Alexander Hodge Chapter No. 49 Minutes March, 28 2023
The members of the Alexander Hodge #49, Sons of the American Revolution, gathered at Spring Creek Barbeque located at 4895 Highway 6, Missouri City, TX.
In the private meeting room, Carl Hill called the Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with an Invocation given by Phil Whitley followed by pledges to the United States flag, to the Texas flag and to the SAR flag.
Attending Chapter Members: Jim Penny (Web Master), Carl Hill (President & Treasurer), Steven Barber (Secretary), Don Rollins (Sgt. of Arms), Jim Adams, Lovell Aldrich, John Lucey, Phil Whitley, Rick Giuffre, Dennis Giuffre, Tim Birtcher, Nate Lewis, Randall Hankla (tonight’s speaker), Everett Gardner (Vice President) and Mike Green (Newsletter)
New Prospective Chapter SAR Members: Don Burns and Kevin Buford
Guests: Mr. Guadalupe Hernandez, Mrs. Elizabeth Hernandez, and their Eagle Scout son, Nick Hernandez. Emmanuel Banan, Mrs. Sherry Burns, Mrs. Kim Birtcher, Mrs. Sharon Rollins, Mrs. Bernice Mistriot and Mrs. J. Adams
Recognitions: President Hill proceeded to recognize honored guest, Speaker of the night, Randall Hankla and the Hernandez family. The Chapter president also recognized 2 new potential members, Don Burns and Kevin Buford.
Nick Hernandez, Eagle Scout, Troup 63 in Roseburg, TX, participant in the SAR Arthur M. and Berdena King Eagle Scout Scholarship Essay Competition.
Nick was one of two Eagle Scouts sponsored by the Alexander Hodge Chapter No 49. Nick presented his inspiring essay on Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778 and the conditions and military training that 12,000 American troops endured. At the end of Nick’s presentation, President Hill presented a SAR Challenge Coin to Nick and informed him that he will also be receiving a Certificate from the foundation in appreciation for his work.
Reports:
Carl Hill presented the Treasury Report with $10,000.87 in the Chapter treasure. $1,600.00 of the monies is slated to donations to the ROTC Scholarship fund in Fort Bend ISD and Lamar CISD. The required Chapter IRS postcard under 501C3 regulation filing to the IRS for the Chapter is near completion to be sent in by April 18 th deadline.
Steven Barber, presented the Secretary Report in that the last meetings minutes will be posted on the Chapter Web Site at least two weeks before the next scheduled Chapter meeting. It is intended that those minutes will be reviewed and approved at the month following Chapter Business Meeting. When these minutes are published on the Chapter Web site, the Business Meeting Notes meeting will be included in that report. Questions and approval of those reports will be reviewed at the next scheduled bi-monthly Chapter meeting.
Jim Penny reported on the Chapter Web Site. Jim reports the Web Site is up and running but has a great need for more member news. Mike Green, publishing the Chapter Newsletter expressed the same plea.
Members of the Alexander Hodge Chapter No. 49 are encouraged to give individual reports on their activity in and out of the Chapter. This can be newly discovered ancestry, “where were you” during certain major historical events, (1969 moon walk, 911, etc.as examples), or personal milestones.
Carl Hill reported on various events that Chapter members participated in since the last meeting.
Carl Hill and Steven Barber attended the Bates Allen Historical Slave Cemetery cleanup in Kendelton, TX.,sponsored by the Sugarland Exchange Club. A heavily overgrown section with several burial monuments were cleared.
Steve Barber attended the DAR sponsored recognition of the historical Hodges Bend Cemetery on March 2, 2023. The Chapter was represented by Carl Hill at the Jessie Jones Park Battle Reenactment in Humble, TX., where British troops were driven from Texas. Carl also attended in a color guard at the Gold Star Monument in Laporte, TX.
No Registrar’s report was made.
Chapter Meeting Speaker.: Randall Hankla was introduced as the meeting speaker, for this March 2023 Chapter meeting. Mr. Hankla presented a detailed description of the Battle of King Mountain from theBritish and Rebel side of the event.
In his presentation he displayed replicas of the rifles used by each side of the battle. The British sides standard rifle issue was designed for close combat conditions with an accuracy range of about 40 yards.
The approximately 1,000-1,200 strong British forces were made up mostly of British Loyalist and Tories, led by British Major Patrick Ferguson. The Rebels, soon to be known as Patriots, was a force of approximately 900 men made up from various frontiersmen with much experience in fighting Indians in The French and Indiana Wars and in other battles with Indians in the frontier of Tennessee, Kentucky and the Carolinas. The Rebels rifles used at King Mountain battle had an accuracy range of up to 300 yards.
The British battle tactics were for close combat conditions with fixed bayonet charges of intimidation. The British made three separate bayonet charges driving the Rebels back into the woods. The Patriots would reform and again charge up King Mountain. The Rebel’s effective tactics was forming several small fighting groups, firing from fixed positions in heavily wooded or protected positions. Mr. Hankla descripted in detail the British troop movements on King Mountain and the Rebel response that led to defeat of the British on Kings Mountain. The Patriot smaller militias groups (eight detachments of 100-200 men each) led by Benjamin Cleveland, James Johnston, William Campbell, John Sevier, Joseph McDowell and Isaac Shelby surrounded the British army encamped on Kings Mountain. John Crockett, father of Davy Crockett was in the Rebel army.
The Battle of King Mountain occurred Oct 7th , 1780, starting at about 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon and lasted approximately 65 minutes. The British army suffered 290 killed, 163 wounded and 668 taken prisoner.
The Patriots suffered 28 killed and 60 wounded. The Rebel groups continue to fire and attack the British army even when British attempted to surrender, shouting “Give ‘em Tarleton’s Quarter” and “Give them Bufords’s Play” referencing previous treatment British Troop had displayed against American Patriots in previous battles. Major Patrick Ferguson was shot and killed in a last-ditch effort to break through the Rebels lines.
36 Loyalist were court-martialed for of testifying against Patriots, treason for deserting from the Patriot militia and for incitement of Indian rebellions. Nine Loyalist were hanged. Of the 668 Loyalist prisoners, all but 130 escaped, while being led single file through the woods.
The Battle of King Mountain was a pivotal moment in the history of the American Revolution. Many previous battles had been lost by American forces and this battle was a real boost to Patriot morale. The destruction of Fergusons command and the threat of a Patriot Army in the mountains caused the leader of all British forces Lord Cornwallis, to cancel his plans to invade North Carolina, retreat from Charlotte, North Carolina to South Carolina.
Closing Remarks: President Hill reported the next Alexander Hodge No.49-chapter meeting will be held May 30th, 2023 at the Spring Creek Barbeque restaurant on Highway 6 in Missouri City, TX.
The next Chapter Business Meeting will be at the same restaurant on April 25 th at 1:00 P.M. All Chapter members are welcome to attend the business meeting. All Chapter Officers are required to attend the April Business Meeting.
Recessional: The SAR recessional was recited by all present.
Benediction: Closing benediction was given by Phil Whitley, Chaplain.
Prepared by Steven J. Barber, Secretary