Upcoming Alabama Statewide Events of Interest for Confederate Heritage for January 2013

A perusal of the Alabama Tourism Department Sweet Home Alabama statewide Calendar of Events for January include some events of interest for Confederate heritage supporters.  

·  Lee-Jackson Dinner

Montgomery |January 18, 2013

Jan 18, Dalraida Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Montgomery.  Sponsored by Henry C. Semple Camp SCV Camp 2002. Bob Bradley of the State Archives will be the speaker and rib-eye steak will be the entree. Any questions contact Semple Camp Communications Officer Alan Parker at alantparker@gmail.com

·  Robert E.Lee and Stonewall Jackson Birthday Celebration

Montgomery |January 19, 2013

Jan 19, 10am The Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans will celebrate Robert E. Lee’s and Stonewall Jackson’s birthdays at the capitol building in downtown Montgomery.  A program will be held at the Confederate Monument on the north side of the capitol building.  Check www.aladivscv.com website for further information and up to the minute news concerning this event. 

• Robert E. Lee Birthday Celebration with Guest Speaker & Birthday Cake

Montgomery | Jan 21, 2013

Jan 21, Montgomery Robert E. Lee Birthday Celebration 334-215-0078 or 334-315-7266. Free. First White House of the Confederacy—Guest speaker and birthday cake. 11 a.m.

• A Day In the Life of a Civil War Soldier

Dauphin Island | Jan 26, 2013

Jan 26, Dauphin Island A Day in the Life of a Civil War Soldier 251-861-6992. www.dauphinisland.org. Admission charged. Historic Fort Gaines--A Civil War Living History Program provided by the Independent Rifles. They will fire the cannon, camp life, Soldiers drilling and Blacksmithing. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Christmas in the Confederate White House - Part 6

Merry Christmas from the Prattville Dragoons, Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524. FROM: The New York WORLD, Sunday, December 13, 1896: Written especially for the Sunday World Magazine by Mrs. Jefferson Davis. PART 6 "When the lights were fled, the garlands dead, and all but we departed" we also went home to find that Gen. Lee had called in our absence, and many other people. Gen. Lee had left word that he had received a barrel of sweet potatoes for us, which had been sent to him by mistake. He did not discover the mistake until he had taken his share (a dishful) and given the rest to the soldiers! We wished it had been much more for them and him. The night closed with a "starvation" party, where there were no refreshments, at a neighboring house. The rooms lighted as well as practicable, some one willing to play dance music on the piano and plenty of young men and girls comprised the entertainment. The officers, who rode into town with their long cavalry boots pulled well up over their knees, but splashed up their waists, put up their horses and rushed to the places where their dress uniform suits had been left for safekeeping. They very soon emerged, however, in full toggery and entered into the pleasures of their dance with the bright-eyed girls, who many of them were fragile as fairies, but worked like peasants for their home and country. These young people are gray-haired now, but the lessons of self-denial, industry and frugality in which they became past mistresses then, have made of them the most dignified, self-reliant and tender women I have ever known – all honor to them. So, in the interchange of the courtesies and charities of life, to which we could not add its comforts and pleasures, passed the last Christmas in the Confederate mansion. VARINA JEFFERSON DAVIS

Christmas in the Confederate White House - Part 5

FROM: The New York WORLD, Sunday, December 13, 1896: Written especially for the Sunday World Magazine by Mrs. Jefferson Davis. PART 5 After breakfast, at which all the family, great and small, were present, came the walk to St. Paul's Church. We did not use our carriage on Christmas or, if possible to avoid it, on Sunday. The saintly Dr. Minnegerode preached a sermon on Christian love, the introit was sung by a beautiful young society woman and the angels might have joyfully listened. Our chef did wonders with the turkey and roast beef, and drove the children quite out of their propriety by a spun sugar hen, life-size, on a nest full of blanc mange eggs. The mince pie and plum pudding made them feel, as one of the gentlemen laughingly remarked, "like their jackets were buttoned," a strong description of repletion which I have never forgotten. They waited with great impatience and evident dyspeptic symptoms for the crowning amusement of the day, "the children's tree." When at last we reached the basement of St. Paul's Church the tree burst upon their view like the realization of Aladdin's subterranean orchard, and they were awed by its grandeur. The orphans sat mute with astonishment until the opening hymn and prayer and the last amen had been said, and then they at a signal warily and slowly gathered around the tree to receive from a lovely young girl their allotted present. The different gradations from joy to ecstasy which illuminated their faces was "worth two years of peaceful life" to see. The President became so enthusiastic that he undertook to help in the distribution, but worked such wild confusion giving everything asked for into their outstretched hands, that we called a halt, so he contented himself with unwinding one or two tots from a network of strung popcorn in which they had become entangled and taking off all apples he could when unobserved, and presenting them to the smaller children.

Christmas in the Confederate White House - Part 4

FROM: The New York WORLD, Sunday, December 13, 1896: Written especially for the Sunday World Magazine by Mrs. Jefferson Davis. Part 4 At last quiet settled on the household and the older members of the family began to stuff stockings with molasses candy, red apples, an orange, small whips plaited by the family with high-colored crackers, worsted reins knitted at home, paper dolls, teetotums made of large horn bottoms and a match which could spin indefinitely, balls of worsted rags wound hard and covered with old kid gloves, a pair of pretty woolen gloves for each, either cut of cloth and embroidered on the back or knitted by some deft hand out of home-spun wool. For the President there were a pair of chamois-skin riding gauntlets exquisitely embroidered on the back with his monogram in red and white silk, made, as the giver wrote, under the guns of Fortress Monroe late at night for fear of discovery. There was a hemstitched linen handkerchief, with a little sketch in indelible ink in one corner; the children had written him little letters, their grandmother having held their hands, the burthen of which compositions was how they loved their dear father. On Christmas morning the children awoke early and came in to see their toys. They were followed by the negro women, who one after another "caught" us by wishing us a merry Christmas before we could say it to them, which gave them a right to a gift. Of course, there was a present for every one, small though it might be, and one who had been born and brought up at our plantation was vocal in her admiration of a gay handkerchief. As she left the room she ejaculated: "Lord knows mistress knows our insides; she jest got the very thing I wanted." For me there were six cakes of delicious soap, made from the grease of ham boiled for a family at Farmville, a skein of exquisitely fine gray linen thread spun at home, a pincushion of some plain brown cotton material made by some poor woman and stuffed with wool from her pet sheep, and a little baby hat plaited by the orphans and presented by the industrious little pain who sewed the straw together. They pushed each other silently to speak, and at last mutely offered the hat, and considered the kiss they gave the sleeping little one ample reward for the industry and far above the fruit with which they were laden. Another present was a fine, delicate little baby frock without an inch of lace or embroidery upon it, but the delicate fabric was set with fairy stitches by the dear invalid neighbor who made it, and it was very precious in my eyes. There were also a few of Swinburne's best songs bound in wall-paper and a chamois needlebook.

Christmas in the Confederate White House - Part 3

FROM: The New York WORLD, Sunday, December 13, 1896: Written especially for the Sunday World Magazine by Mrs. Jefferson Davis. PART 3 Christmas Eve a number of young people were invited to come and string apples and popcorn for the trees; a neighbor very deft in domestic arts had tiny candle moulds made and furnished all the candles for the tree. However the puzzle and triumph of all was the construction of a large number of cornucopias. At last someone suggested a conical block of wood, about which the drawing paper could be wound and pasted. About twenty young men and girls gathered around small tables in one of the drawing rooms of the mansion and the cornucopias were begun. The men wrapped the squares of candy, first reading the "sentiments" printed upon them, such as "Roses are red, violets blue, sugar's sweet and so are you," The fresh young faces, wreathed in smiles, nodded attention to the reading, while with their small deft hands they glued the cornucopias and pasted on the pictures. Trunks of old things were turned out and snippings of silk and even woolen of bright colors were found to close the tops, and some of the young people twisted sewing silk into cords with which to draw the bags up. The beauty of those home-made things astonished us all, for they looked quite "custom-made," but when the "sure enough house" was revealed to our longing gaze the young people clapped their approbation, while Robert, whose sense of dignity did not permit him to smile, stood the impersonation of successful artist and bowed his thanks for our approval. Then the coveted eggnog was passed around in tiny glass cups and pronounced good. Crisp home-made ginger snaps and snowy lady cake completed the refreshments of Christmas Eve. The children allowed to sit up and be noisy in their way as an indulgence took a sip of eggnog out of my cup, and the eldest boy confided to his father: "Now I just know this is Christmas." In most of the houses in Richmond these same scenes were enacted. A bowl of eggnog was sent to the servants, and a part of everything they coveted of the dainties.

Christmas in the Confederate White House - Part 2

FROM: The New York WORLD, Sunday, December 13, 1896: Written especially for the Sunday World Magazine by Mrs. Jefferson Davis. PART 2 Rice, flour, molasses and tiny pieces of meat, most of them sent to the President's wife anonymously to be distributed to the poor, had all been weighed and issued, and the playtime of the family began, but like a clap of thunder out of a clear sky came the information that the orphans at the Episcopalian home had been promised a Christmas tree and the toys, candy and cakes must be provided, as well as one pretty prize for the most orderly girl among the orphans. The kind-hearted confectioner was interviewed by our committee of managers, and he promised a certain amount of his simpler kinds of candy, which he sold easily a dollar and a half a pound, but he drew the line at cornucopias to hold it, or sugared fruits to hang on the tree, and all the other vestiges of Christmas creations which had lain on his hands for years. The ladies dispersed in anxious squads of toy-hunters, and each one turned over the store of her children's treasures for a contribution to the orphans' tree, my little ones rushed over the great house looking up their treasure eyeless dolls, three-legged horses, tops with the upper peg broken off, rubber tops, monkeys with all the squeak gone silent and all the ruck of children's toys that gather in a nursery closet. Some small feathered chickens and parrots which nodded their heads in obedience to a weight beneath them were furnished with new tail feathers, lambs minus much of their wool were supplied with a cotton wool substitute, rag dolls were plumped out and recovered with clean cloth, and the young ladies painted their fat faces in bright colors and furnished them with beads for eyes. But the tug of war was how to get something with which to decorate the orphans' tree. Our man servant, Robert Brown, was much interested and offered to make the prize toy. He contemplated a "sure enough house, with four rooms." His part in the domestic service was delegated to another and he gave himself over in silence and solitude to the labors of the architect.

Christmas in the Confederate White House - Part 1

FROM: The New York WORLD, Sunday, December 13, 1896: Written especially for the Sunday World Magazine by Mrs. Jefferson Davis. PART 1 While looking over the advertisements of the toys and everything else intended to make the children joyful in the columns of the city papers, I have been impressed with the contrast between the present time and (that) of the Southern country thirty-one years ago, but not withstanding the great facilities of the present time, have been unable to decide whether for the young it was not as gay then as now. For as Christmas season was ushered in under the darkest clouds, everyone felt the cataclysm which impended but the rosy, expectant faces of our little children were a constant reminder that self-sacrifice must be the personal offering of each member of the family. How to satisfy the children when nothing better could be done than the little makeshift attainable in the Confederacy was the problem of the older members of each household. There were no currants, raisins or other ingredients to fill the old Virginia recipe for mince pie, and the children considered that at least a slice of that much-coveted dainty was their right and the price of indigestion paid for it was a debt of honor. Apple trees grew and bore in spite of war's alarms, so the foundation of the mixture was assured. The many excited housekeepers in Richmond had preserved all the fruits attainable, and these were substituted for the time-honored raisins and currants. Then brandy required for seasoning at one hundred dollars a bottle was forthcoming, the cider was obtained. Suet at a dollar a pound was ordered; it seemed a blessed certainty.

Open Letter to the Hays County TX School Board

In response to the news from the Hays County TX school board banning the display of the Confederate Battle flag - http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/18/texas-school-board-bans-confederate-battle-flag-from-district-property-and/?test=latestnews .  Here is an open letter to the school board and it is encouraged to send them a letter in defense of Confederate heritage and request a response (see Contact link at the top of the district's webpage) - http://www.hayscisd.net/ .

Your website states, "A Place Where Ideas Grow" but whose idea was it to take away the rights of those who seek to honor and preserve the heritage of their Confederate ancestors by displaying the Battle flag?  Instead of ignorantly associating the Battle flag with a racist action by some students, perhaps the school board should have sought to educate the students about the real meaning behind the Battle flag and that hundreds of thousands of their ancestors fought to create the Confederate States of America to preserve those ideals upon which the founding fathers formed the U.S.A. As the Union invaded and crushed the Confederacy by superior force, so too failed the last best possibility for a true representative government focused on States rights and individual liberty. The Battle flag was a symbol of all those hundreds of thousands of Confederate soldiers who fought for their families and homeland from unconstitutional aggression and invasion from the North. My forefathers were some of these brave and noble patriots. It is twisted people who subsequently associated it with violent racist motives and ignorant PC people today who propagate that same message.  You need only look at the overreaching overburdening socialist federal government we have created and allowed to fester to see that the South was right and Lincoln was a terrorist. Stop silencing those who would honor and remember their proud Confederate ancestors.  , Stuart Waldo, Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524

Vida Christmas Parade

Members of the Prattville Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524 participated in the Vida community's Christmas parade on Saturday, December 15th.  The annual event is held down a stretch of AL County Road 19 and doubles back so that spectators can enjoy the parade coming and going.  Former Commander Wyatt Willis coordinated the Dragoons participation in the parade and brought his large Battle flag, recruiting a young man to shoulder that down the parade route.  Dragoons Commander Chris Booth and 2nd Lt. Stuart Waldo carried the Dragoons camp banner leading Don Drasheff driving his convertible adorned with Battle flags and accompanied by Larry Miller.  Loads of candy including 10 pounds of chocolate candy bars and over 500 candy canes were tossed to children and the young at heart lining the parade route road.  A number of SCV coins were also given to spectators including a couple of individuals who specifically requested them.   The Dragoons and the Battle flags were warmly greeted all the way along with the couple of Santa Claus riding in their floats, dozens of classic cars and tractors, horses, and a number of fire trucks sounding their sirens and horns.  After the parade, a delicious lunch is provided in the Vida community center including chopped pork, camp stew, chili, potato salad, burgers and hot dogs along with homemade desserts and sweet tea.  Judge Joy Booth and State Senator Bryan Taylor were in attendance at this wonderful community holiday event. 

Santa Claus waiting in queue before the start of the Vida Christmas parade.

Participants gathers awaiting the start of the Vida Christmas parade with the Battle flag raised above them all.

Some of the lead vehicles lined up at the Vida community center before the parade.

The parade makes its way down AL CR 19 in Vida with children and spectators lining the street.

Prattville Dragoons Christmas Social at Buena Vista Part 2

The annual Dragoons Christmas Social was very enjoyable with a program full of Southern, Confederate and holiday cheer.  A social hour began the festivities where everyone could greet one another and enjoy some home made General Lee's eggnog.  Mrs. Ruth Graham played the grand piano including Christmas and old time Southern classics.  Nearing 7pm she played the Prattville Light Dragoons March to commence the order of events as Santa Claus watched from atop the piano. 

Commander Chris Booth then welcomed everyone and introduced all the officers of the Prattville Dragoons who were in attendance including (shown below Commander Booth) 1st Lt Harold Grooms, Treasurer Billy Leverette, Brigade Commander Bill Myrick, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, former Commander and acting-Color Sgt Larry Spears, 2nd Lt Stuart Waldo, and Chaplain Snowden (not shown).

Gen. Stephen Dill Lee's Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans was then read by 2nd Lt Waldo.  The SCV Closing was also presented towards the end of the program, both a reminder of why we were joined together at this holiday season to celebrate and remember our forefathers.  1st Lt Grooms then provided a hilarious rendition of a Cajun Night Before Christmas complete with an authentic Louisiana accent.

After Chaplain Snowden blessed the food, everyone filed thru the buffet line filling their plates with the delicious Christmas meal prepared by Red's Little School House including ham, sweet potato casserole, green beans, squash casserole, desserts including pecan pie, and their famous fried cornbread.  During dinner, Charlie Graham, Ruth's husband, entertained everyone playing his guitar and singing songs - certainly a talented musical couple.

After dinner the special guests in attendance were recognized including members of the Montgomery Semple and Tallassee Armory Guards SCV camps, the Grahams, Bob Debardelaben (who served as security for the event), Butch and Pat Godwin of the Friends of Forrest from Selma and, Mrs. Beverly Byard who is acting as the Buena Vista Coordinator for the Autauga County Heritage Association.  Beverly provided a history of the Buena Vista mansion including the connections to its Confederate past and conducted a contest quizzing everyone on their historical knowledge of the old home with red pointsettias awarded for correct answers.  Mrs. Kerri Waldo then presented a reading of "Christmas in the Confederate White House" originally penned by Mrs. Jefferson Davis.

                                Commander Booth and Mrs. Beverly Byard.

Chaplain Snowden sang a number of Christmas carols and everyone joined in on Silent Night.  Door prizes were then drawn from a hat by 2nd Lt and Mrs. Waldo.  Prizes included a Battle Flag lapel pin, CDs, a Confederate calendar, a commemorative plate from the Sesquicentennial Inauguration of Jefferson Davis event in Montgomery, a shadow box of a photo and wood from the Nathan Bedford Forrest boyhood home in Chapel Hill TN, Aflac ducks from 1st Lt Grooms, and the Christmas centerpieces from each table which were provided by Commander Myrick.  After the benediction by Chaplain Snowden, Tom and Ruth with piano accompaniment led everyone in a jubilant rendition of Dixie to conclude the 2012 Dragoons Christmas Social.



Prattville Dragoons Christmas Social at Buena Vista Part 1

The annual Christmas Social on Friday evening December 14th was a wonderful event to share the holiday season with fellow compatriots.  The Buena Vista antebellum mansion was adorned with a large Confederate Battle flag hung from the front porch balcony.  The colors complimented those of the Christmas season.  The white columned facade was illuminated by floodlights under the large magnolia trees and made the approach to the mansion a beautiful display.  The camp flags including the Dragoons and Stainless Banner were also displayed on the front porch near the entry door. 

The interior of the mansion was also decked for the holiday season with garland down the entry grand staircase and wreaths on the windows as well as centerpieces on the period tables and fireplace mantles.  A Christmas tree was beautifully decorated with red bows, lights and ornaments in the parlor where the dinner was enjoyed and the program was held. 

A number of those in attendance were dressed in period uniforms and attire which added to the ambience of the event and harkened to the bygone era of the Confederacy and romance of the Victorian period.  Members of the Prattville Dragoons, the Montgomery Semple and the Tallassee Armory Guards SCV camps wore reenactment and 1860s period civilian clothes.  The women with their hoop skirt gowns were the breathtaking bow atop the gift of a wonderful Christmas holiday season evening.

A Confederate Christmas Social at Buena Vista in Prattville

Looking forward with great anticipation to the Prattville Dragoons Christmas Social tnight starting at 6pm.  A great program has been laid out and surely the fellowship with compatriots with holiday festivities will be memorable once again.  The decorations adorning the grand old antebellum mansion make it picture perfect.  Garland is strewn on the handrails of the porch and the grand staircase which accents the decorations for our party.  The brilliant red of the Battle flag hung from the front porch railing lends itself to the holiday colors and is a most impressive welcome to all those attending the Social.  Here is a link to the website for Buena Vista - http://www.autaugaheritage.org/buena-vista/index.html .  The mansion is maintained and preserved by the Autauga County Heritage Association and is available for weddings and other special occassions.  It harkens visitors back to the romantic antebellum old-South. 

Dragoons in the 2012 Prattville Christmas Parade - Video

The link below provides video of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Prattville Dragoons Camp 1524 entry in the Prattville AL Christmas parade on Dec 1, 2012. The camp's entry included the camp banner, a float decorated with a Christmas tree and garland with riders and marchers, many in period and reenactment dress, all proudly displaying the Confederate National and Battle flags to honor those brave Confederate veterans and ancestors. A wonderful time to enjoy fellowship with the Prattville community during the Christmas holiday season.

Click here to watch.

Vida Christmas Parade

The Prattville Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524 will again participate in the Vida community Christmas parade. The parade, held in the Vida Community, on Co Rd 19 about 15 miles north of Prattville off Highway 82, will take place Sat 15 Dec at 2 p.m. It's a great small-town parade with good food afterward at their Community Center. The Dragoons will walk in this parade and carry our Camp banner. A couple Dragoons will also drive vehicles in the procession. If you'd like to participate, please contact 2nd Lt Cmdr Stuart Waldo. Battle Flags are welcome; bring your own or we can furnish one for you. Details provided by past Commander Wyatt Willis include: The Vida Christmas Parade is on December 15 starting at 2:00 pm. Need to line up from 12 till 1 ish. They ask everyone to please be there. Food will be served afterwards in the community center. We will meet at the Courthouse near the Monument downtown Prattville at 12:30 to travel up to Vida. Everyone bring candy if you can to throw to the children.

Prattville Dragoons EC Plans for Christmas Social

The Dragoons Executive Committee met on Monday the 10th to make final plans for the annual Christmas Social rapidly approaching. This years event will again take place at the beautiful antebellum Buena Vista mansion in Prattville starting at 6pm lasting til 9pm on Friday December 14th. It was reported that sixty one people had registered, actually one over our self-imposed limit and unfortunately, many had to be refused who contacted us inquiring after the list was filled. This crowd still necessitates standing room only accomodations for the officers as the seating only provides for 56 people in the main parlor. Reds Little School House will again cater the meal which will consist of holiday baked ham and the fixin's including desserts and their delicious fried cornbread. Programs will be provided this year as a first, created and edited by 2nd Lt Waldo and Comms Officer Crowley. The program provides the agenda which includes the arrival with piano music on the grand piano played by Mrs. Ruth Graham culminating in a rendition of the Dragoons Light March. The gathered crowd will be welcomed by Commander Booth. The SCV Charge will be given followed by instructions for a hopefully orderly procession thru the banquet line. Then a recital of a Cajun Christmas will be provided by 1st Lt Grooms. Charlie Graham will then entertain with his guitar playing during dinner. Members of the Semple and Tallassee camps will be in attendance and will be recognized for their patronage of Camp 1524's holiday event. The program after dinner includes a history of Buena Vista, a Conederate White House Christmas reading, a drawing for door prizes, the singing of some Christmas Carols and of course a rousing conclusion with the singing of Dixie. This Christmas Social is a high point for the camp's calendar and always a wonderful time of fellowship. Buena Vista is beautiful decorated in Christmas holday greenery with the large Confederate Battle flag draped from the front balcony.

Socialism Spurring Secession Discussion

The following letter to the editor for the Montgomery Advertiser was submitted by Steven Fitts of the Selma SCV Pegues Camp #62: Socialism taking over in the U.S. It's time we faced reality. The ideological differences between the so called “red states” and “blue states” are irreconcilable. The blue states have led us into a European-style socialism. The Constitution is ignored. True liberty and traditional values are under attack. It is doubtful that a constitutional conservative will ever again be president since the “takers” will soon outnumber the “makers” nationwide. Elections will continue to be bought with the promise of more government programs and the redistribution of wealth. Many have scoffed at the idea of secession as a possible solution to this division, including Gov. (Robert) Bentley, but I have yet to hear anybody rejecting the idea come up with a suitable alternative. I understand that the governor still wants to believe in America and would like to work within the existing system, but surely he sees that the America he wants to believe in no longer exists. But he also knows that Alabama is a welfare state. It receives more from the federal government than it pays in federal taxes. That leads me to suspect that the governor’s wish to remain with the blue states is more pragmatic than principled. As long as we are paid so well for our subservience, why rock the boat? Our politicians might posture and complain, and threaten benign lawsuits against the federal government for its countless unconstitutional acts, but they won‘t dare consider walking away from the trough. See how well socialism works?

Anniversary of President Jefferson Davis' Death December 6

Thursday December 6th marks the 123rd anniversary of the death of the only President of the Confederate States of America. Flags should be posted at half-mast in memory of this great statesman. The following is an accounting of his death and funeral in the Confederate Military History, Volume 1, Officers of Civil and Military Organizations: The death of the President occurred at New Orleans about one o'clock a.m., December 5, 1889, and the event was announced throughout the Union. The funeral ceremonies in New Orleans were such as comported with the illustrious character of the deceased chieftain, while public meetings in other cities and towns of the South were held to express the common sorrow, and the flags of State capitols were dropped to half-mast. Distinguished men pronounced eulogies on his character, and the press universally at the South and generally at the North contained extended and laudatory articles on his character. The burial place in New Orleans was selected only as a temporary receptacle, while a general movement was inaugurated for a tomb and monument which resulted in the removal of the body to Richmond, the capitol of the Confederacy. The removal took place by means of a special funeral train from New Orleans to Richmond, passing through several States and stopping at many places to receive the respectful and affectionate tributes bestowed by the people. The scene from the time of the departure from New Orleans to the last rites at Richmond was singular in its nature and sublime in its significance of popular esteem for the memory of the Confederate President. The funeral train moved day and night almost literally in review before the line of people assembled to see it pass. Finally in the presence of many thousands the casket was deposited in the last resting place in the keeping of the city which had so long withstood the rude alarms of war under his presidency.

Dragoons Defend the Concept of Secession

A letter to the editor of the Prattville Progress by the Dragoons own Charlie Graham regarding the concept of and justification for secession historically and in today's political climate:

Secessionists want out of despotic federal government

The secession petitions are the result of concerned citizens realizing what this socialist nation has become and where it is going and don’t like it. We are not far away from emulating Greece in political fiscal irresponsibility. We are bigger and it takes more time for the failure mode to surface. It is just a matter of time until the Bernanke/Obama $40 billion per month printing press tips the scales. In our case the difference will be in lieu of the Eurozone invoking mandatory austerity upon us it will be China. You think China is your enemy now, just wait.

It is an interesting read to go to Wikipedia and read the differences between the Constitutions of the Confederacy and the US. After dealing with the US Constitution for nearly 70 years, Confederates decided more specific limitations on the power of central government were compulsory. What if the fed couldn’t print money, or congress couldn’t install tariffs to protect certain industries over others, or presidents couldn’t grant impunity to illegal aliens or grant our tax dollars to unions and select industries in return for votes?

It is not surprising that we actually have citizens that do not wish to be a part of this policy or debt load. There are those that simply don’t like despotic federal government.

Upcoming Alabama Statewide Events of Interest for Confederate Heritage for December 2012

A perusal of the Alabama Tourism Department Sweet Home Alabama statewide Calendar of Events for December include some events of interest for Confederate heritage supporters.  

·  Plantation Christmas

Tuscumbia | Dec 2, 2012

Dec 2, Tuscumbia Plantation Christmas 256-383-0783. www.VisitTuscumbiaAL.com. Admission charged. Belle Mont Mansion, 1569 Cook Lane--Holiday event reminiscent of the "Old South" with traditional live decorations, period Christmas music, vintage ballroom dancing, and refreshments. 1-5 pm

·  Christmas at Oakleigh

Mobile | Dec 1-2, 2012

Dec 1-2, Mobile Christmas at Oakleigh 251-432-6161. www.historicmobile.org. Admission charged. Oakleigh Historic Complex--Oakleigh opens its doors for the holiday season dressed in traditional holiday decor of the 1850s. Enjoy guided tours, holiday refreshments and special entertainment. 1859 Cox Deasy Cottage will also be open. Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., 1-4 p.m.

·  Festival of Trees / "Civil War Christmas"

Athens | Nov 15-Dec 2, 2012

Preview party on Thursday, November 15, 2012 Tours will be November 16, 17, and 18 and November 29, 30, December 1 and 2, 2012. The Donnell House is an antebellum house built approximately 1845 by the Rev. Robert Donnell in Athens, Alabama. The Board of Directors of this wonderful old house has had the responsibility of the upkeep for many, many years. One of the fundraisers, held annually to help with maintenance and repairs, is a Festival of Trees. This year’s theme is A Civil War Christmas; memorabilia from the Civil War era will be on display and many of the trees will be decorated in Civil War themes. There will be a preview party held on Thursday, November 15, admission, $20.00 (heavy hors’ douvres will be served); tours will be November 16, 17, and 18 and November 29, 30, December 1 and 2, admission $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for children under 12. Groups of 10 or more may schedule a tour by calling 256-232-3796.

·  Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour

Opelika | Dec 5, 2012

Dec 5-9, Opelika Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour 334 745-4861. www.opelika.org. Free. North Opelika Historic Neighborhood District--Event will feature Opelika’s extremely popular tour through the North Opelika Historic Neighborhood District, where families lavishly transform the front porches of their elegant Victorian homes into a magical Christmas wonderland of Victorian Christmas scenes that include life-sized Santas, carousel horses and other figures. Area churches and businesses offer visitors hot chocolate and light refreshments on this night.

·  Civil War Christmas at Fort Morgan

Gulf Shores | Dec 8, 2012

Dec 8, Gulf Shores Civil War Christmas at Fort Morgan 251-540-7127. Admission charged. Fort Morgan State Historic Site--Experience a Civil War Christmas at the fort as interpreters portray the life of the men and women of the Confederate garrison during a special candlelight tour. 4-7 p.m.

·  Victorian Christmas

Dothan | Dec 9, 2012

Dec 9, Dothan Victorian Christmas 334-794-3452. www.landmarkpark.com. Free. Landmark Park--Sample turn-of-the-century desserts, sip hot chocolate or mulled cider and try your hand at making traditional Christmas decorations during this holiday open house. A circuit-riding preacher will deliver a Christmas message at the church. 1-4 p.m.

·  Vida Christmas Parade

Vida | Dec 15, 2012

Dec 15, Vida Christmas Parade starting at 2pm - line up starting at noon.  Food will be served in the community center following the parade.  The Prattville Dragoons will be participating with marchers tossing candy and carrying the Camp 1524 banner.

·  ArchiTreats: Food For Thought: Portraits of Conflict: A Photographic History of Alabama in the Civil WarMontgomery | Dec 20, 2012

·  Dec 20, Montgomery ArchiTreats: Food For Thought: Portraits of Conflict: A Photographic History of Alabama in the Civil War 334-353-4726. www.archives.alabama.gov. Free. Alabama Department of Archives and History--Program presented by Ben H. Severance as part of the ArchiTreats Third-Thursday Lecture Series. Noon-1 p.m.

·  Old Alabama Town Holiday Celebration

·  Montgomery | Dec 1-31, 2012

Dec 1-31, Montgomery Old Alabama Town Holiday Celebration 334-240-4500. www.oldalabamatown.com. Fee for attractions only. Old Alabama Town--Join Old Alabama Town in December to celebrate the holiday season. Our house museums will be authenically decorated for the holidays. Enjoy a special exhibit in the Reception Center. Individual self-guided tours offered Monday - Saturday from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Guided tours available by reservation only, and for groups of 10 or more.

Dragoons at the Prattville Christmas Parade

The Prattville Dragoons enjoyed a wonderful Christmas parade thru downtown Prattville on Saturday night.  While radios were tuned to the Alabama-Georgia SEC Championship football game, hundreds participated on floats or marched down the parade route to the thrill of the thousands lining the streets.  The parade started right at halftime so timing was excellent to minimize the conflicting priorities.  The weather was beautiful with clear skies and temperatures hovering around 70 degrees which, despite the unseasonable warmth, didn't thwart everyone's Christmas spirit and the festivities.  The Dragoons had over a dozen participants including camp officers, members, wives and children as well as a large contingent of reenactors from Wetumpka.  Confederate flags were everywhere.  As usual, the Dragoons entry was warmly received throughout the evening including a number of people who inquired as to how to join the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  To those and to the children lining the street, the treasured SCV coins were tossed to their delight.  Most of the Dragoons marching with the float had bags of candy from which treats were tossed to the children clamoring along the curbs and sidewalks.  A large box of candy, 30 pounds of candy canes and tootsie rolls and other confections were also used by the float riders and to resupply the marchers. The children on the float seemed to take particular joy in sharing the candy with all the children spectating.  As is usual, all the candy disappeared by the end of the parade and the last stretch down Main Street required diligent restraint to throw a single piece here and there to avoid coming to these last revelers without a thing.  Following the parade the Dragoons shared some beverages and fellowship while disassembling the float to stow the decorations for next year's event.  A wonderful kickoff to the Christmas season for the Dragoons and the Prattville community. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Christmas Parade Entry

Saturday morning officers of the Dragoons gathered to assemble the float for our camp's entry for the Prattville Christmas parade.  In attendance were Commander Chris Booth, Brigade Commander Bill Myrick, Color Sgt Larry Spears, 2nd Lt Stuart Waldo, Treasurer Billy Leverette, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland and Comm Ofc Tyrone Crowley.  Commander Myrick brought his trailer with bales of hay for seating and a nice new Honda generator for powering the strings of Christmas lights.  The float included a Christmas tree with garland with a Battle flag atop in lieu of a star or angel.  The front of the float had five Confederate flags including the Battle flag and the Alabama state secession flag.  The side frames of the trailer were adorned with tinsel and lighted strings of garland.  The trailer was finished and flags were stowed until later when the float would be moved to the starting queue prior to the parade.  An enjoyable time of fellowship in preparation for the parade festivities to follow later in the evening. 

Prattville Christmas Parade

The Dragoons will be participating in the 39th annual Prattville Christmas parade tomorrow, Saturday evening, December 1st.  The parade starts lining up around 2:30pm and commences at 4:30pm.  The parade route will start in front of the Autauga County courthouse in downtown Prattville, turning left down 4th St, left on Washington St, right on Wetumpka St, right on Northington St, then right on Main St where it will finish again in front of the courthouse at the corner of 4th St and Lower Kingston.  The Dragoons will have their SCV banner and be pulling a decorated float complete with a Christmas tree, lights and garland.  There will be a number of folks walking with the float including a number of reenactors and folks in period clothes.  Candy and the treasured SCV coins will be tossed to the parade spectators along the route.  It is always a grand time celebrating the Christmas season and highlighting the Dragoons and the Sons of Confederate Veterans to the Prattville community.  Hope everyone can join the festivities and participate with the Dragoons or as a spectator and greet us wholeheartedly as we make our way along the parade route.  Check back for photos from this year's Christmas parade event.

Confederate Postmaster General's Office Historic Marker Setting in Montgomery

You are invited to the Unveiling Ceremony
for the Historic Marker at the
Confederate Postmaster General’s Office
(corner of Washington Avenue and Perry Street
Thursday, November 29, 2012 at Noon
Sponsored by the
Montgomery Area Stamp Club
 
Short Program 
Spread the Word!

Call Charles E. Brannon for further information:  334.239.8913
or Elizabeth A. Murray, President at 334.279.8018

Defense of Secession - Exactly Who are the Idiots?

Last week the Montgomery Advertiser published a letter-to-the-editor written by Prattville Dragoon Charlie Graham.  But, the Advertiser deleted the last paragraph in his letter.  Notice that his main point is contained in the deleted paragraph, found below.

The Montgomery Advertiser has been loaded with articles and editorials espousing every anti-secession angle that their little statist minds can conjure.  Secession has been referred to as absurd and ridiculous.  GOSH Moon says that it isn’t a sign that the president is taking the wrong direction or that the country is failing but rather a sign that idiots live amongst us.  I agree with him 100%.  But where we disagree is who fits in that category.

After all of the trillions that have been printed and infused into the economy with little positive result Obama/Bernanke continue to print $40 billion per month and invest in junk bonds. The deficit is screaming out of control.  Carl Hess labels economists that are concerned about this as spreading hate for a living, while the country is in fact failing. 

Daniel Haulman says that no states other than the original thirteen colonies have secession rights.  He contends that the federal government formed most of the other states.  The Constitution nor the written proclamations of the states reserving rights to secede as they joined the union do not support his opinion.   

The election brought the advent concluding that we are now a socialist republic.  That realization resounds in the minds of us who lived play by play through the cold war with the communists.  Socialism is devoid of freedom.  Misuse and repudiation of our Constitution from Lincoln to Obama and despotic government precipitates a dream in a responsible mind that is incomprehensible to the left.

Capt. Wirz of Andersonville Exonerated

From the Georgia Sons of Confederate Veterans, a press release:

COMMANDER OF ANDERSONVILLE EXONERATED AFTER 150 YEARS  

    

(Atlanta - November 11, 2012)   On Sunday afternoon, November 4, memorial services honoring Capt. Henry Wirz were held in Andersonville, Georgia, the site of one of the saddest stories of the American War Between the States. Hanged as a scapegoat shortly following the War, Captain Wirz has a tall obelisk monument dedicated to his memory in downtown Andersonville, and natives of the region who know well the truths behind the years of revisionist history hold services in his memory each fall.  Now, after 150 years, the true story of the Andersonville is finally being told as part of the Sesquicentennial commemoration of the War.

The story of Andersonville is well known, often having been told by Hollywood, writers, and historians. The true story of Andersonville is not as well known.

Established as the location of a prisoner of war camp by the Confederacy during the War for Southern Independence because of its remote location from the front of the War and because of the location of the rail depot for transport, Camp Sumter at Andersonville was one of the primary POW camps in the South during the War.

Of the 45,000 Union prisoners held at Andersonville during the War, more than 12,000 perished, mainly from malnutrition and dysentery. The nearly 28 percent mortality rate among the prisoners is a sad fact of the War but is also one that is often grossly over reported, particularly in light of the fact that at the same Camp, 226 of the roughly 1,000 Confederate guards also died from the same conditions. Approximately the same number of Confederate guards and Union prisoners died at Andersonville because of the blockade that the Union had enforced upon the South, along with the scorched earth policy practiced by Sherman as he marched through Georgia and the Carolinas. Food and medical supplies were simply not to be had at that late date during the War.

To his credit, Captain Wirz attempted to alleviate the suffering of the Union prisoners by paroling five Union officers and sending them to the Union lines to offer the prisoners at Andersonville as an exchange for Confederate prisoners. In spite of the fact that the Union soldiers reported the scarcity of food and medicine available to the Confederates in Andersonville, their pleas fell on deaf ears with Union leadership. Union General Ulysses S. Grant had enacted a nationwide ban on prisoner exchanges; knowing that the South did not possess the food and supplies to properly care for prisoners, Grant sealed their fate by refusing to even accept an offer by Captain Wirz to provide food and medical relief for the prisoners.

Following the War, Captain Wirz was blamed for the malnutrition and lack of medical service provided to the prisoners in Andersonville. His efforts to alleviate their suffering went unheard; and on November 10, 1865 at 10:32 a.m., Henry Wirz was hanged in Washington, D.C.  In an act of barbarity, his body was dismembered; and parts of it were placed on public display in Northern museums. 

For the last 150 years, both Captain Wirz and the South have been blamed for the death of the prisoners who fell at Andersonville; but little has been said of his efforts to save them or of the same percentages of Confederate guards who died at the Camp. Still less is reported of the atrocities which occurred against Confederate POW's in Union prison camps such as Elmyra Prison, New York where 25 percent of the prisoners died, or Camp Douglas, Illinois where more than 25 percent of the Confederate prisoners died as compared to less than five percent of the guards stationed there throughout the War. In fact, Senate Resolution 97, a joint resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in 1865, ordered that Confederate POW's should be intentionally subjected to malnutrition, lack of medical attention, and exposure to the elements. While the stated purpose of the new U.S. policy was retaliation for the poor treatment of Union POW's, it addressed neither the problem of the South having adequate food and medicine for prisoners nor the refusal of President Lincoln to provide for prisoner exchanges in order to alleviate the suffering of Union prisoners.

For interviews regarding the story of Andersonville or for more information on the Sesquicentennial commemoration of the War, please call Jack Bridwell, Division Commander for the Georgia Sons of Confederate Veterans at 1-866-SCV-in-GA or visit online at www.GeorgiaSCV.org 

Secession Movement

Texas petitioners have already garnered over 27000 signatures to petition the federal government to allow their state to secede from the United States.  Louisiana over 16000, North Carolina over 7000 with Florida and Alabama close to 8000 signatures as of this date. http://southernnationalist.com/blog/2012/11/09/secession-poll-petition/ The following is the excerpt from this website:

How much pro-independence momentum will result from the recent US presidential election and ongoing, US-promoted displacement of Southerners? We shall see.
There is a petition for Louisiana to leave the failed Union.
And there is a poll on Texas seceding as well (as of the time of this post the pro-independence voters are at 83%).
H/T Occidental Dissent
UPDATE: An SNN reader has also drawn up a petition supporting the general right of secession.
Here are more State secession petitions: Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Virginia.

Note that these states largely represent the conservative red states and largely formerly of the Confederate States of America.  Many of the same reasons for the secession movement of 1861 is apparent today with a huge cultural divide and disagreement over taxation and federal spending and infringement on individual liberties and states rights.  Each of these non-binding petititions makes the same statement and here is the one for Alabama.  To sign the petition simply requires registering a user account and receiving a password from the whitehouse.gov website. The following provides the verbiage of the petition for Alabama's secession:

We petition the obama administration to:

Peacefully grant the State of Alabama to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of Alabama to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.
As the founding fathers of the United States of America made clear in the Declaration of Independence in 1776:
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive."

Alabama Secession Flag

This past week at the Prattville Dragoons EC meeting, Brigade Commander Bill Myrick showed an Alabama Secession flag which is now available from Ruffin Flag. You can contact Adam Fuqua at Ruffin at 706-678-9090.  These flags are $12 each and include grommet hardware.  Alabama was actually briefly an independent republic following its secession from the United States before it and the other original six states formed the Confederate States of America.  The Alabama Secession flag is actually two sided, with different depictions on each side.  The following is from the Alabama State Archives website (http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/flags/105107.html ):
This flag was presented to the Alabama Secession Convention on January 11, 1861 in the House Chamber of the State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. "While the ladies of Montgomery sewed and presented the flag, much of it was painted by Francis Corra a painter of military and decorative banners in Montgomery."  On January 16, 1861 a reporter from the Montgomery Weekly Advertiser described the flag as a "unique affair. On one side is a representation of the Goddess of Liberty, holding in her right hand a sword unsheathed, and in her left, a small flag with one star. In an arch just above this figure are the words, "Alabama-Independent Now and Forever." On the reverse, the prominent figure is a cotton plant, with a rattlesnake coiled at its roots. Immediately above the snake are the words "Noli me tangere." Also on the same side, appears the Coat of Arms of Alabama."