Saturday, November 17, 2018
John C. Calhoun Fort Hill Home at Clemson University
Visited my alma mater Clemson University this past weekend and took the opportunity to walk around campus a little with my children. It was a beautiful time of the year to visit with the fall leaves about at their peak. I was aware of the historical home of John C. Calhoun being on campus and had seen it before but hadn't taken the opportunity to really look around the grounds. It is adjacent to the student union, actually on a hill with large trees around the antebellum mansion. The home is open for tours with hours each day of the week but unfortunately we caught it when it was closed. But the home has been beautifully maintained and has family furnishings throughout (which we were able to see a dining room and parlor thru a couple windows). On one side there is a reproduction of the original kitchen. The kitchen was kept apart from the main house to minimize fire risk and also to keep the heat out of the living quarters. The informational display for this kitchen indicated it was built in 1944 using materials from a nearby (Pendleton) plantation as the original structure had deteriorated to an extent it had to be torn down and removed. The same informational board provides some information about the slaves who had worked at Fort Hill including using the kitchen during the Christmas season, a valued blacksmith and, even performing a wedding ceremony there in 1849. At the back of the main house is the Fort Hill Plantation Office, Calhoun's personal office. An historical marker provides a short biography of Calhoun including his public service as a House Representative, Senator, Vice-President (under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson) and also Secretary of War (under Monroe) and Secretary of State (under Tyler). In this office he is said to have written his political theories and discourses supporting states rights and the principle of nullification (The South Carolina Exposition and Protest). Calhoun's major books included " A Disquisition on Government" and "Discourse on the Constitution". Calhoun lived at Fort Hill for 25 years and the property is "preserved as an historic house museum in accordance with the will of Calhoun's son-in-law Thomas G. Clemson". After seeing Fort Hill we went for a walk in the South Carolina Botanical Garden on the Clemson campus. Some of the garden's camelias were in bloom and it was a wonderful walk in the brisk fall day. I took note of the Hunt Cabin which was moved to the garden site from Seneca. The modest abode belying the Hunts wealth as landowners of over 8000 acres. This home was built by their slaves in 1835 and so they would have been neighbors of Calhoun during this period of time.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 November Meeting
Approximately 26 members and guests attended the November
meeting of the Prattville Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524 at Jim’s Restaurant. A good crowd gathered early for dinner and an
attempt was made to show a slide show in the absence of Chaplain Snowden’s who
was in attendance but limited dealing with his wife’s illness. But, the chaplain’s
video equipment was of a superior quality and the projector used did not
provide sufficient brightness and clarity but, everyone nonetheless enjoyed the
food and fellowship during the time before the start of the meeting
proper. Chaplain Snowden was able to
lead everyone in the opening and closing prayers. Compatriot George Jenks led everyone in the
salutes and pledges to the flags which again, required some improvisation since
the camp flags did not make it to the meeting in time.
Even while working thru these extemporaneous adjustments,
the cap meeting was a good one and many members signed up for the Christmas
Social and the Thanksgiving smoked turkey fundraiser. Commander Waldo read the SCV Charge and
announced the numerous upcoming holiday events including the canned food drive,
Tallassee reenactment (with Beir Butler expounding), Bicentennial Fair in
Prattville (with Tyrone Crowley expounding, Christmas parades, Salvation Army
kettle bell ringing (with Karl Wade expounding) and, the upcoming Social at
Buena Vista. John Dennis was recognized
for again single-handedly working on the Indian Hill Cemetery grounds which should
keep it looking good for the rest of the season with colder temperatures
coming. The electronic billboard ad
campaign with funds matching from Division as well as the new Indian Hill
aluminum historical information sign was also announced.
Dr. Philip Davis was the keynote speaker who presented a history
on Judah P. Benjamin who was a US Senator before following his state of Louisiana
in secession to become the Confederacy’s Attorney General then Secretary of War
then subsequently Secretary of State and even briefly Secretary of the Treasury
when the government was evacuated from Richmond. Philip said that very little original first
person records/documents exist regarding Benjamin as he had the practice of
destroying all his case records and correspondence which was actually a common
practice in that time. Nonetheless, Philip
was able to weave a wonderful story of Benjamin’s upbringing and education and
his later professional and political careers.
Not only did he serve in US and CSA public office but was also a very
successful barrister in England where he fled following the collapse of the
Confederate government. He was very
accomplished with in law, practicing before being elected to the US Senate, the
logistics involved in the provisioning of the Confederate Army, and in
diplomacy and negotiations with foreign governments as Sec. of State. He was a trusted friend to President Jefferson
Davis and even was tasked with removing and safeguarding the remaining gold
stores from the Confederate Treasury when the cabinet fled Richmond. Fascinating man of that historical
period.
Photos attached show some of the crowd in attendance as well
as Karl and Tyrone speaking on upcoming events and Philip Davis making his
presentation on Judah Benjamin.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander's Column for November 2018
Commander's Column – Control the Narrative
New Commander in Chief Paul Gramling wrote in his column in the recent edition of the Confederate Veteran magazine that his “main goal for the SCV (is for) us to “Control the Narrative”. We as a Southern Heritage organization have been reactionary. (He) is working on a long-term plan – the Southern Victory Campaign - with Donnie Kennedy, co-author of “The South Was Right” as (his) chief of heritage operations win which we, the purveyors of truth, will “Control the Narrative”. Newly elected LT CiC Larry Allen McCluney Jr. goes further, “(Those who attack our flag, our monuments and our heritage) have money, the liberal media and, liberal politicians to back them. What they don’t have is the truth. We have the power to defeat our enemies with the truth and now we most go one the offensive and control the narrative.” Donnie Kennedy in his first column in the Confederate Veteran revealed “the establishment of a South-wide educational public relations campaign to arouse the 70 percent passive supporters of Southern heritage and turn them into active supporters to join us and demand their public officials give fair, balanced and, equal treatment to Southern Heritage. The first step is the establishment of the Confederate Legion which will fund a real Confederate counter-offensive. The CL will fund positive pro-South ads to run via Radio Free Dixie, the centerpiece of the PR effort, secondly we will identify friendly media outlets and work with them to promote the Cause and thirdly, upgrade and network our existing social media outlets from the national to the camp level. We will need 1000 people in each Army to sign up to the CL by donating $50 a year which will be used to buy pro-South ads on country and talk radio stations across the Confederation. Imagine the impact such pro-south information will have on the general public. The goal is to have three to five thousand CL members in each army – at that time, the SCV will become a common household name across the South!”
CiC Grambling provided a statement from the SCV which was printed in the Alabama Confederate condemning the toppling of the Silent Sam monument on the UNC Chapel Hill campus but added, “Those who wish to eradicate everything Southern could care less about what we think.” New Chaplain-in-Chief Dr. W. Herman White continues, “The radicals of our day are socialist/secular trash. They have been brainwashed in the government indoctrination centers called schools. Their war is ultimately against God the Father and the Son of God. There are those who question why we should continue to fight in the face of such overwhelming odds. Because it is the right thing to do. General Robert E. Leee wrote to his son, “Do your duty in all things, you cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.” General Stonewall Jackson advised, “That duty is ours, results belong to God.”” The Alabama Confederate reviewed a book on General J.E.B. Stuart recounting how he “sometimes went into battle with a brigade of 700 men when the average Confederate brigade was 1500 to 2000 men, (that his final) year (in the War before his death) was truly a year of desperate struggle.” Division Commander Carl Jones in his column said, “The enemies that we see attacking our monuments around the country are numerous, they are organized, well-funded and they are motivated. We outnumber them vastly in, not only membership, but public support. We have a mission as stated in the Charge, to vindicate the Cause for which our ancestors contended. We are in a war for the survival of our culture. For the heart of America.”
Carl has driven down directives indicating his belief that regular meetings at the camp, Brigade and Division level are critical to forming a cohesive bond to strengthen our organization. Our camp has done a wonderful job participating in Brigade and Division and other local camp events. It is important that we continue to lead as a camp with attendance at our functions and to host worthwhile community outreach events which encourage our members and influence our neighbors. Donnie Kennedy mentioned in his column the concept of highlighting special events like the Confederate “Great Revival” around Easter, America’s Secession Holiday in July and, America’s First Thanksgiving. As a camp we are expanding our billboard ads to include Thanksgiving and along these lines, a special ad will be designed to highlight this as a truly Southern original tradition. We will be running an ad for National Police Week in May and I want the camp to demonstrate our appreciation for our local law enforcement service professionals with pizzas delivered to the city police and county sheriff’s offices. We are in the middle of a new fundraising effort to provide funds for our initiatives and a potential war chest. As a camp we are embracing the power of social media with a website blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts; we have over 500 followers on Twitter and Facebook and have over 97000 pageviews on our website all time, 135 pageviews in just the last two days. These results take dedication and persistence but we need to grow to thousands
of followers and hits each day to be the influencers envisioned to control the narrative. In addition to more opportunities to participate in camp and Brigade activities, the Army of Tennessee is hosting a workshop in Birmingham on January 12th which includes topics pertaining to camp growth and fundraising but also more information on the Southern Victory Campaign presented by Donnie Kennedy. The officers appreciate your dedication to the camp, the SCV, and the Cause and your continued support in these new initiatives like the Confederate Legion and the new museum at Elm Springs. Our sacrifices pale in comparison to those our Confederate ancestors endured but they are nonetheless important in stemming the tide of progressivism threatening our culture. As Stonewall concluded, Deo Vindice!
New Commander in Chief Paul Gramling wrote in his column in the recent edition of the Confederate Veteran magazine that his “main goal for the SCV (is for) us to “Control the Narrative”. We as a Southern Heritage organization have been reactionary. (He) is working on a long-term plan – the Southern Victory Campaign - with Donnie Kennedy, co-author of “The South Was Right” as (his) chief of heritage operations win which we, the purveyors of truth, will “Control the Narrative”. Newly elected LT CiC Larry Allen McCluney Jr. goes further, “(Those who attack our flag, our monuments and our heritage) have money, the liberal media and, liberal politicians to back them. What they don’t have is the truth. We have the power to defeat our enemies with the truth and now we most go one the offensive and control the narrative.” Donnie Kennedy in his first column in the Confederate Veteran revealed “the establishment of a South-wide educational public relations campaign to arouse the 70 percent passive supporters of Southern heritage and turn them into active supporters to join us and demand their public officials give fair, balanced and, equal treatment to Southern Heritage. The first step is the establishment of the Confederate Legion which will fund a real Confederate counter-offensive. The CL will fund positive pro-South ads to run via Radio Free Dixie, the centerpiece of the PR effort, secondly we will identify friendly media outlets and work with them to promote the Cause and thirdly, upgrade and network our existing social media outlets from the national to the camp level. We will need 1000 people in each Army to sign up to the CL by donating $50 a year which will be used to buy pro-South ads on country and talk radio stations across the Confederation. Imagine the impact such pro-south information will have on the general public. The goal is to have three to five thousand CL members in each army – at that time, the SCV will become a common household name across the South!”
CiC Grambling provided a statement from the SCV which was printed in the Alabama Confederate condemning the toppling of the Silent Sam monument on the UNC Chapel Hill campus but added, “Those who wish to eradicate everything Southern could care less about what we think.” New Chaplain-in-Chief Dr. W. Herman White continues, “The radicals of our day are socialist/secular trash. They have been brainwashed in the government indoctrination centers called schools. Their war is ultimately against God the Father and the Son of God. There are those who question why we should continue to fight in the face of such overwhelming odds. Because it is the right thing to do. General Robert E. Leee wrote to his son, “Do your duty in all things, you cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.” General Stonewall Jackson advised, “That duty is ours, results belong to God.”” The Alabama Confederate reviewed a book on General J.E.B. Stuart recounting how he “sometimes went into battle with a brigade of 700 men when the average Confederate brigade was 1500 to 2000 men, (that his final) year (in the War before his death) was truly a year of desperate struggle.” Division Commander Carl Jones in his column said, “The enemies that we see attacking our monuments around the country are numerous, they are organized, well-funded and they are motivated. We outnumber them vastly in, not only membership, but public support. We have a mission as stated in the Charge, to vindicate the Cause for which our ancestors contended. We are in a war for the survival of our culture. For the heart of America.”
Carl has driven down directives indicating his belief that regular meetings at the camp, Brigade and Division level are critical to forming a cohesive bond to strengthen our organization. Our camp has done a wonderful job participating in Brigade and Division and other local camp events. It is important that we continue to lead as a camp with attendance at our functions and to host worthwhile community outreach events which encourage our members and influence our neighbors. Donnie Kennedy mentioned in his column the concept of highlighting special events like the Confederate “Great Revival” around Easter, America’s Secession Holiday in July and, America’s First Thanksgiving. As a camp we are expanding our billboard ads to include Thanksgiving and along these lines, a special ad will be designed to highlight this as a truly Southern original tradition. We will be running an ad for National Police Week in May and I want the camp to demonstrate our appreciation for our local law enforcement service professionals with pizzas delivered to the city police and county sheriff’s offices. We are in the middle of a new fundraising effort to provide funds for our initiatives and a potential war chest. As a camp we are embracing the power of social media with a website blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts; we have over 500 followers on Twitter and Facebook and have over 97000 pageviews on our website all time, 135 pageviews in just the last two days. These results take dedication and persistence but we need to grow to thousands
of followers and hits each day to be the influencers envisioned to control the narrative. In addition to more opportunities to participate in camp and Brigade activities, the Army of Tennessee is hosting a workshop in Birmingham on January 12th which includes topics pertaining to camp growth and fundraising but also more information on the Southern Victory Campaign presented by Donnie Kennedy. The officers appreciate your dedication to the camp, the SCV, and the Cause and your continued support in these new initiatives like the Confederate Legion and the new museum at Elm Springs. Our sacrifices pale in comparison to those our Confederate ancestors endured but they are nonetheless important in stemming the tide of progressivism threatening our culture. As Stonewall concluded, Deo Vindice!
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Chaplain's Column for November 2018
Chaplain’s Column – Every Gift is Needed
I was friends with a kid in my teenage years who spent at least two of his years in high school carrying a tuba in his school marching band. Not necessarily what you’d describe as a call from God, but it wasn’t a wasted experience either. He learned some facts about harmony that I’ll pass on to you.
Would you attend a concert of a hundred tubas? Probably not. But what band would be a band without a tuba? Or a flute? Or a trumpet? Or a steady drum? Get the idea? The operative word is need. They need each other. By themselves they make music. But together, they make magic.
What I saw decades ago in the marching band, I see today in the church. We need each other. Not all of us play the same instrument. Not all of us make the same sound. Some are soft, and others are loud. Some convert the lost. Others encourage the saved. And some keep the movement in step. But all are needed! “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
1 Corinthians 12:12 New King James Version (NKJV). Describes Unity and Diversity in One Body. In verse 12 it says- For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Please remember all those that are on our prayer list.
I was friends with a kid in my teenage years who spent at least two of his years in high school carrying a tuba in his school marching band. Not necessarily what you’d describe as a call from God, but it wasn’t a wasted experience either. He learned some facts about harmony that I’ll pass on to you.
Would you attend a concert of a hundred tubas? Probably not. But what band would be a band without a tuba? Or a flute? Or a trumpet? Or a steady drum? Get the idea? The operative word is need. They need each other. By themselves they make music. But together, they make magic.
What I saw decades ago in the marching band, I see today in the church. We need each other. Not all of us play the same instrument. Not all of us make the same sound. Some are soft, and others are loud. Some convert the lost. Others encourage the saved. And some keep the movement in step. But all are needed! “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
1 Corinthians 12:12 New King James Version (NKJV). Describes Unity and Diversity in One Body. In verse 12 it says- For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Please remember all those that are on our prayer list.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Announces November 2018 Camp Meeting
The Dragoons' November meeting will be this Thursday 8th November at 6:45pm at Jim’s Restaurant on
Memorial Drive in Prattville. The speaker will be Philip Davis and his topic
will be Judah P. Benjamin, a member of the Confederate cabinet as Secretary of State. Come early to enjoy dinner at Jim's and fellowship with Confederate compatriots.
This
is the last meeting to bring nonperishable food items for the camp's Thanksgiving
Food Drive. The food items will be donated to the Autauga Interfaith Care Center next week. This meeting will also be the final opportunity to get a Smokin S smoked turkey as part of the camp's
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots
Upcoming Events
Prattville Dragoons November Camp Meeting – Thursday November 8th at 7pm at Jim’s Restaurant, Prattville
Tallasee Battle of the Armory Reenactment - Friday - Sunday November 9th -11th in Tallassee AL - http://tallasseearmoryguards.org/battles-for-the-armory
Prattville Bicentennial Fair - Friday and Saturday November 16-17, 2018 at the Doster Center, Prattville
Smoked Turkey Distribution - Saturday November 17th, 8-10am at Herrod’s Chevron in Prattville
Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive – October and November, to benefit the Autauga Interfaith Care Center
Prattville Christmas Parade – November 30th, 7pm Prattville Court and Main St – Dragoon entry
Christmas Salvation Army Kettle Bell Ringing – Saturday December 8th 8am-9pm Winn Dixie, Prattville AL
Christmas Social - Friday December 14th 6-9pm at Buena Vista, Prattville AL
Vida Christmas Parade - 2pm, Saturday Dec 15th at the Vida (AL) Community Center
Prattville Dragoons November Camp Meeting – Thursday November 8th at 7pm at Jim’s Restaurant, Prattville
Tallasee Battle of the Armory Reenactment - Friday - Sunday November 9th -11th in Tallassee AL - http://tallasseearmoryguards.org/battles-for-the-armory
Prattville Bicentennial Fair - Friday and Saturday November 16-17, 2018 at the Doster Center, Prattville
Smoked Turkey Distribution - Saturday November 17th, 8-10am at Herrod’s Chevron in Prattville
Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive – October and November, to benefit the Autauga Interfaith Care Center
Prattville Christmas Parade – November 30th, 7pm Prattville Court and Main St – Dragoon entry
Christmas Salvation Army Kettle Bell Ringing – Saturday December 8th 8am-9pm Winn Dixie, Prattville AL
Christmas Social - Friday December 14th 6-9pm at Buena Vista, Prattville AL
Vida Christmas Parade - 2pm, Saturday Dec 15th at the Vida (AL) Community Center
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Prattville Dragoons Fall Muster October 2018
Saturday October 27th offered an occasion for Camp 1524 members, friends and family to relax and enjoy each other's company with the Dragoons' 4th
annual Fall Muster, The event was held at the Dismukes property just
south of Millbrook. Over twenty members and guests gathered to enjoy the beautiful warm fall day, shoot clays with shotguns and, eat a very tasty Bar B Que
meal prepared by the members and wives. It was another enjoyable muster and camp fellowship in the great Alabama outdoors. Clays were thrown using a spring loaded and a hand thrower with some shooters taking aim at two targets simultaneously. Guns ranged from the tried and true Remington 870 pumps to Philip Edwards' beautiful Benelli Ethos semi-automatic to Bill Branch's black powder double barreled behemoth. The occasion even offered an opportunity for Commander Waldo's daughter Brooke to shoot for her first time with instructions offered by Philip and Stuart. 1LT Harold Grooms cooked up some Conecuh sausages as a brunch sampler and then, after some shooting rounds, Chaplain Snowden blessed the picnic meal. Chaplain Snowden and 1LT Grooms prepared pulled pork, Quartermaster Bill Myrick brought his World Famous Baked Beans (with lots of bacon and sausage) and Commander Waldo brought potato salad and corn casserole. Peggy Myrick baked a delicious earthquake cake, 2LT Karl Wade wade brought dozens of cookies and other members brought additional desserts and beverages. It was a terrific opportunity to also include some of the member's better halves in a camp function with Philip's wife and Stuart's and Bill Myrick's wives and daughters in attendance, Bill's daughter having recently evacuated Panama City due to hurricane Michael. Those trying their hand at some clay target shooting included Philip, Stuart, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Harold, Dale Boyles, Don Owens, Bill Branch, Larry Spears, and Brooke but everyone else enjoyed the great comradery, food and spectacle.
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