Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Fall Muster

Friends and family and members of the SCV Camp 1524 Prattville Dragoons gathered on Saturday morning October 25th for their annual fall muster.  The event was held again at compatriot Philip Edward's home which he and his wife graciously opened to allow us to use.  The event includes a picnic lunch and shotgun clay target shooting.  Soon after 10am the shooting began out in back of Philip's house in his expansive property overlooking his pond.  Hand throwers and electric throwers provided a range of trajectories and speeds for the clay targets for plenty of challenge.  At 11am the food was blessed by former camp chaplain Bill Branch.  The ladies present led the charge thru the line which had smoked pork butts, Conecuh sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, beans, corn casserole, chips, and desserts including blackberry crisp, banana pudding, earthquake cake, frosted cake, brownies, key lime pie, cherry dump cake and sweet potato pie.  Too much good food.  Folks present included Commander Grooms, Brigade Commander Waldo and his children, 1st Lt Spears, 2nd Lt Wade and his friend Ed Willett along with his friend, Quartermaster Myrick and his wife Peggy who brought canopies as well as world famous baked beans and the smoked butts pulled, Treasurer Dennis and his wife who showed up first thing and helped set everything up along with Philip and his wife and their friend, compatriot Todd Rogers and his grandson Carson, Tyrone Crowley, Bill Branch and his girlfriend, compatriot Driver, and guests including the Huntzingers from the UDC, guest and prospective new member Samuel Johnson (who proved to be a very good marksman), and Alex Hollon who also brought a friend interested in forming a Clanton SCV camp in the Brigade.  It was a beautiful clear cool (at least started that way) early fall day and a very enjoyable muster.  

New Lighting Installed for Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Banner Signage at I-65 Battle Flag Site

Dale Hamilton of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Semple Camp installed new flood lighting to illuminate the Alabama Division SCV Banner Signage at the I-65 Battle Flag site near Marbury AL.  A support structure to raise and better display the banner was previously erected by members and friends of the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524. Dale's great work provides lighting so this banner can be readily seen by passers-by on Interstate 65 where the mega-Battle flag is flown.  Great work by compatriots to enhance this flag site which is much appreciated by travelers driving north and south on the freeway there. 

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 at the Autauga County Fair

The Autauga County Fair was held Tuesday October 7th thru Saturday October 11th and it was a great success. All the attendees passed by the Dragoons information/recruiting booth as they entered the fairgrounds thru the entrance building.  Dozens of mini-Battle flags and SCV coins were handed out to passers-by and a number of items were sold from the Quartermaster's store to raise money for the camp treasury.  At least two contacts were made who may result in new SCV camp members.   Camp 1524 members who helped at the booth included David Brantley, Adjutant Doug Butler, Tyrone Crowley, Comms Officer Eric Davis, Treasurer John Dennis, Jonathan Driver, CMDR Harold Grooms, Lee James, Color SGT Billy Leverette, QM Bill Myrick, Scott Roberson, Todd Rogers and Grandson Carson, 1LTCMDR Larry Spears, Mike Thomas, Louis Turner and SWCBCMDR Waldo and of course 1st Lt Karl Wade was there eac shift and helped coordinate the entire effort.  Perhaps the best worker who made the most positive impression on fair-goers was Scott's Newfoundland puppy who had everyone stopping to pet his head.  Without the hard work of all these compatriots and dedication to this project, it would not have been the successful community outreach it was. 

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Meeting for October 2025 - WBTS Reenacting

The Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 held their monthly camp meeting on Thursday evening October 9th at the Prattville Masonic Lodge.  Commander Grooms opened the meeting with an Invocation and Treasurer Dennis then led everyone in the pledges and salutes to the flags.  Commander Grooms then recited the SCV Charge and highlighted upcoming events including the fall muster and canned food drive and Christmas Social.  New camp member Dale Dellegar was then sworn in and presented with his certificate, a real cuase for celebration.   

Camp Adjutant Doug Butler gave a presentation on WBTS reenacting.  Doug has been involved with reenacting for 30 years and is a Colonel in the SCV Reenacting Division.  He brought his collection of just about everything one needs to be a reenactor.  Center were valuable Enfield and Springfield rifles including one with an engraves Confederate flag on the receiver.  He also had period sabers and bayonets. He showed a box of homemade blank rounds and explained the packing and use of those. He has not only bought period appropriate clothing like jackets and boots and equipment, but he has made many of the articles he uses in the field. He had numerous canvas and cloth ditty bags which held all sorts of miscellaneous things from medicine to string to games including checkers and cards.  He presented period correct canteen, kettle, lantern, stove, tent, skillet, cups, and leather holsters. He made and showed a couple of haversacks and wooden ammunition boxes. Cheats used in a reenactment encampment and hidden from view during the living history or reenactment event included a shovel, hammer, first aid kit, flashlight, lighter, fan, swiss army knife, sleeping bag with air matress and cot and baby wipes which he indicated were especially appreciated.  An amusing portion of the presentation was when he recounted some of the funny questions he has been asked by schoolchildren at living history reenactments including, "Is the fire hot?", " Do you sleep in there (tent)?", "Does it hurt when you get shot (by blanks)?", "Is that gun real?", "Do you get paid for this?", "Is that food real?", "Did you kill that chicken you're eating?" and women are commonly asked, "How do you go pee?".  Good stuff. 

Doug’s enthusiasm and expertise was captivating and inspiring. He made each camp member want to suit up and charge the enemy!

Prattville Dragoons Chaplains Column for October 2025 - Seasons of Life

"The truth is, of course, that what one regards as interruptions are precisely one's life."  

C.S. Lewis 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Life is never dull. We all seem to be going through something right now or recently. And sometimes it feels like unfortunate events never stop. 

I have recently gone through some stuff with family dealings and conflict, some of which the cuts are old and deep. More recently, I have gone through philosophical and spiritual disagreements with an organization in which I have membership. I have lost some friends recently, what I can only call a "culling" that the Lord is doing in my life. I trust in His vision and path for my future on this. 

All this to say, so what? The C.S. Lewis quote above caught my eye recently and turned me introspective. I have always viewed "something I'm going through" as a "season" or a temporary interruption. But as Lewis points out, what if this is just life? 

We can see in the Bible that many men went through what they thought would be temporary inconveniences- Job, Jonah, Daniel, Moses, and David, just to name a few. But many went through rough times for the bulk of their lives. The Apostles were hated for spreading the Gospel and all but John was martyred. But God redeemed them every time they suffered. All went on to the glory of God. 

The above verse in Ecclesiastes is well-known. There was even a famous song about it in the 60's. It inspires us to get through the "season" we are going through whatever that might be. However, when we look at the calendar every season is merely a continuation of life. Spring and Summer brings us new life and a new energy. Autumn and winter will bring cooler temperatures (praise be!), leaves falling, and shorter, colder days. While we suffer through the cold, dark days of Winter, we yearn for the warm breeze and vitality of Spring! 

And so it is with life. The constant theme through, not merely a period of it, is that Christ walks with us. I have the famous "Footprints" poem in my office to remind me that while God does not promise an easy life, but He does promise to walk beside us, and yes, sometimes even carry us during the darkness in our life. 

What a joy to think about everyday! Every day is a blessing because we have a Savior who loves us and even came and defeated death for us and our Sins! 

Let us remember that in the good days and the bad and then when unfortunate events occur in our lives we know that whatever happens that God is with us in this life and has promised a new life with him beyond death. 

Amen.

Dragoons’ Reenactor in Color Guard for Alabama Division UDC Convention

Prattville Dragoons’ Adjutant Doug Butler along with Reenactment Brigade Commander Jeremy Booth and Trace Johnson of the Tuscaloosa Ploughboys SCV Camp 2312 provided a color guard for the UDC Historical Banquet which was a part of the annual Alabama Division UDC Convention at the Prattville Marriott Sept 11-13th.  The color guard posed with UDC banquet attendees before the program and then posted colors as part of the processional which started the evening’s agenda.  SCV SWC Brigade Commander Waldo’s daughter also brought greetings from the Children of the Confederacy during the recognition of guests.  Alabama Division Commander Jimmy Hill was in attendance representing the SCV and former Commander Carl Jones brought greetings from the SCV and was the recipient of a UDC award recognizing US Armed Forces service members.  Brion McClanahan of the Abbeville Institute gave the keynote speech presenting on modern progressive activist historians contrasting them to historians of the early 20th century who recognized the legitimate contrasting perspectives and positions of those who fought that War. 

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 September Meeting

T he Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 held their monthly camp meeting on Thursday night September 11th at the Masonic Lodge in downtown Prattville.  Commander Grooms led the attendees through the camp business and upcoming events.   Following, the guest speaker was Compatriot Bob McClendon, a member of the Troy SCV camp, Life Member of the SCV and Commander for the Southeast Alabama Brigade. Bob is a living history Reenactor of more than 40 years and author of several articles and books, including "The Definitive History of the 53rd Alabama Cavalry". Autauga County Confederate soldiers, including some Dragoons, were part of the 53rd. He gave a moving presentation on Company K of the 53rd Alabama regiment and reminisces of members from that unit. After the presentation he answered questions and had some of his books available for sale.

SCV Camp 1524 Dragoons Attend McKeithen Cemetery Historical Marker Dedication

Saturday, September 6, 2025, a historical marker was unveiled at the Alexander McKeithen Cemetery, located on Hastings Hollow, in the Columns Subdivision in Millbrook, Alabama. 

Extended family was on hand to witness the unveiling of the marker, which was presented by Larry Caver, from the Old Autauga Historical Society. 

The cemetery dates back to at least 1862 when the location was still a part of Autauga County. The oldest grave is for Thomas McKeithen who was killed in action at Malvern Hill in Virginia in 1862. He was the brother of Dr. A. S. McKeithen, a surgeon in the Prattville Dragoons during the war, and afterward, a physician in Prattville until his death. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV members. Tyrone Crowley, Eric Davis, and 1st Lieutenant Larry Spears were on hand to support the presentation. 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

                Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots 

Dragoons Camp Meeting – at Prattville Masonic Lodge on Thursday September 11th at 6:45pm

Alabama UDC Convention – Friday-Saturday September 12-13th in Prattville

 

Raid on Little General’s Farm Reenactment – Friday-Sunday, September 19-21st , Gallant AL

Beauvoir Fall Muster – Friday-Sunday, September 17-19th, Biloxi MS

Autauga County Fair – Tuesday- Saturday, October 7-11th, Autauga County Fairgrounds, Prattville AL

Dragoons Fall Muster – Saturday October 25th 10am-2pm at Philip Edward’s home – BBQ lunch and clay shooting

Battles for the Armory – Friday-Sunday, November 7-9th, Tallassee AL

Prattville Christmas Parade – Friday, December 5th, 7pm, Court St and Main St, Prattville AL

Dragoons’ Christmas Social – Saturday, December 6th, 6-9pm, Eclectic AL

CofC Christmas in the South and Santa’s Post Office – Saturday, December 13th, CMP 

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Dixie Butt Fundraiser

Members of SCV Camp 1524 held their annual Dixie Butt fundraiser to generate proceeds for the camp treasury.  Members were asked to " Buy One and Sell One" and a number of compatriots went above and beyond selling many to friends and neighbors.  Saturday August 16th Quartermaster Myrick went by Smokin S BBQ in Wetumpka to pick up the quanitity of hot and cold butts for distribution that morning to purchasers. Smokin S has prepared the butts for the last several years for the camp and they also provide catering services for the camp's Christmas Social.  Delicious product.   2nd Lt Karl Wade and compatriots Darrell Haywood and Wayne Sutherland helped bag the butts for transport.  Treasurer John Dennis and his wife kept the books, accounting for the butt tickets distributed and the monies paid, a lot of commendable work to keep straight. Camp 1524 1st Lt Larry Spears, Adjutant Doug Butler, and Color Sgt Billy Leverette worked the distribution for most of the morning there also greeting camp members and friends of the SCV who arrived to pick up their butts.  Brigade Commander Waldo took a quantity of butts to deliver...compatriot Philip Edwards visited for quite a while with everyone... brand new member Blake Dickinson brought his two beautiful children to the event for a while... Skip Ward who always donates a few butts for later camp events drove thru... Allen Herrod whose facility was used for the distribution point stopped in to pick up a couple butts.... Earl Edmondosn and Danny Smythe came in and chatted with the compatriots under the canopy for a while.  It was a great opportunity to see members and friends of the camp this morning and proved to be another successful fundraising campaign.  

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Meeting for August 2025 - The Confederate Soldier

The Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 met for their monthly meeting on Thursday August 14th at the Masonic Lodge in downtown Prattville.  Rob Schwartz entertained everyone during the fellowship time before the meeting with traditional songs on his guitar.  At 6:45, Commander Grooms welcomed everyone before Chaplain Brantley opened with an Invocation and Color Sgt Leverette led everyone in the pledges and saluted to the flags.  Commander Grooms then read the SCV Charge before highlighting announcements and upcoming events including the Dixie butt sale, Autauga County Fair and the camp's fall muster.  Compatriot Blake Dickinson was sworn in as a new member by Chaplain Brantley and Commander Grooms, a cause for celebration. 

Camp 1524's own Paul Whaley gave an excellent but sobering presentation on what Lincoln's War was like for the average soldier. He delivered personal accounts from the letters and diaries of the men in the field.  There were 425 General officers in the Confederate army and 23 different armies/commands.  The Confederates were recognized to have incredibly talented Generals but you can't have great leaders such as these without troops.  Paul has done reenactments for many years rising in those ranks from a private to a Colonel.  He participated in the event at Gettysburg where 13000 men reenacted Pickett's charge, the Confederates charging and tearing down picket fences and getting mowed down attacking while Union forces 5 and 6 deep reloaded rifles and passed them forward.  

It was extremely difficult as a Confederate soldier with the deprivations and conditions.  Paul read an account from a soldier who fought at Allatoona Pass in October of 1864.  Thirty men in his company charged into a hail of bullets and immediately 28 dropped leaving just him and one other soldier.  He was hit in the hand and then the other remaining soldier was hit by a mini-ball.  He held the dying man in his arms when another shot hit his friend in the head.  Amazing, shocking and terrifying certainly for the soldier being so close to and witnessing death so intimately.  The manner of death was frequently gruseome with arms and legs strewn over battlefields or shattered on the wounded. The 50 caliber balls left gaping wounds and would spray entrails and brains about when they struck soldiers in the abdomen and head.  Men lost entire jaws and survived.  Bayonet and sword wounds.  Crushed by horses and wagons.  Impaled by wood splintered and metal from cannon shell fragments.

Food was often scarce and in unsanitary spoiled condition most often in the field.  The soldiers would bake cornbread using spoiled meal which often had worms.  Biscuits were fashioned with rudimentary ingredients; hardtack was the usual.  Pickled or brined beef was a common meat when available along with pork fatback and some bacon which was sometimes used over and over again to grease cooking pans until it became a hard briquette. Black eyed peas sometimes made into hoppin' john, sweet potatoes, cabbage, and rice were available on occassion.  Coffee was made from wood bark and horse feed boiled in water.  Poor diet led to sickness and death.  

In 1864 Confederate General Hood led troops thru Decatur AL toward Tennessee, 135 miles in 7 days. After fighting all day in Decatur, the troops endured freezing rain which soaked them clad in threadbare clothes. Shirts and pants and jackets were unwashed for long periods and often ragged with many holes.  The men would dig shallow holes and spoon to conserve body heat.  Many went without socks and shoes lost soles and some would go barefoot.  This area in late 1864 was controlled by guerilla bands of deserters who would bushwhack the Confederate soldiers as they moved thru picking and sniping them off.  

Many soldiers died in hospitals for lack of proper care, modern medicine and sanitation.   The Union Army had 11000 surgeons while the Confederates had only about 2000 doctors. Chronic diarrhea and viruses killed many who had to live together in the field and in hospitals.  Filthy latrines would have a sparse layer of dirt spread over the defecation daily but often soldiers in camp would just leave their tent and relieve themselves in the middle of camp.  The stench of gangrene and putrid odor from wounds and chamberpots would waft thru hospitals.  More died from wounds and disease in the 7 weeks following the battle at Corinth MS than died in the two day bloodbath at Shiloh. 

The battle flags were used to communicate troop positions and rally charges during battles.  But those colorbearers carrying the flags were targets. Paul shared an account of one colorbearer being hit by 40 bullets.  Often in battles, three or four colorbearers would fall in quick succession in the hail of bullets attempting to plant the flag on a rise.   

Prattville Dragoons of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Erect New SCV Signboard at I-65 Battle Flag Site

Members of the Prattville Dragoons met early on Friday morning August 1st to install vertical support timbers and crossmembers to build a permanent signboard frame to display the Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans banner to complement the Battle flag at the site on I-65 near Pine Level.  I-65 Flag Chairman David Smith, Dragoons Adjutant Doug Butler and members Todd Rogers with his grandson Carson, Lee James and Philip Edwards did tremendous work to erect this new sign which allows better visibility to display the informational banner for the Alabama Divison SCV to passers-by on the interstate below the site there.  

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Dragoons Camp Meeting – at Prattville Masonic Lodge on Thursday August 14th at 6:45pm

Dragoons Dixie Butt Fundraiser –Saturday, August 16th

Battle of Decatur Reenactment –Friday-Sunday, August 29-31st 

Alabama UDC Convention –Friday-Saturday September 12-13th 

 

Dragoons Fall Muster – Saturday in October TBD 

Dragoons of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 at the Prattville Cityfest

Prattville's annual Cityfest, usually held in May was postponed due to inclement weather and was rescheduled for July and instead of lining Main Street in the downtown area, the field at the Autauga County Fairgrounds was the site for the Cityfest held on Saturday July 19th.  Dozens of craft and food vendors braves the extreme heat to offer their products to a greatly diminished number of Cityfest patrons.  Nonetheless the Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 setup their booth that moring and manned it throughout the day til after 3pm.  Dragoons present included Quartermaster Myrick who brought the canopy and all the camp stores and stayed the entire day, Brigade Commander Waldo, Treasurer Dennis (who also stayed all day), Color Sgt Leverette, Adjutant Butler and compatriot Schwartz.   A few items out of the camp stores including 3x5ft flags and ballcaps and Confederate shot glasses were sold and a number of mini-Battle flags and SCV Alabama Division education posters were handed out to passers-by.  A number of patrons stipped by to offer encouragement for the work the camp does in promoting Southern history and one area school teacher inquired about the camp making a presentation with reenactors portraying Confederate soldiers and President Jefferson Davis.  While the traffic at this year's edition of Cityfest was disappointing, it is always a pleasure to meet our neighbors and promote Southern heritage by participating in these arae festivals and parades.