Dragoons Host Confederate Memorial Day Program with Southern Cross of Honor Placement for Capt. Samuel D. Oliver at Robinson Springs Cemetery

The Dragoon Confederate Memorial Day ceremony held on Monday April 22nd was a very special one that was flawlessly conducted by 1st Lt. Commander Harold Grooms and a hard working supporting staff. Ms. Cheryl Oliver of the Charleston, South Carolina area, was our featured speaker and guest. She is a direct descendant of Confederate Captain Samuel D. Oliver, who is buried in this cemetery but had no Confederate marking at his grave site. The camp proposed to honor him with the placement of a Southern Cross of Honor. Ms. Oliver was accompanied by two stalwart Southern gentlemen, Tim Hilton and Richard Leya, also from South Carolina. They are SCV members and re-enactors. Coincidentally, they participated in the Honor Guard that fired three volleys in honor of Captain Oliver. Richard provided the link between the Dragoons and Ms. Oliver which led to our ceremony. 

Dragoon Tyrone Crowley made the connection between Captain Oliver and the Dragoons last fall during a clean up event at Robinson Springs cemetery. Tyrone provided the following short biography on Captain Oliver:

Samuel D. Oliver was instrumental in recruiting and organizing the Dragoons, having come over from Robinson Springs (then part of Autauga County) for that purpose.  After organizing the company, Lt. Oliver became commander of the Prattville Dragoons from the time of their formation in January 1861 until he was replaced as commander by Captain Jesse J Cox in April 1861.  Lieutenant Oliver then became second in command, as First Lieutenant.

            Lt. Oliver was a popular officer among the Dragoons.  In the spring of 1861, one Dragoon wrote home that "Lieu’ts Smith and Oliver have gone up Escambia bay to-day with a party of men to look after some of Abe’s slick boys", referring to Union soldiers who were near "Camp Pratt" at Pensacola where the Dragoons spent several months after leaving Prattville in April.

            According to Wilbur Fisk Mims's War History of the Prattville Dragoons, Lt. Oliver was leader of a group of Dragoons who scouted out the enemy before the Battle of Corinth, when they suffered the loss in combat of Dragoon First Sergeant T. J. Ormsby.

            In April 1862, Lt. Oliver, along with Captain Jesse Cox, resigned from the Dragoons and accepted a commission in an infantry company.

Ms. Oliver is an accomplished author and has her own website : AuthorCherylOliver.com which provides information about her books which have a War Between the States theme. 

There were so many members of the camp who came forward to volunteer their time and effort to make this a first class event. Bill Myrick decorated the area with flags at 6:00AM on Monday. These were 3x5 flags all along the cemetery fence facing Alabama Highway 14. He also installed Confederate bunting on the fence and insured that we had tables, cold drinks, a portable cover and other comforts. Tom Snowden provided the sound and pre-event music; Allen Herrod brought his recording equipment; Paul Whaley provided most of the Honor Guard and was their leader…and many others helped with various details. Thanks to Camp members and others who made the day so wonderful. Additionally, Bob Miller was exceptional with his bagpipes again. 

Pictured below you will see 1st Lt. Commander Harold Grooms as the emcee and bagpiper Bob Miller; Guest-of-Honor Ms. Cheryl Oliver making her address and the outstanding Honor Guard present who fired there volleys in honor of of Confederate Captain Samuel D. Oliver.