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Camp 22 member Sebastian Nelson, an archivist for the State of California, recently published an article about the history of absentee ballots. California first enacted absentee ballots to accommodate soldiers serving far away from their home districts during the Civil War. The article appears in the Spring 2013 issue of “California Originals”, the newsletter of the California State Archives. From the article:

Several hundred members of the famed California Battalion (fighting east of the Mississippi as part of the Second Massachusetts Cavalry) gathered on September 2, 1863, to cast their ballots at their post in Virginia. According to Sergeant Charles Roberts, “all seemed well pleased to have a chance to vote for our state officers.”

Link to pdf copy of “California Originals”

Wright Camp 22 is proud to be a Supporting Patron of the California State Military Museum – the official state military museum and research center for the State of California. The museum houses more than 33,000 artifacts and a substantial library and document archive. The museum is located at 1119 Second Street in Historic Old Sacramento. Visit the museum’s website for visiting hours and up-to-date info on exhibits.

California Military Museum Director Lt. Col. Pete Barajas (center) accepts Camp 22’s membership donation from Camp Commander Jon Henry (left) and Camp Treasurer Fred Bohmfalk (right).

Californians who have served our nation reads like a who’s who of American Military History. Generals William T. Sherman, Henry Halleck and Joseph Hooker all served in the California State Militia before the Civil War. Many of the leaders on both sides of that war served in California. The California Volunteers were among the first to enter Manila during the Spanish-American War. Nelson Holderman, considered by many to be the most decorated American soldier of the First World War, served in the California National Guard before and after the war. Generals George Patton and James Doolittle were native Californians and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and General of the Air Force Henry “Hap” Arnold considered California their home state.

Mark your calendars: at 1:00PM on April 28, 2013, Private John Watkins, a Civil War veteran currently lying in an unmarked grave, will be given his proper honors with the official dedication of his headstone. The ceremony will be at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, CA. Two SUVCW Camps (Wright Camp 22 and Pleasonton Camp 24) are conducting the ceremony. Click here for details about the ceremony and a map to the grave site.

Tent President Joy Huskey (R) receives her badge of office from National President Carole Morton

On March 23, 2013, the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War instituted their newest Tent (local chapter) in Sacramento. National President Carole Morton presided over the ceremony and installed the new Tent Officers. Newly-installed Tent President Joy Huskey, after receiving the official Charter for from President Morton, presented a certificate of appreciation to the Honor Guard. The Honor Guard was provided by Company B of the 8th California Regiment of the Sons of Veterans Reserve.

(L-R) Color Guard members Charles Ford, Jack Alcione, Jim Monteton, and Mike Meals

The DUVCW was organized on May 30, 1885 by Olive Howard, Harriet Knapp, Eva Merwin, Frank Merwin, and Bertha Martin – all young daughters of Union soldiers. The DUVCW is a heritage organizatoin, so all full members must have an ancestor who fought for the Union cause in the Civil War. In the most solemn part of the Tent Institution Ceremony, the names of the ancestors of the Tent members are read aloud. This list, known as the Roll of Honor, was read by SUVCW Brother Allen Davis.

Allen Davis reads the Roll of Honor

The new Tent is named in honor of Margaret Rhodes Crocker, a key historic figure in California’s Gold Rush and Civil War eras. She was married to Edwin Crocker, an attorney and member of the California Supreme Court during the Civil War. Leland Stanford, who appointed Edwin to the Supreme Court when he was governor, invited Edwin to join in his railroad enterprise after the war, and the Crockers became one of the wealthiest families in California.

Margaret lived quietly until a series of tragedies, including the death of two daughters and her husband in the 1870s. After these hardships, she began charitable work, putting the family’s railroad fortune to work by establishing stipends for needy families and contributing heavily to schools and churches. Her profile by the Sacramento Bee newspaper credits her with “one thousand and one little deeds of charity which have lightened many a burden.”

The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War are establishing the Margaret Rhodes Crocker Tent#94 in Sacramento! A hearty HUZZAH! to the DUVCW and the new Sisters.

Camp 22 will be represented at the meeting, to be held on Saturday, March 23 at 10:30AM at the Sierra Point Vintage Senior Center, 5161 Foothills Blvd, Roseville, CA.

Camp 22 Officers with National C-in-C Mellor in San Luis Obispo

Camp Commander Jon Henry (far right), Junior Vice-Commander Jim Monteton (second from right) and Brother Brad Schall (far left) attended a Memorial Service held during the recent Department of California and Pacific Encampment. The Encampment was held at Camp San Luis Obispo on March 7-8, 2013. Standing to the left of Jim Monteton are Department Commander Tim Reese and National Commander-in-Chief Perley Mellor.