H.L. Hunley Preservation

Article in Archaeology, a Publication of the Archaeological Institute of America dated Friday May, 2, 2014,

http://archaeology.org/news/2080-140502-hunley-submarine-conservation. 

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA—The H.L. Hunley, a Civil War-era submarine, will be immersed in a caustic bath that will remove the concretion of sand and shell that accumulated on its 40-foot-long iron hull. The procedure will also extract salt from the hull so that the Hunley can eventually be displayed without immersing it in water. Once the sediment has loosened the scientists at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center will begin to scrape it off. “Under that concretion is the possibility of new information about the attack,” archaeologist Michael Scafuri told The Post and Courier. The submarine sank and disappeared in 1864 after it rammed a torpedo into the USS Housatonic.

Recent Photo of the Hunley

 

Abbeville Institute for Southern Heritage Research and Education

Forwarded by Don Livingston of the Abbeville Institute:

Dear Friends and Associates of the Abbeville Institute

         If you have not already done so, please take a look at the remarkable achievement of the new Abbeville Institute website www.abbevilleinstitute.org. You should form the habit, as I have, of looking at it every day, for there is an abundance of new material daily. 

     Brion McClanahan is developing the site for the first time ever into a true voice of the South in all its many aspects.  He has already gathered an impressive company of writers,many of them new to our public mission. The new site has drawn 4,000 viewers in its first three weeks and seems especially of interest to young people.

     Please spread the word about this new venture to all potentially interested persons.  Consider contributing material for the Blog (commentary) and the Review (scholarly). Send submissions to Brionmcclanahan@gmail.com), and congratulate him on his unique and unprecedented achievement.

     I do not exaggerate in saying this may well be the best hope for Dixie. 

Sincerely,

Clyde Wilson, 

Emeritus, Distinguished Prof. of History,

University of South Carolina and 

M.E. Bradford Distinguished Fellow,

Abbeville Institute

Tallassee SCV Camp Proudly Announce Their New Home

The Sons of Confederate Veterans Tallassee Armory Guards now own a new meeting place.  The Historical Society indicates the structure it was built in 1890, however Benjamin Micou who owned the mills during the 1860s and 70s is said to have built it for his overseer.  It was located on the grounds of the Micou mansion which burned in 1908.  The overseerer's house was then moved to the present site which is where the Micou mansion once stood.  It is obvious that it is of 19th century architecture and it may have been constructed during the War Between the States.  The Tallassee camp intends to do more research on it now that it belongs to the camp and they are planning a work day to clean it up with the hopes to start conducting their camp meetings there in June.  Plans also include a flag display and a Confederate Monument at the site.  Congratulations to the Tallassee Armory Guards on this historical treasure.

New Tallassee Armory Guards Meeting Place

Dragoons at the Prattville Cityfest

Camp 1524 manned an information and recruiting booth at the annual Prattville Cityfest on Saturday May 3rd.  On Friday evening five Dragoons including Don Drasheff, Wayne Sullivan, Harold Grooms, Tyrone Crowley and Stuart Waldo helped prepare the booth, setting up the tent and tables.  Friday evening many of the local businesses set up their booths along Main Street in preparation for the Cityfest the following day.  The festivities actually begin Friday evening too with live music performed on a stage along Autauga Creek and food vendors selling hot dogs and sodas and fair fare.  Everyone brings there folding chairs and enjoys the spring evening while children play in the creek. 

Dragoons Setting up Booth for Cityfest Friday Evening

Thanks probably to great weather following a cold dreary winter and early spring, Saturday's event was one the best CityFest events in recent memory.  There were lots of visitors milling down Main Street of Prattville perusing the booths and enjoying food and drinks. The Dragoons gave away all the small Battle Flags numbering over 150 and Lt. Grooms noted when he was further down the street that he noticed the procession of Battle Flags being carried down Main Street by all the youngsters and young at heart.  Quite a few Alabama Division educational posters were distributed also to passers-by who appreciated Confederate history.  The Camp sold a number of larger 3x5ft flags including Battle Flags, Gadsden flags with the coiled rattlesnake, Bonnie Blues and Confederate National flags.  A sheet and a half of contacts signed up for information regarding membership, Confederate genealogy or SCV information.  Beautiful day and a great day for Confederate history and Southern heritage in downtown Prattville at the 2014 Cityfest.

Dragoons and Ladies of the DAR at the Opening of Cityfest on Saturday

Quartermaster Brantley and Commander Waldo Manning the Booth

Always Popular Free Battle Flags Lined Main Street

Some Young Confederate Compatriots

Prattville Dragoons Camp 1524 News for May 2014

From the Camp Dispatch newsletter for May 2014:

Camp News

Dragoon Danny Smyth Repairs Banner Pole - The long pole used to carry the Dragoon Banner in parades was broken while being transported to the Millbrook Mardi Gras Parade in February.  Dragoon Danny Smyth, who was present as we lined up, did a temporary repair to get us through the parade, then took the pole home and made a permanent repair by placing a metal rod in the pole.  Danny has also recently become a member of the I-65 Flag Committee, where his mechanical ability will also be used and appreciated.  Thank you, Danny!

Dragoons Sponsor JROTC Hunley Award.  Commander Stuart Waldo, Brigade Commander Bill Myrick, Past Commander Larry Spears, and Communications Officer Tyrone Crowley all were present recently to present awards to deserving recipients from Prattville and Stanhope Elmore High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) detachments. This award goes to a second-year cadet who exemplifies honor, courage, and most importantly commitment to the JROTC unit. The award was named in honor of the crew of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley who gave their lives in defense of their country and demonstrated these same qualities in performing their duties. On Thursday evening 3 April, our Camp presented the Hunley award to Cadet Tanner Furlong of Prattville High School.  The same award was presented on Wednesday 9 April to a deserving candidate, Cadet Joseph Brantley, at Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook.

Dragoons Attend Memorial Ceremony at Capitol - Several Dragoons attended the combined UDC/SCV Confederate Memorial Ceremony at the State Capitol Confederate Monument on Monday 28 April at 10 a.m.  Harold Grooms, Larry Spears, Tyrone Crowley, Bill Myrick, David Brantley, and Louis Turner were present, along with close to 100 others, to announce the name of their ancestor when the microphone was passed around during the memorial service.  The ceremony was enhanced by Fiddlin' in the Parlor, a husband-and-wife team from Bessemer, and the fine spontaneous dancing by Bill Anthony and lady Nikki from the Tallassee Camp.  There was also a bagpiper and a Confederate cannon salute that rattled windows for blocks around.  Another fine day for UDC/SCV collaboration!

Dragoons Conduct Annual Memorial Ceremony at Dragoon Monuments - Bearing in mind a forecast of potentially dangerous weather, the Prattville Dragoons commemorated Confederate Memorial Day on Monday April 28^th at the Dragoons monument at the Prattville Primary School on Washington Street.  The Dragoons program at 6 p.m. followed another at the State Capitol at 10 a.m. that morning which was hosted by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.  Bagpiper Bob Miller of Carrollton, Georgia, who also piped at the Capitol ceremony that morning, led a procession of Dragoons from the County Courthouse Monument to the Dragoon Monuments at Fourth and Washington Streets to begin the ceremony.  Chaplain Tom Snowden rendered up fine prayers to open and close, Commander Stuart Waldo offered a welcome and thought-provoking remarks, 1Lt Cmdr Harold Grooms gave us the history of the Confederate Monuments in Prattville, and which he and Adjutant Wayne Sutherland set a wreath in front of the 1916 Dragoon Monument.  Reenactor Liaison Col Paul Whaley and men from the 33rd Alabama Reenactors provided a fine Honor Guard for the service.  We also owe a debt of thanks to Dragoon Larry Miller for keeping the weeds under control at the Prattville Primary monument site. 

Forrest Waldo Receives Scholarship From Alabama Division. Commander Stuart Waldo's son Forrest Waldo has been awarded one of the Alabama Division’s Lt. General Joseph Wheeler Scholarships. After being invited by the Division, Forrest plans to attend the Division Reunion Awards Banquet in Athens on May 17^th.  Forrest is a senior at Auburn University majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Martha Ann Wallace Home From Rehab.  On 18 April, Dragoon Steve Wallace reported that he had brought Martha Ann home from Rehab, and thanked all Dragoons for their prayers in her behalf.

Dragoons Take On Indian Hills Cemetery Project. Dragoon Benny Harris has agreed to lead the renovation of Prattville's Indian Hills cemetery and the Confederate graves there as a camp project.  Thank you, Compatriot Harris, for taking on this responsibility.  Benny recently was in charge of a similar project in Chilton County so has solid experience in this area of effort.