Historic Sites at Heritage Golf Club in Pawley's Island SC

Recently played some golf in the Myrtle Beach SC area and one day the group played the Heritage Club in Pawley's Island, just south of Myrtle Beach.  Beautiful golf course which had holes meandering thru low lying swamps and marshland.  The clubhouse was built to resemble an antebellum plantation house with Georgian and Greek revival architecture.  On one of the last holes on the front nine there was an old graveyard next to the tee box which had an historic marker erected.  It indicated the area was part of the True Blue rice plantation belonging to the Pawleys in the 18th and 19th centuries from when the graveyard dated.  The sign went on to say that South Carolina produced two thirds of the rice for North America and that these plantations were home to the wealthy "rice princes" prior to the War Between the States.  Adjacent to the eighth hole tee box was another historic sign indicating the fenced area immediately in front of the tee box was a former slave graveyard that was used from the early 18th century into the 20th century.  The sign provided information about the artifacts discovered there and the slave's African burial customs.  A surprise historic departure from a round of golf in bustling Myrtle Beach. 

Prattville Dragoons Attend Lee-Jackson Banquet

Prattville Dragoon Officers Harold Grooms and Karl Wade attended the Lee-Jackson Dinner hosted by the Henry C Semple Camp on Friday evening 20 January at GracePointe Church of Christ in Montgomery.  Also attending were Dragoons Dave Thompson, with his wife, and Tyrone Crowley, who as he has done for several years now, read the poem, “Lee At Jacksonville” to those attending.  The poem is always read in memory of its author, Compatriot Joseph Cecil Wingard , an SCV member who wrote the poem in 2007 for the Robert E. Lee Bicentennial.    Compatriot Wingard is buried at Coosa River Primitive Baptist Church just north of Holtville, Alabama.

            The speaker for the evening was none other than SCV National Lt. Commander-in-Chief Larry Allen McCluney, Jr., who did an impressive impersonation of General P. G. T. Beauregard, launching his talk in French with “Bon soir mesdames et messieurs!” and going on to give a brief overview of his life, and of all he and his men experienced during the War Between the States.  Commander McCluney wore a handsome military uniform, complete with handsome riding boots.  His presentation was well-received, and when the Dragoons left afterwards people were still in line to speak with him and ask him questions.  

            A delicious dinner was provided, as always, by the Semple Camp, so everyone went home well-fed and pleased with the evening.  In these troubling times, events such as this are uplifting and encouraging to us all.

(Contribution by Dragoon Tyrone Crowley)

Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Robert E. Lee Birthday Ceremony

The Robert E. Lee birthday program sponsored by the Alabama Division was a very special way to honor General Lee on his birthday, Saturday 19 January. Division Commander Carl Jones, in the first picture, had words of welcome and mentioned the Division’s decision to place five Confederate monuments in Alabama on private property this year. 

Past National Commander Chuck McMichael delivered the keynote address, describing how the “rebels” of the Confederacy had identical motivation and ideals as did the “rebels” of the American Revolution. The only difference was that the first Revolution was a victory but the second War for Independence was not. He is in the second picture.

The third picture shows Commander Jones and Division 1st Lt. Commander Mike McMurry presenting a check for over $8000 to the Alabama Archives and History Confederate flag conservation fund. The Alabama Division donates ten percent of income from SCV tags to this fund each year.

Many compatriots lingered after the formal ceremony to view some of the conserved flags and other exhibits in the Archives. It was a great time to get together to honor such a man of character as Lee and visit with each other.

Winter Quarters Encampment at Confederate Memorial Park

Confederate Memorial Park and the Alabama Historical Commission are pleased to announce Winter Quarters, 1862. From Jan. 25 – Jan. 27 living historians will portray the 22nd Alabama Infantry, Co. I - “Pike Grays”.  This will be Friday through Sunday noon.  Saturday is the best day to go. 

Using our authentic reproduction Civil War barracks, approximately 100 reenactors will immerse themselves in reproducing what life was like for soldiers during the cold winter months. No cost to attend – donations to the museum are appreciated.

 Confederate Memorial Park is the original 102-acre site of Alabama's only Confederate Veterans' Home. The site operated from 1902-1939 as a haven for disabled or indigent veterans of the Confederate army, their wives and widows. Today, our state-of-the-art museum showcases Alabama's Confederate soldier from enlistment to aging veteran and contains hundreds of artifacts from the Civil War period.    

Robert E. Lee Day in Alabama

The Prattville Dragoons placed ads on two electronic billboards in Prattville to celebrate Robert E. Lee's birthday.

Dr. Grover Plunkett Speaks to Prattville Dragoons Camp 1524 "Why the Truth Matters"

Dr. Grover Plunkett, professor at Faulkner University in Montgomery addressed the Prattville Dragoons as part of the January camp meeting with the presentation "Why the Truth Matters".  Dr. Plunkett began by offering that he is unapologetic-ally a Christian, an American and, a Southerner.  He emphasized that we compatriots have the truth in our hands (including original documentation and first person accounts of the true causes of  The War) but often don't use it when we are challenged by our detractors and instead question our conviction and don't challenge them.  Truth is an absolute and you can't modify it eg. a little faithful or a bit honorable.  An example he gave was "social justice" - justice is absolute but the qualifier "social" would infer you must take justice from one to give to another. 

The truth matters to competent historians. The truth of the SCV Charge is that the Confederate soldiers were willing to die for the defense of their homes and the lie is that they were fighting for slavery.  There were actually seven reasons that Southerners went to war - the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  The lie of slavery as the single issue is a single half truth.  Friedrich Schiller, 18th century German poet, philosopher and historian maintained history can be boiled down to single causes.  Karl Marx maintained history is reducing historical events to single causes as long as it promotes the state.  Our detractors have reduced the cause of the war to one issue - slavery - which ignores all the other problems between the two sections of the country. No one wants to discuss the unfair tariffs and taxation of the South to benefit Northern interests, about the imbalance in Congressional representation, about state sovereignty, about the North invading the Southern states and Southern men leaving their families to defend their homes. 

Those who stand for and fight for the truth often suffer persecution, are the butt of jokes, are politically ostracized, become outcasts, eventually beaten into submission by ridicule.  What is the truth of the Confederate Battle flag and the Alabama state flag?  The St. Andrew's cross is a defiant symbol against tyranny.  The Alabama state motto is "We Dare Defend our Rights".  The SCV motto Deo Vindice translates "God Will Vindicate" (in truth).  The truth will set you free but lies will enslave you.  If we know the truth, are we prepared for the consequences or do we just want to be reconciled to a lie?  Virtue, embodied by General Robert E. Lee is not innate.  It is practiced.  Virtues are not forced upon us, it is something we decide to do. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Meeting for January 2019

The January Dragoon camp meeting was held on January 10th and attended by nearly 30 people with a number of members absent due to illness and extenuating issues.  Dr. Grover Plunkett, a History Professor at Faulkner University in Montgomery, spoke on "Why the Truth Still Matters". Dr. Plunkett is also a member of the Captain Henry Semple Camp in Montgomery. 

We were honored to have three men submit their applications to join the SCV last night; Jordon Henderson, Pierce Pelt, and Jayson Altieri. Adjutant Wane Sutherland dutifully finished the details of the applications to process these so these men can claim membership very soon. 

Compatriot Bill Branch opened the meeting with a Benediction followed by Commander Waldo who read the SCV Charge and went thru the upcoming events and announcements including the Army of Tennessee workshop upcoming this Saturday in Vestavia Hills which will be attended by several Dragoons.  He also made an announcement that Dragoon Bill Gill had been admitted to a local hospital that day and needs our prayers.  Color Sergeant Dismukes led everyone in the pledge to the US flag and salutes to the Alabama state and Confederate Battle flags.  After Dr. Plunkett's presentation, Commander Waldo read the SCV closing and Pastor Randall Tucker of Prattmont Baptist Church said a closing prayer to send everyone off.  

Pictured below you see a view of some of the early arrivals at our meeting; Commander Waldo making a point; and Dr. Plunkett during his address.