Welcome to the The Prince’s
Dispatch, quarterly newsletter of the Major General John Bankhead Magruder
Chapter of the Virginia Society of The Military Order of the Stars and Bars.
The Magruder Chapter was chartered as Chapter #258 of the Virginia Society on 9 August 2000. Chapter meetings are held quarterly at a time and place announced in advance. The Chapter also gathers the second Wednesday of each month concurrently with the Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp #1722, Sons of Confederate Veterans at the Salem Library in Fredericksburg.
The swearing in ceremony for the Maj. Gen. John Bankhead
Magruder Chapter was held December 10, 2005 For the Officers Elected for 2006 – 2007. Commander – Charles A. Embrey Sr. Lt. Commander – Jan V. Harvey Adjutant – Henry H. Knauf Chaplain – John M. Embrey Jr. Assist. Chaplain – Jack E. Buttgen Sgt-at-Arms – Louis Buttgen III
Not Shown = Judge Advocate – William L. Simpson
Jr., Treasure – Ronald K. Rorer Webmaster/Newsletter Editor – John T. Donnelly Jr. The meeting and ceremony was held at Commander Charles
A. Embrey Sr’s home where wives or girlfriends were invited and
refreshments were served after the meeting and ceremony. Refreshments were prepared by the wives
or girlfriends and brought to the host who was Mrs. Charles A. (Miss
Barbara ) Embrey. During the meeting, they held a candle light service to
Honor Their ancestors and, John B. Magruder, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis.
Pictured Above: Jack E. Buttgen,
Louis Buttgen Jr., Louis
Buttgen III, Henry H. Knauf, Charles A. (Mexican General )Embrey Sr., Jan V. Harvey, John
M. Embrey Jr., Nicholas P. Embrey In March of 2004, a disgruntled person stated that the
Major General John B. Magruder Chapter of the MOSB was filled with Mexican
Generals with a bunch of medals. We have turned that statement into a private joke and
dismissed that individuals comments since then as envy. Above is a picture of the members at the meeting and one
of our “Mexican Generals”. Our
Commander states that he is proud of that Honor.
November 28, 2005 at the Salem
Church Library, The Fredericksburg Chapter #163United Daughters of the Confederacy presented the War
Service Medal to Jack E. Buttgen (left ) for service during the Korean War
and presented his brother Louis Buttgen Jr. with the War Service Medal for
service during World War II. Presenting the Service Medals are left,Mrs. Debbie Payne, Recorder of Medals and right, Mrs. Lois Bailey, President of Chapter 163, UDC.
The Maj. Gen. John Bankhead Magruder Chapter of the MOSB has either attended or conducted 26 Ceremonies and Dedications during the year 2005.They have traveled to Manassas, Culpeper, Columbia, Richmond, Bowling Green, Roanoke, and Lexington, as
well as the surrounding counties and the city of Fredericksburg.Many cemeteries were family cemeteries where dedication ceremonies were conducted for descendants of Confederate
Soldiers.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 1862 Ordered to be printed
Mr. Justis S. Morrill, submitted the following
amendment in The nature of a substitute
AMENDMENT
To Bill (H.R. 471) to confiscate the property of rebels
for the Payment
of the expenses of the present rebellion, and for Other
purposes.
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the following: That all the estate and property, money, stocks,
credits, and effects of the persons hereafter named in this section, are
hereby forfeited to the government of the United States, and are declared
lawful subjects of seizure and of prize and capture wherever found, for the
indemnity of the United States against the expenses of suppressing the
present rebellion --- that is to say: First. Of any person hereafter acting as an
officer of the army or navy of the rebels in arms against the government of
the United States. Secondly. Of any person hereafter acting as
President, Vice-President, member of Congress, judge of any court, cabinet
officer, foreign minister, commissioner or consul of the so-called
Confederate States of America.
Thirdly. Of any person acting as governor of a
State, member of a convention or legislature, or judge of any court of the
so-called Confederate States of America. Fourthly. Of any person who having held an office
of honor, trust, or profit in the United States, shall hereafter hold an
office in the so-called Confederate States of America. Fifthly. Of any person hereafter holding any
office or agency under the government of the so-called Confederate States
of America, or under any of the several States of the said confederacy, or
the laws thereof, whether such office or agency be national, State, or
municipal in its name or character.
And the said estate and property and moneys, stacks, credits, and
effects of the persons aforesaid, are hereby declared lawful subjects of
seizure and of prize and capture wherever found; and the President of the
United States shall cause the same to be seized, to the end that they may
be confiscated and condemned, as hereinafter provided, to the use of the
United States; and all sales, transfers, of conveyances of any such
property after the passage of this act shall be null and void; and it shall
be a sufficient bar to any suit brought by such person for the possession
or the use of such property, or any of it, to allege and prove that he is
one of the persons described in this section. Sec. 2 And be it further enacted, That to secure possession, condemnation,
and sale of any of such property, situate and being in any State, district,
or territory of the United States, proceedings in rem shall be instituted
in the name of the United States in any district court of the United
States, or in any territorial court, or in the United States district court
for the District of Columbia, within which the property above described, or
any part thereof, may be found, or into which the same, if movable, may be
first brought, which proceedings shall conform as nearly as may be to
proceedings in prize cases, or to cases of forfeiture arising under the
revenue laws; and the said property so seized and condemned, whether real
or personal, shall be sold under the decree of the court having cognizance
of the case, and the proceeds deposited in the treasury of the United
States for their use and benefit. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the several courts aforesaid shall
have power to make such orders, establish such forms of decree and sale,
and direct such deeds and conveyances to be executed and delivered by the
marshals thereof where real estate shall be the subject of sale, as shall
fitly and efficiently effect the purposes Of this act, and vest in the purchasers of such property
good and valid titles thereto. And the said courts shall have power to allow such fees
and charges of their officers as shall be reasonable and proper in the
premises.
Sec. 4.
And be it further enacted.
That the property seized as aforesaid shall be used, occupied,
rented, or held, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury,
until judicial proceedings shall be had as herein provided, when
proceedings in rem shall be instituted and prosecuted to judgment and sale
in the mode aforesaid, and the proceeds applied as aforesaid: Provided, That perishable
articles seized under this bill shall be used of sold, pursuant to such
rules as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
proceeds applied as above provided. Sec. 5.
And be it further enacted,
That the several district courts of the United States shall have
power to do everything necessary or proper to carry this act into full
effect. And the Attorney General,
or any district attorney of the United States, or of any district in which
the said property may at the time be, or into which the same may be taken,
shall institute the proceedings aforesaid. Sec. 6.
And be it further enacted, That when any court shall order any property to be sold under
this act, an order shall be passed and published in such papers and for such
time, not exceeding six months, as the court may think reasonable,
requiring all persons having claims against or liens on any of the property
ordered to be sold, or being creditors of the person to whom the property
belonged, to appear and produce and prove the claims, liens, or debts
aforesaid by a day certain; and thereupon the court shall adjust and settle
and allow such claims, liens, or debts as may be legally proved, and decree
the payment and settlement thereof out of the proceeds of the property
sold, according to the forms and principles applicable to a creditor’s suit
in equity, and the residue of the proceeds only shall be paid into the
treasury of the United States. Sec. 7.
And be it further enacted,
That every person guilty of the acts described in the first section,
and comprised within any of the five classes of persons therein mentioned
and enumerated, shall, in addition to the forfeitures herein before
declared, cease to be a citizen of the United States, and be forever
incapable of becoming or being a citizen of the United States or of either
of them, and shall be incapable of voting for any member of either house of
the legislature of any State, or for the governor of any State, or for any
member of Congress, or for electors for President or Vice President of the
United States, member of the Senate or House of Representatives of the
United States, President or Vice President of the United States, or of
holding any office of profit or trust under the United States of America. H. R. 471----2
ORIGIN OF
TAPS We have all heard the story of the Northern boy who went
south to study music and joined the Confederate Army, was killed on the
battlefield and found by his father, who was a Union Captain. The father wanted to give his son a
military funeral but the General would not allow it and said the Captain
could use but one member of the band.
The Captain chose the bugler and handed the bugler a piece of paper
found in his sons pocket which contained musical notes. The bugler played the notes and that was
the birth of Taps. That
story was on the web page for awhile but taken down when all attempts to
verify it failed. Now
the rest of the story. I found this information and obtained permission to
reprint it. ============================================================= From: Day One [dayone@dayone.com] World War II USA Proud Orphans Dear Diane & All -- I've been trying to research the story of Taps since last Fall, when we
started adding sounds to the website. Mary Martin has sent me a version of the music, and Chickie, because of
her Dad's participation in the 41st Division Band has also been interested
in this. I've seen several stories of the derivation -- including (but not limited
to) the story of the Captain who found the notes in his dead son's pocket.
That makes a great story, but I'm not sure it's right. In fact, I'm not
sure what's right -- so I thought I'd pass along another story of the
derivation of TAPS, that came from two independent sources -- one of them
being Arlington's historian -- so this version -- the Butterfield version
-- seems most credible to me.
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 1999 06:04 PM
To: ProudOrphans@listbot.com
Subject: TAPS -- It's Derivation
Can anyone confirm which story of the derivation of TAPS is right? Instinct says that Jack Forgy will know . . . you out there today, Jack?
But anyone who might know something (or maybe even a different story) could
help with this -- as I think we owe it to our members to get this right. Here are both versions of the "Butterfield" story of TAPS . .
. DURING a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, Va., you might hear the
echoes of "Taps" being sounded by a bugler from one of the armed
forces of the United States. The 132-year-old bugle call was composed by Brig. Gen. Daniel
Butterfield, who commanded the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Army Corps,
Army of the Potomac, during the American Civil War. Butterfield wrote "Taps" at Harrison's Landing, Va., in July
1862 to replace the customary firing of three rifle volleys at the end of
burials during battle. "Taps" also replaced "Tatoo,"
the French bugle call to signal "lights out." Butterfield's bugler, Oliver W. Norton of Chicago, was the first to
sound the new call. Within months, "Taps" was sounded by buglers
in both Union and Confederate forces. "Taps" concludes nearly 15 military funerals conducted with
honors each weekday at the Arlington National Cemetery as well as hundreds
of others around the country. The tune is also played at many memorial
services in Arlington's Memorial Amphitheater and at gravesites throughout
the cemetery. "Taps" is sounded during the 2,500 military wreath ceremonies
conducted at the Tomb of the Unknowns every year, including the ones to be
held this Memorial Day. The ceremonies are viewed by many groups, including
veterans, schools, and foreign officials.
One of the final bugle calls of the day on military installations,
"Taps" is played at 10 p.m. as a signal to service members that
it is "lights out." When "Taps" is played, it is customary to salute, if in
uniform, or place your hand over your heart if not. The composer of "Taps" was born Oct. 31, 1831, in Utica, N.Y.,
and joined the Army in Washington, D.C. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in the U.S. Volunteers on June 27,
1862. After his brigade lost more than 600 men in the Battle of Gaines
Mill, Butterfield took up the colors of the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Under heavy enemy fire, he encouraged the depleted ranks to regroup and
continue the battle. Butterfield died July 17, 1901, and was buried at the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point, N.Y. "Taps" was sounded at his funeral. Kathryn Shenkle is a historian with Arlington National Cemetery. Then from an entirely different source, I found this . . . * * * * * Its sad, haunting melody is one of the most familiar tunes in America. It will be played tonight, just as it has been played for the past 134
years, at United States military establishments throughout the world. The
sad tune not only marks the end of the day for soldiers; it also denotes
the end of their lives. The melody might spring to mind, but the title of
the tune may not: The tune is Taps, and it was written by Dan Butterfield. Butterfield was a Union General, awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor, and after the war he served as the Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Department. He was born in Utica, New York, on
October 31st, 1831. He was the third son of John Butterfield, renowned for
his dealings with both the Overland Stage and American Express.
Taps sprang from Dan Buttefield's imagination in 1862.
During the Civil War, as the United States fought to either tear itself
asunder or heal its differences, Buttefield spent July in Virginia with his
men. He was as restless as his men that night. Sweat made it's sticky
trailings under dirty blue uniforms, plastering the wool against the too
hot skin. The brigade was camped at Berkley Plantation, overlooking the
James River near Tidewater. Buttefield sat on his cot and thought about the
good fortune he had had last month during the battle of Gaines' Mill - his
wounds had not been serious. Others, of course, hadn't shared his good
fortune. Many dead and wounded had been left behind there. Those that had
escaped might have fallen a few days later at Malvern Hill, when Lee's
troops attacked but fell back before the Union soldiers. But Butterfield's
ruminations were interrupted by his bugler sounding Extinguish Lights.
Butterfield had never liked Extinguish Lights, a tune borrowed from the
French and played to signal the end of the day. He thought it too stiff and
formal for everyday use. In his imagination played a different melody to
signal day's end - something peaceful, soothing, and just a bit meloncholy. Besides his soldiering skills, Buttefield had other talents. He reached
into his pocket and drew forth a crumpled, stained envelope. Whistling and
humming, he got down to work, finishing his imagination's song. O.W.
Norton, Buttefield's 22 year old bugler, recounts what happened next: "Buttefield, showing me some notes on staff written in pencil on
the back of an envelope, asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this
several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat,
lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as
he first gave it to me. "After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound the
call thereafter, in place of the regular call. The music was beautiful on
the still summer nights and was heard far beyond the limits of our brigade.
The next day I was visited by several other buglers from neighboring
brigades asking for a copy of the music, which I gladly furnished." The music also drifted across the battlefield and was soon taken up by
the Confederate buglers. Later, at a Union military funeral, Taps was
substituted for the customary rifle volleys at the graveside. It seems that
Union officers were worried that the ceremonial gunshots would set off an
attack by the edgy Confederates.
Taps was well on its way to becoming the nation's requiem. it was played
when General Dan Buttefield was laid to rest on July 17th, 1901, thirty
nine years after he spent a steamy night in Virginia scribbling on an old
envelope. He was buried at West Point where his white marble monument still
stands. In the Oneida, New York, Historical Society's collection resides General
Butterfield's Medal of Honor, his silver mess gear, two of his swords and
other memorabilia. That, and the haunting melody at sunset, are all that's
left of him.
Headquarters, A. N. Va.,
December 31, 1862. General Order No. 132.
R. E. Lee, General.
The General commanding takes this occasion to express to the officers
and soldiers of the army his high appreciation of the fortitude, valor and
devotion displayed by them, which, under the blessing of Almighty God, have
added the victory of Fredericksburg to the long list of their triumphs.
That this great result was achieved with s loss small in point of numbers only Augments
the admiration with which the commanding general regards the prowess of the troops,
and increases his gratitude to Him who hath given us the victory.
The signal manifestations of Devine mercy that have distinguished the eventful
and glorious campaign of the year just closing give assurance of hope that under
the guidance of the same Almighty hand insure the safety, peace and happiness of
our beloved country, and add new luster to the already imperishable name of the
Army of Northern Virginia.
Meeting March 14, (Tuesday) 2006 at 06:30 to 9:00 P.M. Faulkner Hall St George’s Episcopal Church,
Fredericksburg
MOS&B National Web Address
Virginia Society Web Address
Magruder Chapter Web Address
http://www.jtdonnelly.com/mosb
Another
good site is the American WWII Orphans Network
It is not a Confederate site, but I thought it
deserved recognition.
Pledge of the Military Order of the Stars
and Bars
“We the posterity of the Officer Corps and civil officials of the Confederacy do pledge ourselves to commemorate and honor the service of leadership these men rendered in the cause of the fundamental American principles of self-determination and states rights and to perpetuate the true history of their deeds for the edification of ourselves, our society, and for generations yet unborn.”