Demopolis AL Confederate Sights - St. Andrews Church

This summer when driving thru Demopolis AL, I stopped at an old church on the east outskirts of town.  This was St. Andrews Episcopal Church which is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The church was formed in 1834 as a mission by Rev. Caleb Ives and the building was erected at the site in 1854.  The wood frame building is beautifully preserved and the grounds kept nicely including an old cemetery.  One Confederate veteran's grave was found, that of Joseph Todd Collins, born in 1836 and died in 1922.  In addition to the inscription of his service in the Virginia Cavalry where he was wounded at Sailor's Creek Virginia during the Appomattox campaign on April 6, 1865 at war's end, the tombstone states that for 50 years he was a church Sunday School superintendent and Deacon in the Baptist Church and "Loved his Home, His Country and His God".  No conflict with his service to defend his home state in the Confederate States Army while still loving his country before and after the War.  The inscriptions on these tombstones often provide a meaningful glimpse into the thoughts of these patriots of the period of the War for Southern Independence.

Several members of the Prattville Dragoons helped clean up the Robinson Springs cemetery in Millbrook on Wednesday August 17th.  Along with the routine maintenance work of weed eating, trimming and raking, one Confederate flag was replaced and two United States flags on U.S. veterans graves including one Korean War veteran. With so many working it took less than an hour and a half to finish the work.  Carl French from SCV Camp 692 was contacted to finish mowing the remainder of the cemetery the following weekend.  Dragoons participating in this cemetery cleanup included Larry and James Spears, Bill Myrick, Ryan King, Bill Gill and Tom Crowley.  

The following week, Dragoon Billy Leverette worked independently at Indian Hill cemetery to mow all the grass along the county road frontage as well as inside the cemetery fence line.  Billy worked on this mowing for a couple afternoons to tidy up that cemetery's appearance. 

On Saturday August 27th, a number of Dragoons met in Prattville to drive out to Autaugaville to work on the two cemeteries which have Confederate graves out near that community.  At the town's cemetery which was worked first, limbs were picked up and brush cleared along the back fence.  Previous cleanup efforts made it possible for the area around this older section of the cemetery to be more readily mowed which was apparent in the condition of the grounds observed this morning.  The second cemetery across from Shiloh Baptists Church on County Road 45 west of Autaugaville was worked next including sling blade and weed eating around the graves and mowing out to the county road to provide a better path to the cemetery.  Weed killer was also applied to keep the weed and undergrowth down inside the cemetery grounds enclosed by an old wrought iron fence.  Dragoons who participated in this Saturday's cleanup included Ryan King, Stuart Waldo, Harold Grooms, Ton Crowley, Skip Ward, Bill Myrick and Allen Herrod.  

Indian Hill 

Shiloh Cemetery Work Crew

Harold and Tom

Bill

Frank and Jesse James

A contribution from Prattville Dragoons long time member Charlie Graham:

On August 21 in 1883 Frank James, brother of Jessie James, went on trial in Gallatin, Missouri, for two decades of bank and railroad robberies compounded by collateral damage along the way. The James family were steadfast Confederates and the boys were guerilla fighters in the War. The James' were renown for their Robin Hood style criminality and helping the poor.

During the War in 1863 Abraham Lincoln, Generals Sherman and Grant came to the conclusion that to conquer the South they had to defeat the military and just as importantly kill and decimate the Southern civilization which meant to exterminate all things Southern.
They pulled up every railroad tie in the South. They burned all residential and industrial in their paths. They stopped making prisoner exchanges and went to great measures to starve prisoners and/or let them die of disease. They burned and or stole all crops and cattle so that Southern civilians would starve if they didn't kill them first.
In 1883 the atrocities of the War and the perils inflicted by Lincoln and his generals upon the Southerners were still vivid in the minds of those who survived.

Frank James turned himself in in 1882 in hopes of avoiding being shot in the back like his brother, Jessie, shortly before.
He was tried twice in Missouri and once in Alabama. The prosecutors could not find a jury that would convict him. He was a Southern hero in their minds for stealing back what was stolen from them by the carpetbaggers and scalawags plus their liberty and freedom.

Dixie Butt Fundraiser

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Prattville Dragoons successfully completed their Dixie butt fundraiser with the butt distribution on Saturday 13 August at Herrod’s Chevron station in Prattville. Dragoons including Commander Waldo, 1st Lt Grooms, 2nd Lt Genks, Adjutant Sutherland, Treasurer Leverette, Chaplain Snowden, Color Sgt Morgan, Comms Officer Larry Spears and his father James as well as Ryan King and Bill Gill came and helped with the bagging of the butts picked up from Smokin S and the distribution to all the many folks who dropped by and visited awhile picking up their butts. Many thanks to all the camp members and friends who made this day possible and so successful and for selling so many tickets. The cam officers were all extremely grateful for the team work and dedication to raising money for the camp treasury so we can promote Confederate Heritage. These funds help with camp initiatives including donations to the Alabama Archives and historical preservation efforts, the purchase of flags for placing at cemeteries,School presentations and awards, and camp stores for Confederate items to share at community events including festivals and parades.  

Prattville Dragoons August Camp Meeting

An exceptional meeting of the Prattville Dragoons was held on 11 August with a near capacity crowd for the meeting room at Shoney’s with over 35 in attendance.  Chaplain Snowden opened the meeting with an Invocation and Commander Waldo recited the SCV Charge.  Two new members were sworn in which is always the highlight of these meetings,   James DeVaughn and Jerry Clay Lyle were welcomed into the camp and received their certificates and lapel pins. Paperwork was also received to reinstate Compatriot Greg Swanner to the SCV and enroll his son, 

Following the welcome to everyone and the swearing in, the Commander Waldo gave a report on the conclusion of the camp fundraiser which was very successful. We sold 160 tickets for Dixie butts and received many donations for our camp treasury. Smokin S provided the butts and feedback from customers was very positive as to the quality and taste of the smoked butts. Dragoon Color Sergeant and Newsletter Editor Edward Morgan was recognized as the top seller of Dixie butt tickets with 28! Edward. 2nd Lt. Commander George Jenks received funds from the ticket sales and recorded all transactions in detail (enabling the easy, smooth distribution of butts on Saturday). 

Dragoon Historian Sam Reid shared a program with a surprise twist. A 25 question multiple choice test was distributed to those assembled to determine how well versed everyone was on the facts of slavery, the causes of The War for Southern Independence and other details of that time period. The correct answers for each question were then provided and Sam elaborated on the answers. A unique and challenging learning experience serving as an opportunity for study and learning historical details. The program was brought to a close by the Commander and a Benediction by Chaplain Snowden.

Sam Reid with His Wife and Friend

Chaplain Snowden Swearing in New Members

Commander Waldo with Edward Morgan

Camp Members Taking the History Quiz

Greg and Tate

National Sons of Confederate Veterans Proclaims Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

National HQ Commander In Chief Tom Strain has designated Thursday, August 18 as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day for the entire Confederation. Please read the General Order below.

Charleston Confederate Sights - Marion Square, College of Charleston and Surrounding Neighborhoods

Immediately south of and adjacent to the Embassy Suites which was the original site and structure of The Citadel military academy is Marion Square.  This expansive grassy park has an impressive monument for South Carolina and Southern statesman John C. Calhoun.  On one side of the monument is a plaque which tells the story of the construction of the monument which was funded by the Ladies Calhoun Monument Association. Soon after his death in 1860, during the War for Southern Independence for which Calhoun had laid the the groundwork as a leader of the Southern states, the Treasurer of the Association had to keep the funds on her person to avoid their confiscation during "the memorable night of the destruction of Columbia SC by Sherman".  On another side of the square is an obelisk monument to General Wade Hampton, a great Carolina Confederate General who is the namesake of many places in the states of South and North Carolina particularly in the Greenville upstate area. A block farther south of Marion Square is the beautiful historic College of Charleston with its moss draped oak lined cobblestone streets.  To the east of the Embassy Suites is the Charleston Museum; at the entrance to the museum is a full scale model of the Confederate submarine Hunley. This model was constructed from engineering drawings of the submarine before the actual Hunley was found and raised from the floor of Charleston harbor.  In the neighborhood around the museum are a number of beautiful antebellum homes including the Rhett-Aiken house which dates from the 1820s.