BEN JONES GIVES THOUGHTS ON NEW ORLEANS MONUMENTS

Click here for full story.False Notes From Wynton Marsalis Lead To A Divided City

(Library of Congress)
Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard was the most famous
Louisiana citizen of the 19th Century. His accomplishments
both in the military and civilian life were historic. What
a shame the current New Orleans city officials are
disgracing themselves by attacking his monument.

New Orleans Monuments, Followup Editorial

Monuments should not be politicized. The South's Defenders Monument,
Lake Charles, Louisiana (antique postcard, M.D. Jones collection)

Monuments Followup Editorial

Here is an editorial that ran in the Lake Charles American Press today, Dec. 23, as a followup of the New Orleans monuments vote. It concludes a Louisiana monuments protection act is needed to protect these historic treasures from political opportunism.

Monuments shouldn't be politicized

      The New Orleans City Council recently voted to approve an ordinance to declare four of Louisiana's most historic and artistically significant monuments, as "public nuisances."
      This action can lead to the removal, in effect the junking, of these four priceless treasures of Louisiana history - the Robert E. Lee Monument in Lee Circle, the General Beauregard Monument, both on the National Register of Historic Places, the Jefferson Davis Monument, nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, and the Liberty Place Monument.
      In addition, Mayor Mitch Landrieu wants a commission to decide on which of New Orleans' many other historic monuments, street names and plaques that should be junked or the names changed, in a further exercise in intolerant and radical political correctness.
      Fortunately, several groups of historically-minded citizens who respect and want to save all of New Orleans' very diverse cultural heritage have filed a federal law suit to stop this unfortunate exercise in political correctness. The plaintiffs are the Louisiana Landmarks Society, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, the Monumental Task Committee Inc. and Beauregard Camp No. 130, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Named as defendants are Landrieu and the federal Department of Transportation and various officials.
      The city has agreed to not to remove the monuments before a Jan. 14 hearing before Judge Carl Barbier in Federal District Court in New Orleans.
      There are 13 points of contention in the 51 page suit, ranging from ownership of the property on which the monuments stand, questions of federal law concerning veterans monuments and National Register listed property, the property interests of other parties, and federal responsibilities regarding the street car line and the monuments connection to it, among others.
      The suit also contends that the monuments do not fit the city's definition of a "nuisance."
      Landrieu's state desire for a commission to look at other monuments, plaques and street names could signal a continuing "slippery slope" that will cause even more division and contention.
      The council would not consider a compromise proposal from the only council member to vote against the ordinance, Stacy Head.
      A recent poll showed that 64 percent of the population is against removing the monuments, and 68 percent of the entire state are against it. New Orleans has a rich and proud historical and cultural legacy that impacts the whole state. It is the tourism anchor of Louisiana. Tourism is one of the state's largest industries and historical tourism is a big part of it.
      Besides, New Orleans is a political sub-division of the state government and gets plenty money from the general treasury for infrastructure and other needs.
      It should be obvious now that the state legislature needs to consider a monuments protection act to protect Louisiana's history, heritage and culture, from this kind of destructive, divisive political opportunism.

Va Flaggers: Roadside Battle Flag Raised in TEXAS!

Click here for story>Va Flaggers: Roadside Battle Flag Raised in TEXAS!

LONG MAY IT WAVE!
(Photo by M.D. Jones)

Suit challenges removal of Confederate monuments

Clike here for story>Suit challenges removal of Confederate monuments

A Louisiana Tiger Zouave waving a Louisiana
Republic flag, adopted by the state after its
secession and before joining the Confederacy.
(M.D. Jones collection)

Suit challenges removal of Confederate monuments

Click here for story>Suit challenges removal of Confederate monuments

(LIBRARY OF CONGRESS)

LAWSUITS & SLIPPERY SLOPES: Here’s What’s Happening Post-New Orleans Monument Removal

LAWSUITS & SLIPPERY SLOPES: Here’s What’s Happening Post-New Orleans Monument Removal

Robert E. Lee

(Antique postcard, M.D. Jones collection)

Lawsuit filed to prevent removal of Confederate-era monuments

Click to read story>Lawsuit filed to prevent removal of Confederate-era monuments

Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, post-war
(Library of Congress)

BREAKING: New Orleans Historical Monuments Are Officially Coming Down

Click her for story>BREAKING: New Orleans Historical Monuments Are Officially Coming Down

General Beauregard

Confederate monument supporters not optimistic ahead of Thursday's vote

Click here for story>Confederate monument supporters not optimistic ahead of Thursday's vote

New Orleans Considers Removing Confederate Monuments

Click here for story>New Orleans Considers Removing Confederate Monuments

NEW ORLEANS MONUMENTS

FROM TODAY'S LAKE CHARLES AMERICAN PRESS

(Antique postcard; M.D. Jones Collection)

Editorial: Page 4

Study and learn from history

     Learning from our past is one of the most important reasons for the study of history. The more we learn, the better equipped we  are not to repeat the mistakes of history.

     But when history gets politicized by modern day politicians, it can become unnecessarily divisive and even dangerous.

     That's what appears to be happening in New Orleans, where Mayor Mitch Landrieu seems determined to tear down four of Louisiana's and New Orleans' most historically and artistically significant monuments, including two which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The four are the Robert E. Lee Monument, the Pierre G.T. Beauregard Monument, the Jefferson Davis Monument and the Liberty Place Monument.

      The City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance declaring the monuments a "public nuisance" Thursday, Dec. 17, so they can be torn down.  There have been public hearings, which have been very emotional and divisive in a city that desperately needs to be unified around its real problems, such as crime, urban renewal, infrastructure improvement, economic development, financial and educational issues.

      But citizens shouting at each other in public hearings is no gauge of what the people of New Orleans really want. If Landrieu and the council are determined to push this very divisive issue, regardless of the negative consequences,  they should at tomorrow's meeting pass a substitute motion to at least give the people people of New Orleans a vote on it.

     Recent public polls have shown both the people of Louisiana and those in New Orleans are  overwhelmingly against  tearing down these historic monuments. The poll found that 68 percent of  Louisianians are against  tearing down the monuments. In addition, 64 percent of the people of New Orleans responded they are also against the mayor's proposal.

     The division created by this political attack on four historic monuments, which are also among the finest outdoor sculptures in Louisiana, and which  bring in tourism dollars into the city and state, has already resulted in vandalism on them and other historic monuments in New Orleans.

     This is no way for a great, world-class city to treat its own very rich and diverse history and heritage. All historical persons and points of view should be studied in the context of their own times. Those monuments are another teaching tool from which everyone can learn. Tearing them down will only hurt New Orleans and stir needless ongoing controversy and and division.

     The people of New Orleans are not to blame for this unnecessary controversy. The people of New Orleans want their history and heritage preserved. It will be a shame if their own local politicians don't listen to them. The mayor and city council should give the people a vote. 

     We all need to learn from our mutual history and heritage, not tear it down.

Texas School Board Bucks Trend, Keeps Historic Confederate Past

CLIKE HERE TO DISPLAY STORY

Robert E. Lee, seated, is seen here in an immediate post-war
picture with his son, left, Gen. Custis Lee, and his aide, Col.
Walter Taylor. (Library of Congress)

SCV members carry Confederate battle flag in Many parade

Click here for story>SCV members carry Confederate battle flag in Many parade

Click here for story>Amid protest, surge of Confederate groups rally behind battle flag in Christmas parade

Debate over removal of Confederate monuments stirs passions

CLICK HERE FOR STORY.

Antique postcard of Robert E. Lee Monument

Lee Circle, New Orleans, La.

(M.D. Jones Collection)

Very big Confederate flag to stay above I-75

CLICK HERE FOR STORY.

City of Natchitoches sued over Confederate flag ban

Click Here For STORY.

A charging Confederate--life-like statue at
Chickamauga NMP. (Photo by M.D. Jones)

Roanoke won't ban Confederate flag from Christmas parade

CLICK HERE FOR STORY

Second National Confederate Flag
(Library of Congress)

NEW ORLEANS MONUMENTAL TASK COMMITTEE

Click here>PRESS CONFERENCE BY MONUMENT DEFENDERSCLICK

The politically endangered General Beauregard Monument in New Orleans.
Text on the back of the postcard: "General Beauregard was a New Orleans
man, active and interested, and filled with civic pride, long before he was a
Confederate General and it is both citizen and soldier who are commemorated
in this handsome monument. (Antique postcard, M.D. Jones Collection)

NEW ORLEANS PRO-MONUMENT PETITION PRESENTED

Monument supporters present petition. (Link)

Jefferson Davis Monument, New Orleans, La.
(Antique postcard, M.D. Jones collection)

Lee Circle, New Orleans Threatened by extremists in New Orleans city govt. (Library of Congress) The Tiger Courier Official Email List of the Louisiana Division - Sons of Confederate Veterans  Keeping You Informed!   Important Information that you should know about the Division, the Confederation and your Heritage!

Dear Sirs, As you may know, on Thursday, December 10, 2015 the New Orleans City Council will vote on an ordinance to tear down three Confederate monuments in New Orleans including the General Robert E. Lee Monument on Lee Circle, the General P. G. T. Beauregard Monument to Beauregard Circle and Esplanade Avenue, and the Jefferson Davis Monument on the corner of Jefferson Davis Parkway and Canal Street.  The ordinance also includes tearing down the Liberty Place Monument which the City of New Orleans also considers a monument to the Confederacy. Beauregard Camp No. 130 has been working very closely with another local non-profit organization, the Monumental Task Committee ("MTC"), to try to convince the City to vote against the ordinance and to preserve our monuments.  The MTC has been cleaning, renovating, and preserving all of the monuments in New Orleans for 25 years including all of the City's Confederate monuments. The email message from the MTC following this email includes guidance on how you can help to preserve the monuments to our Confederate veterans in New Orleans  Donations may also be made to the Beauregard Camp No. 130 and earmarked for the preservation of the Confederate monuments in New Orleans  Please email me for additional details. Sincerely, Sam Wheeler Treasurer Beauregard Camp No. 130 P. O. Box 145 Arabi LA, 70032 www.scv-camp130.org   From: Mason, Geary [mailto:gmason@stifel.com] Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2015 8:15 PM To: Mason, Geary (New Orleans) Subject: Monumental Supporters -- City Council to VOTE on REMOVAL   Dear Fellow Monument Supporters, The monument issue has been officially added to the City Council's agenda.  This means the City Council will be VOTING on Thursday, December 10 on whether to remove the monuments.   What you can do NOW to fight the removal of the monuments DONATE to the preservation of monuments HERE.  All donations are tax deductible. EMAIL AND CALL THE MAYOR AND YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER (contact info available at the bottom of this email). Express your support to keep all monuments!  If you do nothing, they will assume you do not care.  This City has a big enough heart to accommodate ALL monuments and ADD MORE! If you haven't already done so SIGN THE PETITION going to the Mayor and City Council by clicking HERE. FORWARD this email to your friends and monument supporters. UPCOMING EVENTS - We are down to the wire and need all hands on deck...   Tuesday, December 8 -- 5:30p - 7:00p Attend the MTC special meeting of all members and supporters at Parlay's, 870 Harrison Ave (map). Where we will bring everyone up to date and layout our plan of action. All are encouraged to attend.   Thursday, December 10 -- City Council Meeting starts at 10:00am, the vote is expected to take place around 2:00pm. IMPORTANT: Attend the City Council Meeting at City Hall where the Council is expected to VOTE.  We have been informed that the public will have approximately one minute each to make a comment for the record.   Thanks again for your support of New Orleans' historic monuments!   Sincerely, The Monumental Task Committee   --  Join Our Mailing List Today!   Monumental Task Committee, Inc. www.monumentaltask.org Twitter: @monumentaltask http://www.facebook.com/MonumentalTask 1.888.534.3936   Mayor Mitch Landrieu 1300 Perdido St, 2nd floor New Orleans, LA 70112 504-658-4900 mayor@nola.gov Stacy Head Council member-at-large (504) 658-1060 shead@nola.gov Jason Rogers Williams Council member-at-large (504) 658-1070 jarwilliams@nola.gov Susan Guidry District A (504) 658-1010 sgguidry@nola.gov LaToya Cantrell District B (504) 658-1020 lcantrell@nola.gov Nadine Ramsey Distrct C (504) 658-1030 districtc@nola.gov Jared Brossett District D (504) 658-1040 jcbrossett@nola.gov James Austin Gray District E (504) 658-1050 jagray@nola.gov Click HERE to become a member of the Monumental Task Committee -- click down to the bottom of the Get Involved page.  This is important!  Your support will make a difference.

NEW BOOK -- THE BATTLES OF STIRLING'S PLANTATION AND BAYOU BOURBEAU

     Captain James W. Bryan Camp 1390 member Michael Dan Jones has written a new book on the battles and skirmishes that occurred in South Louisiana in the Fall of 1863. The main battles were the Battle of Stirling’s Plantation near Morganza, Louisiana and the Battle of Bayou Bourbeau near Sunset, Louisiana. The campaign followed the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, when General Ulysses S. Grant sent Yankee troops south to protect the Mississippi River traffic and General N.P. Banks sent the bluecoat invaders north from Brashear City (modern day Morgan City) to invade Texas through Southwest Louisiana.       
     The Army of Western Louisiana under command of Confederate General Richard Taylor, although vastly out-numbered, used Fabian tactics to smartly defeat the Federals at Stirling’s Plantation and at Bayou Bourbeau. They also aggressively skirmished with and harassed the invaders until they gave up and returned to their New Orleans base. There is also a chapter on the Rio Grande Expedition in Texas, which was a direct result of the failure of the campaign in  South Louisiana.          
     The book, The Battles of Stirling’s Plantation and Bayou Bourbeau, 134 pages with photos, maps, index and bibliography, is available for $12.95 on Amazon.com and CreateSpace.com

COST OF REMOVING CONFEDERATE FLAG IN SC MAY BE $5 MILLION

Click here for story> COST OF REMOVING CONFEDERATE FLAG IN SC MAY BE $5 MILLION

MORE CONFEDERATE FLAGS ADDED AT DANVILLE, VA

Click this link for story>MORE CONFEDERATE FLAGS ADDED AT DANVILLE, VA

SC LAWMAKER SHAMES ANTI-CONFEDERATE COLLEAGUES

Click Here for Story > SC LAWMAKER SHAMES ANTI-CONFEDEDERATE COLLEAGUES