Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Food Drive Donation to Autauga Interfaith Care Center for Thanksgiving

Members of the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 conducted their annual food drive to benefit the Autauga Interfaith Care Center, making the donation in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Members donated about 200 pounds of food and also a significant amount of cash which the camp matched to present the AICC representative, Mrs. Hicks with a check for $650.  The donation was presented the morning of Thursday November 20th.  Members present included 2nd Lt Karl Wade, Treasurer John Dennis, Color Sgt Billy Leverette, and compatriots Paul Whaley and Tyrone Crowley.  

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Meeting for November 2025 - The Raid on St. Albans VT

The Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 held their monthly meeting on Thursday evening November 13th at the Masonic Lodge in downtown Prattville.  The meeting started at 6:45 with Commander Grooms lead the pledges and salutes to the flags and reciting the SCV Charge.  Grooms then covered camp business including upcoming events.  One highlight of the meeting was the addition of a new member to the Camp 1524 ranks. Carson Abbott was officially sworn in as a Prattville Dragoon.  Dale Hamilton from Montgomery was recognized as a guest and for his recent electrical work at the I-65 Battle Flag site to illuminate the new banner billboard.  Next a few Alabama State Division awards were presented by Brigade Commander Waldo to members who have gone above and beyond in service to our great cause. Commander Harold Grooms was presented a Commendation Medal of Service. Adjutant Doug Butler was also presented a Commendation Medal for Service, and longtime compatriot Tyrone Crowley was given the Meritorious Award for Service.  Each award included a medal. 

 A very interesting presentation was made by Ret. Col. Jayson Altieri on The Raid on St. Albans, Vermont, which was the northernmost land battle that took place during the War Between the States, on October 19-20, 1864.  Col. Altieri classified it more so as a battle because militia were involved and shots fired.  By 1864, the Confederate forces and Jefferson Davis' strategy to defend the entire border were in dire straits.  The federal forces were advancing on Mobile and Sherman on Atlanta with Mead moving south toward a siege of Petersburg and Butler toward Richmond from the east. Tennesseee and the Mississippi River were largely under Union control after teh fall of Vicksburg.  Vermont contributed 34000 soldiers to the Union forces from a population of 350,000; VT actually replenished fallen soldiers with new recruits from the state.  Even today one in eight Vermont citizens has served in the military.  

Montpelier is the capital of VT and is a railroad junction/hub.  St. Albans is in the NW corner of VT near the Canadian border and the railroad runs from Montreal down thru St. Albans to Montpelier. St. Albans was something of a banking center at the time also.   As a Private in the 8th KY Cavalry, part of John Hunt Morgan's cavalry, Bennet Henderson Young was captured in 1863 but escaped and fled to Canada.  There, in Montreal he approached the office of Confederate official Jacob Thompson with his plan to raid federal banks in NY and VT. Young also hoped that these attacks would divert federal troops to a northern theatre and away from the attacks on the Southern states. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the CSA. 

On October 11th 1864, Young traveled to Philipsburg Canada, just north of the border and there over the next week twenty men met Young to form the 5th Company CSA Retributors, gathering for the raid, dressed in civilian clothes and posing as vacationers. On October 19th they advanced south across the border and into St.Albans where Young fired his gun in the town center and announced they were taking over the town.  They robbed the three banks there and made some of the tellers swear allegiance to the Confederacy.  They took over $200,000 which would be over $4M in todays dollars. There in the area was a Union offcier Capt. Conger who was on leave and he quickly rounded up a number of local men into a militia to come to defense.  Shooting ensued and one man on each side was wounded. Young and his men escaped and retreated back north to Canada destroying several covered bridges on the way.   Conger and his men surrounded the hotel in Canada where Young's raiders were staying but the Canadian and British authorities intervened.  After a hearing, the Confederates were released and $88000 from the heists was returned.  

As a direct result of this incursion, officers and cadets from Norwich University (the oldest military academy after West Point) were dispatched to Newport VT to defend the state from what they thought would be additional Confederate raids.  A book and an 1954 movie, The Raid starring Anne Bancroft were made based loosely on Young's raid on St. Albans.  As an additional educational point, we learned that Vermont in the 1980’s had a larger cow population, than citizens!

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Chaplain's Column for November 2025 - No Vision

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." 

Proverbs 29:18  

Whenever we go to see the eye doctor they have to dilate our eyes. I know it must be done this way, but I hate it because for hours we must sit with sunglasses on and not be able to see well. Our vision is blurred and we become frustrated because we cannot see our phones, a menu, or anything like that. During that time we are effectively blind. 

Our lives are much the same way without direction from the Lord. When we do not seek God's word, we lose the vision that He has for our lives. The Bible is our owner's manual, our "how-to live" our lives. We often complain that we do not hear from God, but I would contend that you do not hear or see God if your Bible remains closed.

In Proverbs 29:18, we find a powerful statement about the importance of vision and guidance in our lives. The verse speaks to the idea that without a clear understanding of God’s direction, people can easily lose their way. It suggests that vision, especially a godly one, is crucial for leading lives full of purpose and fulfillment.

The phrase “where there is no vision” can be interpreted in various ways. It might refer to a lack of understanding of God’s will, a personal ambition that has become lost, or an absence of effective leadership within a community. When people do not have insight into what God wants for them or what is right, they often flounder in confusion, making poor decisions that lead to negative consequences.

Contrasting this bleak scenario, the verse offers a hopeful note: “but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” This section emphasizes the blessings that come from adhering to God’s guidelines. Following God’s commandments provides a moral compass, helps maintain clarity in our lives, and leads to genuine happiness. Our obedience to God’s law allows us to experience joy amidst uncertainty, and it helps us remain focused on our ultimate goal: glorifying Him and serving others. 

As we reflect on this verse, we might ask ourselves what vision we are following. Are we allowing God’s revelations to guide our lives? Or are we simply trying to find our way on our own? Recognizing that we need God’s direction is the first step toward finding peace and happiness. 

Amen.

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

From the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Dispatch Newsletter

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots 

Battles for the Armory – Friday-Sunday, November 7-9th, Tallassee AL

Dragoons Camp Meeting – at Prattville Masonic Lodge on Thursday November 13th at 6:45pm

Autauga Interfaith Care Center – Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday Nov 18-20th for food donation, downtown Prattville

Prattville Christmas Parade – Friday, December 5th, 7pm, Court St and Main St, Prattville AL

Dragoons’ Christmas Social – Saturday, December 6th, 6-9pm, SCC, Wetumpka AL

CofC Christmas in the South and Santa’s Post Office – Saturday, December 13th, 10am CMP Chapel, Marbury AL

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Fall Muster

Friends and family and members of the SCV Camp 1524 Prattville Dragoons gathered on Saturday morning October 25th for their annual fall muster.  The event was held again at compatriot Philip Edward's home which he and his wife graciously opened to allow us to use.  The event includes a picnic lunch and shotgun clay target shooting.  Soon after 10am the shooting began out in back of Philip's house in his expansive property overlooking his pond.  Hand throwers and electric throwers provided a range of trajectories and speeds for the clay targets for plenty of challenge.  At 11am the food was blessed by former camp chaplain Bill Branch.  The ladies present led the charge thru the line which had smoked pork butts, Conecuh sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, beans, corn casserole, chips, and desserts including blackberry crisp, banana pudding, earthquake cake, frosted cake, brownies, key lime pie, cherry dump cake and sweet potato pie.  Too much good food.  Folks present included Commander Grooms, Brigade Commander Waldo and his children, 1st Lt Spears, 2nd Lt Wade and his friend Ed Willett along with his friend, Quartermaster Myrick and his wife Peggy who brought canopies as well as world famous baked beans and the smoked butts pulled, Treasurer Dennis and his wife who showed up first thing and helped set everything up along with Philip and his wife and their friend, compatriot Todd Rogers and his grandson Carson, Tyrone Crowley, Bill Branch and his girlfriend, compatriot Driver, and guests including the Huntzingers from the UDC, guest and prospective new member Samuel Johnson (who proved to be a very good marksman), and Alex Hollon who also brought a friend interested in forming a Clanton SCV camp in the Brigade.  It was a beautiful clear cool (at least started that way) early fall day and a very enjoyable muster.  

New Lighting Installed for Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Banner Signage at I-65 Battle Flag Site

Dale Hamilton of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Semple Camp installed new flood lighting to illuminate the Alabama Division SCV Banner Signage at the I-65 Battle Flag site near Marbury AL.  A support structure to raise and better display the banner was previously erected by members and friends of the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524. Dale's great work provides lighting so this banner can be readily seen by passers-by on Interstate 65 where the mega-Battle flag is flown.  Great work by compatriots to enhance this flag site which is much appreciated by travelers driving north and south on the freeway there. 

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 at the Autauga County Fair

The Autauga County Fair was held Tuesday October 7th thru Saturday October 11th and it was a great success. All the attendees passed by the Dragoons information/recruiting booth as they entered the fairgrounds thru the entrance building.  Dozens of mini-Battle flags and SCV coins were handed out to passers-by and a number of items were sold from the Quartermaster's store to raise money for the camp treasury.  At least two contacts were made who may result in new SCV camp members.   Camp 1524 members who helped at the booth included David Brantley, Adjutant Doug Butler, Tyrone Crowley, Comms Officer Eric Davis, Treasurer John Dennis, Jonathan Driver, CMDR Harold Grooms, Lee James, Color SGT Billy Leverette, QM Bill Myrick, Scott Roberson, Todd Rogers and Grandson Carson, 1LTCMDR Larry Spears, Mike Thomas, Louis Turner and SWCBCMDR Waldo and of course 1st Lt Karl Wade was there eac shift and helped coordinate the entire effort.  Perhaps the best worker who made the most positive impression on fair-goers was Scott's Newfoundland puppy who had everyone stopping to pet his head.  Without the hard work of all these compatriots and dedication to this project, it would not have been the successful community outreach it was.