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| Yours truly along with members of the PVT. Thomas E. Caldwell Camp #31 Sons of Confederate Veterans York, South Carolina at the graves of the camp's namesake. |
A quick spring downpour took place this afternoon when members of the PVT Thomas E. Caldwell Camp #31 Sons of Confederate Veterans (Clover, SC) held their small graveside service for Confederate Memorial Day 2018.
The service was held in the churchyard at historic Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church in York County, South Carolina by the grave of the camp's namesake -- a simple private soldier of the Confederate army.
His parents were of the original Scotch-Irish pioneer families that settled in the Carolina Backcountry. Thomas Caldwell was infused with the traits common among his ancestors; a belief in hard work, a love of God, and a determined sense of freedom. He was to follow a long tradition of fighting for freedom and independence. His grandfather, Captain William McGill, fought against the British during the War of 1812. His paternal grandmother, Jane McElwee, was the proud daughter of William McElwee II, a veteran of the American Revolution.
Just a few days before turning 19, Caldwell enlisted into Company I, 5th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment on Saturday, April 13, 1861, just one day after the War Between The States began. After serving a one year enlistment, Caldwell turned right around and re-enlisted again on Sunday, April
13, 1862 and subsequently became a member of Company G, 1st Regiment Palmetto Sharpshooters serving under Brigadier General Micah Jenkins. Most of Company G (also known as the Jasper Light Infantry) came from York County, South Carolina.
Private Caldwell fought with the Palmetto Sharpshooters at the following major engagements:
Private Caldwell fought with the Palmetto Sharpshooters at the following major engagements:
Williamsburg, Virginia (May 4, 1862)
Seven Pines , Virginia
(May 31-June 1, 1862)
Gaines Mill, Virginia (June 27, 1862)
Frayser’s Farm, Virginia
(June 30, 1862)
2nd Manassas, Virginia (August 28-30, 1862)
South Mountain, Maryland (September
14, 1862)
Sharpsburg, Maryland (September 17, 1862)
Fredericksburg, Virginia (December 13, 1862)
Wauhatchie, Tennessee (October 28-29, 1863)
Knoxville, Georgia (November - December 1863)
The
Wilderness, Virginia (May 5-6, 1864)
Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia (May 8-21, 1864)
North Anna, Virginia (May 23-26, 1864)
Cold Harbor, Virginia (June 1-3, 1864)
Siege of Petersburg, Virginia (June - September 1864).
Private Thomas E. Caldwell was killed in action during the Siege of Petersburg on Friday, September 16th, 1864 at the age of 22.
He was described by his companions-in-arms in the Roll of Honour Palmetto Regiment of Sharpshooters as being: “A noble and brave companion & loved by all in the company & regiment.”
His body lies at rest in the graveyard at the Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church alongside his parents, numerous kinfolks and fellow Confederate Veterans.
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| Historic Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church in York County, SC. The church and graveyard are located on SC Hwy 161 near Clover, South Carolina. |
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| The grave of Private Thomas E. Caldwell, Confederate soldier. |
About 25 members of the SCV and the Order of the Confederate Rose were in attendance braving the spring downpour. Because of the rain, the service held was a brief one with a few words spoken about the life of Private Caldwell, a prayer, and a singing of Dixie, followed by a three-shot cannon salute. A humble service for a humble young man who lies buried nearby.
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| Camp Commander Kirk M. Carter delivers remarks at the grave site. |
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| Members of Blastoff's Battery fire a cannon salute. |
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| Members of the PVT Thomas E. Caldwell Camp #31 SCV at the grave of the camp's namesake following the service and a brief pause in the rain. |
After taking a few more photos, and talking with some of my fellow SCV comrades and history buffs, I got back in my car and proceeded home through Rock Hill, South Carolina where the rain finally stopped, and a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.
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| A beautiful rainbow appeared after the rainstorm ended. |
While in Rock Hill, I took the time to stop over at historic Laurelwood Cemetery to pay my respects to the Confederate Veterans buried there. I was pleased to see nearly all of them had new Southern Cross banners and Confederate national flags planted for Confederate Memorial Day (May 10th). The dark clouds had at last parted giving me a final outstanding shot of the sun beginning to set behind the old Confederate Soldiers' Monument.
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| Confederate Soldiers Monument in Laurelwood Cemetery, Rock Hill, SC. |
I think the last shot of Confederate Memorial Day 2018 is the best tribute, not only to Private Thomas Caldwell, but also to the other 26,670 known South Carolinians who fell wearing the gray and butternut of the Confederate military, and those aged veterans who survived the war and passed on their devotion to duty to the next generations of American Veterans from South Carolina who defended this country in America's wars.
Y'all have a blessed Dixie day.
2 comments:
Was the Caldwell family slave owners?
As far as I am aware of no, but I cannot be certain.
My only interest in Private Thomas Caldwell was in remembering him and a bunch of other foolish young people who thought they were going on a "grand adventure" and ended up leaving a very big hole in their families.
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