Eternal Vigil Confederate Monument Heritage Defense

 

Prattville Dragoons Chaplain's Column for January 2022 - Spread the Light of Hope

 "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

1 John 1:15

 

Like many of you I attended a Christmas Eve Service. This one was at a Methodist church in downtown Prattville. As with most services we concluded with the singing of "Silent Night" and the traditional lighting of the candles.

   Since it was a warm Southern night (for December), we were invited to go out in the courtyard and conclude the song and receive the benediction. It was a windy night and we struggled to keep the candles lit. I was successful, but many were not, including the pastor.

   He reminded us that there is nothing in the world that can extinguish the light of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 60 reminds us that God is an "everlasting light." 1 Timothy 6:16 also tells of the "brightness" of God's light and that there is no darkness that can overwhelm it.

   As we have now entered a new year, one no doubt beset by all sorts of "pandemics" and general fear and darkness, God calls on us to be that light and present it to the world.

   I have caught many feelings of "doom and gloom" amongst the rank and file of the SCV. For every piece of bad news and darkness, there are still stories of success and light. We must never give in to the darkness and give up. That is what our enemies want. They are children of darkness, to be pitied and prayed for. We, on the other hand, have the light of Christ and His word and the blood of our Southern Ancestors!

   Give up ? Never! Let's make 2022 a chance to spread hope instead of fear, light instead of darkness.

   As our ancestors did 160 years ago during the War and afterwards, let us never slacken our resolve.

"Charge 'em both ways!"

Happy New Year!

 

Remember those on our prayer list. 

Prattville Dragoons Camp 1524 Meeting for January 2022

The Dragoons of Camp 1524 met on Thursday January 13th at the Prattville Masonic Lodge for their regularly scheduled meeting at 6:45pm.  Chaplain Brantley opened the meeting with an invocation followed by Color Sgt Dennis leading everyone in the pledges and salutes to the flags.  Commander Waldo then recited the Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans followed by a swearing in of new member Edward Norman.  Upcoming events and announcements were then highlighted including a new event at Confederate Memorial Park, a Winter Quarters Living History on Saturday January 29th.  The program concluded with the SCV closing and the Benediction by the Chaplain.

The program was presented by compatriot Tyler Suttle who spoke on the Battle of Shiloh.  Tyler provided his references including "Shiloh" by Daniel and Cunningham, "Shiloh Bloody April" and "Nothing but Victory".  Shiloh was the first major action of the War in the western theatre.  Kentucky was originally a neutral border state but Confederate General Leonid Polk invaded and occupied Columbus KY in late 1861 which prompted the state government to request US federal aid.  Polk's superior, General Albert Sydney Johnston had his forces spread to thin to present any defense of Kentucky so when the Union troops under General Ulysses Grant attacked, they actually took Paducah KY without firing a shot.  Paducah was the gateway to the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and access to the Tennessee River so strategically important.  Forts Henry and Donelson in Feb 1862 were quickly taken by Grant who earned his nickname "Unconditional Surrender Grant" when he took the forts with 13000 Confederate troops killed, wounded or captured.  

Grant's goal was Corinth MS which was a major railroad hub for the Memphis & Charleston (east-west) and Mobile & Ohio (north-south).  Johnston recognized this and asked President Jefferson Davis for more troops which were initially rejected as Davis prioritized the defense of New Orleans and Mobile but when Fort Donelson fell, he relented and sent Gen. Bragg from Mobile for reinforcements.  Grant had a fleet of steamboats which he used to transport his army down the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers toward Nashville escorted by armored gunboats like the USS Lexington.  

Johnston had under his command Generals Hardee, Breckenridge, Polk, Bragg and Beauregard.  But their troops at this point in the war had mostly smooth bore weapons including old flintlocks with all sorts of calibers which made ammunition difficult to provide also. Johnston's army advanced north out of Corinth toward Shiloh to confront Grant which should have been a day's march but because of rainy weather and bickering between his generals, it took three days.  Time was of the essence before Grant's forces were reinforced by Buell with an additional 17000 troops. Johnston planned to attack Grant on the west side of the Tennessee near Pittsburgh Landing and flank him, forcing him westward toward the swamplands.  The night prior to the attack on April 6th, Johnston ordered his troops to not start any campfires to preserve their concealment but which prolonged their misery in wet saturated clothing from the rain and muddy conditions thru which they had marched.  They could hear the troops in the Union encampment drilling and singing songs.  

At 5:30am the morning of April 6th the Confederates opened fire to start the battle and this initial skirmish lasted about 3 hours before Johnston's troops advanced north toward the rest of the Union troops in their camps.  Johnston had hoped to push Grant's army west but instead, wound up pushing them toward the river and their awaiting steamboats and gunboats. The Confederate troops stalled trying to destroy a concentration of Union troops in what was called the Hornet's Nest using artillery and rifles completely surrounding the federals. Grant's troops retreated to a line of defense where the steamboats were used in the rear to evacuate men in retreat.  Johnston was killed in the day's fighting when a bullet entered his leg severing an artery near his knee filling his boot with blood.

Buell's forces reached the area to reinforce Grant's army and they prepared a counter attack.  The second day was the opposite of the first day's action as the Union troops advanced south and the Confederates had to set up a defensive line to allow a retreat with the Confederate army now under the command of Beauregard.  The Confederates retreated back to Corinth.  Shiloh was the worst battle for casualties in the western theatre with 23000 men killed.  For many, this was the first combat the troops had seen and the blood and death from the artillery grapeshot and the large caliber rifles and muskets was horrifying.  Following the battle, the dead were buried in mass graves of 100 men in trenches 7 x 20 x 20 feet.  Markers have been placed by the UDC at some of these graves.  A monument is also erected where Johnston was killed.  

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander's Column for January 2022 - A New Year of Possibilities for Positive Action for the Cause

Happy New Year to all the members and friends of the Prattville Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524!  I hope the new year brings us less misery as a country than what we endured in 2021.  But last year was a terrific year for the Dragoons as we hosted our first Alabama Division Reunion which was an outstanding success.  We also again participated in a number of community events including parades, fairs and festivals and supported worthy causes with food pantry donations and the Salvation Army red kettle Christmas holiday bell ringing.  And of course, the continued maintenance of a number of historic cemeteries in our communities.  Also our regular monthly meetings resumed as well as our seasonal fellowship opportunities like the Fall Muster and Christmas Social.  You all should be commended for your involvement and continued advancement of the Cause in carrying forth the Charge.   Nevertheless, 2nd Lt Wade sent an email out recently bemoaning the recent removal of the General Lee statue in Richmond and the news it was subsequently given to a Black History group.   I actually commented on this news on our Twitter feed that it was interesting that time capsules were apparently found in the base of the monument as if those who placed the monument figured at some point they would be found (which was only possible if the monument was removed).   This of course has been foretold in such works as Orwell’s “1984” warning of a Marxist totalitarian dystopian society, “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed.”  We observed similar purges in 20th century historical events in the USSR, China and the Mideast.   But, it has happened in the United States of America. 

 

1st Lt Grooms questioned why we needed to financially support the legal fight to preserve the Eternal Vigil Confederate monument in Florence AL.  Because the PC local officials will violate the toothless monument preservation law and absorb the inconsequential fine to further the purge.  And whatsoever action taken from a state (AG) level will be too little and too late.  It seems to be a never-ending struggle but if you consider our ancestors who fought a grueling four year life and death struggle to protect their homes and preserve the originalist constitutional liberties.  I provided to the officers of the camp news of related developments including the Virginia Flaggers erecting more mega-flags across the state and the Gordonsville (VA) SCV camp raising funds to erect a new replica statue of Lee in a prominent location in the commonwealth.   I encouraged our Brigade Commander to provide input and of course Monuments Across Dixie is involved with this effort.  Outstanding.  He conveyed the imperative that we must proactively look for ways to preserve the long-term viability of the SCV to carry forth the Charge in the face of these continued attacks and the changing societal landscape in our country.   Our social media presence is important but it should not be the end goal.  We need to take action.  We need to preserve but also erect new monuments.  He spoke of a new streaming media concept which could provide news and information and resources to subscribers like a channel on your television.   Amazing opportunity.  He implored us to consider ways to fund our SCV efforts apart from the continued burden on the membership such as marketing a sustainable product to the public to produce an income stream.  Bigger ideas.  He concluded with some brilliant words to consider, “(We need to take bold) steps toward cultural and financial independence and stop our interdependence on all levels (with) our amoral governments and society.  In 2022, let us look to future with the same passion we have to the past and build a legacy for future generations.” 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

                             Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Prattville Dragoons January Camp Meeting – Thursday, January 13th, at 6:45 pm at the Masonic Lodge, 100 Maple St

Alabama Division SCV Lee Birthday Observance – Saturday January 15^th TBD

Winter Quarters Living History – Saturday January 29^th at Confederate Memorial Park, Marbury AL

Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Parade and Festival – Saturday Feb 19^th, 9am festival, noon parade, Millbrook AL