Prattville Dragoons Asbury Cemetery Workday

Quartermaster Bill Myrick, Color Sergeant John Dennis and compatriot Rob Schwartz from the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 tackled a huge project cleaning fallen trees and limb cleanup at the historic Old Town Asbury cemetery in Autaugaville (AL) on Wednesday February 24th.  The cemetery is in a heavily wooded area off County Road 19 (Pickett Street) in Autaugaville.  The recent hurricanes (in the fall of 2020) caused extensive damage at the cemetery with some huge trees fallen in the cemetery and covering the graves of some of these historic area founders..   A brick wall around Edmund Shackelford's plot was damaged.  Shackelford was a veteran of the War of 1812 and Indian conflicts in the Alabama frontier and his family's home formed what is now Kingston AL.  The Dragoons worked in concert with the Dutch Bend Society and the Old Autauga Historical Society in performing this work.  Another commendable community service activity by members of the Prattville Dragoons.

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Meeting for February 2021

Members and friends of SCV Camp 1524 met on Thursday evening February 11th at the Prattville Masonic Lodge for the camp's monthly meeting.  There was a very good turnout of approximately thirty compatriots who gathered despite the cold rainy weather which caused accidents and backups on the interstate highways in the area.  The camp Chaplain opened the meeting with an Invocation followed by Color Sergeant Dennis leading everyone in salutes to the U.S., Alabama state and Confederate flags.  Commander Waldo recited the SCV Charge and welcomed visitors and guests which included four new potential members three of whom provided their applications.  Upcoming events and announcements were then relayed including planning for the 2021 Division Reunion which the camp is hosting.  The presenter was Alabama State Representative Will Dismukes, a camp member, who provided updates on heritage bills currently in process in the legislature.  There is hope in Rep. Mike Holmes sponsored Bill 242 which will strengthen the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act but Will expressed most concern for two other bills.  One is a proposal to remove the Confederate flag as one of the historic state flags from the state seal which he decried for the waste of taxpayer money as it would entail the redesign and rollout of a new seal on all state vehicles, buildings, badges etc.  He also indicated the Bill proposed to disallow the seating of any UDC or SCV member on the state Historic Commission could cause potential issues with the protection of the Confederate Memorial Park, a state historic treasure.  Camp 1524 views such legislation as prejudiced, bigoted and misplaced as the UDC and the SCV are two of the most learned and respected historic organizations for our nation's period around the War for Southern Independence and both organizations themselves are historic, each over 150 years old.  Will expressed his continued support in defense of our state's history and paralleled the fight and stand for our Southern heritage and the attacks against that to our Christian faith and mounting attacks on our nation's Christian founding principles and our personal Christian faith. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Chaplain's Column for February 2021 - Do Not Conform to the PC World

         In late January, myself and four other Dragoons had the privilege to travel to Oxford for the annual “Robert E. Lee Day,”         sponsored by the Alabama SCV.

At that event, we also memorialized the late Dr. Charles E. Baker, who passed away in late December. Dr. Baker was the former Chaplain-in-Chief for both the National SCV and the Alabama Division, amongst other titles.

Those of you at the January meeting heard a brief speech given by Dr. Baker, played by CD courtesy of Dragoon Tyrone Crowley.

   Dr. Baker would always show up to SCV events with his faithful friend, Pete, his French Bulldog, and a box of books for sale, which centered around God and the Confederacy. I might have even bought one or two myself along the way.

   I recently bought a book that he had always recommended called Christ in the Camp, by John Williams Jones, who was one of General Lee’s Chaplains in the Army of Northern Virginia. Dr. Jones was with General Lee and the ANV for all four years.

   Early in the book we see that as the states are seceding and militias and encampments are forming that the biggest fear was that going into camp would corrupt young men to play cards and drink and other vices. Interestingly enough, most men came from small towns where they worshipped in small churches and had a strong teaching and adherence to God and His word.

   How do we fare away from the “Holy Huddle” of Church? In Romans 12:2, we are reminded to not “…conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…(thanks to) God’s will…His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

   Over the last thirty years or so, we have seen contemporary churches who have tried to bend to society’s will so that visitors will feel more comfortable. Instead the Church must renew it commitment to God’s word through Scripture. And so must we, as individuals.

   Are we going out in to the world and being the “salt and light?” Do we witness to those in need? Or do we hide away our faith in the fear of rejection? Remember, Christ warned us that we would be hated as He was. But, hated or not, we must replicate our Confederate ancestors, who went in to the camps and towns and saved thousands of souls by preaching the word of God.    

   The world may hate the truth, but with scripture as our sword, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).”

 

Deo Vindice!

 

May God continue to watch over you and your families and protect you all.  And may God save the South!  Remember those on our prayer list. 

Prattville Dragoons Participate in Millbrook Mardi Gras Parade and Festival

It was a cold wet Saturday for the Millbrook Revelers' Mardi Gras parade and festival on February 6th but that did not keep the members of SCV Camp 1524 from participating.  The Dragoons set up their canopy and made provisions to shed the rainwater as best as they could and then greeted those braving the cold and rain at the festival in the Millbrook Village Green Park.  The Dragoons sold dozens of historic flags and other Confederate items to those who stopped by the camp's booth.  2nd Lt Karl Wade and compatriot Rob Schwartz led the effort there manning the booth from the early morning thru the afternoon.  Quartermaster Myrick was also there extensively and brought the canopy and all the camp stores including mini-Battle flags and SCV coins hundreds of which were handed out to those attending the festival.  Commander Waldo helped set up the booth and 1st Lt Grooms and compatriot Tyrone Crowley also helped man the booth throughout the day.  Commander Waldo's wife drove the Mardi Gras-perfect purple Charger as the camp's entry in the parade and Adjutant Sutherland and Quartermaster Myrick joined her, opting to ride to avoid the heavy rain which started right before the parade time.  The rain kept most parade participants away but didn't seem to diminish the crowds of parade spectators who lined Main Street to get candy and beads from the couple dozen entrants.  It was a great display of dedication to the Charge exhibited by these members of SCV Camp 1524 to follow through with their commitment to the Reveler parade and festival organizers and still a great opportunity for the Dragoons to reach out to the community even resulting in contacts made for potential new camp members. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander's Column for February 2021 - A Comparison of the Accomplishments of Andrew Jackson and Harriet Tubman

I read recently that Kobe Bryant will be honored with a statue in the National Garden of American Heroes, as nominated by President Trump on his last day in office.  The Garden is in the concept stages and 244 persons from throughout the country’s history were in the executive order.   I suppose rapists who have enough money to settle civil suits and convince victims to not testify are deserving of such honors (eg. Bryant’s “consensual” encounter with the hostess at the Cordillera (CO) Lodge & Spa in June of 2003).  Which brings us to another stupefying development, the ongoing efforts of the US Treasury to replace that dastardly slave owner Andrew Jackson with a more politically correct visage of Harriet Tubman on the twenty dollar bill.  When the Confederate monuments were attacked by anarchists as well as local governments, I warned (including in a letter to then New Orleans Mayor and Louisiana liberal icon Mitch Landrieu) that Andrew Jackson, “Hero of New Orleans” would be next along with our founding fathers.   Well, there have been countless other American heroes lambasted and attacked by the progressive history revisionists including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (as well as Lincoln and Grant and any other such white privileged figures). 

Those on our US currency are some of the great thinkers and shapers in the history of our country including Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Hamilton, Jackson, Grant and Benjamin Franklin on our paper denominations today.  So, what would justify honoring one with such recognition?  Thought it might be enlightening to compare Jackson and Tubman  and illuminate their accomplishments so you can decide for yourself.  According to https://learnodo-newtonic.com/andrew-jackson-accomplishments, Jackson was a war hero, handing “a crushing defeat to the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815”, leading a force of 5000 against an invading British force of 7500 resulting in 71 US casualties to 2037 British.  He also “successfully led the US forces in the Creek War” (also part of the War of 1812).  “Jackson served as the seventh President of the US from 1829 to 1837.  He was the main founder of the modern Democratic party.  Jacksonian democracy led to greater democracy  for the common man, spreading power from the elites to the ordinary voters.  He played a leading role in all white males being granted the right to vote”, allowing suffrage for even poor white males.  “Jackson resolved the Nullification Crisis”, leading the adoption of the Compromise Tariff of 1833, avoiding escalation into conflict with SC regarding tariffs (as contrasted with Buchanan and Lincoln some 28 years later with the Morrill Tariff).  “Trade was increased substantially during his term as President”, a 70% increase in exports and a 250% increase in imports.  “He reduced corruption in government” including replacing the Postmaster General.  Finally, “Jackson authorized the United States Exploring Expedition” which led to the growth of science especially oceanography.   Detractors will highlight his authorization of the Trail of Tears and of course, his slaves.

Harriet Tubman was the fifth of nine children.  She “was forced to care for her younger siblings when she was as young as five years old while her mother worked in the “big house””.  By Tubman’s recollections, she was often “hired out to temporary masters, some of whom who were cruel and negligent. She recalled being whipped daily as a very young child by an exacting mistress, who left scars still visible eighty years later. She was also forced to labor in icy cold winter waters setting muskrat traps.” Her master hired out his slaves and ultimately sold some (including some of Tubman’s siblings) as “his farm was too small to productively use all the enslaved labor he owned”.  She was almost killed in the mid-1830s when an overseer threw an iron weight at a fleeing slave and it inadvertently struck her on the head.  “The severe injury left her suffering from headaches, seizures, and periods of semi-consciousness, probably Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, which plagued her for the rest of her life. The head injury also coincided with an explosion of religious enthusiasm.  Tubman’s faith was deep and founded upon strong religious teachings.”  (Noted Christian religion and not African tribal.) “Tubman hire(d) herself out, after paying (her master) a yearly fee of sixty dollars for the privilege to work for herself. This allowed her to earn enough money to buy a pair of oxen, enabling her to maximize her wage earning potential.  Around 1844, (she) married John Tubman, a free man at least five years her senior.” Five years later, her master died and fearing that she might be sold, she fled north to Canada.  (Her husband) was not interested in joining her in the North, and he married another woman in the community - a free woman named Caroline with whom he had four free children.  Broken hearted, Tubman, refusing to sacrifice her freedom by returning and fighting for her marriage, instead committed herself to liberating her family and friends.   In the early spring of 1858, Tubman met John Brown (who was) later hanged for treason” following his Raid on Harper’s Ferry.  “Starting in the spring of 1858, she became a fixture at abolition and suffrage meetings throughout Central New York and the Boston area” after moving back to New York.  “Tubman’s total commitment to destroying the slave system eventually led her to South Carolina during the Civil War, where she alternated her roles as nurse and scout, cook and spy, in the service of the Union army. Eventually, she became the first American woman ever to lead an armed raid (guid(ing) Colonel James Montgomery and his Second South Carolina Black regiment up the Combahee River) into enemy territory. In early 1862, Tubman joined Northern abolitionists in support of Union activities at Port Royal, South Carolina.”  After the War she helped found the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged in Auburn NY.  (http://www.harriettubmanbiography.com/harriet-tubman-biography.html)

It has been said that “Tubman rescued 300 people in 19 trips from all over the south.” along the “Underground Railroad”.  She rescued about 70 people – family and friends (only) – during approximately 13 trips (only) to Maryland.”  Another myth was that “Tubman had a $40,000 "dead or alive" bounty on her head”.  The only reward for Tubman’s capture was (an) October 1849 advertisement (her mistress offered in the sum) of $100 (if) caught outside Maryland”.  Further, “Tubman (did not) help build Stewart's Canal” in Maryland which was used to transport timber into Chesapeake Bay.  Another myth was that “Tubman carried a rifle on her UGRR rescue missions.  Tubman carried a small pistol with her on her rescue missions, mostly for protection from slave catchers, but also to encourage weak-hearted runaways (friends and family) from turning back and risking the safety of the rest of the group.”  (http://www.harriettubmanbiography.com/harriet-tubman-myths-and-facts.html)  It may be noted that in the years prior to the War for Southern Independence, despite the vile institution which slavery represented and which our founding fathers recognized, “In “Notes on the State of Virginia”, Jefferson described the institution of slavery as forcing tyranny and depravity on master and slave alike” ( https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/founding-fathers-and-slaveholders-72262393/ ) aiding escaped slaves was in violation of United States federal law at the time.  But, at least she wasn’t a rapist. 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Parade and Festival – Saturday February 6th, 9am festival and noon parade, Main St

Prattville Dragoons January Camp Meeting – Thursday February 11^th at 6:45pm at the Prattville Masonic Lodge

Cemetery Workday – Saturday February 13th, 8am Autaugaville Cemetery

AL Division EC/DEC Meeting – Saturday February 20th, 9am Grace Pointe Church, Montgomery AL (camp commanders and adjutants)

Battle for Texas Hospital Reenactment – Saturday and Sunday, February 20th and 21st, Quitman Mississippi

AL Division Flag Day – Saturday March 6th

Army of Tennessee Workshop – Saturday March 27th, 9am - 3pm, Guntersville Hampton Inn

AL Division Reunion – Friday-Saturday June 4-5th, Prattville AL hosted by the Dragoons SCV Camp 1524

Prattville Dragoons Lead Effort to Rebuild I-65 Battle Flag Sons of Confederate Veterans Billboard

Members of the Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 held a workday on Saturday January 30th to repair and rebuild the SCV billboard at the I-65 Battle Flag site north of Prattville.  I65 Flag Chairman David Smith led the effort and had already erected scaffolding and started removal of the aged and damaged plywood backing.  After finishing that work and adding additional wood as reinforcement backing, new plywood was installed and the new sign was hung.  Mrs. Smith provided donuts and coffee and snacks throughout the day, setting up a table just outside the entrance to the security fencing surrounding the flag.  In addition to Chairman Smith, Camp 1524 Commander Waldo, Quartermaster Myrick, Color Sgt Dennis, Comms Officer Butler, Brigade Commander Stover, Division Treasurer Larry Muse and compatriot David Fisher as well as Dragoons Altieri, Spears, Schwartz, Branch, and Crowley also participated in the workday.  This billboard provides information for the Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans to passers-by along I-65 and stands at the base of the giant Battle Flag.  Additionally, monuments were set in the ground to honor Wyatt Willis who led the effort for the original erection of the flagpole many years ago as well as for Bill Gill who acted as the I65 Flag Chairman prior to his death almost exactly two years ago.  A number of men also cleaned up the grounds of limbs and cut up a fallen pine and burned those along with the old billboard plywood.  A tremendous amount of work was completed to improve the site and showcase the Battle Flag again for motorists traveling up and down the I-65 corridor.