Update on Memphis Tennessee Historical Memorial Park Naming Controversy

The TN state legislature passed legislation to ban the renaming of memorials to past wars and honored figures defeating the politically correct revisionists.  Tennessee public radio WPLN News provided the following news account.  Note the inflammatory bigoted defense of the attempted censorship attempting to liken the noble Confederate Cause to the Nazi holocaust.  Of course, the intolerant propagandist actually ignorantly argued for the preservation of these parks and memorials honoring our ancestors and inadvertently equated the Memphis city council to Hitler's Gestapo when he said it was the Nazis who removed the statues of the Jews throughout the German country.  Exactly!  The citizens of TN and elsewhere need to make these outrageous denigrators of our shared history and heritage pay with their jobs.

Ban on Changing Park Names Passes Against Democrat Objections

Monday, February 25th, 2013, by Blake Farmer

A likeness of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest could not be moved from the state capitol under the bill without special permission from the Tennessee Historical Commission. Photo credit Blake Farmer/WPLN

Legislation that would prevent the renaming or moving of war-related monuments in Tennessee passed the state House last night. The bill comes as city officials in Memphis have renamed three Confederate-themed parks.

Democrats tried to get the bill’s sponsor – Republican Steve McDaniel – to admit he was responding to the name changes in Memphis, which he denied.

Rep. Johnnie Turner asked what if Jews hadn’t been allowed to tear down Nazi statues.

JOHNNIE TURNER: “I’m not comparing the Confederacy with Adolf Hitler. I’m just saying during the time that he reigned, there were statues everywhere. But today, you would have to look far and wide.”

STEVE MCDANIEL: “Much of what you said just makes my point for me.”

McDaniel says present generations shouldn’t get to decide what history future generations are allowed to see.

Democrats also tried to add an amendment preventing the renaming of Civil Rights-related monuments, but were unsuccessful.

Web Extra

While debate around HB0533 is about Civil War sites, the legislation includes every conflict from the French and Indian War to Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). The legislation refers to the Civil War as the “War Between the States.”
The proposal casts a wide net, saying “no statue, monument, memorial, nameplate or plaque which has been erected for, or named or dedicated in honor of” a war and is located on public property cannot be “relocated, removed, altered, renamed, rededicated or otherwise disturbed.”
Also, streets, buildings or parks named for any historical military figure or organization can be renamed.
And finally, the legislation suggests governmental entities responsible for monuments have to take proper care of them.
An amendment adopted by the state House allowed the Tennessee historical commission to grant waivers.

Canadian Confederates

Interesting news article from UPI.  Very disappointing headline that a high school in Ontario Canada has banned the Confederate flag from the school as it had "become (increasingly) popular over the last two years".  Ignorance prevails north of the border in the school administration as they banned students display of the Confederate Battle Flag on clothing. But, the news report responses were outstanding in defense of the Cause and the truth of heritage. From UPI.com on Feb 24th:

High school bans Confederate flag  

SUTTON, Ontario, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A high school in Canada has banned its students from wearing depictions of the Confederate flag because of its racist symbolism, officials said.
The Confederate flag became popular at Sutton District High School in the last two years, Dawn Laliberte, the school's principal, said.
School officials explained the flag's symbolism to students this week and then implemented the ban, the Toronto Star reported.
Most students were angry at the decision and said the school was trying to control what they wear.
"It's more about the country values, we don't think of it as racist," a student said.
The president of the Ontario Black History Society, Rosemary Sadlier, told the Star the use of the symbolism shows a lack of knowledge about history.
"What it represents is the interest of people in the Deep South to maintain a way of life that fervently and significantly was built upon and included an ongoing use of Africans as enslaved people. For that very reason alone, it is inappropriate and wrong," Sadlier said.

But the first few responses were excellent:

From Bruce:

As a Canadian who like many others had family fight for the South during the War of Northern Aggression. I am appalled at the banning of the Southern flag at your School. I assume, Maybe wrongly, That you are aware that the war was fought over States rights, not Racism. (Slavery). Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri were slave states within the Union. Thus on the same theory the Stars and Stripes should be banned as well. Most Southerners did not own slaves, nor did they care about slavery as an institution. As educators I would expect you knew this. (Apparently wrongly) Abraham Lincoln's solution prior to the Emancipation Proclamation was to deport the Slaves back to Liberia. The only thing that changed his mind was keeping England and France out of the war, not any consideration for the slaves. Many Canadians fought for the South during the war and our country under the British Empire came close to joining the south as an ally. Up to 1863. Banning the Southern flag is just pandering to Political incorrectness and is very insulting to many families who had members fighting in this war. I suggest you rethink this ban or you risk losing your respect and appearing as bigots on this issue.

And from lspan:

1. I guess the last place to show anything about history would be a school (nuts!). 2. Racism is in the eye of the beholder. If there is no racist intent, but racism is felt by others, the latter are wrong, not the former. 3. Is this REALLY the biggest problem in Ontario?

 

BRAVO!

Harrisburg PA National Civil War Museum Sesquicentennial Events

The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg claims to be "the only museum in The United States that portrays the entire story of the American Civil War. Equally balanced presentations are humanistic in nature without bias to Union or Confederate causes."  Oh if it were.  May be questionable with two of their lead events being a showing of the recent movie "Lincoln" which has been exposed in earlier blogposts for being a farcical accounting and of course the politically correct "African American" patriot tour which can be assumed to exclude the Confederate Blacks who defended their homeland as patriots. They are attempting to attract visitors from nearby Gettysburg during this historic Sesquicentennial period with many special events. Here is a link to the museum's website which provides a calendar of events - http://www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org/ .  The following news article by Jeff Franz from the Central PA Patriot News Penn Live provides further details:

Dauphin County announces events to commemorate Civil War

Robert E. Lee wasn't aiming for Gettysburg.
In the summer of 1863, the Confederate general wanted his Army of Northern Virginia to capture Harrisburg, a major railroad hub and the site of Camp Curtin, where more than 300,000 Union soldiers trained during the war.
Lee, of course never made it.

Kent Courtney, an Americana singer and Civil War historian, sings period songs Monday before Dauphin County announced a series of events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the war. Jeff Frantz

But Dauphin County wants to remind people -- especially tourists already in the midstate to visit Gettysburg -- of Harrisburg's strategic importance as the country celebrates the 150th anniversary of the war.
"Once you get out in the real world and learn all the history that hasn't been told, it's hard not to get excited," Commissioner Jeff Haste said Monday while announcing a series of events over the next two years.
"Let's be honest," Haste added, "part of this is about tourism. We know Gettysburg is going to get about 4 million visitors, and shame on us if we didn't try to get some of those folks to come here."
Indeed, the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau expects Civil War buffs to book an extra 800 to 1,200 room nights in Dauphin County hotels this summer, a 10 to 15 percent bump in occupancy rate. The bureau has already set up a shuttle service with a limousine company to ferry guests from area hotels to Gettysburg during the June 28-July 7 celebration of the war's defining battle.
Some of the planned events include:
At the National Civil War Museum
-- 1863: An exhibit running through the end of the year commemorating he events of 150 years ago. Beginning in May, the museum will also have an exhibit on the draft, desertion and draft resistance.
-- Civil War Dance classes, 2 p.m., March 3.
-- Commemoration of the Medal of Honor: The first Medal of Honor was presented on March 25, 1863. At 2 p.m., March 24, Dr. Richard Bantz will lecture about Andrew's Raisers and the Great Locomotive Chase while the Medals of Honor of six servicemen from three wars will be on display.
-- Lecture on the Trans-Mississippi Theater by historian Jeffrey S. Prushankin, 1 p.m., April 6.
-- Lecture on "Jeb Stuart's Ride around Gettysburg" by historian Jeffrey Wert, 1 p.m., April 13.
-- Lecture on Pennsylvania's Civil War trails, 1 p.m., April 20.
-- Lecture on Lancaster-native Major General John Fulton Reynolds actions in 1863, by historian Michael A. Riley, 1 p.m., April 27.
-- Pennsylvania Firefighters during the Civil War, exhibit opens in June. Admission, adults $6, seniors and students $5.
-- "Lincoln on the Lawn," a showing the 2012 film, for which Daniel-Day Lewis received an Oscar for his portrayal of the 16th president, 8:30 p.m., June 30.
Elsewhere in the county:
-- "A Page Out of Godey's Lady's Book: An Exhibit of Civil War Era Dresses": View six Civil War era dresses, on display at the Fort Hunter Mansion, May 1-Dec. 22.
-- Music of the Civil War: Vocalists from Susquehanna Chorale will sing Civil War era songs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 29 at Broad Street Market. Admission: Adults $5, Seniors $4, students and children, $3.
-- "Rollick on the River": The County's Parks and Recreation Department will feature live music, historical actors, a free ice cream social, interactive children's activities and fireworks to celebrate the 150th anniversary at 6:30 p.m., June 29 at Fort Hunter Mansion.
-- "Tea with Clara Barton": Actress Pat Jordan will portray Barton, and discuss Barton's work to organize medical care for wounded Union soldiers, 2:30 June 30th, The John Harris and Simon Cameron Mansion. Admission, $15.
-- Bethel Village Trail and Commemoration of African American Patriots of the Civil War: The trail, which follows the landmark sites of the Bethel AME congregation and community's movement through Harrisburg, will be formally dedicated 3:30 p.m. Jun 30 at Solider's Grove on the Capital Complex. Pamphlets for a self-guided tour of the trail will be available from Memorial Day to Veteran's Day.
-- "Marching Toward Harrisburg: Stories of the Civil War" : Storyteller Steve Anderson will reveal Harrisburg's Civil War history, noon, July 2, at the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts.
-- Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra: Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait, 7:30 p.m., July 3, Metro Bank Park, with fireworks to follow.
-- "The Civil War: 150 Years after Gettysburg": The discussion will includes Lincoln's prewar visit to Harrisburg in February 1861, the opening of Camp Curtin and Lincoln's funeral procession stopping in the city April 21 and 22, 1865; 6:30 p.m., Sept. 17, Historic Harrisburg Resource Center.

Prattville Dragoons February Camp Meeting - A Tribute to the Gober Real Sons Part 2

Thursday night, February 14th saw the Prattville Dragoons celebrate Valentine's Day with their monthly camp meeting.  Former Camp and Brigade Commander Wyatt Willis presented a video interview of Vince and Henry Gober, deceased members of the Dragoons and Real Sons of Confederate veteran Lisbon Failes Gober.  Prior to showing the video, Commander Willis read a memorial for the Gober brothers calling them sincere Southern gentlemen and he read a prayer from the family prayer book.  He closed his introduction saying the Prattville Dragoons should be proud to have had two Real Sons as members of camp 1524.

(James) Vincent and Henry (Owen) were both interviewed in the video. Their Confederate veteran father Lisbon Failes Gober is buried at Rocky Mount Cemetery in Prattville.  Henry recalled his father - Lisbon was born in 1845 in Gainesville GA and joined the Confederate army at the age of 16.  Wounded in Tennessee, he stayed in his unit til it was disbanded at the end of the War.  He married and had two children with his first wife but she passed away when the children were young.  Lisbon did not remarry until these two children were grown.  He remarried around 1900 and had nine children with his second wife including Vince and Henry with Mary the youngest.  The children from both marriages stayed in contact with each other.

Henry was born in 1913 in what is now Millbrook AL.  He married in 1934 and had two boys and two girls.  Henry served in the navy in World War II and helped repair amphibious landing ships from 1943-1945.  After the war he was a contractor til the 1960s and helped build many of the homes in Millbrook. After this career he was a cattle farmer and stayed in that line of business til his retirement.  He recalled his father Lisbon was a farmer and also built houses.  He recalled the family's neighbors helped them clear their 40 acre farm.  They made sugar and syrup on the farm and raised beef cattle, hogs, tobacco and watermelon; Lisbon was also a carpenter and made some of the finest quality award-winning brooms. 

Vince was born in Winston AL in 1911.  Vince had four children also and similarly served in the Navy in WWII.  He recalled wonderful times on the family farm and that the family did well until Lisbon passed away.  Wyatt and Vince talked about some of the families which helped found and settle the Millbrook areas and recalled that Autauga County used to encompass the three counties of Autauga, Elmore, and Chilton counties until Reconstruction.

Both sons expressed their honor to be Real Sons of a Confederate Veteran.  They were pleased with the I-65 Battle Flag and Henry said, "I think it ought to be flying high."  He went on to say that he flew his Battle Flag at his home for many years until one of his children expressed concern over the possible repercussions and he took it down briefly.  But, in his later years he again flew it proudly in front of his home saying, "It will be flying there as long as I live."

Prattville Dragoons February Camp Meeting - A Tribute to the Gober Real Sons Part 1

Thursday night, February 14th saw the Prattville Dragoons celebrate Valentine's Day with their monthly camp meeting.  Twenty people were in attendance to hear a wonderful program, a presentation of a video showing former Camp Commander Wyatt Willis interviewing Vince and Henry Gober, deceased members of the Dragoons and Real Sons of Confederate veteran Lisbon Failes Gober.  Most in attendance enjoyed the Shoney's buffet dinner before the meeting commenced.  Pink Confederate Roses were presented to Mrs. Crowley and Mrs. Jones with Belle as the ladies supporting the camp on an evening that most might prioritize with a romantic Valentine's date.  All the Shoney's waitresses were similarly presented with a pink rose for Valentine's following the conclusion of the meeting.  Following pledges to the flags, announcements included the elections of officers at next month's March camp business meeting.  The new officers will be inducted at the April spring picnic at Confederate Memorial Park. March 2nd in Foley AL the Fort Blakely Camp 1864 and the Alabama Division will host the winter SCV National Leadership Workshop at the historic Gift Horse. The 2013 Confederate Heritage Rally will be held March 16th in Biloxi and will include a parade and dedication of the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library at Beauvoir.  April 26th there will be a Living History encampment at the Confederate Memorial Park. Adjutant Wayne Sutherland mentioned that he is planning on attending the Gen. Isham Garrott camp meeting in Marion AL on Feb 28th.  Communications Officer Tyrone Crowley informed everyone that a couple 3x5 ft stones will be installed at the Shelby Ironworks listing local Confederate veterans.  The Alabama Division Executive Committee met in Prattville on Saturday February 9th at Buck's Place.  It was a well attended meeting with 60 people working through Division business and enjoying a good steak dinner.

A Contrast of Heritage, Not Hate

The disappointing frustrating development in Memphis with the City Council renaming Confederate memorial parks has recently served as a contrast in the mission of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to preserve the noble heritage of the Confederate soldier and veteran in contrast to the extremist racist militant hate groups degrading the glorious Battle Flag.  This current event represents a great opportunity to contrast the SCV's heritage defense against the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacist militant groups like the Aryan brotherhood and others who use the Battle Flag in blasphemous disrespectful demonstrations.  The SCV needs to distance and differentiate itself from these hostile organizations.  This will further the promotion of the Cause. 

From News Channel 3, WREG Memphis on February 15th, 2013.

Sons of Confederate Veterans Tells KKK To Stay Out of Park Name Controversy

Posted on: 11:39 am, February 15, 2013, by George Brown and Sabrina Hall, updated on: 06:13pm, February 15, 2013

(Memphis) March 30th is the date the Ku Klux Klan has set to hold a rally in downtown Memphis.
The permit must first be approved.
Many people say they hope the group will change its mind.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans and the KKK both want three parks in Memphis, including Forest Park, to keep their names and preserve their historical value but the Sons of Confederate Veterans wants the KKK to stay out of the issue.
The KKK says it’s going to hold the biggest rally that Memphis has ever seen to oppose the City’s decision to rename three parks with confederate ties.
“Our message to the KKK would be not to come to Memphis,” said Lee Millar.
And that is coming from a man who is also not happy with the City’s decision, “Cause it’s silly to rename the park. You shouldn`t rename any historic park.”
But Millar, the spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, believes the bad reputation and history of the KKK is not going to help the cause.
“We just want everyone to know that we are here to protect and preserve our history and do it in a gentlemanly fashion,” said Millar.
The  Sons of the Confederate Veterans says it’s in talks with the mayor and will keep voicing its dissent to the City Council, while the KKK plans to rally.
“While they may be peaceful, or try to be peaceful, there might be people who are opposed to the Klan that might turn it into a hostile situation.”
The KKK says they tried to get a permit to rally at Forest Park but the City gave them a hard time so now they’ve filed for a permit to rally at the chancery court on Adams.
They say if the permit is approved, they will rally March 30.
Millar says he’ll be sure not to be there,  ”I hope everyone stays away. If the Klan does have a rally in Memphis, I hope everyone just ignores it.”
The SCV has previously said it is against hate groups using the Confederate Battle Flag and now says its is against the modern KKK using Forrest as a symbol.
Millar does say the current attention from the KKK is due to actions by the Memphis City Council,  “If the Klan comes to Memphis due to the inappropriate actions of the City Council then any results are entirely the responsibility of the Council.  We hope that nothing like that occurs and that the Council will do what’s right and leave the parks alone.”

Confederate Black History for Black History Month - Part 2

The Sons of Confederate Veterans prepared a synopsis of pertinent facts regarding black history and blacks in Confederate service as part of Black History Monday.  This is Part 2 providing this information gleaned from historical reference documents from scv.org.

BLACK CONFEDERATE HERITAGE

  

Confederate: Famed bridge engineer and former slave Horace King received naval contracts for building Confederate warships. A black servant named Sam Ashe killed the first Union officer during the war, abolitionist Major Theodore Winthrop. John W. Buckner, a black private, was wounded at Ft. Wagner repulsing the U.S. (Colored) 54th Massachusetts Regiment. George Wallace, a servant who surrendered with General Lee at Appomattox, later served in the Georgia Senate. Jim Lewis served General Stonewall Jackson, and was honored to hold his horse "Little Sorrel" at the general's funeral. Captured black cook Dick Poplar suffered cruelty by Yankee Negro guards at Pt. Lookout, MD for being a "Jeff Davis man."

Union: A daring Robert Smalls engineered theft of the CSS Planter, presenting it to the Yankee blockading fleet at Charleston. Black Medal of Honor awardees Christian Fleetwood and William Carey bravely carried the banner at Ft. Wagner's assault in 1863.

Colonial: The first man to die for the American cause of freedom was Crispus Attucks, a black seaman from Boston. At the time of the American Revolution, New York City held almost as many slaves as all of Georgia combined.

Surprising Facts: In St. Louis, General John Fremont freed slaves of "disloyal" Missouri Confederates; an angry Lincoln fired him. Slaves in Washington, D.C. were not freed until April 1862, a year after the war began with the firing at Ft. Sumter. Slavery continued throughout the entire war in five Union-held states: DE, MD, WV, KY and MO. The New York City draft riots of July 1863 resulted in burning of a beautiful black orphanage and lynching of blacks. A provision in the Confederate Constitution prohibited the African slave trade outright (unlike the U.S. Constitution). Encouraged by General Lee, the CSA eventually freed slaves who would join the army, and did recruit and arm black regiments. C.S. General Robert E. Lee freed his family slaves before the war; Union Gen. U.S. Grant kept his wife's slaves well into the war. Many blacks owned slaves themselves. In 1861 Charleston, for example, a free colored planter named William Ellison owned 70 slaves. Even in 1830 New York City, three decades before the war, eight black planters owned 17 slaves.

Blacks Today: Nelson W. Winbush, a retired educator and SCV member, lectures on his black Confederate ancestor, private Louis N. Nelson. A black Chicago funeral home owner, Ernest A. Griffin, flies the CSA battle flag and erected at his own expense a $20,000 monument to the 6,000 Confederate soldiers who are buried on his property, once site of the Union prison Camp Douglas. Black professor Leonard Haynes (recently deceased) of Southern University (Baton Rouge) spoke regularly on black Confederates. American University's professor Edward Smith also lectures on the truth of black Confederate history and, with Nelson W. Winbush, has prepared an educational videotape entitled "Black Southern Heritage" (available at (954) 963-4857)

Info? Contact: Dr. Edward Smith, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016 (202) 885-1192; Dean of American Studies, Dr. Smith (a black professor) is dedicated to clarifying the historical role of blacks.

 Websites: Library of Congress Black History Resource Guide - http://www.lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html

Sons of Confederate Veterans, International Headquarters - http://www.scv.org

Books: Charles Kelly Barrow, et al. Forgotten Confederates: An Anthology About Black Southerners (1995)

Iver Bernstein. The New York Draft Riots (1990)

Ervin L. Jordan, Jr. Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia (1995)

Larry Koger. Black Slaveowners: Free Black Slaveowners in South Carolina, 1790-1860 (1985, 1995)

Edward A. Miller, Jr. Gullah Statesman: Robert Smalls - From Slavery to Congressman, 1839-1915 (1995)

Richard Rollins. Black Southerners in Gray (1994)

Cornish Taylor. The Sable Arm: Negro Troops in the Union Army, 1861-1865 (1956)

Sons of Confederate Veterans

The Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) is a patriotic, historical, and educational organization, founded in 1896, dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of the Confederate soldier and sailor, and to preserving Southern Culture. Its projects include educational talks, memorial dedications, medical research scholarships, and publication of Confederate Veteran magazine. The SCV is not affiliated with any other organization, except for its officers corps, the MOS&B. For more information, call 1-800-380-1896 or visit the SCV website at http://www.scv.org

Confederate Black History for Black History Month - Part 1

The Sons of Confederate Veterans prepared a synopsis of pertinent facts regarding black history and blacks in Confederate service as part of Black History Monday.  This is Part 1 providing this information gleaned from historical reference documents from scv.org.

BLACK CONFEDERATE HERITAGE

This fact sheet is prepared by the Sons of Confederate Veterans Education Committee for distribution to professors, teachers,  librarians, principals, ethnic leaders, members of the press, and others interested in promoting an understanding of Black contributions to United States history. The SCV hopes this information will enrich the celebration of Black History Month during February. This sheet may be freely copied and distributed without permission or notice; if republished in part or whole, please credit the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

"There are at the present moment, many colored men in the Confederate Army doing duty...as real soldiers, having muskets on their shoulders and bullets in their pockets...." Frederick Douglas, former slave & abolitionist (Fall, 1861)

How many? Easily tens of thousands of blacks served the Confederacy as laborers, teamsters, cooks and even as soldiers. Some estimates indicate 25% of free blacks and 15% of slaves actively supported the South during the war.

Why? Blacks served the South because it was their home, and because they hoped for the reward of patriotism; for these reasons they fought in every war through Korea, even though it meant defending a segregated United States. 

Emancipation? President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation did not free a single slave. Issued at a time when the Confederacy seemed to be winning the war, Lincoln hoped to transform a disagreement over secession into a crusade against slavery, thus preventing Great Britain (and France) from intervening on the side of the South. The proclamation allowed slavery to continue in the North as well as in Tennessee and large parts of Louisiana and Virginia. It applied only to Confederate-held slaves, which Lincoln had no authority over, but not to slaves under Federal control.

Lincoln's Views? "I am not in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office...." 9/15/1858 campaign speech "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery...." 3/4/1861 First Inaugural Address "I am a little uneasy about the abolishment of slavery in this District [of Columbia]...." 3/24/1862 letter to Horace Greeley "If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it...." 8/22/1862 letter to Horace Greeley, New York Tribune editor.

Confederate Valentines

Happy Valentines Day! These Valentines cards were posted by the Museum of the Confederacy today on Twitter. Hand drawn by Pvt. Alexander Stone, he drew and colored these cards for his daughters Rebecca and Beth Stone and sent them around February 1863.  The cards contain a hand drawn decoration of border and hearts in red and blue pencil. 

Alexander Stone resided in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina at the beginning of the war.  At age 30, he enlisted there as a Private in Co. E, 11th North Carolina State Troops on February 19, 1862.  The rolls show him present or accounted for until July 4, 1863 when he was captured near Gettysburg.  He was sent as a POW to Fort Delaware and then transferred to Point Lookout around October 15-18.  He was hospitalized at Point Lookout's hospital on October 26 with acute diarrhea.  He died in the hospital on January 26, 1864.

The Prattville Dragoons Wish You a Happy Valentines Day

Wishing you and your significant other a Happy Valentines Day from the Sons of Confederate Veterans camp 1524, Prattville Dragoons. The soldiers of the Confederacy embodied the noble chivalry of the heroic warriors of history.  The Confederate soldiers as well as the Sons of Confederate Veterans believe in the defense of womanhood, the defense of their families and the innocent.  This defense of their homes and their states and families was the prime impetus for the Confederate soldier taking up arms to repel the invading Northern aggressors.  The war crimes and terror inflicted on the Southern civilian populace by the armies of Sherman and Grant stand in contrast to the rules of engagement and Christian principles which guided Lee and Jackson and the gentlemen soldiers they led.  This is the Cause we as Sons seek to promote, the heritage of brave and noble Confederate soldiers.  The brief period of peace the fledgling Confederate nation enjoyed and certainly the antebellum old South still conjure up images of Southern belles in their beautiful hoop skirts sipping mint juleps and gentlemen with their frock coats sitting on the front porch of majestic white columned Greek Revival antebellum mansions.  Close your eyes and smell the magnolias.  Hear the strings and piano playing in the parlor.  Certainly the stuff of Valentine's dreams. 

Prattville Dragoons February Camp Meeting

The Prattville Dragoons will again hold their monthly camp meeting on Thursday, February 14th at 7pm in the Shoneys on Cobbs Ford Road.  Thursday is Valentine's Day and some members will surely bring their wives and significant others before the meeting to enjoy the delicious food at Shoneys including a slice of the delectable strawberry pie, a perfect Valentine's dessert.  All ladies attending the camp meeting will receive a Valentine's flower compliments of the Prattville Dragoons Executive Committee.  The program for February's Valentine's camp meeting will feature a video about Mr.Henry Gober, Dragoon member and Real Son. 

Our presenter will be past Commander Wyatt Willis who reflected on the recent passing of Mr. Gober over the river to be with his Lord at the age of 99.  Mr. Gober was a true Southern gentleman and loved his Southern heritage.  He was a WWII veteran, contractor, cattleman, and always a great spokesman for our Confederate heritage. The last few years, his eyesight was failing, but he knew his Confederate Battle Flag was playing proudly in front of his home where he liked to sit and tell stories about his father.

Henry Gober was an inspiration to those who knew him and a witness thru his Christian faith. Henry was proud to be a Real Son of a Confederate Veteran. Come attend this special meeting of the Prattville Dragoons SCV camp and learn more about the life of this wonderful man thru his own words.


Henry Owen Gober



Dragoons Upcoming Annual Camp Business Meeting

As part of the upcoming annual Prattville Dragoons business meeting in March, elections of camp officers will be made.  The camp is encouraging members to step forward to serve as we seek to further the Cause in our community and the state during this Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States.  Furthering an appreciation of the honor with which our forefathers defended their homeland and fought for liberty and the principles on which the Confederacy was founded, we should all seek to share our skills and gifts in a greater capacity. 

The Dragoons Dispatch included an editorial announcing those nominees presented by the EC and encouraging others to serve and also a column by Commander Booth petitioning members to step forward to fill the numerous important roles available to benefit the camp membership.

Editorial

General Robert E Lee wrote to his son, "Duty is the sublimest word in our English language.  Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less."  Elections for Dragoon Camp officers are coming in March.  Can you be inspired by Lee's words to offer your service to the Camp, in any position that would seem to suit your talents and tastes?   In the last couple of years, the Dragoons have benefited from the service of at least two men who heard the call of duty and offered themselves to serve the Camp:  2^nd Lt Cmdr Stuart Waldo, and Chaplain Tom Snowden.  Both these men thought it over, then stepped forward and offered themselves as candidates for the positions they now occupy so effectively.

Compatriot, search your heart and mind, and if you can see your way clear to propose yourself for any elected or appointed position within the Camp, contact Communications Officer Tyrone Crowley or any Camp Officer and he will assist you from there.  Elected offices range from Commander to Chaplain, with several appointed offices (see Commander's Column in this newsletter).  If you'd like more details about a specific position, Officer Crowley can provide detailed info from the bylaws or Camp officers.  His contact info is on the last page of this newsletter.

Nominations at this point stand as follows:  For Commander, Stuart Waldo; for 1Lt Commander, Harold Grooms; for 2Lt Commander, Chris Booth; for Adjutant, Wayne Sutherland; for Treasurer, Billy Leverette; for Chaplain, Tom Snowden.

Commander's Column

The New Year is on us and the Camp is looking good with plenty of well-organized and completed events and upcoming events planned.   The most pressing event right now is our annual business meeting in March.  The term for the current elected officers will be coming to a close.  During our March business meeting we will elect the officers for the next year.   The positions up for election will be Camp Commander, First Lieutenant Commander, Second Lieutenant Commander, Adjutant, Treasurer, and Chaplain. 

            All of the current occupants of these offices have served with competence and distinction.  With one or two exceptions all have served multiple terms as officers and we ask for anyone that has the desire, ability, and interest to step forward and offer his services in any one of these positions.  If you have an interest in serving in any of these positions please let me or any of the other officers know.  Even if none of these positions suit your skills, time, availability, or interest, there are other positions that the Commander will need to fill by appointment after the election.  These positions include Quartermaster, Color Sergeant, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Judge Advocate.  Any of these positions would be a good introduction to the management of your Camp. 

Prattville Dragoons Chaplain’s Column: God’s Sovereignty

Ephesians 1:11

Some people question whether the Lord is truly in control. They learn about tragedies in the world and wonder if perhaps God isn’t powerful enough to overcome all evil. Or they encounter what seems like an insurmountable obstacle in their own life and come to the conclusion, Maybe His power is limited. One could also come to this conclusion when we consider all the evil in the world today.

            Even though we do not understand everything that happens in this life now, we know from reading the scripture that God has ultimate authority: “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all” (Ps. 103:19).

            Let’s consider the far-reaching implications of these words. God has complete control in all the universe—He reigns over everything and everyone, and His power is greater than any other so-called strength or power. The terms omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient are frequently used to describe Him. Simply to put it another way our God is all-powerful, His existence is everywhere, and He is all-knowing. This means there is nothing beyond His knowledge or His ability to direct and manage. Our  limitless, unfathomable God, who is unhindered and fully in control, chooses to adopt us as His children. As we begin to understand this truth, the peace and rest He gives should flood our souls.

            When we realize that nothing happens apart from His awareness, direction, and loving purpose, it gets easier to lay aside all worry and fear and truly experience His peace. Then stay in touch with His direction and purpose He has for each of our lives. Listen for His still small voice for direction to stay in His will.

            Please remember to pray for our leadership elected for the coming year and remember those on our prayer list.

Boycott Memphis After City Council Revisionists Rename Confederate Parks

All defenders of Confederate heritage should consider a boycott of the city of Memphis after the city council there renamed three city parks previously named for Confederate heroes.  Revisionist cowards or ignorants kowtowing to the politically correct and militant blacks.  They disregard the noble history which intertwined Forrest with Memphis from his antebellum home there and successful businesses to his defense of the city during the War and his final resting place following his death.  Despicable and we need to voice our opinions, our disapproval and make it known that they cannot erase the past and disregard Memphis heritage.  Write them.  Boycott them.  Demand the restoration of these parks properly named in honor of these heroes of the South.  From foxnews.com, an Associated Press story posted 2/6/2013.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –  The Memphis City Council on Monday voted to change the name of the city's Confederate Park two other parks that honor notable members of the Confederacy.
MyFoxMemphis.com reports that the council voted 9-0 to pass a resolution renaming Confederate Park and Jefferson Davis Park, located in downtown Memphis and Nathan Bedford Forrest Park, which is located a few miles away.
Three council members abstained from voting.
The idea for the resolution to change the name of all three parks emerged Monday morning, after council members learned of a state House bill that would prevent parks named after historical military figures from being renamed.
The bill was seen by the council as unnecessary interference by state lawmakers. Because a House vote is likely several days away, the council voted on a resolution to remove the military names and go with more generic ones, giving them time to decide on new park names without worrying about state action.
The resolution changes the name of Confederate Park to Memphis Park; Jefferson Davis Park to Mississippi River Park; and Nathan Bedford Forrest Park to Health Sciences Park.
The name changes upset those who believe the council is trying to change history by downplaying the significance of the Confederacy's struggle against Union forces. It was applauded by at least one civil rights activist.
The council already had been considering changing the name of the park honoring Forrest, a Confederate cavalryman and former slave trader who was a member of the early Ku Klux Klan. He also is accused of massacring dozens of black Union soldiers who tried to surrender at the battle at Fort Pillow in 1864. Davis was president of the Confederacy.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans and others in Memphis oppose the name changes, saying that Forrest is a misunderstood figure who was not a racist but a businessman who treated his slaves humanely and resigned from the Klan.
"We should cherish the history that we have, we shouldn't cover it up and try to bury it or hide it," said Becky Muska, who spoke against the name change.
Muska, who is white, acknowledges that Memphis is a racially divided city. So does Kennith Van Buren, a civil rights advocate who supports the name changes.
"These three parks have a racial history that should be erased," said Van Buren, who is black. "These parks are an embarrassment to our city."
"I don't care if the name is Nathan Bedford Forrest, he's a dead man," Councilman Harold Collins told MyFoxMemphis.com. "We need to be focusing on the living. But except for that, I'm going to vote for this and who knows, we may come back and name the park Nathan Bedford Forrest."
Forrest Park, which is the burial place of the former Memphis resident, has long been a source of argument in Memphis. The shady, city block-sized park features a large statue of the Confederate lieutenant general, who won several key Civil War battles.
The park is located a few miles from the old Lorraine Hotel, where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Prattvile Dragoons Attend Army of Tennessee Meeting Featuring Jefferson Davis' Grandson

Three members of the Prattville Dragoons attended the recent SCV Army of Tennessee meeting, past Commander Larry Spears, Brigade Commander Bill Myrick and Benny Harris.  The meeting was held on Saturday February 2nd in Birmingham AL.  The keynote speaker at the event was Bertram Hayes-Davis.  He is the great great grandson of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and great grandson of his daughter Margaret Hayes.  Mr Hayes-Davis is a retired banker and current director of Beauvoir and the Jefferson Presidential Library in Biloxi MS.

Mr Hayes-Davis at the SCV AoT Meeting

Dragoons at the SCV AoT Meeting

General J.E.B. Stuart's Birthday

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of one of my favorite Confederate Generals, my namesake, James Ewell Brown Stuart who was born on March 6, 1833.  Stuart attended West Point and rose to the rank of Captain in the United States Army in April of 1861 before resigning his commission to follow his homeland of Virginia in secession in May of that year. He was one of Robert E. Lee's most capable and daring cavalry officers and rose to the rank of Major General by the time he was killed at the age of 31 years at the Battle of Yellow Tavern.  Stuart was a dashing figure with a full auburn beard, a red lined cape and yellow sash and his hat adorned with ostrich plume.  Stuart did much to advance the reputation of the Confederate cavalry as the superior force in the early years of the War for Southern Independence, twice circumnavigating the Army of the Potomac during the Peninsula and Maryland campaigns bringing embarrassment to the Union army.  Stuart's cavalry fought in the Battles of First and Second Manassas, Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville as well as the previously referenced campaigns and the Bristoe and Overland Campaigns including the Battle of the Wilderness. With the Army of Northern Virginia Stuart also fought in the Gettysburg Campaign including Brandy Station and Gettysburg where he suffered low points in his career absorbing criticism for tiring his troops although retaining ground in the former and for suffering delays which prevented his providing reconnaissance to his commander, Lee during the latter pivotal battle.  Gen. J.E.B Stuart dies on May 12, 1864 from mortal wounds suffered when he was shot by retreating Union troops as he shouted encouragement to his men from atop his warhorse Skylark.  Stuart was the trusted eyes and ears of Lee's Army and following his death, Lee was reported to have weeped at the mention of Stuart's name and recounted that he never received a bit of bad information from him.  He crafted his image of the audacious cavalry commander and embodied the chivalrous knight of bygone eras with boldness and tirelessness, yet calm and enterprising.

150-year-old Prattville Mystery Solved

Along with the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States, there is another sesquicentennial (one hundred fiftieth anniversary) occurring in February that has caused at least two heritage groups in Prattville to do some research to solve a riddle for those interested in Prattville’s history.

One hundred fifty years ago this winter, Prattville was abuzz with talk about the elopement of the only child of the founder of the town, 18-year-old Ellen Pratt, who had run away with Henry DeBardeleben, a 22-year-old Confederate veteran and also a ward of Daniel Pratt, in whose home he had lived and in whose employ he had been since he was 16 years of age.  The fact that the daughter of the most important man in Prattville had run away to marry, seemingly without her parents’ permission, no doubt surprised many and outraged members of her family, among them Merrill Pratt, adopted nephew of Daniel, who when he heard the news wrote home to his wife that he “‘never was more astonished in my life”, calling Henry “treacherous and ungrateful”.  These sentiments were shared by most other members of the Pratt family, though Daniel and Esther took the pair in when they returned to Prattville in March, after having married on February 4^th.

·       Possible influence on H F:  H F Debardeleben's ancestor, Arthur Franz Ferdinand von Bardeleben was a Hessian officer and the son of Baron Anton Adolph von Bardeleben of Kattenbruch, Hesse Kassel.  He resigned his commission in 1780 in order to remain in America and marry Christina Gausse, another German immigrant with whom he started a family at the plantation he purchased called Sans Souci in Charleston neck (now a subdivision in urban Charleston).  He relocated after about three years to lands near Bellville, on the Congaree River south of Columbia, SC and that is where he lived until his death. His children who came to Alabama were the sons and daughters of Margaret Sowerhaver, his second wife.
     He subsequently changed his surname from von Bardeleben to De Bardeleben[1] There is correspondence extant in the Tennessee archives to Judge John Overton, Andrew Jackson's presidential campaign manager, that bears the signature, Arthur Franz Ferdinand de Bardeleben in his own handwriting.  It is probable that he changed his name from von Bardeleben to de Bardeleben because Germans were not particularly popular at that time in South Carolina. Many of them were tories who had fought on the King's side because they had received land grants from George III prior to the War and were concerned that of they British prevailed and they had joined the patriots, their land might be forfeited. (information regarding Arthur Franz Ferdinand von Bardeleben courtesy of Duncan T. Black)

·       H F DeBardeleben's mother, Mary Ann Fairchild DeBardeleben, was from upstate New York and may have been a distant relative of Daniel Pratt.  Everyone else who lived in the house--Merrill Pratt, Daniel's nephew; Edith Kingusbury, Esther's mother; Julia Bill, a cousin--was related to him or his wife Esther.[2]

·       H F became a ward of Daniel Pratt when he was 16, his own father having died when he was 13 and after serving as a baker's apprentice in Montgomery for three years, where he lived with his mother and two other siblings.[3]

·       Henry and Ellen were reported to be together at a funeral at Indian Hill in Prattville, in November 1862, as though they are a couple.[4]

·       Merrill Pratt believed that the mulatto servant, Eliza, was a bad influence on Ellen and may have encouraged the elopement.[5]

·       Henry and Ellen ran away to get married in Troup County, Georgia, where they were married at the First Methodist Church in LaGrange by Armanus Wright, Minister of the Gospel.  The probate judge ("ordinary") who issued their marriage license was Samuel Curtwright.  They came home in March and were received back home by Daniel and Esther Pratt, but shunned for a time by other members of the Pratt family.[6][7][8]

·       By 30 March 1863, Merrill had reconciled with Henry, who went to see him, and has decided to receive the couple back into the family.[9]

·       The War "considerably abbreviated the normal courtship period and lessened parental influence".  H F and Ellen were not the only couple to marry hastily or without parental permission.[1]

·      There was a story published almost 50 years later in the Tuscaloosa News (12 Dec 1910) that Daniel Pratt had unknowingly advised H F to elope with Ellen, after being told by H F that he was in love with a wealthy girl and was afraid her father would not accept him.  According to this fanciful story, said to be from the DeBardeleben family, Pratt had told H F to just "steal her away".  This would not have been characteristic of Daniel Pratt, but Ellen was their only child to survive to adulthood and so may have been indulged beyond what she otherwise would have been.  Merrill complained to wife Julia that "she has had her own way too long".[2]

Note:  This material was developed by members of the Autauga Genealogical Society.  Prattville Dragoon D Tyrone Crowley initiated the question, Robert Hodge made the discovery that the marriage occurred outside Alabama, and Ginger Jones found the book in which the marriage was recorded.  Tyrone Crowley's distant cousin, Sandra Parker Stratford, found and transmitted to us the actual record of the marriage.

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[1] Evans, Curt.  The Conquest of Labor, p. 231.

[2] Letter from Merrill Pratt to wife Julia, 18 Feb 1863.

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[1] Mississippi Quarterly, Winter 97/98, Vol. 51 Issue 1, p. 15.

[2] Evans, Curt.  The Conquest of Labor, pp. 103-104.

[3] Mississippi Quarterly, ibid.

[4] Letter from Julia to husband Merrill Pratt,  Nov. 30^th 1862, Pratt Family Letters.

[5] Letter from Merrill Pratt to wife Julia, 18 Feb 1863.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Evans, Curt.  The Conquest of Labor, p. 114.

[8] Troup County, Georgia, marriage records:  Drawer No. 156, Box No. 8, Marriages 1852-1865, Book D, Source No. SLC, RHS 3149-50, or http://cdm.sos.state.ga.us:8888/cdm4/countyfilm.php, "Troup".

[9] Letter from Merrill Pratt to wife Julia, 30 Mar 1863.