Lincoln Government Incited the War Between the States - Editorial by Dragoon Charlie Graham

Dragoon Charlie Graham reminds us one more time of who really started the WBTS...  From today's (5/29/2013) Montgomery Advertiser, page 7A.

Lincoln government incited war 

I saw a couple of things in the paper recently that elevat­ed my ire.

One writer paid tribute to William T. Sherman by setting him as a good example of an American soldier’s attitude when he wrote to Ulysses Grant after their attempted unconstitutional Southern genocide that he never worried about getting in a tight for he always knew that Grant would be there to save him. Out num­bering the foe by three to one usually and up to five to one in many cases with much superi­or ordnance and accoutre­ments was also comforting, I’m sure.

That war should not have been. It was spawned by du­plicity and purposely incited by Lincoln’s federal govern­ment to render precisely what all federalists hold dearest to their hearts, complete sub­jugation of the nation’s civil­ians.

In another article about the 1863 siege of Vicksburg Iowa governor Terry Branstad said, “this was a tragic era of Amer­ican history, but the result was the union was preserved and America is what it is today.” To applaud the result, he obvi­ously doesn’t read the opinion page.

I find no valor in the actions of the U.S. government 1861-1865. We hear about Gettys­burg and Vicksburg, not much detail. We don’t hear about Greenville, a town about the size of Prattville today located 100 miles up river from Vicks­burg. It was another one of many blown off the face of the earth by our glorious perpetual union that cared not for the murdered civilians but only for perpetuity.

Paying Tribute to Our American Veterans from all Wars - Origins of Memorial Day

From the official Virginia state government records (www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp) , the following historical account of the first Memorial Day observances.  Interestingly, as one might suppose, it was the Southerners respectfully mournfully memorializing their Confederate men who died defending their homeland who first began the tradition and this was adopted by communities in the North.  Of course separate Confederate Memorial Day observances were subsequently adopted throughout the Southern states upon the coopting of the memorial observances by the Yankees.

The most widely accepted first observance of a Memorial Day was held "in Columbus, Miss., April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy. Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well."

"Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866."

"In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide or one-time events."

"It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays."

Another Interesting Historical May Anniversary

Sesquicentennial of Jefferson Davis’s Baptism

          The great trials faced by Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederate States of America caused him to seek guidance from his religious faith.  He could not remember having been baptized as a child, so in the spring of 1863, in the depressing weeks following Shiloh, after some prompting by Varina Davis, the Reverend Charles Minnegerode, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, approached President Davis and discussed baptism and confirmation.  Davis had married two Episcopalians (Sarah Knox Taylor, Varina Howell) and regularly attended services, but had never been moved to become a church member.  He stated that before he became President of the Confederacy he was “my own man” but that now he knew he should become “God’s man”.  On the 4^th day of May 1863, then, Jefferson Davis was baptized by Reverend Minnegerode in a ceremony at his home (he had not attended church service that day due to an urgent message saying that Gen. Joseph Johnston was in retreat, thus leaving Richmond open to attack).  Then in a special service at St. Paul’s the following Tuesday, he came forward to be confirmed, followed by his Chief of Ordnance Josiah Gorgas and his wife Amelia.  Jefferson Davis remained a devout Christian for the rest of his life.

All About Slavery - Ha!

A history lesson provided by a Union reenactor for the War Between the States supporting the fact that the WBTS was not about slavery but about federalism and Lincoln's consumption and fixation to keep the Southern states under Union control at all costs.  As can be readily seen by a quick study of the Emancipation Proclamation, the slaves in the North (and in portions of the South and certain territories) actually under Union control were not "freed" as part of Lincoln's heralded misinterpreted war measure. But, they certainly were enlisted in droves and used as cannon fodder by the Union generals.

By 1820 the first Chinese had immigrated to what would become the United States. These early immigrants lived mostly on the West Coast. Joseph Pierce, sold by his father in 1852 to Captain Amos Peck, came to live in the Peck home in Hartford, Connecticut. Although technically a slave, Joe was treated as a member of the Peck family. He received the name “Pierce” after President Franklin Pierce. In...1862, at the age of 20, Pierce enlisted in the 14th Connecticut Infantry. Private Pierce was allowed to keep his traditional Chinese pigtail while serving in the Army of the Potomac.  His unit would play a significant part in the repulse of Pickett’s Charge on July 3. After Gettysburg, Pierce was promoted to corporal. Stand in his footsteps by the monument on Hancock Avenue.   If you live in Connecticut take a picture of Corporal Pierce’s grave in Meriden, Connecticut.

Memorial Service and Events on the Anniversary of General Stonewall Jackson's Death

From FoxNews.com and therawstory.com an interesting account of the recent memorial service and events at the Stonewall Jackson Shrine in Caroline County VA including some recent forensic investigation conclusions and a bit of trivia:

150 years after Civil War, Stonewall Jackson remembered . . . with lemons

Civil war general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson is still being honored 150 years after his death, with visitors bringing lemons to shrines that honor his memory, therawstory.com reports.

Jackson, according to legend, sucked on lemons as he entered battle.
As visitors mark the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War this month, Jackson’s life and accidental shooting has attracted renewed interest, according to the site.

“Jackson is a hero to some, but strange enough to appeal to a lot of people,” Beth Parnicza, park historian at the Stonewall Jackson Shrine at Guinea Station, situated 70 miles southeast of Washington, told therawstory.com.

At the Chancellorsville battlefield, about 60 miles from Washington, pilgrims brought flowers and small Confederate flags to mark the site where Jackson was shot 150 years ago.

He was shot by the Confederate soldiers he led into battle against the Union troops when they mistook him for the enemy.

Jackson survived the shooting, but doctors were forced to amputate his arm. “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm,” said his commander, Robert E. Lee, according to the site.

Jackson earned the “Stonewall” nickname for his unflinching role in the Confederate victory at Manassas, Va., in July 1861. Over the next two years he proved to be an aggressive warrior.

Events were held at the National Park at the site of the home where General Stonewall Jackson died on Friday, May 10, 2013 in Caroline County, Va. Scholars have long questioned whether it was an infection or pneumonia that killed Jackson, who gained the nickname "Stonewall" early in the war and went on to be lionized in the South and feared in the North because of his military exploits. On the 150th anniversary of Jackson's death, a trauma surgeon with experience on the battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan revealed his diagnosis of Jackson's death after reinvestigating the medical record.  After reviewing the 1860s files and subsequent reports, surgeon and professor Joseph DuBose told the AP that Jackson likely died of pneumonia.

 

Also from the Associated Press released yesterday, an update from Lexington and Richmond VA:

RICHMOND, Va –  A federal appeals court is considering the Sons of Confederate Veterans' challenge of the city of Lexington's decision to exclude the heritage group's battle flag from its city light poles.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Thursday in Richmond. The judges typically rule in several weeks or more.

At issue is a September 2011 decision by Lexington officials to prohibit the flying of the Confederate flag on city-owned light poles. It limits flags that may fly on the poles to those representing the city, the U.S. and the state of Virginia.

Confederate History and Southern Heritage Festival

The 12th annual Confederate History and Southern Heritage Festival was held in Wetumpka AL on Saturday May 11th at the beautiful League of the South William Lowndes Yancey Chapter Headquarters Building on Hwy 231.  Cars lined the highway and Confederate Battle Flags lined the row of vendor booths.  Vendors included those selling Confederate flags, bumper stickers and tags to Alabama football souvenirs to boiled peanuts to hand crafted doll houses, bird houses and even spoons and utensils whittled from solid wood.  An antique car show also had a number of entries.  Hot dog plates with home made chili and all the other toppings with potato chips and soda pop were sold along with bowls of pinto beans and ham and cracklin corn bread.  No reason to go away hungry.  The Highway 280 Band played from the front porch of the League building with spectators enjoying the music from their folding chairs.  The kids were treated to a mule wagon ride which proceeded along the shoulder of Hwy 231 and then under a beautiful canopy of trees shading an old gravel county road which returned to the back side of the League property.  The two mules pulled a vintage spoke wheeled wagon which had one bench seat and a couple of bales of hay offering riders a view of this slower mode of transportation from bygone years.  Dr. Michael Hill, President of the League of the South was the keynote speaker and he garnered applause throughout his speech as he reminded people that Southern Christian principles provided the foundation for the Confederate Cause and should continue today as the essential bedrock for raising children to appreciate the true history of the South and to advance the Cause of liberty and freedom for which our forefathers fought and died.  He warned that the tyrannical federal government continues to encroach on our personal liberties, into our very homes attempting to indoctrinate our children and burdening us relentlessly with confiscatory taxes to advance their progressive socialist secular policies. As many have cautioned, Dr. Hill warned that the final goal of this tyrannical federal agenda may be total unsustainable socialism and social engineering and the resulting intrusions and anarchy may necessitate a final line of defense to preserve our freedom, our liberty, our families and our lives.  Copies of The Free Magnolia, the newsletter of the League of the South organization were available to get more information regarding their mission and ideals as they pertain to current events.  The overcast skies provided some respite from the May Alabama heat and the food and fellowship made for an enjoyable time celebrating our Southern heritage.

Confederate Compatriots Enjoying the Festival with Family

Prattville Dragoon James Spears and Wife

Mike Whorton Driving the Mule Wagon with Passengers Enjoying the Ride



Dragoon Commander Stuart Waldo and Children on Wagon Ride



  



Dr. Hill Addresses the Crowd





Hwy 280 Band Entertains the Crowd



Prattville Dragoons Commander's Column from May Camp Dispatch - Get Involved in Confederate Heritage Events

Commander's Column:  Confederate Heritage Month and Upcoming Events

            Confederate History and Heritage Month has drawn to a close and I hope everyone took advantage of the myriad of opportunities to participate in a memorial service or other event during this past month.  Especially as this is the Sesquicentennial, you should be able to look back on special memories of fellowship with Confederate compatriots during this historic period.  The Prattville Progress provided wonderful coverage of the Dragoons Confederate Memorial Day program but the lead story was that it was sparsely attended with only thirty people there.  In a subsequent email message, Tyrone questioned everyone as to what their ancestors would have thought of their support or lack of it for the camp’s event and the Cause.  General Robert E. Lee said, “Everyone should do all in his power to collect and disseminate the truth, in the hope that it may find a place in history and descend to posterity.”  It is in supporting the camp’s activities and proudly and publicly displaying pride in our Confederate and Southern heritage that we can disseminate the truth and “ensure that the true history of the South is presented to future generations” as the Charge implores us.

            Recently, in researching a third-great-grandfather of mine who was a Confederate veteran, I discovered his amazing service included twice being wounded and being held as a POW at Point Lookout after being captured in the Petersburg campaign mere weeks before the close of the War.  But as our ancestors unceasingly fought for the Cause of independence and liberty in defense of their homes and family, we have many more opportunities to advance the Cause.  The Dragoons sponsored an informational booth at the Prattville CityFest from 9 am-5 pm on Saturday May 4^th.  Volunteers manned the booth and friends and family dropped by to chat a while in the shade (and early on to stay out of the rain!).  Twenty four dozen Confederate flags were given to festival passers by and dozens of people signed our register requesting information about the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Dragoons and, their Confederate ancestor's service.  The same day, the Alabama Division 2013 Sesquicentennial event was held in Cedar Bluff, Alabama, where the Forrest Monument (commemorating Streight’s Raid and Surrender to General N.B. Forrest) was rededicated following the refurbishment and beautification efforts at the site. A reenactment of the surrender as well as a Mechanized Cavalry ride was part of the day’s events. 

            The day following our monthly camp meeting on Thursday, May 9^th is the deadline for registration for the Alabama Division Reunion--May 10^th--so be sure and get your registration in if you plan to go.  Late registrations may be possible.  The reunion will be hosted by the Ft. Blakely Camp 1864 in Foley, Alabama on June 7-9^th and will include a Commander’s reception, a Memorial Service at Confederate Rest Cemetery and a Blakely Battlefield Tour.  May 31^st is the last day for “normal” registration for the National Reunion before late fees are assessed.  The National Reunion is being held in Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 17-20^th and will include numerous activities and tours.  Join us as we continue to commemorate the Sesquicentennial and honor our Confederate ancestors.

Deo Vindice.

Stuart Waldo

Camp Commander

Prattville Dragoons May Camp Meeting at the Prattaugan Museum Part 3

Rachel Deaile continued to host the Prattville Dragoons on a wonderful tour of the Prattaugan Museum for the camp meeting last Thursday moving thru each room of the museum.  Following the Dragoons Room, the group moved into the Pratt Room which is the other room across the foyer on the front of the house.  A number of photograph portraits of Pratt and his only surviving daughter Ellen Pratt DeBardeleben and her children were hung throughout the room. As was proper for the period, Ellen married into another wealthy family, the DeBardelebens of Birmingham who helped supply iron for Daniel Pratt's gin manufacturing operation. 

Daniel Pratt's own mother died when he was fourteen and he quit school at the age of twelve.  He moved to Georgia at the age of twenty and Sam Griswold taught him how to build cotton gins.  It is said that Sam dressed undercover as a woman to sneak into Eli Whitney's to steal his gin design - one of the first incidents of industrial espionage. In 1833 Pratt moved to the Autauga area and worked in the McNeal Mill until he left to build his gin shop on Autauga Creek, leasing 2064 acres for $21000.  A Crenshaw Gin sits in the middle of the Gin Room which was the final stop of our tour.  1890s blueprints of gin designs are hung about the room and one case provides samples of cotton cleaned to varying degrees in gins from "good ordinary" to "fair middling: from which the term fair to middling was coined. Within ten years Pratt had accumulated great wealth and besides the large manufacturing shop, Pratt also founded the Autauga Citizen newspaper and the Autauga Banking and Trust.  Pratt loved the arts and played the organ, one of which is found in the Pratt Room of the museum.  Daniel Pratt was a Methodist but helped build community churches of all denominations.  A number of additional buildings sprang up in addition to the gin shop including a huge cotton mill which burned down in 2002.  Continental Gin continued gin manufacturing operations in the facility until a few years later.  Developers have plans to preserve the historic gin manufacturing buildings including the old water turbine and convert the building to apartments.  This is wonderful news to preserve this historic structure which tells the story of the town of Prattville.

The Pratt Room in the Prattaugan Museum

Prattville Dragoons May Camp Meeting at the Prattaugan Museum Part 2

The Dragoons enjoyed a tour of the Prattaugan Museum by Director Rachel Deaile for their May Camp 1524 meeting last Thursday.  The first stop was the Dragoons Room where in 1861 a meeting was held which effectively organized the Dragoons with town founder Daniel Pratt funding the outfitting of the men with horses, supplies and uniforms so grand that many mistook for officer's.  Pratt was a New Hampshire transplant who built a cotton gin manufacturing plant founding the village on Autauga Creek about 15 miles west of Montgomery, the Alabama state capital.  The gin manufacturing plant endured in the same location for over 150 years, at one time was the largest in the world and, made Pratt Alabama's first millionaire.  In the center of the room Rachel had set a table with the Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans 1990 charter from the national headquarters.  Also on the table were a number of artifacts including an 1858 patent Remington revolver, a musket ball maker into which molten lead was poured, a powder flask, another flask full of lead shot and a canteen of barrel construction, wood with iron bands.  Also on the table was a book providing the history of Company K of the 3rd Alabama Cavalry Regiment into which the remaining Dragoons of Company H were absorbed during the War Between the States after casualties had depleted their ranks.  Over the fireplace in the Dragoon Room hung a portrait of Abby Holt Smith who lived in this house for many years and was said to have purchased a property next door where her sons could sleep as she believed dogs and boys belonged outside and not in her home. She was a philanthropist of her time and she was the young lady who presented the Dragoons their flag at a departure ceremony outside the present day Prattville Primary School where the Dragoons monument is now located.  Also in the room is a dragoons saber and a Union saddle with Confederate blanket.  Atop a display case is an original restored bugle and drum and a Confederate cadet uniform is displayed in another case.  On another side of the room is a World War I era photograph of a Prattville black soldier whose mother was the first black to own a business in the town.  A prominent display case along the front wall shows World War II era bomb casings and parts which were manufactured in the gin shop when it was retrofitted for wartime production.  It is unknown if the gin shop made any munitions for the Confederacy during the WBTS.  Most of the WWII photographs showed the Rosie the Riveter women who ran production during WWII.  They received an E for excellence in service and $500,000 was invested in the property during the period for flood control, constructing levies and the dams visible today to ensure uninterrupted production. 

Rachel Deaile Addresses Camp 1524 in the Dragoons Room

Prattville Dragoons SCV Charter and Artifacts from the WBTS

Prattville Dragoons May Camp Meeting at the Prattaugan Museum

The Dragoons conducted a different camp meeting for their May get together. After a number of folks ate dinner at Shoney's, everyone assembled at the Prattaugan Museum on Main Street in downtown Prattville.   Rachel Deaile, Director of the Museum hosted the Dragoons with a wonderfully informative tour.  The Prattaugan Museum is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Daniel Pratt Historic District.  The Museum occupies the Mulbry Grove Cottage McWilliams-Smith-Rice House, a Federal style raised cottage with Greek Revival architectural elements built in the 1840s by A.K.Williams.  The house was the residence of George L. and Abbie Holt Smith and remained in the possession of their ancestors until 1995 when it was donated to the Autauga County Heritage Association. 

Following a gathering in the foyer of the house, the Dragoons with their host moved to the Dragoon Room, named in honor for the company which was formed in 1861 after an initial meeting in this very room.  Daniel Pratt, founder of the town of Prattville and the gin works which was the center and heart of the antebellum village provided a quarter million dollars in war bonds and horses for uniforms and munitions and supplies to outfit the Prattville Dragoons, a light mounted infantry corps.  Sixteen were in attendance to enjoy a terrific educational program.  Following an invocation by Chaplain Snowden, Flag Chairman Larry Spears led everyone in pledges to the United States and Confederate Battle Flags.  George and Brent Jenks were recognized as special guests from the Semple Camp.  Announcements included upcoming events including the Confederate History and Southern Heritage Festival in Wetumpka on Saturday May 11th (which will be the subject of a future blogpost soon to come), and the registration deadlines for the Alabama Division and the National SCV Reunions.  Rachel announced that she was happy to return the Sons of Confederate Veterans 1990 charter recently discovered in the museum archives establishing the Prattville Dragoons and a presentation was made at the conclusion of the tour program.  Check back for two additional posts for details regarding Rachel's extensive program.

The Prattaugan Museum Illuminated at Night

Museum Director Rachel Deaile Presenting Camp 1524 Charter to Dragoon Commander Stuart Waldo

12th Annual Confederate History and Southern Heritage Festival in Wetumpka

On Saturday May 11th from 9am til, the William Lowndes Yancey Chapter of the League of the South will hold the 12th annual Confederate History and Southern Heritage Festival in Wetumpka at the League building at 12814 US Hwy 231 at the 168 1/2 mile marker north of Wetumpka.  Festivities will include the Hwy 280 band playing for everyone's entertainment, speakers, mule plowing demonstration, mule and wagon rides, Confederate reenactors, antique cars, space walks for the kids, craft vendors making handmade wares and food and drink including lard and cracklin cooking.  The group found that the month of April had many conflicting events it being the state proclaimed Confederate History month so for scheduling concerns as well as to take advantage of better weather, the event was moved to May 11th this year according to Mike Whorton, President of the Chapter. Further, Mike explains the event is held to honor the sacrifice of Southern families and the thirty thousand Alabama Confederate soldiers who died for Southern liberty.  Mike reminds us that we should never forget to embrace our Southern heritage especially during the continuing celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the War for Southern Independence.  The following provides some images from the flyer for the event.

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Meeting for May

From the Dragoons Camp Dispatch newsletter:

                May Meeting – Prattaugan Museum Visit 

For our May meeting on Thursday 9 May, we will meet and eat as usual at 6 p.m. at Shoney's Prattville, then will go to Old Downtown Prattville for a visit to the Prattaugan Museum/Heritage Center.  The Museum has an important connection to the Dragoons, because the initial meeting that resulted in the recruiting of the young men who formed the Prattville Dragoons was held in the front room of the house that is now the Prattaugan Museum.  This room is called the "Dragoon Room" and offers displays of Confederate paraphernalia.  Our audio version of the "History of the Prattville Dragoons" plays on a computer over in the corner, for visitors to hear.  We will also get a tour and look at the other rooms and exhibits in the Museum.  If you haven't been to Prattville's charming little museum, this is your chance.  Our guide for the tour will be Museum Director Rachel Deaile (dee A lee).  The Museum is located at 102 East Main Street in Prattville, and the phone number is 361-0961.  If you don't want to eat that night, just come to the Museum at 7 p.m.

Prattville Dragoons May EC Meeting

The Executive Committee for the Prattville Dragoons including Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Chaplain Tom Snowden, Communications Officer Tyrone Crowley and Commander Stuart Waldo attended the EC meeting on Monday evening.  The Chaplain provided magnificent opening and closing prayers.  The following outlines the agenda:

            1.  CityFest went well.  We gave out two gross (twenty four dozen) small 3x5" Battle Flags.  We sold $72 worth of 3x5' Battle Flags and CDs which will be deposited in the Camp Treasury.  David Brantley has what little is left of Quarter Master stores.  Although there is no reason to replenish stores immediately, we believe an additional gross of the small flags (and additional larger flags for sale) should be gotten for the next Cityfest.

            2.  Stuart and Tyrone plan to drive down for the SCV Alabama Division Reunion on 8 June in Foley AL.  I-65 Flag Chairman Larry Spears will already be down there, so can attend as a Dragoon.  Brigade Commander Bill Myrick will likely attend and Quartermaster David Brantley has also confirmed he will be there all weekend with his wife.  2nd Lt Chris Booth is tentative.  The events on Saturday June 8th include business meetings and a luncheon as well as a memorial service at the Confederate Rest Cemetery.  Deadline for registering is Friday May 10th.

            3.  A visitor from the Semple Camp will attend Thursday's Dragoon camp meeting which will include a tour of the Prattaugan Museum downtown Main Street, Prattville at 7pm (following dinner at 6pm at the regular Shoney's meeting place).  

        4.  The Dragoons Treasurer reported the balance for the camp treasury and funds for a set of new printer cartridges was appropriated and Wayne indicated he would follow up with the AL Division on the reimbursement for the flags purchased for the Confederate Memorial Park flag setting conducted in April.   

            6.  A proposal was introduced from Dragoon Jeffrey Jones for the camp to purchase a cannon but the $12,000 price is thought to be excessive for our camp to undertake.  Larry Spears has previously provided information that the Pell City Camp has a cannon which is available to all the Division for events. 

            7.  Wayne and Tyrone are working on a great project to put all the names at the Prattville Oak Hill Cemetery onto an Excel spreadsheet tabs or sheets of which will represent or depict the sections of the cemetery. Then the Excel cells which represent graves can be highlighted (gray) for the Confederate graves.  This file will replace the old handwritten plats we have used in the past.  This project is a lot of work to put together but after the first printing, the spreadsheet will be available thereafter and we can easily add new Confederate graves that are discovered.  

Dragoons at the 2013 Prattville Cityfest

Members of the Prattville Dragoons manned an info table at CityFest on Saturday May 4th, 2013.  Rain and unseasonably cold mid-40s temps caused a slow start, but by afternoon the weather had cleared and it turned out pretty.  After drying off the tables and hanging banners before the clouds broke and the first festival spectators and patrons arrived, Dragoons Wayne Sutherland, Bill Myrick, Don Drasheff and Stuart Waldo huddled about a propane heater and attempted to keep the flyers and poster easel from flying away as the winds increased with the front passing.  The Cityfest lasted thru a slow start at 9am til 5pm and in all, a page and a half of contacts were completed requesting information about the SCV and UDC, genealogical assistance and membership information.  Communication Officer Tyrone Crowley will contact these folks and provide copies of his outstanding Camp Dispatch newsletter.  Tyrone and Larry Miller and David Brantley manned the booth in the afternoon.  Former Commander Wyatt Willis stopped by to say howdy.  A couple dozen Alabama Division Sesquicentennial educational posters were handed out including many to youths and teachers.  288 3x5" Battle flags were handed out to youngsters and young at heart and it was great seeing those parade down Main Street.  SCV coins were also given away especially after we ran out of Battle flags.  All the 3x5' Battle flags brought by the Quartermaster and a couple copies of the outstanding Georgia-Division CD "The Truth Concerning the Confederate Battle Flag" were also sold.  By the time the festival concluded, it was a beautiful clear mid-60s cool spring day and a great success sharing our Southern and Confederate heritage.  Many thanks to the Dragoons who helped with the booth and those friends and Prattville neighbors who stopped by to say hello throughout the day.

Dragoons at the Prattville Cityfest Saturday Morning

Dragoon Booth Afternoon Attendants

Prattville Dragoons Chaplain's Column from the May 2013 Camp Dispatch

Chaplain’s Column

            Have you ever thought of the Godless condition of our nation lately? It is so easy to recognize the need for change. I believe we tend to focus on the enormity of the problem and we lose sight of our sovereign God who waits for us to ask His intervention.

            Political policies and legislation are not ultimately determined in conference rooms and governmental chambers, but in prayer closets. The voices that shape the direction of a nation are not necessarily those that ring out in legislative halls, but those that approach the throne room of God with bold faith (Heb. 4:16). As the church believes and prays, the Lord will respond. You see, prayer does make a difference.

            Knowing that God can change a country, you may be wondering why He has waited so long. Maybe He is asking you a similar question: "Why have you waited so long to pray?" Every authority on earth can be touched by the power of prayer if we are willing to ask and believe God.

            We have many on our Dragoon prayer list who are in need of prayer. Please look at these names and mention them in prayer.

1.  Jeff Potts

2.  James & Ann Spears

3.  Bobby Carter & wife Merrill

4.  James Little's wife Nita

5.  David Brantley's wife Jennifer

6.  Allen Herrod

7.  Whitson Waldo (Stuart Waldo's Dad)

8.  Wayne Sutherland

9.  Past Division Commander David Allen - kidney stones

10.  John Durden's son David Fail - TIA

11.  Cecil Williamson

12.  J J Oakley

13.  Billy Parker - recovering from injuries suffered in fall

14.  Billy Parker's son-in-law Stan Stuckey

15.  James Whittington

16.  Bill Branch - undergoing back surgery

Yours In Christ,

Tom Snowden, Chaplain
___________________________________________________
Camp News

Past Chaplain Branch Will Undergo Surgery.  Past Chaplain Bill Branch reports that he is suffering advanced spinal stenosis and must have surgery.  Bill will be homebound for several weeks but looks forward to a good recovery.  Bill tried everything else and surgery was the final option.  Let's keep Bill in our thoughts and prayers.

Dragoons Information and Recruiting Booth at the 2013 Prattville Cityfest

The Prattville Dragoons will man an informational and recruiting table at the Prattville Cityfest which will be held on Saturday May 3, 2013 from 9am-5pm.  The Dragoons tent will be set up just up Main Street (east) from the Prattaugan Museum.  This is an enjoyable day for all, a chance to mingle with fellow Prattvillians and share information about the Sons of Confederate Veterans and it's mission with festival attendees.  On Friday the Cityfest has the opening ceremony at 6:45pm followed by a local band the Tip Tops performing on stage overlooking the river downtown.  There is plenty of food including hot dogs and every imaginable fair food. On Saturday the Dragoons will have a tent to provide SCV and Dragoons information and Confederate memorabilia including educational posters, Battle Flags, SCV coins, flyers and SCV applications to all interested passers-by.  We will also try to provide a service previously offered at this event to help search for Confederate ancestors using the Broadfoot database and Google and Find a Grave website searches.  We hope that all Dragoons will come help man the tent and that every supporter of Southern and Confederate heritage stops by to say hello as they peruse the many other arts and crafts tents and attractions at the Prattville Cityfest.

Past Alabama Division SCV Commander Leonard Wilson - R.I.P.

Following is the obituary of Past Alabama Division Commander Leonard Wilson, who was also the founder of the Confederate Library at Confederate Memorial Park.

            Leonard Ray Wilson, 77, of Jasper, went home to be with the Lord on April 4, 2013, at Lakeland Medical Center in Haleyville.

            Commander Wilson was born on March 6, 1936, and was a lifelong resident of Walker County. He was an active member of the Macedonia Church of Christ, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Council of Conservative Citizens, and Alabama Constables’ Association.

            He attended the University of Alabama, Baylor University, and was a graduate of the Birmingham School of Law. Throughout his career he was active in local and state politics. Mr. Wilson had the distinction of serving as an Alabama delegate in five Republican National Conventions and of being the primary collaborator in establishing the  Alabama Division’s Confederate Library at Confederate Memorial Park. He compiled hundreds of books and Civil War artifacts to preserve and commemorate Confederate history for future generations.

            He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleo Wilson and William Wilson.

            He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Ray Wilson, Jr.; three grandsons, Adam, Jack, and Webb Wilson; and a host of other relatives and dear friends.

            With an Honor Guard provided by fellow Constables of the State of Alabama, visitation was held on Sunday, April 7, 2013, from 1 until 3 p.m. at Carbon Hill Church of Christ, prior to the funeral service at 3 p.m. Alabama Division Chaplain Dr. Charles Baker officiated. Burial was at Mackey Boshell Cemetery, Macedonia Church of Christ, by means of Wilson Brothers Funeral Home, Carbon Hill, Alabama.  An Honor Guard and Gun Salute were provided by the Alabama Division.  Commander Gary Carlyle and many other members of the Alabama Division were present to honor the memory of Past Commander Wilson.