Maxcy Gregg Chapter # 98
MOSB

 

Meetings Calendar

 

South Carolina Society

Military Order of the Stars and Bars

By Wayne D. Roberts

March 29, 2000

Revised by Robert Brett Bradshaw

January 30, 2004

The Military Order of the Stars and Bars (MOSB) was born in South Carolina on August 30, 1938. The 48th Annual Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans and the 43rd Annual Convention of the Sons of Confederate Veterans met at the Columbia Hotel in Columbia, South Carolina August 30 through September 2, 1938. On August 30, 1938 an organizational meeting was held at 3:00 PM and the Order of the Stars and Bars, as it was known then, was created. The initial membership was composed of 17 former commissioned officers of the Confederate States military and 47 male descendants of Confederate officers. Two South Carolinians, both descendants of Confederate officers, were among the original members of the MOSB. These were Dr. Baylis H. Earle of Greenville and James d’Alvigny McCollough of Honea Path.

The name of the organization was changed to the Military Order of the Stars and Bars at the annual convention in Memphis, Tennessee effective August 15, 1976. As there are no former Confederate officers still living, membership in the MOSB is restricted to male descendants of Confederate officers and elected officials. The survival of the MOSB is due in large part to the late General William D. McCain of Mississippi. He served as Adjutant General of the MOSB from 1954 to 1993. He also served as Adjutant in Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans from 1953 to 1993.

The modern history South Carolina Society of the Military Order of the Stars and Bars began on October 1, 1984 when the General Maxcy Gregg Chapter #98 was chartered. The charter members were W. C. Smith, III, David Cooper, Ed Crosby, Dr. Jean LaBorde, Jr. Wesly Drawdy, George Martin, and Henry Durant. This was the only MOSB chapter in South Carolina at that time. It was closely related to the General Wade Hampton Camp, No. 273, Sons of Confederate Veterans of Columbia, South Carolina and shared the same adjutant for several years. For a shot time, there was also a Richard Kirkland Chapter #174 Chartered in Camden, South Carolina.

As of July 1, 1999, the South Carolina Society of the MOSB had four active chapters with a total of 57 members. The Society officers for 1998-2000 were Wayne D. Roberts, Commander; William E. DuBose, Jr., Lieutenant Commander; P. Ronald Hamilton, Adjutant; and Michael G. Kelly, Genealogist. The General Maxcy Gregg Chapter #98, chartered in Columbia in 1984, had 25 members in 1999. Officers for the General Maxcy Gregg Chapter were R. Brett Bradshaw, Commander; Harrison Gasque, Lieutenant Commander; Roger O. Harley, Adjutant. The Battle of Dingles Mill Chapter #12, chartered in Sumter December 23, 1987 , had five members in 1999. Officers of the Battle of Dingles Mill Chapter were William E. DuBose, Commander; Benjamin P. McNeese, Jr., Lieutenant Commander; and John A. DuBose, Adjutant. The Major M. C. Butler Chapter #232, chartered in Belvedere June 30, 1997, had nine members in 1999. Officers of the Major General M. C. Butler Chapter were R. Jason Goings, Commander and Perry Craig Morris, Adjutant. The Colonel James McCollough Chapter #242, chartered in Greenville June 30, 1997, had 18 members in 1999. Colonel James McCollough Chapter officers were Joseph L. Montgomery, Commander; Samuel T. "Tom" Tucker, III, Lieutenant Commander; and Kenneth Derrell Morgan, Adjutant.

As of January 30, 2004, the South Carolina Society of the MOSB now has a fifth chapter, the General and Colonel Rains Chapter of Aiken, ready to be chartered. The Society currently has a total of 72 members. The Society officers for 2003-2004 are Robert Brett Bradshaw, Commander; Thomas M. Weidner, Lieutenant Commander; P. Ronald Hamilton, Adjutant; and Wayne D. Roberts, Genealogist. The General Maxcy Gregg Chapter, now has 35 members. Officers for the General Maxcy Gregg Chapter are James H. Gressette, Jr., Commander; Tom M. Thomas, Jr., Lieutenant Commander; Steven L. Wolfe, Adjutant. The Battle of Dingles Mill Chapter now has six members. Officers of the Battle of Dingles Mill Chapter are William E. DuBose, Commander; Benjamin P. McNeese, Jr., Lieutenant Commander; John A. DuBose, Adjutant; and Rembert J. Kennedy, Real Son. The Major M. C. Butler Chapter now has ten members. Officers of the Major General M. C. Butler Chapter are R. Jason Goings, Commander and C. Richard Barbare, Lieutenant Commander and Adjutant. The Colonel James McCollough Chapter now has 21 members. Colonel James McCollough Chapter officers are Joseph L. Payne, III, Commander; Carroll Wayne Caldwell, Lieutenant Commander; and P. Ronald Hamilton, Adjutant. Danny A. Francis is slated to be Commander of the new Rains Chapter.

The South Carolina Society of the Military Order of the Stars and Bars has been very active with projects over the past several years. In 1993 the Society undertook a series of weekend cleanup expeditions to restore the historic Capers-Guerry cemetery in Sumter. This cemetery was severely damaged by Hurricane Hugo. There has been continuing involvement of the Society in the defense of the Confederate flag atop the South Carolina State House. In 1994 The Society donated $2,000 received from National Headquarters for the defense of the Confederate Battleflag, on the dome of the South Carolina State House. In 1995 a new monument in Sumter was dedicated to Confederate Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Alexander McQueen. The Society contributed $500 to this project. Also in 1995, the Society donated copies of The Roll of the Dead to several public libraries across South Carolina.

In 1996 The South Carolina Society of the MOSB began holding its Annual Lee-Jackson Banquet in January. This has become a special time for members, wives, and guests to gather and share mementos and stories of their ancestors and Confederate soldiers. The January 2001 Lee-Jackson Banquet was held at Oakley Park in Edgefield. This was the home of Confederate Brigadier General Martin Witherspoon Gary. The Society has donated over $800 toward repairs to the roof at Oakley Park and toward the restoration of the original Company Colors of the Edgefield Hussars, that is on display at Oakley Park. For the 2003 Lee-Jackson Banquet, Society members and guests were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the new museum facility of the South Carolina Relic Room, repository of a huge collection of Confederate artifacts. Afterwards, during the Banquet, author Gordon C. Rhea gave a talk about his latest book, Carrying The Flag.

In 1997 the South Carolina Society of the MOSB began annual battlefield tours. Many of these tours have been led by Wayne D. Roberts, Society Commander 1993-1994 and 1998-2000. The first tour was at the Battle of Congaree Creek in Lexington County. In 1998, the tour focused on the Atlanta campaign with stops at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the Battle of Kolbs Farm, Marietta, and Kennesaw (Big Shanty during the Great Locomotive Chase). The 1999 tour focused on the campaign for the Charleston and Savannah Railroad with visits to battlefields, earthworks, and sites including the Battle of Pocotaligo, the Battle of Tullifinny Crossroads, the Battle of Coosawhatchie, the Battle of Honey Hill, Stoney Creek Battery, Tomotley Battery, Bees Creek Battery, Pocotaligo Battery, Gardens Corner, Stoney Creek cemetery, Old Sheldon Church, and the Church. of the Holy Trinity in old Grahamville. The 2000 tour focused on Sherman’s march through South Carolina. Battlefields visited included Rivers Bridge, Broxton’s Bridge, and Congaree Creek. The 2001 tour moved down to the Savannah, Georgia area and focused on Old Fort Jackson, Fort Pulaski, and Fort McAlister. The 2002 tour centered on Charleston, South Carolina and was led by National Park Historian Rick Hatcher. There was a tour of Fort Sumter, Fort Magruder, the Battlefield of Secessionville, and of various sites related to the Confederate Submarine Hunley. The tour ended with a viewing of the Hunley, at the Lasch Research Facility. The 2003 tour focused on Potter's Raid into the heartland of South Carolina. Author Allan D. Thigpen led the tour, visiting battlefields and sites along the path of destruction perpetrated by Federal forces from Manning, through Sumter and to Camden, South Carolina. Among the sites visited were the Battle of Dingle's Mill, the Battle of Boykin's Mill, the Battle of Dinkins Mill, the fight on the streets of Manning, and The Borough House, home of Confederate Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson. Plans are set for the 2004 tour to be in Augusta, Georgia.

As an outgrowth of these battlefield tours, the Society has implemented a plan to place historical markers on South Carolina battlefields. The first historical marker was placed at the site of the Battlefield at Pocotaligo in 2002. Current plans are to place a marker at the site of the Columbia Hotel, where the Military Order of Stars and Bars was first founded. Other historical markers have been discussed for the battlefields at Tullifinny Crossroads and Coosawhatchie.