Prattville Dragoons SCV

01/19/2025

A great time was had by all as we honored the great General Robert E. Lee in downtown Montgomery yesterday.
4 Prattville Dragoons SCV members attended the event, which was hosted by the Alabama Division of the SCV.
The speaker was former SCV Commander in Chief, Charles Kelly Barrow, who spoke on the character of Lee and Lee's Christian Virtue.
Remarks were also made by Division Commander Barrett. The Commander also donated close to $10,000 to the Alabama Archives for the preservation of Confederate and Southern Antiquities, on behalf of the Division and it's members.
The event was followed by a tour of the flags and relics of the Confederacy in the Archives.
All good time was had by all as we honored a great Southerner and American.

01/16/2025

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Visit First White House of the Confederacy for January Meeting
The Dragoons of SCV Camp 1524 visited the First White House of the Confederacy in downtown Montgomery the evening of January 9th for a presentation and tour of the historic home as their monthly meeting. The historic property which is filled with period furniture and belongings of President Jefferson Davis and his wife Varina. The Dragoons own Jayson Altieri is a regular volunteer there and has become very knowledgeable of the history of the house and led the meeting. After Jayson's discussion everyone enjoyed a self guided tour of the house which includes a musuem and gift shop as well as rooms furnished with period and actual pieces belonging to the Davis's.

01/15/2025

The media outlets do not want you to be aware of this event. On this Saturday, January 18th from 10 am to noon, the Alabama State Archives in Montgomery, Alabama, will host a celebration commemorating General Robert E. Lee's birthday. The State Archives will provide access to its basement, featuring flags from our ancestors that are rarely displayed. You are invited to participate in the celebration and express to the Alabama government that our Southern heritage remains important to us.

01/02/2025

January Camp Meeting

Happy New Year! The second-Thursday camp meeting for January will NOT be at the Prattville Masonic Lodge. Compatriot Jayson Altieri will host the camp at the First White House of the Confederacy on Thursday January 9th. A short tour will start at 6pm and then the home will be open for self-guided tours until 7pm. The First White House is at 644 Washington Ave, Montgomery, AL. According to Jayson, parking in front of the First White House is discouraged as these are spaces reserved for the Alabama State Legislature. The gift shop will be open during this time also.

01/01/2025

Members of SCV Camp 1524, their significant others and friends gathered on Friday evening December 13th at the historic Buena Vista mansion in Prattville to enjoy their annual Christmas Social. A huge Battle Flag was hung from the front porch which, with the Christmas greenery, really made the approach to the house beautiful. The night began with a social hour where a pianist played on the piano in the parlor and everyone enjoyed General Lee eggnog which was prepared by Tyrone and Carol Crowley. At 7pm, Grooms welcomed everyone and recognized the officers present and special guests and recited the SCV Charge before Chaplain Brantley blessed the food. Everyone then made their way thru the line to get their plates, a catered meal of smoked turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole with desserts including peach cobbler and banana pudding. After everyone enjoyed their supper, a program was started which included the singing of a number of old and seasonal songs by Commander Grooms and his quartet. Compatriot Rob Schwartz led everyone with his guitar in singing three Christmas carols. The daughter of the new Buena Vista administrator then provided a short history of the property which of course predates the War for Southern Independence. A doorprize drawing was then conducted with everyone receiving something including the wonderful table centerpieces which were provided by Bill and Peggy Myrick as well as books, a Confederate folding knife, Confederate dollar bills, candles, Christmas plush ducks, hand towels, a puzzle, and all sorts of seasonal gifts. It was a horoughly enjoyable Christmas party and time of fellowship with Confederate compatriots at a beautiful venue.

12/30/2024

Members of SCV Camp 1524 manned a Salvation Army red kettle in front of the Winn Dixie on Saturday December 14th as part of their annual holiday and community service activities. The first shift that morning was Brigade Commander Waldo, Treasurer Leverette and Adjutant Sutherland Bill Branch, Larry Spears. The second shift was comprised of Scott Roberson, Lee James, Todd Rogers and his grandson. The third shift saw Chaplain Brantley, Tyrone Crowley, Sam Reed, Mike Thomas and Rob Schwartz man the kettle and for the last shift that evening Dale Boyles, Thomas Griffith, Quartermaster Bill Myrick and 2nd Lt Karl Wade, who coordinated the camp's effort, closed the donations receipts. A lot of money was received to support the good work the Salvation Army does and it was another example of the positive work the Dragoons do for their neighbors and community

12/30/2024

Four of the Prattville Dragoons braves temperatures in the 30s on Friday night to man the SCV Camp 1524 float for the Prattville Christmas parade. Some members gathered on Friday morning to decorate the float which consisted of a tree with lights and tinsel garland wrapped around it. A garland of greenery and lights with big red bows was attached to the outside frame of the trailer. And at the front was a display of historic flags including the Bonnie Blue, the Dragoons regimental flag, the Alabama Secession flag and the Alabama state flag. Candy was tossed to the children spectating all along the parade route Members helping with the decorating included Quartermaster Bill Myrick, Comms Officer Doug Butler, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Color Sgt John Dennis, Brigade Commander Waldo, and compatriot Rob Schwartz. For the parade, the camp's Christmas banner was affixed to the flagpoles for everyone to see the season's greeting. Members participating in the parade Friday night included Commander Grooms, Comms Ofc Butler, Quartermaster Myrick and compatriot Rob Schwartz.

12/28/2024

Quartermaster Bill Myrick and Karl participated in the 24th annual Vita Christmas Parade. They were joined by a lady from Prattville and her 2 teenaged daughters, who are in the Children of the Confederacy and hold state officer positions in that organization, along with a friend of the mother.

Our Dragoons float was Bill’s truck which displayed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd National colors, the Secession flag and, of course, our battle flag. We also displayed our camp banner across the front of the float.

We were very well received, as usual, and gave out all of the candy we brought, all of the mini-battle flags and almost all of the recruiting coins. All in all, it was a great event and those who didn’t attend really missed a good time. The BBQ dinner after the parade wasn’t bad either!

Bill was able to get a few photos and Sarah Stephens with the Autauga/Elmore News was there and took photos as well. She will post them on her newspaper’s web site, along with an article about the parade soon.

12/10/2024

Fellow Dragoons,
Our camp’s day for participation in this year’s Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringing Campaign is this Saturday, December 14. We will be bell ringing in front of the Prattville Winn Dixie store on East Main St. from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The following Dragoons have volunteered to work the indicated shifts:

9 am-11 am: Billy Leverette, Larry Spears, Wayne Sutherland & Stuart Waldo

11 am-1 pm: Lee James, Stuart Knight, Scott Roberson & Todd Rogers

1 pm-3 pm: David Brantley, Tyrone Crowley, Sam Reed & Rob Schwartz

3 pm-6 pm: Dale Boyles, Thomas Griffith, Bill Myrick & Karl Wade

A few things to remember:

They request that we not display the Battle Flag or wear period dress when bell ringing. You can, however, wear items of clothing that have the camp or SCV logo on it (I always wear a battle flag belt buckle and no one has ever said anything about it.)
Bring your own chair with you if you want to sit on something other than the firewood pile.
Check the weather report and dress accordingly. It can get pretty cold in front of the store after sundown.
Please be on time for your shift. If you find that you are unable to work your shift, find a replacement or let me know ASAP.

If you did not initially volunteer and now find you have some free time on Saturday, pick a shift and join your fellow compatriots for a couple of hours of bell ringing. You will have a great time helping with this worthwhile community service project.

Thanks to everyone for what you do for the camp, the SCV, and our community.

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12/05/2024

We need all hands on deck for the City of Prattville Christmas Parade this coming Friday.
Line-up time is at 5:30 pm sharp on Friday night and the parade rolls at 7 pm. Section B for us which sounds like it is on Court Street in front of the Chamber/courthouse. . We will be decorating our float TOMMORROW (Friday)at 8 am at Judge Booth’s place on Chestnut ( on the corner) and then, around 5 pm we will load the trailer/float to line up at 5:30 pm for the parade (starting in front of the Chamber of Commerce on Court St.). The parade starts at 7 pm. Bring candy to throw. Would be nice to know who all plans to be there. I have invited some girls from the Children of the Confederacy to join our entry and trying to get my daughter and son to participate also.

Thanks, Stuart

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11/29/2024

Members and friends of the Dragoons of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 met at the Masonic Lodge in Prattville on Thursday evening November 14th. Over two dozen people were in attendance. Compatriot Rob Schwartz played his guitar and sang for everyone in the social hour before the camp meeting including leading everyone in Dixie. Commander Grooms welcomed everyone and then Chaplain Brantley led everyone in an Invocation followed by Color Sgt Dennis leading everyone in the pledges and salutes to the flags. Harold discussed all the upcoming events including the canned food drive, parades, Salvation Army bell ringing and Christmas Social and then introduced our guest speaker, our camp's own compatriot Davis. He presented an in depth discussion of the causes of the Secession of the Southern States. Events leading to secession highlighted included the Missouri Compromise, the Tariff of Abominations as well as the later Morrill Tariff, the Nullification Crisis, the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act which led to Bleeding Kansas essentially the first shots of Lincoln's War, the Dred-Scott SCOTUS decision, John Brown's terrorist raid at Harper's Ferry VA, as well as publications such as Uncle Tom's Cabin which stoked emancipation embers for some but at the same time caused the South to ratchet down on their defense of slavery in part to prevent slave uprisings and uncompensated loss or confiscation of property. Direct causes of secession some cited by the documents created by the states in their exodus from the Union included abolitionists calling for immediate uncompensated emancipation without any consideration as to the welfare and issue of the freedmen, the abolitionists promoting domestic terrorism including slave revolts and harboring criminals implicit in these activities, the North seeking to restrict property rights in the commonly held territories in the west, the northern states ignoring the Fugitive Slave Clause in the US Constitution and, the tariffs and inequitable distribution of monies for federal expenditures. On the question as to whether secession was constitutional, the argument rested on the 10th Amendment which states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, not prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." William Rawle in his "A View of the Constitution" (a part of the curriculum at West Point Military Academy) argued that the states had a legal right to secede from the US and it was a "fundamental right of a people to choose their own form of government". The states went about secession the right way calling conventions and drafting articles of secession. It is argued that the issue of slavery was the sole issue driving the Southern state's secession but VA, TN, AR, and KY all initially declined secession but after Lincoln called up troops to invade the Southern states and by necessity these border states, they too left the Union. The SCOTUS case Texas vs. White in 1869 became the precedent on the question of secession's constitutional standing when Chief Justice Chase used the preamble to explain the "more perfect union" described there inferred an "indestructible Union composed of indestructible states" but in Jacobson vs. Massachusetts in 1905, the very first sentence overruled Texas vs. White in saying the US doesn't derive any of it's powers from the preamble unless such powers are expressly delegated in the instrument of the Constitution proper. A very informative discussion of this topic critical to the actions of our forebears and their states in 1860.

11/25/2024

Updates for Dragoon's Christmas Social
*Please note that all ladies in attendance will receive a special gift so hurry and register to attend!

Our Social officially starts at 6 p.m. and we will enjoy fellowship and self-guided home tours. Food will be served at 7 p.m. In return for your $25 admission, you will enjoy a catered Christmas meal, live music, a bit of history on Buena Vista, and the antebellum holiday atmosphere of the seasonally decorated house. As they have the past several years and in response to popular demand, the Camp officers will provide General Lee’s Eggnog, straight out of the SCV’s own Confederate Cookbook. There will be some Christmas carol sing-a-longs also. Our evening will end around 9:00 as we bid each other a very “Merry Christmas!”

Members and their adult guests are all invited. If you desire, you may bring your own adult beverages and the camp will provide some setups. Attire is dressy casual. Period dress is also welcome, as it would be particularly appropriate in this beautiful antebellum home. Please remember that this is an adults-only event, and that space is limited so get your reservations in soon. All payments must be made in advance.

11/17/2024

2024 Prattville Dragoons Christmas Social, Friday, December 13, 2024 6:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m.
There is always a great time to be had here with all your friends. Please act fast if you plan to attend, also we're looking for a volunteer to put together the general eggnog. It's not a big chore. Also, we're looking for donations for door prizes if you have a nifty craft or something pretty cool that you think would be a good door prize for our Christmas social, please contact Stuart or Harold. Just send a check with a note to Wayne, (form isn't downloadable.) or contact Wayne by phone or email.

11/13/2024

11/13/2024

The November camp meeting will be held on TOMMORROW! Thursday evening November 14th at the Prattville Masonic Lodge. Folks will begin gathering to enjoy some music and light refreshments around 6pm. The meeting will begin at 6:45pm. Our own Eric Davis will be the speaker. Our annual Thanksgiving food drive is on. The Food Bank can turn a $1.00 contribution into $5 worth of food. Cash is always welcome!
Please bring canned goods to the camp meeting tomorrow, Thursday, it's a good opportunity to hand off these donations. We will need to donate to the AICC. this weekend is the deadline.

11/07/2024

The November camp meeting will be held on Thursday evening November 14th at the Prattville Masonic Lodge. Folks will begin gathering to enjoy some music and light refreshments around 6pm. The meeting will begin at 6:45pm. Our own Eric Davis will be the guest speaker. Eric will be speaking on “The Secession of the Southern States”. Eric is very active on Twitter (X) sharing historical truths and perspectives on the Cause and War Between the States.

Our annual Thanksgiving food drive is in full swing. Adjutant Wayne Sutherland has again graciously agreed to store the food we collect. The Food Bank can turn a $1.00 contribution into four or five dollars worth of food. Cash is always welcome!
The annual Christmas extravaganza will be here before we know it. Smokin’ S will cater the meal as they always do. Need I say more. I strongly encourage everyone and their wives to be there as it is always the high point of the holiday season.

Upcoming Events for Confederate Compatriots

Battle for the Armory – Nov 9-10, Tallassee, AL
Dragoons’ Camp Meeting – Thursday November 14th, 6pm social hour, 6:45pm camp meeting, Prattville Masonic Lodge
Prattville Christmas Parade – Friday December 6th starting on Court St, downtown
Salvation Army Bell Ringing – Saturday December 7th at the Winn Dixie on Main St in Prattville 8am-6pm
Christmas Social – by reservation, Friday Dec 13th starting at 6pm at Buena Vista, 641 County Rd 4 E, Prattville
Vida Christmas Parade – Saturday Dec 21st starting at the Community Center – lineup starting at 11am

11/07/2024

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 Fall Muster
Members and friends of the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 enjoyed a warm fall day at their fall muster on Saturday October 26th. Compatriot Philip Edwards and his wife Terri hosted the muster at their beautiful home in Poseys Crossroads. A couple of canopies were set up just outside their back patio under which tables were assembled to serve the picnic lunch which included smoked pork butts, camp stew, Conecuh sausage, jambalaya, fried chicken, corn casserole, potato salad, baked beans, chips with 5-layer dip, drinks and desserts including pecan pie, hummingbird cake, cheesecake and cookies - an amazing and delicious picnic spread. Earl Edmundson even brought and expertly grilled some bacon wrapped duck and dove breasts. Philip also showed off his new Vizsla puppies who were super cute but will grow to be terrific bird dogs. Attendees included camp Commander Harold Grooms who brought his wife who tried her marksmanship shooting clays for her first time ever. Also present were 2nd Lt Karl Wade, Treasurer Billy Leverette, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Brigade Commander Waldo, Color Sgt John Dennis and his wife, and compatriots Bill Hamner, Tyrone Crowley, Bill Branch and his girlfriend, Todd Rogers and his son, Dale Boyles and, Darrell Haywood. Todd and Philip set up a couple of electric clay throwers to send targets out over the back acreage of their homesite so everyone who wanted to practice their shooting had ample opportunity and challenge. Philip and Todd were members of the camp's clay shooting team which participated in the Division clay s***t and trap competition last year so they along with Earl showed everyone how it was supposed to be done. But it was a thoroughly enjoyable event with many thanks to all who attended and our wonderful hosts for a successful fall muster.

10/22/2024

Prattville Dragoons Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 at the Autauga County Fair
The 2024 Autauga County Fair was a great success for the community and for the Prattville Dragoons. The fair ran Tuesday thru Saturday October 8-12th. Thousands of fair attendees passed by the SCV Camp 1524 booth, and Dragoons were able to talk with a number of people who stopped by, a number who are potential new members for the camp. SCV and Confederate heritage literature was distributed and, as always, the mini-Battle Flags, coins, stickers, and posters were a big hit with the youngsters, along with the free candy. A good many flags, caps, car tags, and other merchandise were sold from the camp stores which gets Confederate memorabilia out in the public and also raises funds for the camp. Most importantly though, the positive image that all of the Dragoons presented was the one thing that made this event such a success, changing incorrect negative opinion in the woke public. A number of Dragoons took time out of their schedules to work the booth, some worked multiple days and multiple shifts and their hard work made the camp's participation in this year’s fair the best one yet:

Chaplain David Brantley, Comms Officer Doug Butler, Tyrone Crowley, Color Sgt John Dennis, Thomas Griffith, Commander Harold Grooms, Lee James, Stuart Knight, Treasurer Billy Leverett, Quartermaster Bill Myrick, Scott Roberson, Todd Rogers and his grandson Carson, Rob Schwartz, Larry Spears, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Mike Thomas, Louis Turner, 1st Lt Karl Wade and Brigade Commander Waldo and his daughter.