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.

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 at the Autauga County Fair

Saturday October 13th marked the last day of the Autauga County Fair where Camp 1524 placed an information booth in the entrance pavilion.  Earlier in the week, hurricane Michael caused cancellation of the fair due to wind and rain on Tuesday but the Dragoons completed a four day appearance Saturday night at the Fair. The Dragoons booth received a lot of attention and members made contact with many fairgoers some of whom requested further information about joining the SCV.  Potential members were invited to join the Dragoons at the next camp meeting and were provided with literature, applications and genealogy trees.  The booth was well positioned at the last corner before fairgoers exited the entry pavilion to the fair proper where the entertainment stage, rides and games awaited.  Sales of Confederate themed goods from the camp store were brisk including a few dozen flags, car tags and tote bags with profits above the fair booth entry fee returned to the camp treasury for camp operations.  Kudos to 2LT Cmdr. Karl Wade for arranging the details of this event and seeing it through to the end including helping to setup the booth and manning it for shifts throughout the week. But the success of this new camp initiative to participate in the fair could not have happened without the support of many of the camp members who manned the booth, greeting neighbors and friends as they entered the fairgrounds, handing out free mini-Battle flags and SCV coins and information, even manning the booth during the camp's regularly scheduled monthly meeting.   Members who participated include Commander Waldo (and his daughter Julie), Don Owens (who helped fill in for a couple shifts at the last minute due to cancellations), 2LT Karl Wade, Frank Pelt, Bill Gill, Beir Butler, Larry Spears, John Dennis (who came after being called up with the National Guard to help in the aftermath of the hurricane), Quartermaster Bill Myrick, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Tyrone Crowley, and Dale Boyles.

Prattville Dragoons October Camp Meeting - Bill Rambo Speaks About Confederate Memorial Park

Bill Rambo, site director for the Alabama Historical Commission’s Confederate Memorial Park in Marbury, gave the Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 excellent historical details of Confederate Memorial Park last night as all enjoyed each others company, the meals prepared by Jim’s Restaurant and information about our upcoming events. Commander Waldo passed out several Dixie Bird tickets before the meeting for our Fall fundraiser. We are selling smoked turkeys from Smokin S Restaurant, the same people who provide smoked turkey as part of the catering at our Christmas social.  Some reservations for the camp's Christmas social were also collected. 

Compatriot Rambo explained many features of the old Confederate Soldiers Home which amazed us. The Home was really ahead of it’s time in many respects with lighting using an acetylene system with the gas generated from a calcium carbide charge and running water supplied from a tower filled by a steam engine driven pump, for example.  Bill showed many photos from the early 1900s of the original buildings at the veterans' home including the Memorial Hall completed in 1904, the mess hall completed in 1918, the 25-bed hospital, a dairy barn, a carriage house and a couple of the nine cottages built (with donations from statewide UCV camps and UDC chapters) with four bedrooms in each to house eight veterans.  One photo showed a couple of the first resident veterans with their families and 1LT (called Captain) Jefferson Falkner who founded the home using 40 acres he donated from a summer home of his own there along with additional land donations totaling 102 acres.  The home was dismantled between 1939 and 1940 after the last veteran passed away and there are approximately 320 graves in two cemeteries in the park.  

Bill, as a WBTS reenactor, is extremely knowledgeable about the military tactics of the War Between the States and the history of the Alabama units in the War.  He showed this intimate knowledge by analyzing an illustration which dated from 1880 of a WBTS battle at Lay's Ferry in Georgia, explaining the formation of the Brigade into regimental lines each one carrying their own battle flag.  He also showed an amazing couple of photos from the War taken at Fredericksburg of a Mississippi unit which posed for the Union photographer across the destroyed river bridge span.   

Pictured below you see Commander Waldo; Tyrone and Phillip Edwards enjoying a relaxing visit; a portion of the attendees which numbered about 27 (with three members at the coincident Autauga County Fair manning the Dragoons' booth); Bill Rambo making his presentation; and Bill, Will Dismukes and Commander Waldo posing after the meeting.

1LT Cmdr. Harold Grooms should be commended for providing the camp with very interesting and informative programs and speakers and Chaplain Snowden for his slide show of pictures before each meeting and his thoughtful wonderful prayers which start and close each meeting. 

Black Alabama Confederate Veterans Resource

Compatriot Larry Miller recently asked about information available on black Confederate veterans from Alabama. In researching this, a wonderful resource website was located -    http://blackconfederatesoldiers.com/alabama-state-records.html.  The website provides a few photographs of these veterans at reunions as well as two lists, one from the National Archives and Records Administration and one for pensioners from the Alabama Civil War Service Database.  A report recently provided by Tyrone Crowley from the July 23, 1904 Montgomery Advertiser  documented a reunion of the UCV Camp Wadsworth and remaining members of the Prattville Dragoons noting, “Monroe Stuart, (present, who) belonged to the late Mr. George L. Stuart, loaded guns at Vicksburg, was in prison for months, refused pardon to remain in the fight, and as he came out of prison, took the clothes off a dead Confederate soldier, put them on, and stayed by the side of Col. H. J. Livingston the last

two years of the war.” 

Burrell, Body Servant of John Wallace Comer, CSA 2nd Lieutenant; 57th Alabama Infantry (http://blackconfederatesoldiers.com/alabama-state-records.html)

Prattville Dragoons' Camp Dispatch Newsletter Chaplain's Column for October 2018

Chaplain’s Column – Being Different

Mathew 5:3-6

Jesus made promises in "The Beatitudes." He was describing how to be different, how to be His servant in this hostile and wicked world we live in. He offers special rewards for these character traits and the special rewards for each.

Those who are genuinely humble before God, who turn to Him in absolute dependence, will be assured of a place in His kingdom.

Those who show compassion on behalf of the needy, the hurting, will receive (in return) much comfort in their own lives.

Those who are gentle—strong within yet controlled without, who bring a soothing graciousness into irritating situations, will win out.

Those who have a passionate appetite for righteousness, both heavenly and earthly, will receive from the Lord an unusual measure of personal contentment and satisfaction.

Let us ask ourselves these questions:

Am I really different?

Do I take all this seriously and am I willing to change?

Do I believe that serving others is one of the most Christlike attitudes I can have?

What significant difference will the ideas expressed in the Beatitudes have on my life?

In conclusion the question is not what do we want to be when we grow up but rather what are you becoming, now that you are grown?   Please remember all those that are on our prayer list.

Prattville Dragoons Camp Meeting Announcement for October 11, 2018

The Prattville Dragoons will hold their October meeting on Thursday the 11th at Jim’s Restaurant on Memorial Drive in Prattville. The meeting room will open by 6:00 PM for socializing and ordering meals  from Jim’s splendid menu. The meeting will begin at 6:45 PM. This is so we can finish our meeting by 8:00 PM when Jim’s closes. Come early and enjoy associating with your fellow members and guests. Prospective members are invited to attend as well as spouses and significant others of members and guests. 

Our speaker will be Compatriot Bill Rambo, Director of the Confederate Memorial Park at Mountain Creek. He will detail  updates and history of the Park.  

Remember our Thanksgiving food drive! Bring some nonperishable food items to donate in the camp’s name to the Autauga Interfaith Care Center for those local people in need at Thanksgiving time. This is an opportunity to share with our locals who are in need of this service at Thanksgiving. Your donations are much appreciated. 

The Autauga County Fair is opens and runs through Saturday 13 October. The Dragoons have a recruiting/information booth throughout the entire Fair. Come by and see us!

A Fall fundraiser will be announced Thursday night. We are trying to build up our treasury to help with unforeseen circumstances that may require an expenditure of money. This will be a smoked turkey sale in time for Thanksgiving. The smoked turkeys will be purchased from Smokin S Bar B Que  and will sell for $40 each. This is the same retail price Smokin S had last year so we will be no more expensive than what the public can purchase smoked turkeys for in a retail establishment.  Tickets will be available Thursday night. Our distribution date will be Saturday November 17, just in time for Thanksgiving. Please consider selling as many tickets as possible so the camp treasury will have some funds in case unexpected expenditures are required to preserve our Heritage. 

Chaplain Tom Snowden will present his camp slide show presentation during the social hour. This is always an interesting item as Tom updates the slide show regularly. 

Prattville Dragoons Commander's Column for October 2018

Commander's Column – Opportunities to Grow and Strengthen Our Camp and the Brigade

Camp 1524 has been fortunate, blessed to grow and maintain our membership and most importantly these new members have been among our most active, attending camp meetings as well as participating in our camp initiatives and volunteer opportunities.  This activism makes the Dragoons a formidable agent to advance the Cause in our community and the state of Alabama.  New Dragoon Josh Stover, in addition to creating a monument business to supply Confederate statues and busts across the South, was recently elected as Commander for the Southwest Central Brigade of the Alabama Division.  As we all should be, Josh is determined to honor his ancestors, defend their good name, guard the history of the South and the Cause and, grow the Sons of Confederate Veterans in order to withstand the attacks on our heritage by the militant, progressive, politically correct organizations arrayed against us.  Josh is taking a very active approach with his new position going above and beyond the directives of the new Division commander.  He recently held his first Brigade meeting for camp commanders and adjutants and presented many good ideas to strengthen and grow our camps and the Brigade. 

Commander Stover illustrates our challenge with data and statistics.  The Brigade currently has 165 members.  The population of the counties in which the SWC camps operate has over 217,000 residents - SCV members comprise just .08% of the population.  It has been estimated that perhaps 40% of legacy caucasian Southerners have Confederate ancestors so, we have over 60,000 potential members in the SWC Brigade region. Josh provided examples of initiatives to reach school aged children including living histories and the Hunley JROTC awards but even volunteer work days at the schools and sports or summer camps. To reach adult potential members, recommendations include inviting members from other civic organizations and participating in community events like parades and festivals. But, more and new ideas might include sponsoring golf or fishing tournaments or hosting a movie night.  The Dragoons ongoing initiatives include some of these activities but we need to expand our distribution of the Division education posters to area schools. We have approached the Autauga Heritage Association about showing a movie on the grounds of Buena Vista to which we could potentially invite the public as well as neighboring camps.

To create a more vibrant, responsive and strong Brigade, Commander Stover is encouraging expanded networking between the camps. Josh wants each camp to host at least one event each year to which the rest of the camps and their members in the Brigade are invited such as the Dragoons’ fall muster clay shoot. Extracurricular clubs like fishing groups or car shows can be held to foster participation by more members and build relationships across the Brigade outside of structured meetings.  Social events like our Christmas Social are opportunities to invite compatriots from other camps.  Josh is espousing establishing Brigade reenactor units, a Brigade Guardian group, a Brigade parade unit and others. If you enjoy a hobby like fishing or golf or cars or riding your motorcycle or horses, take the lead and develop a group to hold events or simple get togethers to enjoy these pursuits with compatriots from other camps.  Communication methods and calendars are being developed to coordinate these varied activities.  All of this to provide additional opportunities and outlets for participation to grow our camps and hopefully to even plant additional camps in candidate communities in the SWC Brigade footprint like Clanton.  Attend other camp’s meetings and events as an individual or bring your family.  There is Brigade and Division money for workshops and Flag Day festivities and other ideas.  Be engaged.  Lead or get involved in an extracurricular group.  There should be an urgency to transform your camp, your Brigade, the Division and the SCV to a more active dynamic organization, a more close-knit invested group of compatriots able to withstand and weather the attacks on our heritage through the strength of the relationships and interests we share.  Share your passions to grow the SCV, to carry forth the Charge.

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Upcoming Events

Prattville Dragoons October Camp Meeting – Thursday September 11^th at 7pm at Jim’s Restaurant, Prattville

Autauga County Fair – Dragoons’ booth, Tuesday October 9^th thru Saturday October  13^th 5-10pm daily, Sat. from 10am

Fall Muster – Clay shoot and cookout, October 27^th at the Dismukes property, south Main Street in Millbrook

Prattville Bicentennial Fair - Friday and Saturday November 16-17, 2018 at the Doster Center, Prattville

Smoked Turkey Distribution - Saturday November 17^th, 8-10am at Herrods Chevron, Prattville

Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive – October and November, to benefit the Autauga Interfaith Care Center

Prattville Christmas Parade – November 30^th, 7pm Prattville Court and Main St – Dragoon entry

Christmas Salvation Army Kettle Bell Ringing – Saturday December 8^th 8am-9pm Winn Dixie, Prattville AL

Christmas Social - Friday December 14^th at Buena Vista, Prattville AL