Twenty compatriots gathered Thursday evening February 10th to enjoy the monthly camp meeting which featured former Alabama Division Commander Gary Carlyle. Compatriot Rob Schwartz played his guitar during the fellowship hour before the meeting and then, in the absence of Chaplain Brantley, opened with an Invocation. Color Sgt John Dennis led everyone in the pledges and salutes to the flags and Commander Waldo then recited the SCV Charge. Upcoming events were highlighted including the upcoming Millbrook Mardi Gras parade and festival, a cemetery workday at Pea Ridge in Burnsville, and flag settings for Confederate History and Heritage month. Quartermaster Myrick also mentioned a car race at Montgomery Motor Speedway on March 6th which will feature Gene Paul sponsored by the SCV.
Gary Carlyle always provides a fast paced informative and entertaining presentation and this discussion was about Southern heritage and culture. We are all blood brothers and sisters, kinfolk. Our Confederate ancestors dodged the same bullets during the War for Southern Independence. Robert E. Lee's father was a famous Revolutionary military leader earning the nickname Light-Horse Harry Lee but, it is not widely known that Anne Hill Carter Lee, mother of Robert was an invalid and he largely cared for her throughout his formative years. She wa said to have prayed and wept in raising her great son. Much is said of Lee as a great military commander but he may have been one of the preeminent educators in American history, commandant of West Point and later president of Washington College after the War. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were both devout Christians and both believed supremely in doing one's duty. Jackson said that a man with words and no deeds is like a garden with just weeds.
True American history should highlight Southern history which was the foundation of our country. The first permanent settlement in America was at Jamestown VA. The first Thanksgiving was in 1622 at Berkley Plantation. Most of the important battle of the Revolutionary War were in the South including Kings Mountain and Cowpens (in SC) and of course at Yorktown (VA) which forced the surrender of the British army. George Washington of course was a Southerner. Andrew Jackson had no Yankees helping in his defense of New Orleans in January 1815 and great victory over the British in the War of 1812. But in 1861, there was no stopping the Yankees determined confiscation of the wealth of the Southern states and only Johnny Reb stood in the way, defending our true Constitutional Republic principles and ideals. Gary then sand a tune to Danny Boy changing the words to tell of the hardships and sacrifices of the Confederate soldiers like Johnny Reb.
Commander Carlyle then gave a striking graphic accounting of the Confederate soldiers heading off to War. From the jubilant send-offs and drilling to long marches without sleep and food thru mud and weather, seeing their first combat and losing brothers and friends. He told of the story of Colonel Battles and the trial for desertion of Edward Cooper. Cooper deserted to return home after he received letters from his wife saying his family was starving to death. It was not just soldiers who were starving on rations of hardtack but families too. But his wife told him to return to the army to save the honor of his name and upon return, he was arrested and court martialed for desertion. Even though his story was heart wrenching and legitimate, by the facts found by the court, he was found guilty by Col. Battle. The verdict and sentence were sent to the commanding officer who while recognizing the findings of the court, pardoned him and returned him to his company. That general officer was Lee. Some months later after Battle was promoted to General, during the chaos of a battle, he came upon an artillery placement where all were dead save one young man who was single-handedly loading a cannon. Battle recognized the man as Cooper and before he fired the shot for which the recoil flung him backwards dead turned to him and asked, "General, have I saved my honor?"
Was the War to form a more perfect union? Ot a more tyrannical omnipotent federal government? From that point til today, all governing policies have been passed down by ruling elites. Carpetbagger invaded the South to confiscate what was left of the wealth and resources. Lee said we all had to do our duty and return home. Our ancestors erected monuments to pay tribute to the sacrifices of the Confederate soldiers. They founded churches. They worked the land. 72% of Southerners were sharecroppers for decades after the War. This is the true history of American history, a history of the South. The meeting concluded with a heartfelt rendition of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" with everyone joining in singing, the SCV closing and a Benediction.
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