EVENT: Heartland Regional Rally: SC, Charleston - 4/30/2020 to 5/3/2020
- Thread starter Nabo
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'Lil Guy'
Well-known member
To start, welcome to the forum and Heartland family. Looks like you've chosen a good rally for your 1st. Normally the people attending their 1st rally have to get up front at the meet and greet and recite the Pledge of Allegiance and then the youngest couple have to sing the National Anthem. After that, you're one of the group.
You're going to meet a lot of great people who share your passion for getting away in their RVs. Make sure to bring an appetite with you because food seems to be abundant at most rallies we've attended. Again, youi'll enjoy the rally making friends for life. We travel all over the US to rallies to see and make new friends.
Hope to see you two at our Margaritaville set up for a cocktail or two. It won't be hard to find after dark.lol
Chippendale
Well-known member
Those planning on attending the Hunley tour might be interested in the article below about Lt. George Dixon, the Commander of the Hunley, that I found on Facebook yesterday.
[FONT="]Another Real Patriot Buried in the Magnolia Cemetery Charleston SC.
Lt. George Erasmus Dixon (1837 – February 17, 1864) Civil War Confederate Army Officer. He was commander of the last crew of the Confederate submarine, "HL Hunley", when it sank 4 miles off the coast of Sullivan’s Island (Charleston), South Carolina, on February 17, 1864, after sinking the USS Housatonic. A native of Kentucky, he joined Company E of the 21st Alabama Volunteers. He soon met Miss Queenie Bennet of Mobile, Alabama, and proposed. They agreed to marry after the war. Queenie gifted the Lt. with a $20 gold piece which he carried everywhere for good luck. On April 6, 1862 during the Battle of Shiloh, he was shot point blank. A bullet ripped into his uniform and struck the center of the gold coin. The impact left the gold piece bent with the bullet embedded in it. Queenie's good luck gift had saved his life. He had the coin engraved: "Shiloh April 6, 1862 My life preserver GED." When the Hunley was raised in 2000 and excavated this very coin was found with his remains. While recuperating in Mobile, Alabama, he met Horace Hunley and James McClintock. Their dream of building a submarine became his dream and he helped build and pilot two of these ships. The second, christened the "HL Hunley", was piloted by Dixon on the night of February 17, 1864 when he and his crew were lost after sinking the "USS Housatonic". Lieutenant Dixon was played by Armand Asante in the movie, "The Hunley," filmed in Charleston, where on April 17, 2004 the remaining crew and Dixon, were reinterred in Magnolia Cemetery.
Bio by: Just another taphophile
He is best known as the commander of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley during her successful mission to sink the Union blockading ship USS Housatonic off Charleston, South Carolina.
Life and death
Although Dixon's early life is largely unknown, the 1860 census lists him as a 23-year-old native of Kentucky or maybe South Carolina. He was a steamboat engineer and had lived in New Orleans, Louisiana before moving to Mobile, Alabama. Dixon's expensive tailor-made uniform and jewelry found on his remains suggests that he was a man of some wealth.
Dixon was a Mason, and a member of Mobile Lodge No. 40. Minutes of Union Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons, indicate that Dixon visited that body on March 20, 1863, which proves he was also a York Rite Man. The famed Albert G. Mackey was the presiding officer at that particular meeting.
Dixon was a member of a pre-war militia company, the Washington Light Infantry of Mobile. In the autumn of 1861, the Washington Light Infantry became Company A, 21st Alabama Infantry Regiment. Dixon by then was a sergeant. He would later be promoted to lieutenant. In March 1862, Dixon's regiment proceeded to Corinth, Mississippi, and the following month took an active part in the Battle of Shiloh, losing 200 men killed or wounded out of the 650 engaged. Dixon himself was severely wounded in the left leg. Luckily, a $20 gold coin he carried as a good luck piece saved his leg, and possibly his life. However, the impact seriously damaged his femur and Dixon would limp for the rest of his short life. Following the battle, the regiment was reorganized and returned to Mobile to man the city's defenses as artillerymen. It was during the uneventful garrison duty at Mobile that Dixon became interested in the submarine that Horace Lawson Hunley was building.
On February 17, 1864, Dixon commanded the Confederate submarine on her first and only attack on the Union Navy. He was successful in sinking his target, but the close proximity of its own ordnance when detonated damaged the submarine, causing her to sink during her attempted return to shore. Dixon and his seven crewmen all perished.
After the submarine was located and recovered in 2000, Dixon's remains were identified. His home Lodge, now known as Mobile-McCormick Lodge No. 40, and the Masonic Grand Lodges of Alabama and South Carolina participated in the military and Masonic funeral rites when the remains of the submarine's crewmen were interred on April 17, 2004 in Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.
Gold coin legend
A romantic legend concerning George Dixon and his gold coin has been told for more than a century. Dixon is said to have been given the gold coin by his sweetheart, Queenie Bennett. She asked him to carry it for good luck and as a token of her affection. Dixon kept the coin always with him, and at the Battle of Shiloh it was in his trousers pocket. During the fierce fighting on April 6, 1862, Dixon was struck in the upper thigh by a minié ball. When he examined the wound, he discovered the bullet had struck the coin directly in the center, bending the coin but saving his leg by absorbing much of the impact.
Following the recovery of the H. L. Hunley, the story was partially verified by the discovery of the gold coin with Dixon's remains. Forensic anthropologist Diane France was hired to study the recovered skull of Dixon. Reconstructing Dixon's appearance, she found the man in a photograph Queenie Bennett's family had always presumed to be Dixon was not him. The inscription on the coin fails to mention Bennett, but it does confirm that it stopped a bullet at Shiloh. The United States $20 double eagle coin was minted in 1860 and is clearly deformed from the bullet's impact. Both the coin itself and a wound on Dixon's femur were found to have traces of lead. The reverse of the coin is inscribed with four short lines:
Other contemporary evidence also suggests the legend may be true. James M. Williams, who was also a member of the Washington Light Infantry and Company A of the 21st Alabama Infantry, wrote his wife about Dixon the day after the battle:
Corinth - April 8th, 1862
Dear Lizzie
I telegraphed you today that I am well and safely through the two days of battle... The wounded are being brought into camp... George Dixon, shot in the hip, the ball striking a gold piece ranged upwards and came out of his side; will probably recover if he can be well cared for...
The letter was published in From That Terrible Field - Civil War letters of James M. Williams, Twenty-First Alabama Infantry Volunteers, (University of Alabama Press, 1981, John Kent Folmer, ed.) Williams was Dixon's close friend and named his first son George Dixon Williams.
The damaged coin is now on display with other artifacts and the submarine Hunley herself at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Another Real Patriot Buried in the Magnolia Cemetery Charleston SC.
Lt. George Erasmus Dixon (1837 – February 17, 1864) Civil War Confederate Army Officer. He was commander of the last crew of the Confederate submarine, "HL Hunley", when it sank 4 miles off the coast of Sullivan’s Island (Charleston), South Carolina, on February 17, 1864, after sinking the USS Housatonic. A native of Kentucky, he joined Company E of the 21st Alabama Volunteers. He soon met Miss Queenie Bennet of Mobile, Alabama, and proposed. They agreed to marry after the war. Queenie gifted the Lt. with a $20 gold piece which he carried everywhere for good luck. On April 6, 1862 during the Battle of Shiloh, he was shot point blank. A bullet ripped into his uniform and struck the center of the gold coin. The impact left the gold piece bent with the bullet embedded in it. Queenie's good luck gift had saved his life. He had the coin engraved: "Shiloh April 6, 1862 My life preserver GED." When the Hunley was raised in 2000 and excavated this very coin was found with his remains. While recuperating in Mobile, Alabama, he met Horace Hunley and James McClintock. Their dream of building a submarine became his dream and he helped build and pilot two of these ships. The second, christened the "HL Hunley", was piloted by Dixon on the night of February 17, 1864 when he and his crew were lost after sinking the "USS Housatonic". Lieutenant Dixon was played by Armand Asante in the movie, "The Hunley," filmed in Charleston, where on April 17, 2004 the remaining crew and Dixon, were reinterred in Magnolia Cemetery.
Bio by: Just another taphophile
He is best known as the commander of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley during her successful mission to sink the Union blockading ship USS Housatonic off Charleston, South Carolina.
Life and death
Although Dixon's early life is largely unknown, the 1860 census lists him as a 23-year-old native of Kentucky or maybe South Carolina. He was a steamboat engineer and had lived in New Orleans, Louisiana before moving to Mobile, Alabama. Dixon's expensive tailor-made uniform and jewelry found on his remains suggests that he was a man of some wealth.
Dixon was a Mason, and a member of Mobile Lodge No. 40. Minutes of Union Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons, indicate that Dixon visited that body on March 20, 1863, which proves he was also a York Rite Man. The famed Albert G. Mackey was the presiding officer at that particular meeting.
Dixon was a member of a pre-war militia company, the Washington Light Infantry of Mobile. In the autumn of 1861, the Washington Light Infantry became Company A, 21st Alabama Infantry Regiment. Dixon by then was a sergeant. He would later be promoted to lieutenant. In March 1862, Dixon's regiment proceeded to Corinth, Mississippi, and the following month took an active part in the Battle of Shiloh, losing 200 men killed or wounded out of the 650 engaged. Dixon himself was severely wounded in the left leg. Luckily, a $20 gold coin he carried as a good luck piece saved his leg, and possibly his life. However, the impact seriously damaged his femur and Dixon would limp for the rest of his short life. Following the battle, the regiment was reorganized and returned to Mobile to man the city's defenses as artillerymen. It was during the uneventful garrison duty at Mobile that Dixon became interested in the submarine that Horace Lawson Hunley was building.
On February 17, 1864, Dixon commanded the Confederate submarine on her first and only attack on the Union Navy. He was successful in sinking his target, but the close proximity of its own ordnance when detonated damaged the submarine, causing her to sink during her attempted return to shore. Dixon and his seven crewmen all perished.
After the submarine was located and recovered in 2000, Dixon's remains were identified. His home Lodge, now known as Mobile-McCormick Lodge No. 40, and the Masonic Grand Lodges of Alabama and South Carolina participated in the military and Masonic funeral rites when the remains of the submarine's crewmen were interred on April 17, 2004 in Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.
Gold coin legend
A romantic legend concerning George Dixon and his gold coin has been told for more than a century. Dixon is said to have been given the gold coin by his sweetheart, Queenie Bennett. She asked him to carry it for good luck and as a token of her affection. Dixon kept the coin always with him, and at the Battle of Shiloh it was in his trousers pocket. During the fierce fighting on April 6, 1862, Dixon was struck in the upper thigh by a minié ball. When he examined the wound, he discovered the bullet had struck the coin directly in the center, bending the coin but saving his leg by absorbing much of the impact.
Following the recovery of the H. L. Hunley, the story was partially verified by the discovery of the gold coin with Dixon's remains. Forensic anthropologist Diane France was hired to study the recovered skull of Dixon. Reconstructing Dixon's appearance, she found the man in a photograph Queenie Bennett's family had always presumed to be Dixon was not him. The inscription on the coin fails to mention Bennett, but it does confirm that it stopped a bullet at Shiloh. The United States $20 double eagle coin was minted in 1860 and is clearly deformed from the bullet's impact. Both the coin itself and a wound on Dixon's femur were found to have traces of lead. The reverse of the coin is inscribed with four short lines:
Other contemporary evidence also suggests the legend may be true. James M. Williams, who was also a member of the Washington Light Infantry and Company A of the 21st Alabama Infantry, wrote his wife about Dixon the day after the battle:
Corinth - April 8th, 1862
Dear Lizzie
I telegraphed you today that I am well and safely through the two days of battle... The wounded are being brought into camp... George Dixon, shot in the hip, the ball striking a gold piece ranged upwards and came out of his side; will probably recover if he can be well cared for...
The letter was published in From That Terrible Field - Civil War letters of James M. Williams, Twenty-First Alabama Infantry Volunteers, (University of Alabama Press, 1981, John Kent Folmer, ed.) Williams was Dixon's close friend and named his first son George Dixon Williams.
The damaged coin is now on display with other artifacts and the submarine Hunley herself at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.[/FONT]
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Keywestwego
Active Member
'Lil Guy' : Since this will be our first rally BUT PARROT HEADS from way back, what should we wear? Coconut bras and grass skirts or just fins? lol
Really, is this a BYOB, cash bar, mix your own and bring or what? I am all in on this one. Even my name says: Keywestwego......Thanks
We registered way back and have just sent in the event fees. Looking forward to this.
Really, is this a BYOB, cash bar, mix your own and bring or what? I am all in on this one. Even my name says: Keywestwego......Thanks
We registered way back and have just sent in the event fees. Looking forward to this.
Last edited:
kimdot
Active Member
Hi Byrd and Nathan,
Good seeing you at the RV show the other day. Well, we called the CG and signed up for your rally. We will be arriving April 29th and leaving May 3rd - just Kim and myself will be attending. No campsite number was given to us. We are both interested in going on the Hunley tour. Do we need to send the money to you in advance for the tour? Will get the $50mevent fee in mail to you.
See ya then,
Good seeing you at the RV show the other day. Well, we called the CG and signed up for your rally. We will be arriving April 29th and leaving May 3rd - just Kim and myself will be attending. No campsite number was given to us. We are both interested in going on the Hunley tour. Do we need to send the money to you in advance for the tour? Will get the $50mevent fee in mail to you.
See ya then,
'Lil Guy'
Well-known member
clothing is optional.lol Whatever you want to wear. Margaritas and rum punch are on me. There will be an assortment of liquor to be had. Most people bring wine, beer or whatever. Great place to gather and meet up with everyone after their day of sightseeing. We'll keep a light on for you.lol Couple of old pics included here. Been some serious additions since then. Again, you'll have no trouble finding it.
Hope to see yuou and everyone else there at some point during the rally. Later and have a great day.
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cableman
Well-known member
Hello Nathan and byrd,
Just Made reservations with the campground. Lexie and I will be arriving on Fri the 1st
And will depart on Mon the 4th. Mailing the check today and looking forward to seeing Charleston. Never been to the area. First Rally of the year and we sure are ready to go.
Just Made reservations with the campground. Lexie and I will be arriving on Fri the 1st
And will depart on Mon the 4th. Mailing the check today and looking forward to seeing Charleston. Never been to the area. First Rally of the year and we sure are ready to go.
Nabo
Southeast Region Director-Retired
The private tour of the H.L. Hunley has been booked for Thursday, April 30 at 2:00 pm. The cost is $20.00 per person to be collected before heading over to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston. The group will need to leave the campground by 1:00 pm.
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