Id’d Virginia Style CS Tongue and Wreath Belt Plate – Capt. Lewis J. DuPree 45th Ga. Infantry and Post Surgeon at Griffin, Ga. – Plate is Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity Handwritten by Steve Mullinax

Id’d Virginia Style CS Tongue and Wreath Belt Plate – Capt. Lewis J. DuPree 45^th Ga. Infantry and Post Surgeon at Griffin, Ga. – Plate is Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity Handwritten by Steve Mullinax – This is a superior example of a “Virginia Style” CS tongue and wreath belt plate that was examined, in 1994, by renown, Confederate plate expert and author, Steve Mullinax; this style of plate appears on pgs. 11- 12, Plates 003, 004 and 005, in “Confederate Belt Buckles & Plates (Expanded Edition)” by Steve Mullinax.  Attached to Mullinax’s COA are two photographs taken by him, of the plate, while in his possession; the photos are affixed to the second page of his COA letter, which was handwritten and signed, on his stationery and embossed with his name, comparable to a Notary’s embossed or impressed designation. In his letter of authenticity, Mullinax explains that the plate had been in the possession of the descendants of Captain Lewis J. Dupree, who served as a surgeon with the 45^th Georgia Infantry. In his letter, dated Sept. 4, 1994 (which will accompany the belt plate), Mullinax states that he has examined the plate and he surmises that it is “…. an authentic American Civil War Confederate piece” and that “The CS spoon portion is Confederate manufactured….The wreath portion is a Confederate manufactured copy of an early Militia Wreath or it is the actual early Militia Wreath matched to the tongue either by the supplier or the soldier. Without question the two pieces have been together since the Civil War because of the origin and the known provenance. The buckle was worn by Lt. Lewis J.  Dupree of Butts County, Ga. and came from his descendants.”  “Steve E. Mullinax” (signature).

The plate is constructed of sand cast brass; there is a reddish hue to the interior side of the tongue / spoon, belying some distinct copper content. The spoon has a somewhat convex curve to the letter side of the tongue; the plate does show distinct file marks on the belt bar of the wreath’s exterior side; the entire plate retains a “grainy” sand cast look. The belt bars for the tongue and wreath appear to be very slightly different in thickness, with the wreath’s being very slightly thicker. Both tongue and wreath exhibit period casting flaws; it is conceivable that this plate, amongst the many thousands contracted for by the Confederate government, was constructed in Richmond.

Measurements: Tongue – from interior of belt bar to outer rim of spoon = 47.09 mm;    Wreath Ht. – 48.06 mm

Lewis J. DuPree

Residence Butts County, GA.
Enlisted on 5/27/1861 as a 1st Lieut.

On 5/27/1861, he mustered into “D” Co. Georgia 6th Infantry.
He resigned on 11/8/1861

On 3/4/1862, he was commissioned into “I” Co. Georgia 45th Infantry.
He resigned on 12/5/1862
(Appointed Post surgeon at Griffin, GA and served in that capacity to close of war)

Promotions:

• Capt 5/27/1861

45th Georgia Infantry Regiment

Lewis L Dupree

• ANDERSONVILLE GUARD
• Lewis L Dupree was born in Georgia about 1816. In 1860 he is farming in Berrien County with his wife, Rachel Ross, and six children.
• Dupree enlisted “for the war” as a Private in Co A, 2nd Regiment Georgia Reserves on April 26, 1864 in Andersonville. Most of the troops serving in the Ga Reserve regiments were young boys and old men between ages of 17-18 and 45-50 who were conscripted into service after the implementation of the February 1864 Confederate Conscription Act. The troops of the 2nd Ga Reserves served as guards for the federal prisoners held at Camp Sumter Military Prison in Andersonville, Ga. The stockade style prison was designed to hold 10,000 prisoners but over 45,000 were held there before its closure in 1865. Due to the overcrowding, exposure, poor rations and rampant disease nearly 13,000 federal prisoners died while confined at Andersonville Prison. The Confederate guards serving at Andersonville did not fare much better. They were issued the same poor rations, and were particularly vulnerable to the same diseases that caused the death of the Union prisoners. The ultimate fate of this Pvt Dupree reveals the deadly conditions that existed at Andersonville. The Company Muster Roll dated April 25 to Aug 31, 1864 shows him present “sick in tent”; the following muster roll dated Aug 31 to Dec 31, shows that he “Died on Oct 29, 1864”. Pvt Dupree likely succumbed to one of the deadly diseases which claimed so many lives at Andersonville. Unfortunately no known final resting place has been located for this soldier. Pvt. Dupree was likely initially buried in the guard cemetery at Andersonville. In 1880 all the guards remains were reinterred to Americus in Oakgrove Cemetery by the Ladies Memorial Association. It is possible that Pvt Dupree’s remains rest in one of the graves marked Unknown Confederate Soldier at Oakgrove Cemetery Confederate Plot in Americus, Ga. Rachel lived until 1881 and is buried at Sutton Family Cemetery in Tift County, Ga.

MUSTER ROLL OF COMPANY I, 45th REGIMENT

GEORGIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

1. S. A.

BUTTS COUNTY, GEORGIA

BYARS VOLUNTEERS

OFFICERS:

DuPree, Lewis J.- Elected 1st Lieutenant of Co.  6th

Regiment Ga.  Inf.  May 27, 1861; Captain May 27, 1861

Resigned November 8, 1861. Elected Captain of Co. I,

45th Regiment  Ga. Inf. March  4, 1862. Resigned

December 5, 1862. Appointed Post Surgeon at Griffin,

Ga. and served in that capacity through the war.

Lewis J. Dupree

Father: Charles L. Deupree (1808-1891)
Mother: Sarah Sophia Goss (1811-1867)
08/28/1850 – Lived with parents and sibs, District No. 68, Pike Co., GA (indexed in the 1850 U.S. Census as Lewis P. Dupree)
1857 – M.D. degree, Atlanta Medical College, Atlanta, GA
05/12/1861 – Married, Savannah Elizabeth Head (1845-1920), Butts Co., GA
05/27/1861 – Appointed Capt., Butts Volunteers, Georgia State Militia, by Governor Joseph E. Brown
05/27/1861 – Enlisted, 6th GA Infantry, Atlanta, GA
06/30/1861 – Capt., Co. D, 6th GA Infantry
10/31/1861 – Capt., Co. D, 6th GA Infantry
11/08/1861 – Resigned as 1st Lt., Co. D, 6th GA Infantry
02/15/1862 – In a letter written by L. J. Dupree, Indian Springs, Butts Co., GA, to Joseph E. Brown, Governor of Georgia, “His Ex”cy” Joseph E. Brown, Sir, I am making a great effort to raise a Volunteer Company. And in the event should I succeed, will it relieve the county from a Draft under the present Proclamation. An early response is solicited. Your obt. Servant, L. J. Dupree”
03/04/1862 – Elected Capt., Co. I, 45th GA Infantry
07/12/1862 – Capt., Co. I, 45th GA Infantry
10/00/1862 – Capt., Co. I, 45th GA Infantry
11/29/1862 – “I hereby certify that I have carefully examined Capt. L. J. Dupree of 45th Reg’t. Ga & find that he is incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of chronic diarrhea from which he has suffered severely for the last six months. I therefore recommend that his resignation be accepted. Asst. Surg. Jas. J. Winn in charge of Regt.
11/29/1862 – “To the Hon. Sect War, Sir, Owing to ‘Physical disability’ I hereby tender my resignation as Capt. of Co ‘I’ 45th Regt. Ga. Vols. to take effect immediately. Lewis J. Dupree”
12/05/1862 – Resigned as Capt., Co. I, 45th GA Infantry
11/14/1863 – Surgeon & Member Confederate Army Examining Board, Macon, GA
07/23/1864 – Surgeon, 6th GA Militia Infantry, Atlanta, GA
00/00/1865 – “Post Surgeon”, Griffin, GA
02/14/1867 – Mother, Sarah, died in Georgia
07/18/1870 – Farmer, Henry Co., GA (lived with wife, Mrs. Dupree, and three children – indexed in the 1870 U.S. Census as Lewis Dupree)
07/21/1871 – Died, Hampton, Henry Co., GA (buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Griffin, Spalding Co., GA)
00/00/1891 – Father, Charles, died
10/15/1919 – Widow, Mrs. S. E. Dupree, filed an application for a Confederate Army widow’s pension in Pike Co., GA, claiming that Dr. Dupree served in Co. B, 6th Georgia Infantry
02/22/1920 – Widow, Sarah, died of organic heart disease, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA (buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Griffin, Spalding Co., GA)

Camp Milner in Griffin, Ga. – Capt. Lewis J. Dupree Post Surgeon:  Most Georgia troops for the Confederate Army were mobilized in Griffin. Camp Milner, the Cavalry Camp, was named for Ben Milner, prominent Spalding County man who gave financial aid in equipping companies from his county. Camp Stephens, the Infantry Camp, was north of Griffin on McIntosh Road. Griffin and Spalding County furnished 9 companies to the Army and several to the Georgia Militia for local service. Camp Milner became Camp Northen, named for Gov. W. J. Northen, in 1898. During the Spanish-American War it was a training camp and mobilization center for National Guard. Later a fairgrounds, its is now the Municipal Park.

Confederate Camp in Griffin, Ga. – Capt. Lewis J. Dupree Post Surgeon:

State Historical Marker Text on the Site at Camp Stephens:  Confederate Infantry Camp Stephens, named for Alexander H. Stephens, vice-president of Confederacy, was about ½ mile from here on McIntosh Road. Nearly all troops in the Confederate Army from Georgia were mobilized here and at the Cavalry Camp Milner, located at the present Griffin Municipal Park. The site of Camp Stephens is marked by a boulder erected by the UDC. Spalding County provided nine companies, Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery, to the Confederate Army and a number of militia companies which served locally. The Spalding Grays, Co. D, 2nd Batt. of Inf., was the first to join the Southern forces.