a short biography of reverend father alister c....

June 2013 Sons of Confederate Veterans

Sons of Confederate Veterans

Army of

Northern Virginia Maryland Division Camp #1398

Colonel William Norris

The next regular

meeting is

scheduled

for Tuesday,

June 4, at 7 p.m.

See Inside

Shiloh: The War

is Civil No

More 7

Letters from

Spotsylvania

Court House 2

Adjutant

Activities 4

Biography:

Reverend Father

Alister C.

Anderson 5

Pig Roast and

Period Barn

Dance 3

By Thomas Keefer. Chaplain, Col. Wm. Norris Camp, SCV

The Reverend Father Alister Ander-

son is a true American Patriot and it

has been my honor to call him my

friend and mentor. Such a long and

distinguished career can hardly be cov-

ered in this newsletter. His service to

our nation, The Sons of Confederate

Veterans, our community and, of

course, his service to God is without

measure.

What I have admired mostly has al-

ways been his fiery oratory in defense

of our Southern Heritage. Having just

turned 89 years young, he is a highly

sought-after speaker.

Father Anderson (Colonel USA re-

tired) is a past Chaplain-in-Chief of

The Sons Of Confederate veterans.

Born in Norfolk, VA., in 1924, he en-

tered the Citadel in 1941 and in 1942

entered The US Naval Academy.

In1945 he was commissioned an En-

sign and served in the Navy until

1947 when he entered Union Theologi-

cal Seminary, New York, and grad-

uated with a Master of Divinity De-

gree. He was ordained in the Episco-

pal Church in 1950. I should mention Father Anderson was present in To-

kyo Bay and witnessed the Japanese surrender from his ship.

In 1956 he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. Fa-

A Short Biography of—

Reverend Father Alister C. Anderson

Pictured above is Reverend Father

Alister Anderson (left) and Thomas

Keefer, Chaplain, Col. Wm. Norris

Camp, SCV.

Continued on page 5

Continued on page 6

Letter from Spotsylvania Court House


Camp Near Spotsylvania Court-House, Virginia

Tuesday, May the 17th, 1864

Dear Father and Mother,

With pleasure I write to you this morning, hoping you may get this in due time. I am well,

and hope you are all well. I must ask you to excuse me for not writing sooner, indeed I am

ashamed that I have not written ere this. But now I will tell you why I did not write to you

sooner than I did.

We have been so busy since we came over here, that indeed this is the first chance that I

have had to write. The second day after we arrived here, we commenced fighting and it is

not over yet. Father indeed for 5 days we were so busy fighting that we could hardly get

time enough to eat our meals. Today it is 14 days since we commenced fighting and yester-

day the cannon and small arms were still at work. But the fight was not real heavy all the

time, the hardest fighting was on the 5, 6.& 7 and on the 9, 10 & 11 days of this month.

During them six days it was awful. There was one continual roar of thunder all the time

from the artillery and small arms.

For six days the Battle was kept up, all the time day and night, in the dead hour of mid-

night, the cannon & musketry was thundering all the time. Column after column the Yan-

kees pushed their men up to our Breastworks and our men were cutting them down as fast

as flies. The dead Yankees are heaped up in piles half as high as a man, in front of our

Breastworks, and all around on the Battlefield the dead yanks are lying just as thick as

they can be, and none of them buried, they will all rotten on top of the ground.

William S. Connery, author of

“Civil War Northern Virginia

1861,” signs copies of his sec-

ond book, “Mosby’s Raids in

Civil War Northern Virginia,”

at the May meeting of the Wil-

liam Norris Camp.

Botany Cross

Belt Buckles

We still have several heavy

brass numbered Botany

Cross belt buckles available.

They are heavy brass at $25

each.

Sweatshirts

Division Color Guard member Brian Gehrt has arranged for

the production of high-quality, hooded sweatshirts, embroidered

with a Maryland Division SCV Color Guard logo circled by the

flags of the Confederacy. The cost is $50 with profits being do-

nated to the Color Guard for purchase of additional flags and re-

placement equipment.

To order or obtain additional information on sizing and color

selection, please contact Bryan at [email protected].

Sweatshirts are being made to order, so payment is required in

advance. His mailing address is Brian Gehrt, 1021 Rodgers

Road, Churchton, MD 20733.


Adjutant Activities

Minutes, May 7, Camp Meeting at VFW Bingo Entrance

There were eight members attending, including compatriots Don

Beck, Bob Brewer, 1st Lt. Commander Dave Redden, Commander

Frank Brown Jr., Dave King Sr., John Howerton, Chaplain Tom

Keefer and Ed Harrell. Guests attending the meeting included Katey

Brewer and Ruth Harrell. Ed and Ruth traveled from South Carolina.

Commander Brown opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance

to the American Flag and the Salute to the Confederate Flag.

mailto:[email protected]


A Short Biography of—

Reverend Father Alister C. Anderson

ther Anderson served in Vietnam in 1967-1968. His experiences in Vietnam are too many to

mention here. He witnessed combat, and ministered to both wounded and dying soldiers. He

served in several duty occupations in his career in the U.S. Army. His awards include The

Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service and Army Com-

mendation Medals.

In 1990 he resigned his ministry in the Anglican Church and was ordained a priest in the

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in 1992. He has provided worship service for Eastern

Orthodox priest who were away from their congregations since 2003.

Married to Ann Stuart Anderson, Father Anderson has three children and six grandchil-

dren. He currently lives in Frederick, Md., and can be found with his congregation in Hager-

stown on Sundays. Father Anderson has also served as chaplain for the Maryland Division

SCV and Chaplain of the Jefferson Davis Camp. In 1998 he was appointed as Chaplain in

Chief of The Sons of Confederate Veterans.

On Memorial day every year we take pause to reflect on the memory of those who have

served our nation in uniform. To those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The Sons of

Confederate honor all American soldiers who have fought in war and we whole-heartedly

support all the troops who are currently serving.

Father Anderson embodies this spirit of honor, compassion and love for his fellow man. He

teaches us the love of our Lord and his son, Jesus Christ. There is a war going on as we

speak. The war of good against evil. In this war, Father Anderson will take up the flag and

eventually he will lead us to victory with the Lord at his side. He is getting a little slower

now, but with the Lord’s blessing he will be with us for years to come.

Thank you Father for your service to our nation.

Continued from page 1

At the May 2013

meeting of the

Colonial William

Norris Camp are

(from left to right)

Dave King Sr., 1st

Lt. Commander

Dave Redden,

Commander Frank

Brown Jr., author

William S. Conne-

ry, John Howerton

and Ed Harrell.

Not pictured is

Don Beck.


Now you may know how it is down here. The line of Battle is 15

miles long, and for 4 days the Battle was kept up all along the line.

The Yankee loss in killed and wounded is awful. Their loss will not

fall short of fifty five hundred in killed and wounded, and their loss

in prisoners, will reach ten or twelve thousand. We have captured

12 or 15 fine pieces of artillery and 6 or 8 thousand small arms. The

yanks lost in killed, 2 Major Generals and 3 or 4 Brigadier Generals,

and their loss of Officers generally in killed wounded & prisoners is

large. Their entire loss is very heavy, and I think it will be larger

yet, before the fight is ended.

All the men say that this has been the hardest fight, since the

war. It was awful for about 5 days, the cannon just kept one contin-

ual roar of thunder, day and night. I suppose you have heard, of the

number of killed and wounded, of our company. You have also, no

doubt heard that General J.E.B. Stuart died at few days ago from a

wound received near Hanover Junction. General Longstreet was

painfully wounded on the second day of Battle. But he is getting

well fast.

General Lee got a dispatch yesterday afternoon from General

Breckinridge stating that he had whipped and routed the yanks 2

miles above New Market and run them to Mt. Jackson where the

yanks burnt a Bridge. We are all glad to hear, that the yanks have

been whipped in the valley. Noah is well. We have plenty to eat.

Noah give me the things that you sent to me and I am very much

obliged to you for them. I will try and bring something when I get

home. Tell mother, I would like to have one pair of socks sent to me

by the first one of our men that comes over. Write soon and give me

all the news. I hope you will excuse me for not writing sooner, for

indeed I did not have time hardly to eat my meals, we were busy all

the time. I will close.

Your son. Michael F. Rinker.

Our men are still in line of Battle, day & night all the time, some

times they commence fighting at midnight. There is no telling how

much longer the fight will last. Our men lay in our Breastworks

day and night. One night last week the yanks charged our Breast-

works 9 different times, and every time our men run them back,

with great slaughter. If I can get time I will write to you soon or as

soon as I hear from you all. I will close.

Your son, Mike.

Continued from page 2

Letter from Spotsylvania Court House


At the Tuesday, June 4, meeting of the William Norris

Camp we will be viewing the presentation of SHILOH: The

War is Civil No More.

Over 13,000 re-enacters accurately simulate the troop

movement of the actual soldiers. State-of-the-art digital

video and motion picture film capture the gritty realism of

the re-enacted battles.

The Battle of Shiloh was one of the largest amphibious

campaigns ever waged by an American army. Stunningly

realistic digital effects bring the Federal gunboats, Tyler

and Lexington, back to life and firing from the Tennessee

River. Archival photos, first-person accounts and narration

seam this story together.

Shiloh will take you back to the fateful Tennessee battle-

field of 1862.

SHILOH: The War is Civil No More

Sons of

Confederate Veterans

Army of

Northern Virginia

Maryland Division

Camp #1398

The newsletter of the Colonel William Norris Camp #1398 is pub-

lished 12 times a year by the camp as a service to its membership

and to the public.

Officers

Frank Brown Jr., Commander

5008 Tothill Drive Phone: 240-876-7470

Olney, MD 20832 E-mail: [email protected]

David Redden, 1st Lt. Commander

19109 Dowden Circle Phone: 301-351-7260 Poolesville, MD 20837 E-mail: [email protected]

Major David King Jr., 2nd Lt. Commander

5611 Oak Place Phone: 301-530-7634

Bethesda, MD 20817 E-mail: [email protected]

Dan Buckingham, 3rd Lt. Commander

11521 Front Field Lane Phone: 301-983-9002

Potomac, MD 20854 E-mail: [email protected]

Harold Ford, Adjutant/Treasurer

13603 Jacobs Road Phone: 301-831-5510

Mt. Airy, MD 21771 E-mail: [email protected]

Thomas Keefer, Chaplain

12558 Cross Bridge Way Phone: 301-980-9826

Germantown, MD 20874 E-mail: [email protected]

Mitch Mroczka, Recruiting Officer

7333 Brenish Drive Phone: 301-997-2944

Gaithersburg, MD 20879 E-mail: [email protected]

Jim Stargel, Heritage Office/Quartermaster E-mail: jim,[email protected]

Phyllis Brown, Editor E-mail: [email protected]

Heritage

Violations Notify the Camp

Heritage Officer com-

patriot Jim Stargel

([email protected])

of any heritage

violations.

Harold E. Ford

Adjutant/Treasurer

Colonel William Norris

Camp #1398

a short biography of reverend father alister c....

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