May 2007

The    Cannon    Report

Billy H Kornegay   Commander Paul M. Houser Lt. Commander   Editor  TCR   Webmaster John Moody   Adjutant Andrew Seamons Jr. Treasurer William P. Jervey Jr.   Chaplain Dr. Ronald W. Toney   Surgeon Malcolm Campbell Jr. Color Sergeant Vacant   Aide-De-Camp Stuart Townes Quartermaster Richard Butler   Camp Historian Gordon Drumheller       Judge Advocate DEO VINDICE

”I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me. I know too well my weakness, that our only hope is in God.”                                      Robert E. Lee

Commanders Comment: Mr. Robert W. Mahone will speak about his great grandfather, Major General William Mahone, CSA on May 27, 2007.  I called to confirm a previous phone call and letter and learned that he was in the hospital.  However, his wife, Jean, informed me that he took all his information and notes and does in fact plan to make our meeting.  Apparently, Robert inherited his great grandfather’s spunky nature.  Some other items of interest are: (1) The Museum of the Confederacy opened a new exhibit on March 23, 2007 on Virginia and the Confederacy: A Quadricentennial Perspective”.  (2) The Lee-Jackson Camp will hold its annual Confederate Memorial Day on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 10:00 AM at the Confederate War Memorial Chapel, located at 2900 Grove Avenue, in Richmond. (3) The 199th celebration of the birth of Jefferson Davis will be held at 10:00 AM, June 2, 2007 at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.  Dr. James I. “Bud” Robertson, Jr. will be the featured speaker.                                                                      Billy H Kornegay                                                                            Commander Cannon Report: The May meeting will be held at The Village Garden Café, 1 pm lunch, and 2 pm meeting.  The Village Garden Café, 8844 Old Buckingham Rd. is just east of the Courthouse.  Cost per person is $9.00 (plus you may tip our Hostess).  The June meeting will be on the 24th.  Our guest speaker will be Mr. S. Waite Rawls III.  He will be speaking on the Museum of the Confederacy.  There will be no meetings in July and August.  Meetings will resume on September 23rd.                                                                                    Paul M. Houser                                                                                 The Cannon Report Editor

Major General William Mahone

William Mahone was born in Southampton, VA and attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) where he received a degree in Civil Engineering in 1847.  He was only about 5 ft 1 inch tall and reportedly weighed only about 100-110 pounds.  He was a railroad engineer until he joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and rose through the ranks until he was promoted to Major General by General Lee at the Battle of the Crater for leading the counter attack that repulsed the break through.  He became known as the "Hero of the Crater".  After theWar Between the States he returned to the railroad and became President of the AM&O RR.      In the 1870's he moved his family to Petersburg and was co-founder of the "Readjuster Party" which was unique to Virginia.  The basis of the party formation was financial.  By 1870 the Virginia debt was $45 million and much of this debt was assumed when the western counties that became West Virginia in 1863 were still part of Virginia.  Many Virginians were "Funders" who believed that Virginia was duty bound to pay the full debt.  Others like Mahone and William Cameron were "Readjusters" who thought the debt needed to be readjusted to delete that portion of the debt attributed to West Virginia.  The "Readjusters" were very liberal and supported the right of blacks to vote, created Virginia State University, etc.  Mahone was elected to the US Senate in 1879 where there were 37 Republicans, 37 Democrats and one other independent. ( David Davis of Illinois)  Mahone tended to vote with the radical Republicans on many issues and outraged many of his former confederate comrades.  The "Readjuster" controlled Virginia General Assembly included three black state Senators, and 11 black delegates.  In 1882 William Cameron , a "Readjuster" from Petersburg was elected Governor and the "Readjusters" controlled Virginia.  Three days prior to the election of 1883 there was a race riot in Danville and the Democrats, who reported started the riot,  blamed the "Readjusters" and the party was routed out of office.      Although William Mahone lost the Senate seat in 1883 he apparently lived, or spent much of time, in Washington because he died there on October 8, 1895  He was buried in the family tomb at the Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg along with this wife who died in 1911.  The political controversies he created were so severe it was reported that his mausoleum was only denoted with the letter, "M". Billy Kornegay Commander Powhatan Troop SCV Camp 1382