Armed with a map, a camera, and a GPS unit, we set forth into the swamps around James and Johns Island in an effort to locate old earthen forts and sites where the Tramp Brigade occupied.  We did not find a whole lot, mostly due to private property, but what we did find was great.  Greg Deese spoke with a long time resident who shared some old family correspondence from the area and pointed through the swamp towards an old earth work.  We did not get through to the site because of the high-tide, but we have a much better understanding of the terrain and the area.

Greg Deese, President of the TBM, made a donation to the Fort Sumter Trust on behalf of the Organization.  The donation was not large, but every little bit helps.  Check out the Fort Sumter Trust and see if you can help them preserve where the Civil War began.

In an effort to led a hand in preservation and interpretation of history in the Charleston, SC area, the TBM has lent our support to several quality groups; The South Carolina Historical Society, The Charleston Civil War Round Table, Fort Sumter Trust, and the South Carolina Sesquicentennial Advisory Board.  We hope to offer tremendous support to these wonderful organizations and help commemorate our history.

Tonight, members of the TBM made it out to the local Civil War Roundtable.  The Roundtable meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Ryans Grill at 829 St. Andrews Blvd, beginning at 7:00 PM.  Tonights guest speak was to be Rick Hatcher, NPS Historian at Fort Moultrie.  Due to an illness, he was unable to attend.  The Roundtable took care of their beginning of the year business and welcomed new members.  Then there was a lengthy and informative discussion about the Mine Run and Bristoe Campaigns.  The Charleston Civil War Rountable is a tremendous group, and we were glad to attend.

The TBM donated an original letter from W.C. Dana written to Dr. Birnie, of Greenville, along with digital scans.  Greg Deese found the letter for sale in Holly Hill, Fl.  W.C. Dana, born in South Carolina, was a Presybytarian Minister and was an ardent supporter of secession, writing many pamphlets on the subject.  He was in Cheraw when he wrote this letter on 6th May, 1864.  Dr. Allen Stokes, director of the South Caroliniana Library, took possesion of the letter, the first from W.C. Dana in the collection.  The South Caroliniana Library is on the campus of the University of South Carolina, in Columbia.  The letter will be added to the extesive collection of Civil War letters available.  The South Carolina State Archives are the primary source for military correspondence and records.  The South Caroliniana Library is a great source for letters and diaries of soldiers from the state.

Digital scan of the document

Today the Tramp Brigade donated a 145 year old newspaper page with a sketch of Charleston Harbor to the National Park Service in Charleston, SC.  This page was recently obtained for the brigade and high resolution scans were made for our use and your enjoyment.  The original will be used in one of the three NPS visitor centers in the Charleston Area.  This important piece of history will be available for the millions of visitors who will tour Charleston over the next few years.  Below are scans, but these are large and will take a little time to load.

Today was a special day for the Tramp Brigade Mess.  Members made it out to pay tribute to a single soldier from the actual brigade and an ancestor to our founder, Greg Deese.  Lewis Deas served in Co. I, 17th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry from 1862 until 1865.  Greg had this to say, "When we visit Pvt. Deas' grave for the first time, I would like  everyone to ponder what he through in 1862-1865; the long marches, the terrifying battles, Mississippi, Coastal Duty in Charleston, the Crater, prisoner of war camps, being away from home, while the largest Army in the Western Hemisphere marches and pillages your home, the years of reconstruction, the 1877-1917 era, and finally he dies in our century. 46 years later I was born and it would be until 1998 when I researched my family history that I learned of my connection to this war. Finally in the 21st Century, his grave is marked. He probably never collected a pension, I could find no record. His brothers and kin fought as hard as he did. Some moved to Alabama after the war and others died in poverty and were buried in paupers graves.  They didn't own land, nor were they rich. Like many common soldiers in the Tramp Brigade, they were forgotten. The Hamptons, Gists and Jenkins of the war wrote their own history and numerous signs, markers and statues were erected for them. My people fought alongside them and they also deserve that same recognition."