Historic Marietta - Hilton Hotel and Conference Center on the Grounds of the Georgia Military Institute, a Photo Journal Part 3

Nearly directly across from the Hilton Marietta Hotel and Conference Center is the historic Marietta Cemetery.  The reader is referred to the late January and early February posts on this blog for information and photographs from the writers initial visit to this wonderful final resting place for thousands of Confederate veterans, many who died in defence of Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta and Atlanta as well as many Confederate veterans who resided in Soldiers Homes after the War.  The cemetery has a wonderful walking trail with benches providing touching excerpts from the memoirs of Mattie Harris Lyon who, along with the other widows and members of the Ladies Memorial Foundation and subsequently the United Daughters of the Confederacy moved the soldiers bodies from the surrounding battlefields to this sacred place and cared for the graves and grounds.  Flags of all the states of the Confederacy as well as the Confederate States of America flag and Battle flags flew stiff again in the cool winter breeze.  Erosion conservation work was currently underway to prevent the soil from washing from atop the graves and from under the old oak trees.  Also, a new memorial including a life sized bronze Confederate soldier atop a granite foundation was a great addition.  The monument was dedicated in 2014 by the Sons of Confederate Veterans to the memory of the Confederate Soldiers, erected in conjunction with the Marietta Confederate Cemetery Foundation.  The monument included an engraving of the Great Seal of the Confederate States of America and the inscription "Deo Vindice, God is Our Vindicator" on the front face.  On the back face were the acknowledgements to those who erected the monument and on one side a list of all the states whose men fought and died and are buried in the Marietta Cemetery in defence of their homes and the Confederacy. A stirring tribute to the Confederate veterans interred here and a wonderful surprise to see a new monument to commemorate these heroes in this Sesqicentennial.

The Confederate Soldier Monument at the Marietta Cemetery

The Rear of the Monument, the Soldier Looking Out Over Historic Downtown Marietta

View of the 2nd National and Battle Flags from the Confederate Soldier Monument

Historic Marietta - Hilton Hotel and Conference Center on the Grounds of the Georgia Military Institute, a Photo Journal Part 2

On the grounds of the Hilton Marietta Hotel and Conference Center is one of the few remaining antebellum homes remaining in the Atlanta area, the Brumby Hall, circa 1851. The home was constructed to house the Superintendent of the Georgia Military Institute, Colonel Arnoldus V. Brumby.  The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The front entrance includes stately columns and a porch across the width of the house. The foyer has stairs with wood treads matching the hardwood floors on the right side and a hall leading to the back porch on the left side. To the right of the foyer is a formal dining room which has wonderful period furnishings including a dining table,china cabinet, and serving tables as well as oil paintings adorning the walls with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.  To the left of the foyer is a sitting room with fireplace again decorated with period furnishings including two sofas and two sitting chairs with tables and additional paintings.  The back of the home has an enclosed porch which had tables set with linen tablecloths for the next event.  The home is used for special events including weddings and formal dinners.  Around Brumby Hall are numerous gardens including a rose and boxwood gardens and others which provide areas with paving stones and decorative garden structures and fountains which provide additional settings for special events including weddings and concerts. A beautifully restored and preserved home, a piece of history on the grounds of the Hilton Hotel overlooking old lush magnolia trees and historic Marietta Georgia.

Brumby Hall

Boxwood Gardens on the Ground of Brumby Hall

Brumby Hall Rose Garden, Dormant in Early February in Marietta

Foyer of Brumby Hall

Formal Dining Room of Brumby Hall

Sitting Room of Brumby Hall

Historic Marietta - Hilton Hotel and Conference Center on the Grounds of the Georgia Military Institute, a Photo Journal Part 1

Spent Valentines weekend with my lovely wife in the Atlanta area and enjoyed the beautiful Hilton Marietta Hotel and Conference Center.  I was genuinely surprised at the historical significance of this property and this enhanced the enjoyment of our stay. This hotel was built on the grounds of the former Georgia Military Institute which trained and educated young men in Georgia up to the War Between the States, from 1851 until 1865. This hotel has embraced their historical ties to this Southern and Confederate landmark.  The hotel exterior design is meant to reproduce the grand Southern architecture and the large beautiful lobby has wonderful furnishings and displays paintings, prints, and even an historic cannon and a copy of the Georgia Military Institutes Regulations for the cadets.  The cannon is an actual historic piece, one of four given to the Georgia Military Institute by the U.S. government in 1851 and captured in 1864 by the Federals as they approached Atlanta.  It was returned to the City of Marietta in 1921 from Gettysburg PA and two of the other cannons are on the Georgia State Capitol grounds in Atlanta.  The front of the hotel has a grand entrance with stately trees and Georgian architecture influence.  The back of the hotel overlooks the City Club Marietta Golf Course and the Kennasaw Mountain on the horizon with a veranda on the back of the hotel just a few strides to some of the course greens.  The hotel offers numerous conference rooms and a full service restaurant and bar. Very accommodating staff who ensured all our special requests were fulfilled. A very enjoyable weekend at the Marietta Hilton.

Hilton Marietta Hotel and Conference Center Front Approach

Rear  View of the Marietta Hilton 

View from Marietta Hilton Showing Golf Course and Kennesaw Mountain

Inspiring History - Unforgettable Hospitality

Georgia Military Institute Regulations Circa 1862

Mural of Cadet Drills at the Georgia Military Institute

Historic Cannon in Lobby 

Prattville Dragoons Commander Posing Across from Registration Desk

Paining of Antebellum Mansion in Hilton Lobby 

Paining of Confederate Locomotive in Hilton Lobby

Painting of Lee and Grant at Appomattox in Hilton Lobby

Prattville Dragoons February 2015 Camp Meeting - Part 2

Mr. James Hammonds was the guest speaker for the February Camp 1524 monthly meeting.  Mr. Hammonds was an original founder of the Battle of Selma reenactment and is President of The April 1865 Society which is the official sponsor of the 150th Battle of Selma Reenactment and which is erecting a series of a dozen Battle of Selma Historic Markers throughout the city of Selma.  Mr. Hammonds estimated the financial benefit and impact of the Battle of Selma reenactments at over $6 million dollars and anticipates that the upcoming Sesquicentennial event will be the largest ever with double the number of reenactor participants.  The 150th Battle of Selma Reenactment will be held on April 25-26, 2015.

The April 1865 Society has three main activities, 1) sponsor of the Reenactment of the Battle of Selma, 2) donations to the Alabama State Archives flag preservation efforts with funds raised thru T-shirt, food and souvenir sales at the reenactment event and thru membership dues in the Society, and 3) the erecting of historic markers in Selma to commemorate Wilson's Raid and the Battle of Selma.  The Society hopes to erect ten additional markers this year before the Battle of Selma Reenactment to form a historic trail for visitors and tourists to Selma.

The markers include a period map of the City of Selma which was drawn by Major General J.H. Wilson himself showing the fortifications around the city, the city street grid and railroads as well as the locations of the structures that were burned the day of April 2nd during the Battle as well as showing the position of the forces at given periods of time during the Battle.

Wilson approached Selma with 13500 men and two four gun artillery batteries.  The UNion forces captured 32 Confederate guns and over 4000 rounds which were arrayed in defence of the city and in the armory works. Union Generals Long and Upton were part of Wilson's forces and moved south toward Selma where they met the Confederate defenders positioned in an arc protecting the roads coming into Selma from the North including Range Line Road the primary thoroughfare. The infantry including mostly local militia and cavalry including Forrest formed this first line of defence and the artillery were positioned in a second line of defence back toward the city center.

Union troops approached about 2pm and around 3pm, Confederates with Chalmers' brigade attacked Long from the rear.  This prompted the Union forces to hasten their forward attack and at 5pm the Union Army struck the Confederate line with approximately 5000 men.  The balance of the Union forces were protecting the rear and were still advancing into the area. The Confederate line was protected by four hundred yards of abatis, felled trees with sharpened limbs facing the oncoming Union troops.

Almost 300 casualties were reported by the Union forces, a very high rate for the short length of the engagement and skirmishes with many officers killed including General Long. But the Union forces flanked the Confederate line and took many Confederate cavalry and forced General Forrest and the remnants of his men to retreat from the city.  The Union and Confederate forces were approximately equal in number but the old men and young boys comprising much of the militia were out-gunned with their old muzzle loading muskets facing the Union infantry with their Spencer repeating rifles which could fire at six or seven times the rate of the muskets. The Confederates retreated back to the inner line of defence and the railroad line when the Union forces charged with sabers twice finally forcing the defenders into disarray, eventually either escaping or surrendering.

James Hammonds Addresses the Dragoons Camp Meeting

Prattville Dragoon February 2015 Camp meeting - Part 1

SCV Camp 1524 held their monthly meeting at the Shoney's on Cobbs Ford Rd in Prattville on February 12th.  Twenty one members and guests were in attendance.  Chaplain Tom Snowden led all those gathered in an Invocation to begin the meeting and in the absence of the Color Sergeant, 1st Lt Harold Grooms led everyone in the recitation of the pledges to the U.S., Alabama and Confederate Battle flags.  Commander Waldo read S.D. Lee's Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans and then presented the Announcements.  Special guests included four ladies accompanying their men to our weekly meeting - always nice to have the ladies join the Dragoons.  Upcoming events were highlighted including the next two Indian Hill Cemetery workdays and the April 27th rededication program plans which were presented by Benny Harris who is leading the project.  The Autauga Genealogical Society continues their informational display in the Prattaugan Museum thru the end of the month.  The Alabama Division EC meeting will be held on Saturday January 28th in Montgomery and 1st Lt Grooms and Adjutant Sutherland will represent Camp 1524.  As part of Confederate History and Heritage month, flags will be set at the graves of the Confederate Veterans in Prattville's Oak Hill Cemetery on Saturday March 28th.  The following Saturday will be the Dragoons annual picnic at Confederate Memorial Park where again, flags will be set at all the Confederate veterans graves in the two cemeteries at the Park.  In May, there will be a Sesquicentennial reenactment of the Battle of Columbus (GA) and also a highlight for the Alabama Division, the rededication of the Confederate Circle at Old Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, the culmination of years of work to enhance and beautify this historic final resting place for many brave Confederate veterans.  The plans for the April Confederate History and Heritage Month billboard advertisements were announced to the camp.  These beautiful ads will be displayed on the billboards in downtown Prattville as well as near the intersection of Hwy 14 and I-65.  The business meeting for March was announced including the officer elections to be conducted.  The registration and schedule of events for the Alabama Division and National SCV Reunions were passed around for everyone to review with the reminder that the deadline for early registration is fast approaching.  The guest speaker for the camp meeting was introduced by 1st Lt. Grooms.  James Hammonds is the President of The April 1865 Society, official sponsor of the Battle of Selma Reenactment and Mr. Hammonds provided a recounting of the main events of that battle including common historical misconceptions regarding the position of the opposing forces and other facts.  The Society is erecting Battle of Selma Historic Markers all around the town as part of this Sesquicentennial event in April. Commander Waldo then recited the SCV Closing and Chaplain Snowden led everyone in a closing Benediction.  Another enjoyable camp meeting with Dragoons and Confederate compatriots.

THE WIZARD OF THE SADDLE, A POEM

This stirring poem about General Nathan Bedford Forrest was written by a relative of Dragoon Bill Branch, Virginia Fraser Boyle.  Virginia Fraser Boyle was the daughter of Mary Virginia Austin and Charles Wesley Fraser, a Confederate Cavalry officer and later prominent lawyer in Memphis. Mary Virginia Austin and her sister Letitia Sarah Austin were daughters of Hugh Rice Austin, Mississippi Planter and newspaper editor of Madison County, Mississippi.

THE WIZARD OF THE SADDLE

by Virginia Fraser Boyle (1863-1938)

It was out of the South that the lion heart came,
From the ranks of the Gray like the flashing of flame,
A juggler with fortune, a master with fame---
The rugged heart born to command.

And he rode by the star of an unconquered will,
And he struck with the might of an undaunted skill;
Unschooled, but as firm as the granite-flanked hill---
As true and as tried as steel.

Though the Gray were outnumbered, he counted no odd,
But fought like a demon and struck like a god,
Disclaiming defeat on the blood-curdled sod,
As he pledged to the South that he loved.

'Twas saddle and spur, or on foot in the field,
Unguided by tactics that knew how to yield;
Stripped of all, save his honor, but rich in that shield,
Full armored by natures own hand.

As the rush of the storm he swept on the foe;
It was "Come!" to his legions---he never said "Go!"
With sinews unbending, how could the world know
That he rallied a starving host?

For the wondering ranks of the foe were like clay
To these men of flint in the molten day
And the hell-hounds of war howled afar for their prey,
When the arm of a Forrest led.

Was he devil or angel? Life stirred when he spoke,
And the current of courage, if slumbering, woke
At the yell of the leader, for never was broke
The record men wondering read.

With a hundred lie charged like a thousand men,
And the hoofbeats of one seemed the tattoo of ten.
What bar were burned bridges or flooded fords when
The wizard of battles was there?

But his pity could bend to a fallen foe,
The mailed hand soothe a brother's woe;
He had time to be human, for tears to flow---
For the heart of the man to thrill.

Then "On!" as though never a halt befell,
With a swinging blade and the rebel yell.
Through the song of the bullets and the plowshares of hell---
The hero, half iron, half soul

Swing, rustless blade in the strong left hand---
Ride, soul of a god, through the dauntless band---
Through the low, green mounds of the breadth of the land---
Wherever your legions dwell!

Swing, rebel blade, through the halls of fame,
Where courage and justice have left your name;
By the torches of glory your deeds shall flame
With the reckoning of Time!

Indian Hills Cemetery Workday

Saturday February 7th was a busy day for Camp 1524 with ten Dragoons participating in the Millbrook Revelers' Mardi Gras parade while another group worked the morning at Indian Hills Cemetery. Great progress was made in clearing the scrub and undergrowth along the north and west lines.  1st Lt Harold Grooms reported a successful day when he called the camp Commander at 1:45 in the afternoon after having labored almost seven hours on the project.  Benny Harris again led the work effort and was there even before 8am and was still there with Tom Crowley tending the fires even later into the afternoon.  Adjutant Wayne Sutherland and Commander Stuart Waldo worked an hour early in the morning before heading to the parade, pulling double duty.  But that was for fun whereas Treasurer Billy Leverette put in a couple hours at the cemetery before heading into his work. Bill Branch and Harold brought their chain saws and knocked out the larger stuff but piles of vines and leaves and limbs made for a couple huge bonfires. Chaplain Tom Snowden and Paul Whaley came to contribute to the work at Indian Hills also.  Indian Hills is the final resting place for 39 souls including original Dragoon Lt. A.Y. Smith.  A number of graves date to the 1840s.  The Dragoons anticipate the Indian Hills cleanup and renovation completion in April and Benny has started planning for a wonderful event to rededicate the cemetery on April 27^th with reenactments, cannon salutes, bonfires, and speeches.

Paul, Wayne, Billy and Harold (L-R)

Bill, Benny and Tom (L-R)

Billy and Harold Building the Brush Pile

Tom Crowley Tending a Fire

Millbrook Mardi Gras Parade

The Prattville Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524 participated in the Millbrook Revelers annual Mardi Gras parade on Saturday, February 7th.  The Dragoons had a wonderful entry including a golf cart decorated with Mardi Gras purple, green and gold tinsel and beads and of course Confederate Battle flags.  The cart was driven by Commander Waldo's son and Mrs. Waldo in her period gown and the two little Confederate Waldos also rode.  Danny Smyth pulled a trailer with his truck and the trailer was turned into a grand float with more Mardi Gras tinsel and decorative cut-outs along with the camp's U.S., Alabama state, Confederate 3rd National and Battle flags on each corner of the trailer and more smaller flags including the Bonnie Blue flanking each side.  But the centerpiece was Danny's period replica cannon which was adorned with huge festive Mardi Gras beads.  Sue Spears elicited an exclamation of "a princess" from one little girl along the parade route as she waved to the crowd from the float adorned in her lovely period gown.  Comm Officer Larry Spears walked along with Quartermaster Bill Myrick and hs wife Peggy.  Larry's father and World War II veteran James Spears carried the camp banner along with Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, walking the entire parade, over a mile.  Special thanks to the Adjutant for making a run from Mill Creek Park to get the banner which was left behind before the parade. Color Sgt Brent Jenks and his father George also walked and wore their sharp matching SCV Camp 1524 grey oxford shirts.  Dave Thompson made it just in the nick of time as we were pulling out of Mill Creek and his significant other waved a pair of mini-Battle flags all the way down Main Street sitting on the float.  Bags of candy, hundreds of Battle flags and SCV coins and a hundred moon pies proved to be scant provisions to toss to the thousands of spectators lining Main Street of Millbrook.  The parade started at Mill Creek Park and ran north on Main Street to Coosada Road past the Village Green Park where the festival was set up.  A reviewing stand was set up at Village Green and the crowd was five and six deep along the road there.  The Millbrook Mardi Gras parade is billed as the largest such parade north of Mobile AL where Mardi Gras actually originated.  A wonderful enjoyable event allowing the Dragoons to show off their Southern pride, Southern belles, and beautiful Confederate flags on a beautiful crisp February winter afternoon.

Larry and Sue Spears in Period Dress

Cannon Festooned with Mardi Gras Beads

WWII Vet James Spears and Danny Smyth

Kerri in her Period Gown Riding in the Cart

George and Brent Jenks Looking Sharp

Quartermaster Myrick Before the Parade

All the Dragoons and Family

Prattville Dragoons Camp News

The following items were noted in the February Camp 1524 Dispatch newsletter as items of interest.

Lee Advertisement in Autauga Free Press - The Dragoons elected to forego their annual Robert E. Lee birthday advertisement in the Progress newspaper and instead placed a more cost effective ad in the online Autauga Free Press where the ad ran on multiple webpages for an entire week.

Graves Registry on SCV National Website – The National SCV.org website has a graves registry for archiving cemeteries and the Confederate veterans interred there.  Benny Harris has committed to helping get the Indian Hills, Robinson Springs and Rocky Mount cemeteries listed in that database; please contact him regarding any other cemeteries in Autauga and Elmore county.

Autauga Genealogical Society of which Tyrone Crowley and Benny Harris are members met on Saturday, January 17 between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the office of the Probate Judge, 176 W. 5th St., Prattville where Benny did research on the ownership of the Indian Hills cemetery.

Communications Officer and Newsletter Editor - If anyone feels led to volunteer to help with either of these duties please contact Larry or Stuart. 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

The following events were highlighted in the Dragoons February Camp Dispatch newsletter.

Work Day at Indian Hills Cemetery - Saturday February 7^th, 2015, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  All Dragoons are encouraged to come and help, for any amount of time they choose. From the junction of Highways 82 and 14 in west Prattville, go north (toward Tuscaloosa) on Highway 82 for two miles.  Turn left onto County Road 86.  Go 1.6 miles and you'll see Indian Hills Cemetery on your left.

S D Lee Institute Lectures, 6-7 Feb 2015 in Dallas, Texas.  For information and to register, see www.stephendleeinstitute.com/events.html

Millbrook Mardi Gras Parade - 7 February 2015, noon, lineup 10-11am; festival starts at 9am

Autauga Genealogical Society has put together a display of valuable information about the Society and how to research your ancestors and family history at the Prattaugan Museum from January through February 2015 located at 102 East Main Street, just across from City Hall.  Hours are Tuesday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

AL Division EC Meeting will be held in Montgomery on February 28^th.

150th Anniversary of the Battle of Columbus (GA) on May 2 & 3, contact maintenance@portcolumbus.org or (706) 604-5768

Dragoons Easter Picnic – The annual picnic will be held on Saturday April 4^that Confederate Memorial Park the day before Easter; following the flag setting at 9am at the cemeteries, a program will be conducted at 10:30am followed by a picnic lunch; Easter goodie baskets will be provided for all children so please contact a camp officer if you will be bringing children to get a count for the Easter bunny.

Indian Hills Cemetery Rededication on April 27^th starting at 5:30pm, Confederate Memorial Day; event will include reenactments, cannon fire, and bonfires.

Confederate Circle Dedication, 23 May 2015, Old Live Oak Cemetery, Selma - This will be the culmination of a couple of years of dedicated effort at this very historic site by the Friends of Forrest.

Prattville Dragoons Chaplains Column for February 2015

Camp 1524 Chaplain Snowden's column from the February Camp Dispatch newsletter:

Chaplain’s Column:  Why do People Follow Jesus

            Key Scripture: John 6:22-71

     When Jesus walked this earth, a vast multitude followed Him. They came to Him for all sorts of reasons—some noble, some selfish. Today the same is true. Have you ever asked the question what motivates people to come to Christ? Not all who seek Him are really His followers. We each need to look at our own walk with the Lord. We need to consider the following question. What do we want from Him? How committed are we to being His disciples?

     Back in the Bible times many of the people who followed Jesus did so because they had needs that He alone could meet. In all the places Jesus went, the sick and demon-possessed were brought to Him—this is one of the ways that God draws us to Himself. Those who can solve all their own problems will say they never need a Savior.

     Some folks came for sensationalism, simply wanting to see the signs, miracles and feel the excitement. Today some people come to church or conferences to get pumped up, but mountaintop experiences are always followed by valleys. When hardships or challenges come, such people are quick to abandon the Lord. But Jesus’ disciples followed Him because they genuinely believed He was the very Son of God (Matt. 16:16). Their commitment went beyond emotions or needs. They wanted to know Christ and walk closely with Him.

     We might ask ourselves these questions. Are we more interested in what Jesus can do for us than in just being with Him? Do we find it hard to stay committed without an emotional experience to sustain us? Our physical and emotional needs can draw us to the Lord, but we should never allow them to be the foundation for our walk with Him.

     Remember to pray for the Dragoons that all we do will be pleasing to God. We could also pray for growth in membership.

     Please remember all those on our prayer list.

Yours In Christ

Tom Snowden, Chaplain

Big Saturday for the Prattville Dragoons

Today, Saturday February 7th is a big day for the Prattville Dragoons as they have a community service project and participation in a community celebratory event for members to participate.

     Starting at 8am members will be having another Indian Hills Cemetery workday.  Volunteers outside the camp are welcome to come help in this worthwhile community service project to clean and renovate this historic cemetery where a number of Confederate veterans and other noteworthy founding Prattville residents are laid to rest.  Indian Hills is the final resting place for 39 souls including original Dragoon Lt. A.Y. Smith.  A number of graves date to the 1840s.  The Dragoons anticipate the Indian Hills cleanup and renovation completion in April and Benny has started planning for a wonderful event to rededicate the cemetery on April 27^th with reenactments, cannon salutes, bonfires, and speeches.

All Dragoons are encouraged to come and help, for any amount of time they choose, from one to five hours. From the junction of Highways 82 and 14 in west Prattville, go north (toward Tuscaloosa) on Highway 82 for two miles.  Turn left onto County Road 86.  Go 1.6 miles and you'll see Indian Hills Cemetery on your left.

The Millbrook Revelers will be hosting a Mardi Gras parade and festival in Millbrook AL and the Dragoons will be fielding an entry including marchers, decorated golf cart, and a cannon on a decorated trailer. We will have the customary candy and moon pies for the parade but also hundreds of Confederate mini-Battle flags and SCV coins to throw to the parade spectators.  The festival starts at 9am at the Village Green Park.  The parade begins at noon with a line-up by 11am; the parade starts at Mill Creek Park and runs north up Main Street just past Village Green.  Come cheer on the Prattville Dragoons and celebrate the season at the largest Mardi Gras parade north of Mobile AL.  

Prattville Dragoons Commander's Column for February 2015

Camp 1524 Commander Waldo's column from the February Camp Dispatch newsletter:

It seems a number of recent articles touch on the high moral fabric our Confederate ancestors possessed and how this has been handed down to their future generations including those of us who cherish our Southern culture and Christian foundations.  In the November/December 2014 issue of the Confederate Veteran magazine, the article “Lincoln’s War and Historical Revisionism” observes that despite Northern history books attempting to indoctrinate generations of Americans since the war for Southern Independence that the Union Army conducted a grand campaign strictly for the emancipation of slaves from their cruel Southern masters, the actual truth was that justification was merely an afterthought, an eventual war measure.  The Southern states had every Constitutional right to secede from tyrannical Northern states violating God’s very ordained “Natural Laws” attempting to incite slave riots and impose discriminatory oppressive tariffs.  Ben Jones column in the January/February edition of the Confederate Veteran observes that perhaps the truth is finally beginning to be revealed and accepted that the North was profiting from the institution of slavery from the inception of slave trading in North America up until the secession of the Southern states in the Northern textile mills and in the tariff proceeds generated by Southern trade which lined the pockets of Northern industrialists.  As Lincoln stated, he had to instigate the War else he would lose his source of federal treasure. So he unleashed a Total War against the citizenry of the Southern states allowing the Union army to indiscriminately destroy Southern property and commit unspeakable war crimes against the defenseless Southern women, children and elderly as well as the supposed beneficiaries of their emancipation crusade. 

Tyrone Crowley sent out an article in December entitled “The Revenge of the Confederacy” from the magazine Chronicles which stated in comparing the Southern “civilization” to  the Northern peoples, “The South was of a traditional mind; the North of a revolutionary one. The South was deferential; the North egalitarian. The South was pious; the North transcendentalist, or nothing. The South was agricultural; the North industrial. Finally, the South, politically speaking, was strictly constitutionalist; the North latitudinarian and expansionist. These differences had existed from the beginning, but they had grown much wider between 1789 and 1861. With or without slavery, the South did not wish to live in the future as the North contemplated it, while the North was determined to drag the South along, as a distinctly junior partner, with it into that future. Northern politicians, men of business, and public men generally saw in victory no more than the chance to convert the South to its way of thinking.”  And it continues today in distinct red states and blue states but with the geopolitical power center in the Northeast (and California).  Populations segregate themselves with those who “look, think, and vote like them”.  But unfortunately, these are not entirely “homogenous” regions and it has become clear that we are all subjects to a supreme federal tyranny, mired in “frustration, gridlock, seething impotence, and a deep-seated hatred of the other half of the citizenry.  The Unionists in 1865 deprived their country of the opportunity to rid itself forever of that geographic half of it that bitterly resisted its (lack of) character and its agenda. But they did something else as well. They made certain that Northern society would continue to develop in the materialist direction in which it had been moving for decades, unchallenged by a vision of an alternate civilization grounded in nature and tradition, and by effective dissent on behalf of these things.  America as she exists in 2015 is the creation of the Union states that won the Civil War, a country the former Confederacy has had virtually no hand in making. The descendants of the former Unionists need to remind themselves of this fact as they, along with a majority of Americans, deplore what their country has since become. For people whose hearts pump Confederate blood, a certain smugness is understandable, and even pardonable.” 

The Confederate armies experienced a revival which became the bedrock of the Bible Belt but the defeat of the Confederate Army and the subsequent diminution of the Southern peoples and culture during the decades of Reconstruction left the reunited nation without the moral compass which guided the country over the course of its founding and first century.  Southern legislators over the past half century have often stood alone against the onslaught of the progressive agenda which has culminated today in the outrageous social, political and legal acceptance of gay marriage, atheism and attack of Christianity, the abortion of babies, economically unsound socialist welfare ideologies and of course, an ever larger more intrusive federal government.  On the national SCV website you will find a testimony by Dean Boggs of Camp 1209 who in 1979 expressed, “Because I intend to defend my family's honor and remember the sacrifice of my (Confederate veteran) Great Grandfather, and because it is my patriotic duty to my country, I belong to the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  Because I Love the South and I am proud to be a Southerner. I am proud of the culture, grace and elegance of the Old South, of our heritage of courage, honor, chivalry, respect for womanhood, patriotism, and of duty to God and country.  I take pride in the earlier leading role the Old South played in the Revolutionary War, the drafting of the Constitution and the founding of the United States.  Because our Southern heritage has served our nation well since 1865.  The Southern people, who lost everything in the War, and without government aid, had to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, traditionally adhere to the free enterprise system with its liberty and opportunity for all as opposed to the dictatorship of the welfare state with its liberty and opportunity for none.  Because even today, some of our school books, movies, television programs and press falsely portray Southerners as rebels and traitors who fought to preserve slavery, misleading our children and millions of Americans ignorant of history. Since my family fought for the Confederacy, they thereby falsely malign my family and me.  Their purpose is to destroy our proud heritage. As Winston Churchill said, "any people with contempt for their heritage have lost faith in themselves and no nation can long survive without pride in its traditions". Our enemies know this.” 

Alabama State Archives Flag Conservatory - An Alabama State Treasure

AL Division SCV Commander Gary Carlyle presented Bob Bradley, Chief Curator of the Alabama State Archives with a check for $5200 to help in the continuing preservation of the historical flags in the Archives from the period of the War for Southern Independence representing most of the units from Alabama.  Following the AL Division's Robert E. Lee Day program on Saturday January 24th, Bob hosted a tour of the Archives rooms in which the historical flags are preserved many in large viewing cases.  Depending on the material of which the flags were constructed, some of the banners had just delicate fragments and threads remaining which were mounted on a backing inside the framed glass case.  The room is usually closed to the public but a special tour was afforded those attending the SCV event.  Bob explained to the tour that the intent is to recreate conditions for the flags akin to those in ancient tombs.  UV light, changes in temperature and humidity are detrimental to the preservation of these flags. The actual fabrics themselves often had salts in them and many others accumulated dirt and debris which would act to abrade the threads of the flags materials. The fluorescent lights in the flag room are usually left off to prevent UV exposure and devices are used to monitor the temperature and humidity in the climate controlled storage room.  Besides the flags, many other historical artifacts are stored in the room including uniforms and even beautiful 19th century quilts.  Bob indicated over $200,000 had been expended to date on flag conservation and many others remain to be preserved with those prioritized by condition and relative historical importance. The Prattville Dragoons have as an annual budgeted expenditure the continued support of this effort thru donations usually of $500 per annum.  The Alabama State Archives flag collection, a treasure for the people of the state of Alabama and especially for those who cherish their Southern and Confederate heritage.

Bob Bradley Addresses the Tout Including AL Div Lt Commander Jimmy Hill

Our Home Our Rights We Entrust to Your Keeping Brave Sons of Alabama

First National Flag from Selma

Confederate Battle Flags