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Published Thursday, April 16, 2009 in Local
Confederate Memorial Day is this Saturday
The Times-Herald
It has been almost 135 years since William Thomas Overby was hanged by federal troops in Virginia, but he is still remembered in the county where he grew up.
Two local Sons of Confederate Veterans groups bear his name. A state historical marker is located near the site of his boyhood home, and a large monument pays tribute to the "Nathan Hale of the Confederacy" at the historic Coweta County Courthouse.
On Saturday, area residents will gather near Overby's grave at Oak Hill Cemetery. Overby's remains were removed from Virginia to Oak Hill more than a decade ago.
SCV Coweta Guards Camp 715 SCV and Sharpsburg Sharpshooters Camp 1729 are joining forces to sponsor the annual Confederate Memorial Day ceremonies. LaVada Vaillancourt-McCosh will sing, and a cannon salute is planned.
The program will start at 10 a.m. in the Confederate Section of the historic burial ground just north of downtown Newnan. Mike Webb of the Coweta Guards urged local citizens to "honor these brave men who fought and died for principles they believed in."
Members of the SCV groups have been thinking about Overby, who grew up near Sharpsburg and whose family members are buried at Cokes Chapel United Methodist Church.
Three members of the Sharpsburg Sharpshooters attended ceremonies earlier this year where Overby was inducted into the 2009 class of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Brigade Hall of Fame. The naming of the fallen Coweta soldier from Civil War days to the Hall of Fame was particularly poignant as members of the 48th Brigade left Newnan headed to Afghanistan on Monday.
On Monday night the Sharpsburg Sharpshooters met at Turin Masonic Lodge 337 for their annual candlelight ceremony. During the ceremony, each person holds a candle that is extinguished when the name of an ancestor of the holder -- or some other designated Confederate soldier -- is called. The ceremony ends with the playing of "Taps" and a benediction.
Earlier in the meeting, John C. Todd referred to Saturday's event. "I'm looking forward to the service on Saturday morning," he said. "We want a big crowd."
George Piner presented a program on the federal prisoner of war camp at Point Lookout, Md. Piner said there were 32 or 33 POW camps maintained by both sides during the Civil War. Piner said an exchange program that had existed early in the war had broken down by August 1863, when Point Lookout became a POW camp.
Union soldiers exchanged "would really go home," Piner said, but the released Confederate soldiers usually rejoined a CSA unit.
Piner said the death rate at Point Lookout was 12 percent. The death rate was even higher -- more than 30 percent -- at the camp in Elmira, N.Y.
Prisoners on both sides had a difficult time, but Piner said the Southern camps were impacted by the blockade and devastation of war. Prisoners and guards ate the same food at Andersonville in south Georgia.
Union facilities "had the means and supplies to do a whole lot better," he said. Somewhere between 3,000-14,000 men died at Point Lookout, Piner said.
After the meeting, Todd and Ronny North showed visitors the certificate and medal presented to Overby on Jan. 30 at the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Infantry Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta. The theme for that evening was "Georgia Volunteers: A Heritage of Service, 1825-2009, Send Me!"
CSM Robert Hawk invited representatives of the Sharpsburg Sharpshooters to accept the award for Overby. Todd, North and Brad Maddox attended the ball, which Todd described as "an incredible evening."
The three SCV members were seated with SPC James Vinson Bowles, who was named Soldier of the Year during the ceremonies.
"It was quite an honor to be there, see these young men and women having a good time before going off to defend our country. They had recently been told they would soon be shipping out to Afghanistan," Todd said.
"The camaraderie, pride and patriotism in the room was incredible. They were in their military dress uniforms, their spouses in their finest attire, us in our Confederate uniforms," Todd said. "We were well received by all and thanked numerous times for being there."
A brief biography of Overby was read by LTC Mathew Smith, and Todd was presented with the certificate and an Order of the Volunteers medal on behalf of Overby.
"What an honor," Todd said. "What an incredible night."
Comment On This Story
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great event! I should know i was there, thank you very much.
Posted by Jules at 11:52 PM
The last time you tried to quote Thomas Jefferson on the seperation of church and state about the story on selling alcohol on sunday you made a mess of it. I read what Jefferson said and you blew it you weren't even close.
Posted by Tom Q at 6:20 PM
Simply saying that someone hasn't answered your question doesn't make it so. Just because you dont like hearing the truth when I respond doesn't mean I haven't answered you.
Posted by Adam Reuter at 4:45 PM
Good question you have claimed to have read it but can never anwser any questions.
Posted by Tom Q at 2:34 PM
I'm wondering how you can interpret something that you have never read.
Posted by Adam Reuter at 11:40 AM
I am not worried about your knowledge of history. If you interpret history the way you interpret the constitution I don't have anything to worry about.
Posted by Tom at 5:19 PM
I would be more than happy to put my knowledge of US History against yours any day! Once you start reading the Constitution or the Declaration let me know.
Posted by Adam Reuter at 12:17 PM
Don't tell Elizabeth we are on this story. lol
Posted by Tom at 10:44 AM
I don't believe they were fighting in the civil war. But heh when you get through reading the constitution maybe you can read some history about the USA
Posted by Tom at 10:06 AM
I take it you admire Jim Jones and David Koresh then. They both refused to surrender and paid with their lives. Mosby even said that the South fought for slavery. But hey what do I know?
Posted by Adam Reuter at 8:46 PM
I hate to tell you this but there were blacks in the south that owned slaves and there were blacks that actually fought for the south. I am a history buff always have been. If I could back up my life I would have like to have been a College History teacher. I didn't say it was a state rights issue. In some countries you can own others sad to say. Like I said you might want to recheck your history. The Civil War is part of American History. What I admire about Overby? He was loyal to his friends and comrades in arms, thats why he was hanged he could have saved himself. I would admire that from anyone no matter what side they fought on. And yes I am glad the Union won.
Posted by tom at 5:35 PM
Loyal? They wanted to Succeed from the Union. You guys say it was a 'states rights' issue. SURE! The right to own slaves maybe.
Posted by Adam Reuter at 9:46 AM
Pride? Honor? History? Give me a break! Does Germany celebrate a 'Hitler remembrance day'? Would you go and say it all about the history? I dont think so. This is a bunch of back woods rednecks who wish we still lived in the time where you could legally own others.
Posted by Adam Reuter at 9:44 AM
He was more loyal to his country then the current President.
Posted by Tom at 10:32 PM
He was a war criminal. He was no differnt than a nazi that ran a death camp. Anyone that views him as a hero is in the same league as anyone that would view Hitler as a hero. He was evil and there will never be an excuse for his behavior.
Posted by Eric at 5:08 PM
Excellent comment.
Posted by tom at 4:20 PM
This is about honor and those that took a stand. Things were different then. Please keep that in mind and also remember that most who died were common folks, mostly farmers.
Posted by Not a goo dol'boy at 1:43 PM
Just to let you know, I'm a teacher who is certified in Social Studies. For some, who studied history in college or for those who are vets, we enjoy history. Alot of people who attend these events are vets and history buffs. They go on up North too, go to Gettysburg. Please stop being ignorant and negative, it just makes you look stupid.
Posted by Angela at 12:44 PM
ITs about history. Your the type thats starts the hate crap;
Posted by tom at 12:23 PM
There were 2963 Confederate POWS who died at Elmira of the 12,123 that were held there which is a 25% death rate. This the highest of any stockade in the North which is to compare to the 12920 who died at Andersonville of the 45000 held there making that a 29% death rate. Being Georgia Confederate memorial day ( keep in mind several states have different dates ) one needs to remember the 229 Guards who died at Andersonville , often of the same diseases that the prisoners suffered.
Posted by Kevin Frye at 4:25 AM
This is nuts! You gotta be kidding! These people and these hate groups still leave in the past and seriously think that the South will rise again! Plainly ridiculous!
Posted by Sharpsburg Hack at 9:39 PM
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LOL
4/25/2009
Link To This Comment
Quoting something word for word, And you had a hard time understanding? And yet you want to argue the Constitution (which you have never read). NOW THAT IS FUNNY!
Posted by Adam Reuter at 10:47 PM