Here is "OLD 44" a memento of the Civil War located on the southwest lawn of the courthouse in Winchester. "Old 44" fought in another war besides the one between the states; It battled against being scrapped for salvage during World War II, and only through insistence of the W.T. Sherman Camp 44, Sons of Union Veterans, is it still in existence today. As we recall it, and as Louis King tells it (Lou was then and still is secretary-treasurer of the Sherman Camp; Troy Simmons is commander), "Old 44" was up for scrap at the time Bruce Maxwell, now of Hendersonville, N.C. was Randolph County salvage director. Bruce, as was his duty, was taking everything he could get his hands on during a desperate, nationwide search for metal during the first year of the war. Somehow "Old 44" stayed intact, and then Lou, who followed Bruce as salvage director, began his campaign to save the old relic of the Grand Army of the Republic. He succeeded! This letter written way back then to the county commissioners will tell to what length maneuvers went:
"As past state commander of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, I have been approached by several of it's members, as well as other members of local organizations, protesting its removal at this time.
So long as there is such an abundance of scrap available, as is definitely shown when an organized drive has been made, we feel as if this cannon should not be scrapped, but should the time come when it is necessary that this take place, our organization will not only accede to the request, but will sponsor the drive.
This cannon is the only memento of the Civil War days now on display here, and there is that deep sentiment of reverence for those who, when our nation was assailed, stood as a living sacrificial wall between its perpetuity and it's dissolution, that prompts us to make this plea.
We believe that our organization is well enough known that its loyalty can in no way be questioned, and pledge our whole-hearted support in the prosecution of this war until right and justice prevail."
LOUIS KING, Secretary-Treasurer Old 44.
(This article appeared in the Sept. 10, 1953 Randolph County Enterprise)
Scrap It.
To the Editor From An Oldtimer:
On account of the desperate condition of the country for want of scrap metal, would it not be the patriotic thing to offer the brass cannon on the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn to our government to help alleviate the unprecedented shortage in copper and brass and thus put the old gun to use?
Here's a little history of the old gun as I remember it.
Early in 1880 Garfield had been nominated for president on the Republican ticket. Joseph Kemp, who was in the dry goods business on the west side of the square where the Hardman laundry is now, and Ace Kelly, a rare character about town, went to Chicago and bought this cannon from a junk dealer. This cannon was not used in the Civil War, it's baptisim with fire was in the old flax mill yard in the west part of Winchester.
They raised the money to pay for it among the Republicans of Winchester. It was splendidly equipped with a gun carrier and with a cassion with four high wheels under the equipment. A gun crew was organized and drilled for a few years in the basement of the courthouse, in summer, around town. Billie Reinheimer was captain of the squad of nine members as I remember, and George Ennis was drill master of the squad.
So far as I can remember the first squad was made up as follows: William E. Reinheimer, George Ennis, Shell Bark, Charley Kizer,---- Chills, James E. Watson, Jim Elie, Elmer Way, ---- Puckie, John R. Commons, ----Granger, James P. Goodrich, ---- Seth, James A. Lesley, ---- Artemus, P.E. Goodrich, Elmer Thomas, Jonnie Gugler, Grant Ennis was powder monkey, George Hiatt.
There were a number of other school boys and young men that trained with the above named. The regular squad was uniformed in blue trousers with red stripes down the legs and blue woolen shirts trimmed in red. What the caps were I don't recall.
Beginning with the 1880 campaign the gun squad was as much in demand as was the Winchester Cornet Band and their gaudy band wagon drawn by four of the towns finest horses. The only teamsters I can remember were Eb Hall and the colorful Dan Rock. The gun squad with their cannon went to large rallies for many campaigns to Portland, Richmond, Muncie, Greenville, Ohio, and other nearby towns.
In 1888 they went to a Benjamin Harrison rally in Indianapolis. They traveled to this big rally on a railroad flat car and loudly saluted the towns and countryside along the way with the roaring cannon and much gusto.
I would like to suggest that this old cannon with this history be sacrificed to help whip Hitler and the Japs. After this cruel, uncalled for war is ended and despotism and ruthlessness is banished from this good earth, we hope for all time, we can replace the old brass cannon with one used in this war, one baptized by the blood shed by our heroes from old Randolph County."
Respectfully submitted, An Old Timer.
(This article appeared in The Winchester Journal Herald, October, 1942.)
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