Robinson Springs Cemetery Discovery of Prattville Dragoon Confederate Veteran Gravesite

Compatriots,

While working at Robinson Springs Cemetery this past Tuesday, Dragoon Tyrone Crowley noticed a name on a grave marker that looked familiar. After further investigation, he determined that it is the grave of Prattville Light Dragoon 1st Lieutenant Samuel D. Oliver. The grave has no markings indicating that he was a Confederate veteran but the birth and death dates check out and it was verified on Find A Grave website. They list him as a Captain and it is very possible that he was promoted later in his service.  A Battle Flag was placed at his grave the same day Tyrone made this discovery. Many Dragoons have trimmed grass around his grave over the months and years maintaining the Robinson Springs cemetery and never realized the significance of this grave. 

Tyrone provides this narrative from Jesse Booth at a Dragoon Reunion in 1904:

Where is the dragoon now living that does not remember the serious countenance of Capt. Jesse Cox, as in his neat and tasty uniform he would gallop about our lines, as we drilled in that big old field out west of Pensacola.  Captain Cox and Lieutenants Oliver, Smith, and Montgomery, were all good men and good officers and much loved and respected by all the company. Captain Cox and Lieutenant Oliver were several years ago called to their cold, cold graves to sleep that sleep that knows no waking until the last trump shall sound. Lieutenants Smith and Montgomery are still living, both old and feeble, but let us hope and pray that they may live to be with us at many more of our reunions. Lieutenant Smith was then, as now, noted for his kindness of heart and the general courtesy and politeness with which he treated all soldiers, be they privates or officers. While at Pensacola the ladies of Prattville presented our entire company with a fatigue uniform, made with their own hands, and made of the best and most serviceable cloth, and also a most handsome dress uniform.

This is an incredible discovery. As previously noted, the Robinson Springs area was part of Autauga County before The War for Southern Independence.  There are at least 8 Confederate veterans in this cemetery; one of whom was a Dragoon officer.