Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Wish Everyone a Very Merry Christmas

SCV Camp 1524 electronic billboard Christmas greetings in downtown Prattville AL December 2021.

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Christmas Social for 2021

The Dragoons of Camp 1524 held their annual Christmas Social on Friday evening December 10th at the historic Buena Vista antebellum mansion in Prattville.  Members and guests enjoyed a social hour with piano music starting at 6pm enjoying some General Lee eggnog and apple pie moonshine provided by Comms Officer Doug Butler and his wife.  A delicious meal was catered by Smokin S BBQ out of Wetumpka including smoked turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole along with peach cobbler and banana pudding for desserts.   After everyone enjoyed their supper a program was conducted starting with Commander Waldo introducing the camp officers in attendance and reciting the Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  A history presentation of Buena Vista was made by Darlene Leistner of the Autauga County Heritage Association which owns and manages the property.  Compatriot Rob Schwartz played his guitar and sand a selection of three Confederate songs including “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”.  Commander Waldo’s wife read an historic accounting of Christmas in Atlanta in 1863 which was a somber time for the residents and the Confederacy with Sherman’s Union forces bearing down on Georgia.   Mrs. Waldo and Adjutant Sutherland then conducted the doorprize drawing which included the wonderful table centerpieces provided by Quartermaster Myrick and his wife.  1st Lt Grooms led a quartet including himself, Commander Waldo, Quartermaster Myrick and Mr. Schwartz in a Christmas football musical amalgam.   Lt. Grooms then led everyone in the singing of a number of classic Christmas carols to conclude the program proper.  Then for the closing, pianist and 1^st Lt. Grooms led everyone in a rousing Dixie and Chaplain Brantley reminded everyone of the true meaning of and reason for Christmas and sent everyone off with a benediction to close the evening.  It was a very enjoyable evening to spend with Confederate compatriots to bring another eventful and tumultuous year to a close with some cheerful holiday fellowship.

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Chaplain’s Column for December 2021 - Finding Christmas

 

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."    Romans 15:13

 

Christmas is so exciting when you are a kid. Santa Claus, the lights, the food, and, of course, the presents.

 

Sometimes, as we get older, we lose some or all of that joy. This may just be one year or several strung together. We have presents to buy, bills to pay and very little time to catch our breath. We might get a brief respite when we have kids watching them enjoy the holiday as we once did, but that fades as they get older and cynical.

 

For others, even still, there may be darker things afoot. Depression, loss of a loved one, financial trouble, medical issues and so forth. One church in Montgomery is even having a "blue Christmas" service as there is such a strong need for help. And as I work retail each year, I sadly see the worst in folks this time of year when we should be at our best.

 

Why? What happened? To borrow the phrase, we have simply forgotten "the reason for the season." We are a world shrouded in darkness that seems to worsen every day.

 

But there is a light that no darkness can overcome. The light of Jesus Christ. We celebrate this time of the year because He came in to this world so that our sins would be forgiven. Luke 2 is my favorite rendition of the birth of Jesus Christ. One of my favorite memories of Christmas past was my father reading from the book of Luke at Christmas dinner. After everything we had done that day, it was a reminder of what the day really was about. I continue that tradition today and hope my stepdaughter does as well one day.

 

Clear the mental and spiritual clutter. Supply shortages? COVID concerns? Government strife? All distractions. Keep your eyes on the throne and on the real reason for Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

 

Hallelujah! He is born!

SCV Camp 1524 Prattville Dragoons Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas Charity Fundraising

Saturday December 11th, members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 manned the Salvation Army red kettle in front of the Prattville Winn Dixie to ring the bell and take donations for this worthy charitable organization.  The Dragoons have turned this into an annual community service event for the camp to raise money for the needy serviced by the Salvation Army mission.  A severe line of storms moved thru midday but didn’t deter the men from manning the kettle from 9am til 7pm on Saturday.  Dragoons 2^nd Lt Karl Wade helps coordinate the effort communicating and scheduling with the local Salvation Army office.  Quartermaster Myrick, Color Sgt Dennis, 1^st Lt Grooms, Commander Waldo and compatriots Bill Branch, Tyrone Crowley, Rob Schwartz, Thomas Griffith, Terry Fitzpatrick, and Larry Spears took shifts throughout the day.  The Dragoons always take in very good receipts at the kettle they are assigned, wishing all passers-by a Merry Christmas and thanking them for their generosity supporting the Salvation Army.  A terrific way for SCV Camp 1524 to bring the spirit of Christmas giving to our community of Prattville.

Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 Participate in Prattville 2021 Christmas Parade

The first event of the Christmas season was the ever enjoyable Prattville Christmas parade Friday evening December 3rd.  In preparation members of Camp 1524 decorated a trailer as the camp's parade entry float including string lights and a tree with tinsel and a display of flags including historic WBTS banners - the original Prattville Dragoons banner which resembles a swallowtail First National Flag was in the center with the current Alabama state flag on one side and the SCV national banner on the other.  The Alabama secession flag was on the outside on one side flanked by the Bonnie Blue on the other.  Camp Commander Waldo along with Color Sgt Dennis and Quartermaster Myrick and compatriot Doug Smith helped decorate the float Friday morning at a spot downtown near the parade starting point.  At dusk, the trailer was pulled around to queue for the parade start at 7pm.  There eventually were around 100 floats and entries for the parade so it took over a half hour for the last of the parade to finally start down Court St.  The crowds were enormous 10 and 15 people deep all along Court and Main St and stretched all the way down along Northington and Doster Rd to the stadium which marked the end point for the parade.  Commander Waldo drove the truck pulling the float while Tyrone Crowley dressed as President Jefferson Davis rode on the float waving to the spectators lining the parade route and wishing all a Merry Christmas; Mrs. Waldo and their son and Mrs. Crowley also rode in the truck and tossed hundreds of candy canes and other candy to the children watching the parade.  Compatriots Darrell Haywood and Doug Smith carried the camp's Christmas banner leading the truck and 1st Lt Grooms along with Rob Schwartz, Color Sgt Dennis, and Quartermaster Myrick flanked the truck and trailer to prevent the spectators from encroaching on the vehicle and gave out candy to everyone with holiday greetings.  It was a very enjoyable event to ring in the Christmas season and a great opportunity for the camp to show the colors to thousands of Prattville and area neighbors.

Commander's Column - Disproving the Perpetual Myth of Union Abolition for Lincoln’s War

When reviewing tweets recently one caught my attention as it directly and resolutely substantiated the cause of Lincoln’s War as documented legislation.  It is known by most Confederate compatriots that in Lincoln’s first inaugural address he stated he had “no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.”  “Lincoln explicitly stated that he had no objection to the proposed Corwin Amendment to the Constitution (which protected slavery in perpetuity in the Union), which had already been approved by both houses of the United States Congress.  Lincoln promised that there would be no use of force against the South, unless it proved necessary for him to fulfill his obligation to "hold, occupy, and possess the property and places" belonging to the federal government, and to collect legal duties and imposts.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln%27s_first_inaugural_address) 

This recent tweet cited the Crittenden-Johnson Resolution of July 1861:

“Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, That the present deplorable civil war has    been forced upon the country by the disunionists of the southern States now in revolt against the constitutional government, and in arms around the capital.” Members approved this branch by a vote of 121-2. The dissenters, Henry C. Burnett of Kentucky and John W. Reid of Missouri, later joined the Confederacy.  The second branch declared that the Federal war effort should not disrupt the southern way of life: “That in this national emergency, Congress, banishing all feelings of mere passion or resentment, will recollect only its duty to the whole country; that this war is not waged on their part in any spirit of oppression, or for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, or purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or established institutions of those (Confederate) States, but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution, and to preserve the Union with all the dignity, equality, and rights of the several States unimpaired; and that as soon as these objects are accomplished the war ought to cease.”  This was consistent with President Abraham Lincoln’s pledge in his inaugural address to preserve the Union but not to interfere with slavery where it already existed. Members approved this branch by a vote of 119-2.”

(https://civilwarmonths.com/2021/07/25/the-crittenden-johnson-resolution-2/)

These factual records including the inaugural address and the Resolution which passed in the US legislative bodies is absolute proof of the cause of the War.  It was Lincoln’s War to “preserve the Union” and to maintain control of the ports and associated tariff income for the US treasury.  The abolitionists only subsequently gained a foothold to push political language to substantiate emancipation as a goal of the war to subjugate the South and this was met with resistance by Union leaders including Grant who “was never an abolitionist (and only came to realize as the War dragged on and in lockstep with the Emancipation Proclamation) that the end of slavery was necessary for Union victory.” (Journal of the Civil War Era Vol. 9, No. 3 (SEPTEMBER 2019), Nicholas Sacco)  A war measure.   So it was subsequent to that when Union military leaders saw the benefit to draft thousands of blacks to use as cannon fodder and to incite a slave insurrection/revolt. 

It is so important to know the historical record which substantiates the true Cause for which our ancestors fought and died.  This is a season which we should reflect on the severe deprivations the Confederate soldiers endured in their fight for independence and to protect their homes and families from the invading Union armies.  The Confederate soldiers were away from their families suffering through severe winter conditions and food and material shortages far away from their homes.  We owe them the honor of a remembrance of their heroic struggle, a rich heritage and our Southern culture.  It was these times and circumstances too which resulted in a Christian revival where thousands came to know Christ as the “reason for the season”.  I want to personally thank all the members of the Prattville Dragoons Camp 1524 for an outstanding year as we returned to a relative sense of normalcy from the covid pandemic shutdown and carried forward the Charge hosting the annual Division Reunion and with community projects and events which raise awareness of the Cause and the good work of the SCV.   Looking forward to the holiday events including our worthwhile Salvation Army red kettle bell ringing for charity as well as festive community parades and our always enjoyable Christmas Social.   Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, continued health and safety and, a prosperous and Happy New Year. 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

 

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Prattville Christmas Parade – Friday, December 3, at 7:00 pm starting from Court St, downtown Prattville

Battle of Bibb Furnace Reenactment – Friday thru Sunday, December 3rd-5th, Brierfield Iron Works Park AL

Dragoons’ Christmas Social – 6-9pm, Friday Dec. 10th at Buena Vista, CR 4, Prattville

Salvation Army Bell Ringing – 9am – 8pm, Saturday Dec. 11^th at Winn Dixie, Prattville

Vida Christmas Parade – Saturday, December 18th, Vida Community Center, Vida AL; noon lineup for 2:30 pm parade

Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Parade and Festival – Saturday Feb 19^th, 9am festival, noon parade, Millbrook AL