9th Annual Department of North Carolina Encampment

The 9th Annual Department of North Carolina Encampment was held on 7 May 2016. 

The Encampment was co-hosted by Ruger Camp #1 and North Carolina Union Volunteers #5 and held at Fort Fisher National Historical Landmark at Kure Beach, NC. 

Twenty-One Brothers of the SUVCW Attended

 We were honored to have Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Commander-in-Chief Eugene G. Mortorff and Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Mark R. Day in attendance.

Commander-in-Chief Eugene G. Mortorff
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Mark R. Day

For a view the 2016 Encampment Photo Album go to the Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1 Facebook.
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“The Ground Trembled Under Our Feet”

Brothers of Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1,

Our Camp represented the Union again this year at the annual ceremonies at Bentonville Battlefield, NC on the 19th and 20th of March, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

“The Ground Trembled Under Our Feet” 
Our displays included; ancestor's letters, diaries, swords and documents of service, SUVCW and GAR medals, family Civil War artifacts, SUVCW and Ruger Camp information, references used and documentation retrieved in tracing a Civil War ancestors, recruiting table, and other miscellaneous items.




 We enjoyed interfacing with the public and found that spending a few hours at our information tent to be very interesting, rewarding, and an opportunity to get to know your fellow Brothers.

If in you are willing to assist for a partial day, an entire day, or both days, please volunteer for future participation.

The following Brothers were Present:
Max Speers
Ed Gibson
Doug Elwell 
Jim Johnson
Frank Newhouse 
John France
                             
                            


Additional photos can be found on our Facebook Page: Ruger Camp #1 Facebook

 Thank you for your Support.


In F, C, & L

Brother John France
Secretary/Treasurer
Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
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2016 FORT FISHER COMMEMORATION CEREMONY





 Assault of  Fort Fisher January 13–15, 1865





Brothers; Department Commander - Dennis St. Andrew, Camp Commander – Max Speers, John France, Ed Gilbert, “Doc” Crabtree and Jim Johnson.


 The Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1 participated at Fort Fisher in commemorating the 151st anniversary of the 2nd Battle of Fort Fisher. It was a weekend of special events, including Civil War living history actors representing Union and Confederate soldiers, sailors and Marines. Infantry units were on hand to talk with visitors about camp life, conduct drills, marching and performing live demonstrations of the Historic Site's Rifled and Banded 32 pound and bronze 12 pound Napoleon cannons, at various times during the day.
"Landing at Fort Fisher" by John Strain
Artist's Comments:
"At the age of twenty-two 
Colonel Galusha Pennypacker was the youngest brigade commander in the Federal Army. He would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle for Fort Fisher.

Period photographs and drawings were found on a number of the naval ships and ironclads that took part in the assault on Fort Fisher. These ships are featured in the painting starting from the left: The Juniata, Brooklyn, Susquehanna, Aries, Colorado, Minnesota, Monadnock, Canonicus, Saugus, and Mahopac."


There were 45 Medal of Honor recipients for the Second Battle of Fort Fisher. Recipients


More details and pictures of the days activities go to Ruger Camp #1 Facebook
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Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1 - 2016 Officers

On December 5, 2015 Department Commander St. Andrew performed the installation rituals for the elected and appointed officers for Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1.


Additional photos can be viewed on Facebook


ELECTED OFFICERS 2016
Camp Commander               Max Speers
Senior Vice Commander      Ed Gibson
Junior Vice Commander       James Johnson
Secretary/Treasurer              John France

Council Members:                

  • Dennis St. Andrew
  • Jerry Devine
  • Doug Elwell
                                                
ANNOUNCING APPOINTED OFFICERS 2016
Patriotic Instructor                          Jerry Devine
Chaplain                                          Wendell Small
Graves Registration Officer           Ed Gibson
Historian                                         James Crabtree
JROTC Coordinator                       Max Speers
Signals Officer                                James Johnson
Eagle Scout Coordinator                John Green
Guide                                              Davis Leeman
Guard                                              Payton Speers


ELECTION OF DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES 2016
          (North Carolina Department Encampment)
James Crabtree
John France
Ed Gibson
James Johnson
Pattric Patterson

Congratulations to all Officers, Council Members and Delegates,
In Fraternally, Charity and Loyalty.


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20th Anniversary Celebration


Twenty Years of Growth

Brothers from Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1 gathered at Chris’s Open Hearth Steak House to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the first camp established in North Carolina for Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War...
Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1.

 History:
Ruger Camp #1 became a Camp-at-Large on September 16, 1995. The first SUVCW Camp in North Carolina. This initial camp was the seed that subsequently grew into the SUVCW Department of North Carolina. The Department continued the growth and ultimately reached a total of five individual camps as a result of the initiative of the Brothers of Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1.

 Anniversary Party:
Several Ruger Camp #1 Brothers, and their wives, attended the celebration. Department Commander Dennis St. Andrew joined with other Brothers of Ruger Camp #1 along Ruger Camp #1 Charter member and Council Member Douglas Elwell who officiated the evening's activities. 

 The evening began with beverages, a fine meal, good conversation, the sharing of stories from the past 20 years but mostly the enjoyment of fraternal fellowship.

Ruger Camp #1 Brothers and Wives


Ruger Camp #1 Brothers and Wives


Letters of congratulations and well wishes were read by Brothers Dennis St. Andrew and Douglas Elwell during the evening's festivities. 

Brother Doug Elwell, read a letter of well wishes from Brother Dr. Maurice Ankrom, PCC. 
Brother Maurice was the original camp organizer and the first Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1, Camp Commander.

Council Member and Charter Member
Douglas Elwell

Department Commander, Dennis St. Andrew PDC, shared a congratulatory letter from
 National Commander in Chief, Eugene G. Mortorff PDC.
Department Commander
Dennis St. Andrew

 Toasts were made honoring many Camp Brothers for their service to the SUVCW. "Happy Birthday" was sung to Brother Richard Bishop’s wife Jean who was celebrating her birthday that evening. Brother Jim Johnson's wife Carol pinned a Birthday corsage on Jean's jacket when she entered the dining room. Brother Doug Elwell handed out commemorative twenty year lapel pins with ribbons to everyone. 

Door prizes donated by the Commanders; St. Andrew, Speers and Council Member Elwell were awarded to lucky individuals following dinner. Everyone received home made cookies as take home dessert provided by Shirley Elwell.

Brother Jim
Brother Dick
Brother Doc

Brother Edward
Brother Wendell

Jean Bishop










A sincere thank you goes to Council Member Brother Douglas Elwell and his wife Shirley, for organizing this special celebration of 20 years of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty.

 Honoring: 
“Worthy Brothers” as Charter Members: 
Maurice Ankrom, William Davis, Roger Dostall, Eugene Mulhall, Charles Benrud, John Anthony, Herbert Birdsall, William Dartt, James Davis, Douglas Elwell, Harry Goodman, George Hale, Anthony Koehler, Kent McCoury, Yale Mooers, Myron Murley III, Michael Palmer, Steven Pirotte, Roscoe Reeve, Dallas Rightmyer, Thomas Rightmyer, Nathan Russell, Alonza Salter, Stephen Sayko, and Frederick Willshaw.

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SUVCW 2015 National Encampment

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
2015 National Encampment

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War 2015 National Encampment was held at Richmond, Virginia on August 20 through 22rd this year. The Department of the Chesapeake hosted the event.





On Thursday August 20th, the Department of the Chesapeake arranged for local National Battlefield Park tours for those who wished to participate.

National Park Service Battlefield Parks

The Battle of Gaines' Mill http://www.nps.gov/rich/learn/historyculture/gainesmillbull.htm
Cold Harbor Battlefield http://www.nps.gov/rich/learn/historyculture/cold-harbor-tour.htm
Petersburg Battlefield http://www.nps.gov/pete/index.htm






Business Meetings

The National Encampment business began in earnest, Friday the 21st through Saturday the 22nd.



Total membership in attendance during those meetings were 173 members, including Brothers from the Department of North Carolina, North Carolina Union Volunteers Camp #5 and Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1.

Attending from the Department of North Carolina

Left to Right
Department Junior Vice Commander; Camp Commander  Rolf Cole Maris, PCC N.C. Union Volunteers Camp #5
Department Senior Vice Commander; William Fred Fulcher, PCC N.C. Union Volunteers Camp #5
SUVCW Commander-in-Chief; Tad D. Campbell
Department Commander; Dennis Charles St. Andrew, PDC, PCC Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1
Department Council Member; Douglas P. Elwell, PDC, PCC Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1
Delegate; Jim Johnson, Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1



Results of Newly Elected 2016 National Officers

 Following the closed session voting,  the Elected 2016 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War National Officers:

  • Commander–in-Chief; Gene Mortorff
  • Senior Vice Commander–in-Chief; Don Martin
  • Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief; Mark Day
  • Council of Administration Members; Don Shaw and John McNaulty

Social Activities

Throughout the Encampment, along with participating in the Business Sessions, members of the Department of North Carolina attended; the Campfire, Courtesy Hour, SVR Breakfast and Allied Orders Banquet  to name a few of the additional activities.
SVR Gathering


Campfire

The Campfire is held in a more casual and relaxed atmosphere. During the Campfire, individual Departments had an opportunity to present the outgoing Commander-in-Chief Tad Campbell with gifts of remembrance for his year of service. Many gifts are humorous; some more sentimental in nature.

 Of special interest was the Department of North Carolina's entrance during the Campfire session on Friday night. 

The Department of North Carolina helped to liven up the festivities when Brother Douglas Elwell, PDC began marching down the aisle dressed in his 79th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment uniform, also known as the 79th Highlanders. Brother Doug played “Scotland the Brave" on the bagpipes while we fell in to step.


The rest of the North Carolina delegation followed down the aisle bearing gifts of appreciation for Commander-in-Chief Tad Campbell. The whole room was filled with cheers and rhythmic clapping as Brother Doug and the Department walked the aisle, before and after the presentation to the Command-in-Chief. 


Department Commander, Dennis Charles St. Andrew presented the Campbell family with gifts of our appreciation.

Complements were heard the following day about how original and enjoyable our presentation was. 

 All the venues during the Encampment were enjoyable for all who attended. The wives of those Brothers attending also joined in many of the extra activities that were open for them to attend with their husbands. The whole weekend was one of shared Brotherhood with a mix of family time. 

SUVCW Commander-in-Chief Tad Campbell, wife Rachelle, President ASUVCW and daughter Emelia.
SVR Breakfast

The Department of the Chesapeake deserves our thanks for their efforts in making the weekend both productive and enjoyable.

Additional photos of the Encampment, Richmond and the surrounding area will be posted on Major General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1 Fayetteville, NC Facebook.
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Major-General-Thomas-H-Ruger-Camp-1-Fayetteville-NC/875728255828018
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Banner Recognition

North Carolina
Department Commander and Secretary/Treasurer
Recognized in Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War 
"Banner"
Newsletter.

Banner-Summer-2015


Presenting a wreath in the Union soldiers section
Raleigh National Cemetery
Department of North Carolina, Dennis St. Andrew, DC and John France, Department Secretary/Treasurer were recognized for their participation in the Memorial Day ceremony at Raleigh National Cemetery. 

Refer to the inside front cover page of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War "BANNER". 
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