The Palmyra Post

The Official Newsletter of the 14^th Tennessee Co. B Volunteers May, 1999

Our first big event of the year is coming up Memorial Day weekend Friday-Monday May 28-31 at Ardenwood Park in Fremont.

You may begin arriving Friday after 2:30 PM. 1^st Sgt. Jim Thompson and Cpl. Dave Lund will be arriving around 4:30 PM. If you come Friday please give them a hand with firewood and straw. We will be camping in the same area as last year right across from the train station.

The battlefield is in a different field as last year and the plan is to build a fort that we will defend from the Yankees over the weekend.

Directions:

From the West or South: take hwy 101 to the Dumbarton bridge/hwy 84 eastbound, cross the bridge and follow hwy 84 to Ardenwood Blvd/Newark Blvd. Exit at Newark Blvd. Turn right go one block and enter the park here.

From the East: take hwy. 880 west to hwy. 84 (Decoto Road/Hwy. 84 west) toward Dumbarton Bridge. Exit Paseo Padre Parkway, turn  

And follow the same directions as above.

From Oakland: take hwy 880 to Alvarado/Fremont exit and go straight onto Deep Creek Road. When you get to Ridgewood Drive, turn left and proceed to Siward Drive and right into the park.

Hope to see everyone there.

Fellow Possums and Pouchlings:

Memorial Day weekend will mark the first big event of the 1999 campaign. I am encouraging all of you to make this event.

Ardenwood Park in Fremont has taken the place of Kelley Park in San Jose since our old battlefield is now a parking lot.

I will not be there until Saturday night so 1^st Sgt. Jim Thompson will be in charge on Saturday. I am asking everyone to start staying in camp on Saturday night and continuing the tradition (continued on page 2)

of going into the town on Friday night for dinner. I will be looking forward to seeing all of you in camp Saturday night.

Please make a big effort to be at Ardenwood over the Memorial Day Weekend.

Break ranks, march

Company dues are $5.00 if you paid your NCWA dues before March 1^st, $10.00 if you paid after. Please pay Cpl. Lund at Ardenwood.

Thank you

July, 17-18 Nevada City (RACW)

Aug., 14-15 Half Moon Bay

Sept., 11-12 Murphy's

Oct., 2-3 Fresno

Nov., 6-7 Vacaville

(Pvt. Evan Jones on guard duty at

Ardenwood Park, Fremont 1998)

At ease gentleman:

I would like to thank all of you who showed up at Mariposa. Those of us that showed had a really great time. For those of you that didn't show, you really missed out. Mariposa is by far the best site the NCWA has.

At Ardenwood in Fremont on Memorial Day weekend I would like to challenge all of you not only to come out but bring a new recruit with you. I will be having 2 or 3 new people showing up.

With the possibility of new pouchlings showing up, I'm asking everyone to bring any extra gear they may have to loan out over the weekend. We have very little in the way of company loaner gear and have 2 muskets.

Since there a still some of you who have not been to an event yet this year, I am asking that everyone try and show up either Friday night or before 9 AM Saturday so that we can get in some good drill before we take the battlefield on Saturday. I will not over drill you but make sure that we are all in step.

Thank you

On the morning of the 17^th of April Col. Bobby Lloyd Frazier marched his Legion into the hills around a small town called Mariposa.

Upon receiving news that the Yankees were seen in the area and committing several atrocities upon the local town folk the fearless leader of Frazier's Legion led his men on the short trip.

Sending the Calvary and Artillery ahead of the Infantry he bombarded the known Yankee position. Then he sent the South Carolina Sharpshooters out to draw the enemy out of hiding.

With the rest of the Legion hidden deep in the woods, Col. Frazier waited until the Yankee cowards revealed themselves from hiding and then called his troops out of the woods.

With the 14^th Tennessee taking the very prestigious place as colored guard along with fellow campaigners the 31^st Georgia, the Legion came out of the woods with Major Michael Linehardt leading the way. The startled Yankee's halted their advance and regrouped.

Col. Frazier gave the cry to advance on the Yankee position. With the Yankee artillery and

heavy Infantry musket fire facing them, the Legion pushed forward.

With the Yankees continuing to pull back and night fall coming the Colonel had no choice but to halt his advance and find a place to camp for the night.

After the Legion had set camp for the night, Lt. Kermit Claytor issued passes into town for those who showed such bravery in the face of the enemy that day. Most of the 14^th Tennessee received passes into town and made their way there. After having been paid a few days earlier, the Possums headed to find the best eating establishment in town. Among the Possum's that went into town were, Lt. Dave Partak, 1^st. Sgt. Jim Thompson, Cpl. Andrew Hall, Cpl. Dave Lund, Pvt. Gene Paxton, Pvt. Richard Mathis, Pvt. Dennis Henderson and Cpl. Lance Willis.

After having a fine meal the men headed off to find a local watering hole. After strolling threw a few establishments the Possums chose a rather popular watering hole to settle for the night. With strange Yankee music playing Lt. Partak showed the local folk how a southern officer danced. With cheers facing him the Lt. Danced with a variety of local women.

Although not seeing fit to take (Continued on next page)

the dance floor, Pvt.'s Henderson & Hall were having an effect on the local women. And before Lt. Partak could muster the 14^th and lead them back to camp, the two were missing.

The next morning both Pvt.'s Henderson and Hall failed to answer roll call and as the Legion staff was beginning to bring them up on charges, the two suddenly appeared.

Apparently while in town the two privates' were informed of a Yankee plot to demoralize the Southern soldier. So acting on their own behalf to save the Confederacy, the two took it upon themselves to get to the bottom of the plot.

They were led to the outskirts of town where they found a heavily fortified Building. Around this building stood a wall that would have to be seen to be believed, and several Yankee operatives guarding from the outside. As they looked over the wall they saw what they were there to find. What they saw, flying high into the night, was a Yankee flag with 48 stars on it.

The two privates new that this was an act by Yankee's to make the Confederate Soldier believe that the United States of America were adding States in the mist of the conflict.

Worried that this might demoralize the Southern cause the two new they had capture the flag. While the Yankee's were not looking, they catapulted over the stone wall and ran to where the flag was. Taking such care, they grabbed the flag and were barely able to escape without being noticed.

After having told Lt. Claytor this incredible story the two presented him with the flag. The Lt., being overwhelmed, dropped all charges of desertion and gave the two the flag as a gift for their bravery.

After having a small meal Col. Frazier decided to form the Legion and run the Yankee's out of the area once and for all.

As the Legion encountered the Yankee skirmishers, one had to wonder were the bulk of the Yankee Infantry were. As the confusion of battle grew worse, from behind the line they heard the sounds of musket fire.

As a stunned Major Linehardt looked on, having a loss of commands for the first time, the Yankee's looked to encircle the Legion. As Lt. Col. Massey took his wing and retreated Major Linehardt stood his ground. With his men dying all around him, he finally gave the command to withdraw.

As the two wings recombined and found a defensive position, the Yankee's halted there advance (continued on the next page)

As both sides collected their respective wounded, Col. Frazier withdrew his Legion from the hills and was content to fight another day.

Its still not too late to make plans for a trip east this summer and make the 135^th battle of Chickamauga. Several Possums are going including:

Lt. Dave Partak, 1^st. Sgt. Jim Thompson, 2^nd. Sgt. Tom Culross, Cpl. Dave Lund, Pvt. Bruce Leandro, Pvt. Brian Garmire, Pvt. Dennis Henderson

So if you've never been to a back east event you may want to join us. It will be held the 18^th and 19^th of September. Please check out our web site for more info.

____________________________

The Post is edited by Cpl. Dave Lund, if you would like to submit an article or information, please do so by either e-mailing at:

Dave Lund, 7429 Southfield Way, Stockton, CA 95207, (209) 952-6157