History
Masons & “The Civil War”
John E. Hart
“The Day the War Stopped”
Background: Following the outbreak of the Civil War the USS Albatross was a part of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron on the Mississippi River.
During June 1863 the commander contracted yellow fever, became delusional and committed suicide on June 11. He was officially listed as “killed in battle.”
His officers were unable to send the body home to Schenectady, New York for the type of service they knew their commander wanted. Therefore, and under a flag of truce they went ashore to meet with some specific townsmen for the purposes of securing a “proper” burial.
They were put in contact with Captain William Walter Leake of the Confederate Army who when being appraised of the facts arranged for a truce so that the Union officers could bring the body ashore, attend the funeral and then return to their ship.
It was a joint party of Union and confederate officers who performed the service and laid the body to rest at grace Episcopal Church in St. Francisville, La.
And the rest of the story you may well have concluded is that this was a Masonic Burial Service one which because of the circumstances has resulted in an annual reenactment.
Tom Merchant
Phone
(713) 851-3611
Address
El Lago, TX 77586
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