember!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 4:53 PM
IHN said...

Snarky said... Their other outfits must have been at the cleaners Mine isn't at the cleaners. If you'd like to see it I'de be glad to show it to you.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Jeff West said...

I have 8 direct confederate ancestors; from Edgecombe and Nash Counties as well as Virginia. Only two were involved in slave holding (Armstrongs from Edgecombe). Im proud of that they did and luckily lost only one to the war, from disease- not combat. This is part of our history. This is what happened before we got here. We can celebrate our history but on July 4th we will rejoice that we healed as a nation. We have come a long way in 150 years- we have a new, smart, articulate President that shows how we have healed as a nation. Let them have their celebrations- I dont think they are about hate- I do think they are about heritage. Jeff West/Richmond Va/Beddingfield 1981

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 8:14 AM
said...

Actually Lincoln, made it clear during the election that although he was against slavery he would not use the Federal government to eliminate slavery in the South and would let slavery, which was already declining, die naturally due to free market forces. Which shows how he helped the slaves. What is wrong with the confederates attacking first. They did not want the taxation of the states. They wanted their way of life. Yes there were slaves, but the south was so much more than slavery. Before you find fault with the south having slaves, look to the africans who sold their own people. Some eight hundred years before there were slaves in the US, my own people the Irish became slaves in several countries. As were my family who were american indians. All enslaved in greater numbers than from slaves that originated from Africa. Slave is not a word that is only likened to one race, so get over yourself. In all cultures there are the good and the bad. The confederate soldiers deserve to be remembered. People are so bright. with only 6% being slave owners it makes you wonder what did the other 94% fight for? Slavery wasn't the golden apple to be attained at the end of the day. However, and I say this to fellow posters who try to inject fact, some things are a waste. No matter what information you supply you won't be believed, because to believe what you say would mean that what they have always been taught may not be right. It is enough for me that the Sons of the Confederate Soldiers gave respect to the fallen. Thanks WDT for this article.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 1:49 AM Don't twist history said...

The slave states seceded in 1860 because the expansion of slavery was about to end. This was the Republican Party campaign. The morality of slavery was also being questioned. The secession of the slave states happened before Lincoln took office. Further more, the Confederates attacked first. They tried to yell state's rights as an excuse to defend slavery..... So, Sons, quit trying to twist history.

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 7:21 PM Snarky said...

Their other outfits must have been at the cleaners

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 6:32 PM Fact Versus Fiction said...

The people of the south did not ant to be taxed unfairly. They sought to seperate themselves from what they felt was unfair.Now lets discuss the lovely North.. you know Lincoln, and Congress.. remember, congress was with Lincoln, the north. The U.S. Supreme Court in Dred Scott v. Sanford,had ruled slavery legal and Fugutive Slave laws enforceable. Congress had passed a constitutional amendment to protect slavery. Lincoln, though many Southerners didn't trust him, had expressly promised not to intefere with slavery directly or indirectly, in the states where it exists. That the civil war was all about slavery is not accurate. With only 6% of the south having slave, why would so many people willingly send their loved one to figt a battle, why would they join forces just for those 6%? Simple. Slavery was not he end all be all people today make it out to be. Just as the flag bearing the markings of the Southern Cross are not flags that racist people love to fly. You know people who think the Sons of the Confederate Soldiers are racists are really people who choose not to take the time to search the truth. Shall we discuss the truths of slavery? If we discussed the facts, many 'oppressed people' would see that it is not only one ethnicity that has waged that battle and they were not oppressed the longest.. not be a long shot, even if they are the most grief stricken.

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 6:29 PM Chris Davis said...

My ancestor was a Confederate soldier. He is in heaven. If you do not like my Confederate ancestor you can go to ...

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 5:21 PM said...

Those of you who think the War between the States was for the preservation of slavery should do a little research, study a little American history. This war was a war of economics. President Lincoln did not want to free the slaves, but was forced to do so. The South did not invade the North, we were simply defending our homeland. I get so disgusted at people who think the Confederate flag is a symbol of bigotry and hatred, slavery thrived under the Stars and Stripes,long before the Confederate flags existed, why not hate this flag too? I am personally against slavery, although in my reading concerning slaves, the majority were treated very well, and many did not want to be freed. Who brought the slaves to America to be sold? The whites did not, it was the Africans, that sold their brothers into slavery. These brave soldiers, both Confederate and Union deserved to be remembered and honored.Many thanks to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and to the Wilson Daily Times for publishing this story.

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 3:41 PM History says said...

From Wikipedia: Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens said that slavery was the chief cause of secession in his Cornerstone Speech shortly before the war. After Confederate defeat, Stephens became one of the most ardent defenders of the Lost Cause. There was a striking contrast between Stephens' post-war states' rights assertion that slavery did not cause secession and his pre-war Cornerstone Speech. Confederate President Jefferson Davis also switched from saying the war was caused by slavery to saying that states' rights was the cause.

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 3:34 PM said...

those of you who are offended by the honoring of these brave people need to review history. There was not only white people fighting for the confederate states! There was a black confederate unit, hispanic unit, native american unit etc. These other races were not forced to fight, but chose to because this was a way of life. The war was not fought over Slavery. You people are riduculus. Research BEFORE you comment!

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 1:49 PM Bulldozers and Dirt said...

No actually, you might want to read a book. The majority of people who fought on the side of the Confederacy never owned slaves. Slavery was a core issue that caused the Civil War, but was not the only one. There is nothing racist, or wrong in honoring the memories of those soldiers who fought on the side of the Confederacy. It is sad and tragic that racist groups today have adopted the Confederate battle flag as a totem (and in doing so completely perverted the true intentions of that symbol). But it is also just as sad that groups like the "New Black Panthers" have adopted the name and persona of a civil rights group to spread antisemitism and hate.

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 12:53 PM Fact Versus Fiction said...

Lincoln said in his inaugural address in 1861, "The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the Government and to collect the duties and imposts ; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people anywhere..." The south declared independence to avoid paying duties they saw as unfair. By pulling away from the Union and becoming their own governing body. If you read history you will see that the disagreements of taxation had began over thirty years before Lincoln had office. As of 1860 congress had passed an amendment to protect slavery. Not the south, Congress. The Dred Scott decision took away anything that hindered slaves owners from expanding slavery. Since the south left the states they forfeited their claims to western territories so slavery could not be expanded, although if you were union you could. The prepace of the war wasn’t slavery. Contrary to what so many think. Read history. Oh, and only 6% of people had slaves.. that means 94% didn’t want you as a slave. But 100% were sold by their own people in the first place.

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 12:34 PM Just wondering said...

Wonder what other activities the sons of confederates take part in? If anything, they should have gathered to pray for forgiveness and mercy on the dead.......

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 11:40 AM ehs said...

This is just digusting! 120 people I will swerve to avoid being around... and 1 city councilman.

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 11:35 AM What's next? said...

Will there also be a Nazi Party day? They believed they were defending a way of life too?

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 11:02 AM Only in the South said...

If ever there was an event where the NAACP should have shown its presence, this was it. Gatherings like this will only keep the bigotry alive.

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10:59 AM What??? said...

Hey, how about some other days to honor.... James Earl Ray Day, John Wilkes Booth Day, Adolf Hilter and the Nazi Party Day, or even Taliban Day.... Yeah, I know ridiculous, but according to the above printed logic, these were also just defending a way of life, honor, courage, and family values..... God help us all!!!

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 9:17 AM One word said...

Unbelievable

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 8:13 AM Disgusted Wilsonian said...

I love America. I respect the soldiers that live and fight in today's battles. But forgive me if I don't jump for joy for a group hat would've kept African Americans in slavery. People have been offended over the NAACP lately, and anytime they voiced an opinion. People have recently called them racist, but I guess no one wants to remember that the confederates wanted us as slaves. Correct me if i'm wrong. Those offended, read a book.

Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 11:44 PM
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