ANNA MITCHELL DAVENPORT

WIFE OF LUCIEN HAMILTON RAINES

CO FOUNDER OF THE UNITED DAUGHTERS
OF THE CONFEDERACY



The Confederate Veterans sought her help in organizing an Auxiliary to help the women and children because many of their husbands and fathers did not return from the war. They were killed on the battlefield and no doubt buried there.
The southern women had known many hardships. They formed hospital societies, sewing societies, and knitting groups. They made homemade medicine, performed nursing skills, and prepared food for as many as needed. Despite mourning for their family members who were killed in battle, the ladies in the Auxiliaries devoted much to the war and aided the camps of Confederate Veterans.

During the ruthless reconstruction years Anna Raines met with a group of ladies for the purpose of forming a Memorial Association to keep in order a list of the soldiers buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery.
The group was named the Savannah Memorial Association. April 26 was the date decided upon as the official day of observance and decorating the resting place of our fallen brave. Twenty four ladies (two per month) volunteered to oversee the graves and keep in order the head boards identifying our brave heroes. This was one of their main purposes. In 1867, the ladies began a monument fund. In less than 10 years their monument was a reality. It was Mrs. Raines plan of uniting all the women the south in one organization which developed into the Daughters of the Confederacy.

She designed and had obtained the patent for the insignia.
On April 30, 1886 the word "Daughter" was first used when General John B. Gordon on the rear platform of a train at West Point Georgia, introduced Varina Anne "Winnie" Davis to an applauding throng, as the Daughter of the Confederacy. Afterward all over the south the term "Daughter", was being adopted by Associations. Thus the organizations were formed to represent the hearts' desire of the women.

Much has been said in the 1990's in reference to restoring the Savannah Confederate Monument. The ladies of the 1860's would have had that project concluded. But today, there's no money allocated for that purpose. We need to clone those ladies who got things done, and they didn't have to spend alot of money on proposals. They put every bit of unyielding courage to the test and made it happen.

With leadership like Anna Davenport Raines who was “Co-founder of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Acting President General, UDC, Designer of the UDC Insignia, and Custodian of the Crosses of Honor for 7 years. She was faithful to every trust. Her death enshrined in the hearts of all that knew her . "Her last official message was in the spirit with which she labored -

"ever keep the holiness of our work before you, remembering, we are --- a sisterhood of earnest, womanly women striving to fulfill the teachings of God's work in honoring our fathers."

Anna now rests in Laurel Grove Cemetery.

The UDC today lacks the harmony of the ladies of the 1860's.



C.V.A

THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER

The annual Christmas dinner for the veterans included the Chapter of the Sixties and the officers of the Sons. General William Harden,Commander of Camp 756, UCV expressed their love and appreciation to the members for their faithfulness and presented a deed of gift to all, their property in the U.D.C. Hall.

From Dr. T. S. Clay, Adjutant (S.C.V.):

“We have today reached the close of one and the beginning of another chapter in the work of the Confederate organization of this city. The burning desire was not an apology for the position occupied by them…but the establishment of fact, a true, clear, unvarnished history, of what might be read and known of all men; and taught to our children with the firm conviction that truth would ‘vindicate their motive and write their name illustrious.’… The daughters banded themselves together for the purpose of caring for the veterans…maintaining their records; carrying on their work after they should become too feeble to continue… With the passing of time, noting the already fading line, and led by Mr. Clem Saussy, the camp of veterans, impressed by the Daughters; by resolution… should be given to the Savannah Chapter UDC with the full assurance that they would be cherished and cared for throughout the yeas to come. … I am therefore, turning over to all properties of the Amalgamated camps, the Confederate Veterans Association of Savannah, U.V. C. # 756, and the Lafayette McLaws Camp U.C.V.596 organized July 30 1898….

The Daughters appreciated the gift very much and pledged to be true to the trust placed in them.

Over the years, 1980 – 1998, the daughters rarely if ever set foot on the grounds of Laurel Grove except for memorial services.
The U. D. C. has passed the buck to another organization who removed the Confederate Jasmine and 4 large vases that were purchased by the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and also, the arch that Mr. Appleton purchased.
The SPLG (Society for the Preservation of Laurel Grove) should be made to replace these items, before they disband with the moneys made on the Lantern tours in past years.

The text for this document was taken from the first Hundred years History of the Savannah Chapter #2. Compiled from the minutes of the Chapter, from the Confederate Veterans magazine, Letters and news clippings.




PHEBE YATES PEMBER



This obelisk is located in Laurel Grove Cemetery and it is dedicated to the memory of Phebe Yates Pember. She was born into a prosperous Jewish family in Charleston, S.C. On August l8, l823. She was the 4th of 6 daughters. Nothing is known of Phebe’s schooling. She probably studied under private tutors. The family moved to Savannah, Georgia in 1850. Phebe was then 27 years old and sought a life of her own. She married Thomas Pember of Boston. He contracted tuberculosis and they moved south in hopes of improving his health. He died in 1861. In November 1862, Mrs. George W. Randolph, wife of the Confederate Secretary of War offered her a position as matron in Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond. She reported for duty in 1862. The hospital was small but soon expanded to 150 wards, each under the care of an assistant surgeon. A total of 76,000 patients were treated a Chimborazo. Phebe was appointed Chief Matron of the institution’s second division. She encountered considerable opposition, but she had spunk and forged ahead. She was not one to be pushed around. Here is an incident that actually happened. Mrs. Pember was treating a young soldier named Fisher. He had been convalescing from a hip wound for ten months. Following his first success in walking he cried out in pain as he turned over in bed. The examination revealed a small stream of blood spurting from his wound. A splintered bone had cut an artery too deep in the flesh to repair. He asked, "How long can I live?" Mrs. Pember replied, "Only as long as I keep my finger on this artery. " He replied, "You can let go." Mrs. Pember couldn't do it. She said, "The pain of obeying him was spared, for the first time in my life I fainted and young Fisher died.

I urge you to read “A Southern Woman’s Story” by Phebe Yates Pember.







Preparing to honor Phebe with a postage stamp



The U. S. Postal Service has done it again. The spelling on the stamp is Phoebe but she signed her letters Phebe. Modern authorities have often inserted the "o". Erroneous stamps have embarrassed the Postal Service more than once.
Phebe Yates Levy Pember was a nurse during the War Between the States. The Pember family were quite distinguished. Phebe's sister, Eugenia, was a spy and was banished to an island. Her brother, Samuel, was the highest ranking Jewish officer in Savannah during the war.
To my knowledge there are no known relatives living in Savannah. Today she is among 20 heroes and events depicted on a sheet of 32 stamps. They were released, Thursday, June 29, 1995. The Postal Service set up the unveiling in compliance with stamp collectors who expressed an interest in having stamps cancelled at the unveiling site. The cancellation station was at Laurel Grove, allowing people to mail letters and have them postmarked on the spot. The cancellations read: "Laurel Grove Station."







Phebe Pember (Marshell Canney) speaks at the unveiling as Hugh Gloson looks on.
29 June, 1995












JAMES L. PIERPONT
Composer
“JINGLE BELLS”



James L. Pierpont (1822-1893), a prolific song writer, his best known song is "Jingle Bells."
He came to Savannah as a young widower. He joined his brother, the Rev. John Pierpont, Jr., the Minister of the Unitarian Church located on Oglethorpe Square. They had a well known nephew, John Pierpont Morgan (J. P.), their sister Juliet's son.
James served as Music Director of this church in the 1850s. He was the son of the noted Boston Reformer, Rev. John Pierpont. He married Eliza Jane Purse, daughter of Savannah Mayor Thomas Purse.
James served with a Confederate Cavalry Regiment and is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery. There is a sign pointing the way to his grave.





FRANCIS S. BARTOW
GRAVE SITE LOT 690
LAUREL GROVE CEMETERY

The right side reads: "I Go to Illustrate Georgia". On the front is inscribed:

"F.S. Bartow Col. 8th Regt. Ga. Vol. Confederate Sates Army" "Born Savannah, Ga. Sept. 6, 1816, fell at Manasses, July 21, 1861".
"June 3 erected by the Oglethorpe Light Infantry and the city of Savannah 1902."
On the left side it reads:

"They have killed me boys but never give it up."
On top is a wreath and a saber.



JEREMY FRANCIS GILMER
Laurel Grove



Jeremy Francis Gilmer was born February 23,1818 in Guilford City, N. C. He died December 1,1883 in Savannah, Georgia. He graduated from West Point in 1839 as an Engineer Officer. When Georgia succeeded from the Union he resigned in June 1861 to join the Confederacy. In September, 1861 he was appointed Lt. Col. Chief Engineer to A. S. Johnson. He served at Forts Henry and Donelson. At Shiloh he was Chief Engineer, Dept. of Northern Virginia and head of the Bureau of Engineers. In August, 1863 he was promoted to Maj. General in the Charleston defense of Atlanta and Savannah. After the war he was a Civil Engineer. He is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, Ga.







GENERAL LAFAYETTE MCLAWS
1821-1897
Laurel Grove



Lafayette McLaws was born on January 15, 1821 in Augusta, Georgia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1842, 48th in his class of 56. He rose quickly in the ranks and was promoted to Maj. Gen. on May 23, 1862. As a division commander he went with Gen. Jackson to capture Harper's Ferry, fought at Antietam, and defended Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg. McLaws served as a division commander under Lee in General James Longstreet's Corps. He was relieved of command because of clashes with Longstreet after an unsuccessful assault on Ft. Sanders in 1863 in Knoxville. Supported by President Davis and Bragg, McLaws was restored to duty. He gained a reputation as one of Lee's most dogged defensive fighters, ideally suited to command dug in troops. One of McLaws' junior officers once likened him to a Roman centurion who "stood at his post in Herculaneum until the lava ran over him." His troops fought as brave as any soldier. It is said he was relieved for general lack of cooperation during the Knoxville campaign. After McLaws pressed for a court-martial, Longstreet restricted his charges to improper preparations for the attack on Fort Sanders. The findings announced on May 4, 1864 and their subsequent disapproval by Davis three days later added up to "a vindication of McLaws and a humiliation of Longstreet". He was then given command of the District of Georgia and the defense of Savannah. After the Carolinas campaign he surrendered with Joseph. E. Johnston's army. After the war he entered the insurance business in Augusta. Then he went to work for the Internal Revenue and Post Office departments and moved back to Savannah. His wife was a niece of Zachary Taylor, hence a cousin of Richard Taylor. McLaws died on July 24, 1897 in Savannah, Georgia.







CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS LOT
Laurel Grove



There are many Confederate Soldiers buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery. The Confederate lot contains more than 600 remains. In addition, there are many other soldiers buried in private lots. Their graves are marked with Iron Maltese Crosses of Honor. The number of interments in 1864 was large according to the half century old Account of the Cemetery. "In November and December of that year there were 173 Confederate soldiers interred, the greater part of them having been exchanged prisoners who were ill, and died soon after their arrival in Savannah." The account referred to, which is a newspaper article preserved in the scrapbook of William Harden, Confederate and librarian of the Georgia Historical Society, said in 1877 of the soldier dead in Laurel Grove: "In 1864,1865 and 1866, 506 Federal soldiers were interred. Since then they have all been removed to the National Cemetery near Beaufort, S. C. The entire number of Confederate soldiers’ in the Cemetery are more than 750. In the plat known as the Confederate Soldiers’ Lot there are 616 graves. In that portion marked "Men of Gettysburg" there are eight graves containing the remains of 99 Confederate soldiers who were removed from the Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pa. in August and September 1871."

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