Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 at the Autauga County Fair

The Dragoons participated in the Autauga County Fair which ran from Tuesday October 8th thru Saturday the 12th with a booth in the fairgrounds exhibit building.  This was the second consecutive year the camp has manned a booth at this fair.  The Dragoons setup on Saturday October 5th after the camp muster with a couple of tables, vertical banners and horizontal banners including one which was hung on the fairgrounds fence facing the road approaching the fair.  The booth was the same excellent location as last year, immediately adjacent to the exit from the building and entrance to the midway.  Dragoons 2nd Lt Karl Wade led the effort including submitting the application for the booth and coordinating all those who worked during the fair hours all week long.  Those in the camp who helped included Karl, 1st Lt Harold Grooms and Quartermaster Bill Myrick, all for multiple shifts, Color Sgt John Dennis, compatriots Larry Miller, Tyrone Crowley, and Dave Thompson, Treasurer Billy Leverette, Comms Ofc Beir Butler and, Commander Waldo.  Over four hundred mini-Battle flags and 250 SCV recruiting coins were handed out to passers-by plus dozens of Alabama Division educational posters.  The camp also sold dozens of  Confederate 3x5ft flags and car tags and tote bags with proceeds being used to replenish the camp stores.  A number of SCV applications were handed out and the camp gained one member thru the fair recruiting effort who actually attended the October camp meeting at Kendrick's Farm Market and Cafe that Thursday. The fair was a huge success with better sales than last year’s fair and, greater numbers of educational posters and mini-Battle flags being given out to fair-goers.   But, participation in the Autauga County Fair presents an all-important opportunity to get out in front of the community, showing that the SCV and the Dragoons are a responsible active civic organization.  Those members who participated should be commended their time and energy in helping out at and in preparation for the camp's participation in the Autauga County Fair.

Dragoons Jayson Altieri Presents a Review of the Book "1865 Alabama: Civil War to Uncivil Peace"

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 compatriot Col. Jayson Altieri presented a review of the book "1865 Alabama: Civil War to Uncivil Peace" for the camp meeting on October 10th.  The book was written by Christopher Lyle McIlwain and was published in 2017. 

The major campaigns in the central and western portions of the Confederate states in 1864 included Chattanooga, Franklin/Nashville, Atlanta and, Sherman's march to Savannah.  In the east, Sherman pursued Gen. Johnston up to North Carolina and Grant's Overland and Wilderness Campaigns in 1864 led to the Petersburg Seige culminating with Appomattox in 1865.  Most think that the War Between the States ended with the surrender of Lee at Appomattox but in actuality Gen. Johnston surrendered to Sherman on April 26th and Gen. Forrest did not surrender until May. 

Alabama seceded in January 1861 but there was actually about a 60/30 split between those in favor and those opposing secession in the state.  Actually, six Union regiments were formed from Alabama volunteers while 32 regiments went to fight for the Confederate Army (plus additional artillery).  The Alabama Governor Andrew Moore supported the secession and seized Federal property in the state and readied Alabama for War.  In addition to portions of the north part of the state supporting the Federals, the Wiregrass as well as the panhandle of Florida and south Georgia were strongholds of Union sympathizers.

After agriculture, railroad was the next largest part of the Alabama antebellum economy with goods transport routes from Mobile to Montgomery and then north to Birmingham and Tennessee as well as east to Atlanta.  Railroads drove the economy.  Railroad track gauges were not standard in the pre-War years.  From Selma to Montgomery there was a narrower gauge whereas the track from Montgomery to Atlanta was standard gauge.  This required material moving east-west to be offloaded in Montgomery and cargo transferred to other railcars; this logistical process drove the local Montgomery economy.  When Jefferson Davis traveled from Mississippi to Montgomery for his inauguration, he had to travel from Biloxi to Memphis to to Atlanta and back west to Montgomery.  It is thought this issue with transport around Alabama was one factor considered in moving the capitol of the Confederacy from Montgomery to Richmond, this and the local bouts with yellow fever and malaria. 

The largest battle in Alabama was the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864.  This again emphasized the importance of Alabama in the transport of goods for the Confederacy as Mobile was a center of blockade running.  There were two battles in Alabama in 1865, the Battle of Tuscaloosa when the University of Alabama was burned to the ground and then the battle for the Arsenal in Selma in April.  The Selma arsenal provided ironclad parts, guns, rifled cannons, and ammunition.  The Union forces tried three previous times to take Selma but in 1865, a large command under Maj. Gen. Wilson was commissioned by Sherman and drove into Alabama.  They burned Selma and the Arsenal munitions factory after they defeated a severely overmanned and outgunned Confederate Home Guard defense of 2000 led by Gen. Forrest at Ebenezer Church.  This crippled the Confederate weapons manufacturing and hurt the Alabama manufacturing sector and economy postwar. 

1865 saw start of the Occupational Reconstruction under Alabama Governor Watts who was the 18th governor for the state and the last wartime governor.  He had conscripted the cadets at the University of Alabama during the War and had wanted to continue the resistance when the Armies of the Confederacy were surrendering in April of 1865 but was arrested and removed from office in May of that year.  Governor Parsons was the 19th governor of Alabama, a friend and associate of President Johnson and was from New York.  President Johnson supported states being empowered to rebuild themselves as part of his Reconstruction plans but, Johnson was impeached by a Republican Congress which initiated their own Reconstruction which went on for eight painful years.

In a summary, Jayson indicated the book provided a detailed account of the last days of the War in Alabama and provided a better understanding of the period after Appomattox.  The author is critical of the Alabama political leadership post-1865.  McIlwain also takes to task the "Lost Cause" historical narrative which Jefferson Davis and many of the Confederate leaders and peoples espoused.  The book also lacked detailed maps. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Meeting for October 2019

The Dragoons held their meeting " under the stars" at Kendricks Farm Market and Cafe on Thursday October 10th.  Owner Mike Kendrick made the pavilion available to the camp as the weather was cooperative and the sunset brought cooler temperatures.  The pavilion had fans and string lighting which made it look like stars glimmering under the ceiling.  Several of the camp members enjoyed eating their dinner there in the pavilion before the meeting started while others sat in the splendid indoor comfort of the Kendricks fine restaurant,

Jason Altieri, a member of the Dragoons, presented a most interesting program on his reading and study of the the book "1865 Alabama: Civil War to Uncivil Peace" by Tuscaloosa attorney Christopher Lyle McIlwayne Sr. As usual, Jayson was well prepared for his presentation with visual aids and a smooth detailed delivery.  While a half dozen members were working the Autauga County Fair and the Dragoons booth there at the same time as the meeting, still over twenty folks were in attendance. There was one prospective member who joined the camp and Adjutant Wayne Sutherland guided him through the process and paperwork for joining the SCV.   A lady friend of the Dragoons, Lea Norman, was also visiting the camp for the meeting.

Former camp Chaplain Tom Snowden led the gathering in the Invocation and Benediction and Commander Waldo provided the reading of the SCV Charge and the announcements and upcoming events. It was an enjoyable camp meeting in a unique and beautiful atmosphere. 

Chaplains Column - The Attacks Against Truth

Tradition usually rests upon something which men did know; history is often the manufacture of the mere liar."

-- Jefferson Davis

To you Sons of Confederate Veterans, we live in a time that it is up to us to pass on our traditions and our heritage. It is up to us to stand arm in arm and teach the generations behind us the truth of our ancestors. Jefferson Davis quote is so true. History our children are taught is not the true history of the world or the south. Our ancestors were the definitions of gentleman. They fought and died protecting their family's and their homes.

Sadly, today history teaches they were war mongering racists. They were led my the most beloved General in the United States. A Statesman to the fullest. A God fearing, God Loving Husband and Father. General Lee is someone all should strive to emulate.

The History that is now being shed on Christ is an attack on the true son of God. The world is against Him; which he taught while on earth.

I am thankful we have a Lord and Savior that is always there for us, that has stood against time because he has been here since before the begging of time. We must most importantly stand for Christ and share the Gospel with all we see!

Until we meet again, God Bless

Prattville Dragoons Fall Muster

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 held their annual fall muster at the Dismukes property on Peninsula Lane/Main Street in Millbrook on Saturday October 5th.  It didn't feel much like fall as the temperature was in the 80s even at 10am when canopies were pitched and tables and chairs setup for the picnic.  By the time the event concluded just after 1pm that afternoon, it was in the mid-90s; the heat certainly abbreviated the time members were comfortable enjoying the fellowship.  About twenty compatriots and their wives and children attended the muster and enjoyed a BBQ and hamburger and Conecuh sausage grill-out with sides and desserts including delicious baked beans, potato salad and corn casserole.  Plenty of beverages helped keep everyone cool as they sought shade under the canopies and oak tree.  The new camp banner was hung on one canopy in part to provide additional shade.  A number of folks shot clay pigeons to practice their target shooting as the clays were pitched into the air using a spring loaded and hand thrower.  A couple compatriots used the opportunity to bring their handguns to shoot at stationary targets too.  Members who attended included Commander Waldo and his family, 1st Lt Grooms, 2nd Lt Wade, Adjutant Sutherland, Chaplain Dismukes, Quartermaster Myrick, Comms Officer Beir Butler, Tyrone Crowley, Bill Branch and his better half, Dale Boyles, Allen Herrod, and Philip Edwards and his wife and daughter. It was an enjoyable day to spend with a wonderful group of Confederates and to kick off a fall Saturday in the South culminated by some college football viewing.  

Dragoons Compatriot Tyrone Crowley Portrays Daniel Pratt for UDC Chapter 94 Meeting

            On Wednesday 2 October 2019 at the Montgomery Country Club, Dragoon Tyrone Crowley made a presentation as Daniel Pratt before the ladies of the Cradle of the Confederacy Chapter 94, United Daughters of the Confederacy.  Tyrone described his childhood, time as a carpenter's apprentice, then his coming to the South in 1819, where he became a major industrialist about whom books have been written, and was a staunch supporter of the Confederate cause till the day he died in May 1873.   He described his support of the Confederacy, shown by Governor John Gill Shorter's statement that the cotton mill in Prattville was worth a regiment to the Confederate government, given its production of cloth for uniforms at a reasonable cost, plus various other articles it manufactured to be used by the Confederate Army.

            After his presentation, UDC member Linda Davis presented Tyrone with a copy of the 125th Anniversary issue of the UDC Magazine, a memorable and historical issue 300 pages in length.  After the meeting , Chapter President Loretta Martin and several other members expressed their thanks for what they had learned about Daniel Pratt and his support of the Confederacy.

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander's Column for September 2019 - Reaching and Recruiting Millennials for the SCV

Was disappointed that we lost a few members in the recent renewal period.  But I look at the members we have gained over the past few years with great appreciation and am encouraged by their spirit to get involved with the camp’s activities and projects.  For these past few years the SCV has struggled with initiatives to increase membership and retention.  The SCV embraced Dr. Tom Hiter’s Vision 2016 plan to grow membership and encourage thriving camps by sharing best practices from across the organization.  Though overall membership has remained somewhat level or stagnant, not surprisingly, when our heritage has been under assault and our Confederate monuments and flags attacked, we realize an uptick in membership.  The Division has held workshops and Brigade Commander Stover held a Brigade leadership meeting with breakouts to discuss planting new camps and engaging and retaining members thru camp activities. 

Millennials are the largest generation in American history.  Millions have Confederate ancestors and are potential members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  In reading the recent Confederate Veteran magazine report by Lt. Commander McCluney, I noted that he indicated he was a former educator.  Former Alabama Division Commander Gary Carlyle was a former high school teacher.  Our own Brigade Commander Stover teaches children.  I believe these folks have an insight into how to reach millennials particularly as they have had personal experience reaching them as educators.  1Lt. Commander McCluney noted, “To marketers, millennials are the holy grail of potential consumers (but) marketers still don’t know how to court them, what creative tactics and marketing principles should be used to create enjoyable shareable content for millennials.  Many associations are waiting for Generation Y to come of age and change their engagement habits to mirror habits of previous generations who joined associations as their career and age advanced. (But) Generation Y has a different set of needs, interests and values with implications for every functional area of associations from advocacy to technology of websites. How (we) attracted young members a decade ago isn’t working for (us) today.”

McCluney emphasized that “the next generation of members values Real Involvement. They need to feel needed and want recognition and reward. They value a variety of challenging work, an environment fostering a spirit of creativity and innovation.   To engage millennials use mission focused messaging, targeted campaigns and opportunities to get hands on.”  He referenced a Millennial Impact Report (themillenialimpact.com/2014-research) citing key trends, “Millennials engage with causes to help people, not institutions. Millennials support issues rather than organizations.”  Millennials prefer limited remote engagement.  They are influenced by their peers. They “see no value in becoming a member of what they see as an inefficient organization.”   He summarized an action plan to “explain qualifications for joining the SCV and your camp, create strategies (such as a reward system) for referrals, make young people want to participate and not miss out and, advertise your camp/program on social media”

Victoria Lammona wrote “6 Ways to Increase Association Membership” ( site-seeker.com/increase-millennial-membership-associations) and touched on many of these same points but it was interesting to see how the SCV offers very much these desired attributes.   “Create an exclusive environment” (such as descendancy from a Confederate veteran).  “Employ Cause Marketing and Social Responsibility Efforts” (such as our charitable initiatives including Salvation Army bell-ringing and canned food drives and charitable donations).  “Offer Educational Opportunities” (like our monthly meetings, the Division Education Conference and the Stephen Dill Lee Institute).  “Promote and Incentivize Engagement” (like thru Brigade and Division awards for supporting activities and fundraisers).  “Personalize Everything and Anything” (reaching members on a personal level and providing personal membership content).  “Forfeit Control’ (allowing younger members to assume leadership positions and drive initiatives and own activities).   These same initiatives surely apply to attracting members of all ages who want a rewarding association that creates a sense of worth, value and ownership. 

I would like to continue to broaden our social media exposure, perhaps creating an Instagram account.  Need an owner.  We could post videos of our meeting presentations on YouTube to further increase reach and provide accessibility for members and potential compatriots.  Need an owner.  We need to do better at approaching and attracting all potential members and especially millennials and younger men.  We are all responsible.  We can do better in ensuring that all our members understand the importance of their contributions and participation in camp activities and make sure they are valued as important individuals and as part of our SCV organization.   I would encourage everyone to propose ideas and step forward to grasp ownership for new initiatives to further the Charge, to improve our exposure and outreach in our community and, to make the SCV and the Dragoons a bigger and better organization.  

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Dragoons Fall Muster – Saturday October 5^th, clay shoot and BBQ at the Dismukes on Peninsula Ln, Millbrook

Prattville Dragoons Camp Meeting – Thursday, October 10^th 6pm at the Kendrick Farm Market and Cafe

Autauga County Fair – October 8^th – 12^th , Dragoons booth at the Autauga County Fairgrounds each night 5-9pm

Children of the Confederacy Field Trip – Saturday October 26^th, Andersonville GA

Prattville Christmas Parade – Friday December 6^th, 7pm starting at the Autauga County Courthouse downtown

Salvation Army Kettle Bell Ringing – Saturday December 7^th and 14^th 9am-7pm at Winn Dixie in Prattville  

Prattville Dragoons Christmas Social – Friday December 13^th 6pm at Buena Vista, CR 4 Prattville

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander Visits University of North Alabama in Florence for Homecoming

Dragoons Commander Waldo and his family visited Florence on Saturday September 28^th for the University of North Alabama homecoming.  UNA is actually the oldest college in Alabama having been founded as Lagrange College in 1830, one year before the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Flornece has many historic sites including the antebellum Simpson House dating from 1843 now Coby Hall serving as the Admissions administration building for UNA.  Nearby is Courtview built in 1855 by George Washington Foster and used in the WBTS by General Nathan Bedford Forrest as his headquarters, now UNA Rogers Hall. 

The homecoming parade started at 10am on Saturday in front of Rogers Hall and proceeded down Court Street for all the UNA fans. The campus fountain and the lion mascot habitat housing Leo and Una are a short walk away.  The Lions won their homecoming football game against the Presbyterian Blue Hose by a score of 41-21.  

The next day while driving around Florence, the College Place residential neighborhood was designated by an historic sign which indicated that Confederate defensive breastworks were constructed in the area during the WBTS.  Overlooking the Tennessee River, another historic marker designated the location of an earthen fort constructed by Confederate General Daniel Ruggles and last saw action in December 1864 when Federal gunboats shelled the fort attempting to block General Hood’s crossing theer following battles in Franklin and Nashville. 

The Wilson Dam, part of the Tennessee Valley Authority system of dams on the Tennessee River is just upstream of that Confederate fort location.  The Marriott Shoals Resort and Spa overlooks the river and the dam.  Across Cox Creek Parkway which extends over the Wilson Dam Bridge is Veterans Memorial Park which has a beautiful series of monuments honoring veterans of American wars and includes a static display of an F-4 Phantom and an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter as well as artillery pieces and rockets.