United Daughters of the Confederacy®
Texas Division
Children of the Confederacy®

2010 – 2011
Texas Division President
3 R’s - Remember, Rally & Restore

Next year marks the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the “War Between the States”.  We need to REMEMBER our ancestors, their history, the veterans and soldiers fighting for our freedom.  The world wants true history to be forgotten.  I would like each member to write an essay on a WBTS subject.  We also need to RALLY our membership and encourage participation at all levels of the organization.

The objectives of the Children of the Confederacy include Historical, Benevolent, Educational, Patriotic and Memorial.

Historical:  Learn about the War Between the States – study the Catechism book.  Write essays on WBTS (see subject list).

Benevolent: From the Latin benevolens meaning “wishing well”.  Benevolence is an act of charity.   We will collect items for veterans (shampoo, soap, shaving cream, crosswords books, etc.).  We can also plan a food drive.

Educational: Read books, watch period movies, research for essays.  A good book to read is Across Five Aprils.   CofC General sells a book for young readers – Civil War! America Becomes One Nation.   It is written by James I. Robertson, Jr., author of the Robert E. Lee book (another good choice)

Patriotic: We should remember our ancestor’s service, soldiers serving for our country, and fly flags on patriotic holidays and special days (General Minute Book and list attached).

Memorial: Place flags on graves, hold a memorial service, remember the Special Memorial Days and Days of Observance (General Minute Book – list attached).  Find out where your ancestor(s) are buried.  Markers can be placed if they do not have one.
 

The final “R” is RESTORE.  There is a Historical Marker near Brenham that has been damaged.  The marker is for Thomas Affleck.  He was a well know agriculturalist of his time.  He was also an early advocate of scientific farming. He wrote many books and was theorizing on several topics such as erosion, forage, livestock improvements and plantation improvements.  During the 1850’s he established a Washington County Plantation, known as “Glynblythe”.  The plantation was extensive and highly organized.  It included a wagon factory, where wagons and ambulances were made for the Confederacy.

I would like to raise the funds necessary to replace the marker.   The cost will be about $1600.  We will use several methods to raise the money.  Silent auction and selling voices will be a start.   During the WBTS many men were recruited for service by local business men and property owners.  Brothers and friends would sign up together and whole communities would lose most of their able bodied men.  In the area of Washington and surrounding counties Thomas Waul recruited men to form a legion for Confederate service.  He recruited two thousand men, comprised of 12 infantry companies, 6 cavalry companies, and two artillery companies.  Thomas Affleck helped feed the soldiers that Thomas Waul recruited.  The training encampment is located near the site of Glynblythe Plantation.

I hope to recruit “soldiers” to help reach my objective.

Chapters will represent the companies that will comprise our Texas Legion.

Chapters will need to raise funds to feed members - $1 each (UDC members can also join).  Please keep a “muster roll” for all members in your companies.

Cavalry companies will need an additional $50 to feed the horses (must provide your own horse).

Artillery Companies will need to raise $100 for each cannon.
 
 

Together we can RESTORE this marker for Thomas Affleck
 

ESSAY TOPICS

Generals
President Davis
Varina Howell Davis
Winnie Davis
Soldiers
Hunley
Battles
Generals and their horses
Army or Navy
A day in the life of children during the WBTS
Spies
Songs sung during the war

Two Texas Division members won best essay in two age groups.  Let us continue the winning streak.

Another suggested list is the Memorial Days and Days of Observance –
You can research the names on the list for other topics for essays.
Maybe have a birthday party for your favorites

MEMORIAL DAYS AND DAYS OF OBSERVANCE


January 14 Matthew Fontaine Maury
January 19 Robert E. Lee
January 21 Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
February 2 Albert Sidney Johnston
February 3 Sidney Lanier
February 6 James Ewell Brown (J.E.B.) Stuart
February 11 Alexander H. Stephens
March 31 John Herbert Kelly
April 6 Battle of Shiloh
May 28 Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard
May 30 Memorial Day
June 3 Jefferson Davis
July 13 Nathan Bedford Forresdt
July 13 Joseph Eggleston Johnston
September 10 Founders' Day
Septemer 17 Franklin Buchanan
September 27 Admiral Raphael Semmes
October 6 Sam Davis
Nov 11 Veterans Day
Dec 12 Stand Watie