This past January 19th, 41 brave souls braved some mighty c-o-l-d weather to bring a touch of the south to the Radisson Hotel in suburban Wheeling, Illinois. The was the Camp Douglas SCV Camp's second annual Lee-Jackson dinner to be held at this spot. And, even Generals Lee and Jackson were in attendance, how appropriate. Well, they sure looked like Lee and Jackson, anyway.
Camp Commander John Jeffers and Illinois Division Commander Jim Barr were a little worried about not having enough folks come out in the cold, but attendance was about the same as it was on the much warmer occasion last year. You just can't stop that old rebel spirit.
We had a silent auction and the Order of the Confederate Rose was selling raffle tickets to a very impressive quilt they were making to raise funds for the much-threatened Franklin Battlefield in Tennessee.
Mike Triplett, of Peoria, received a prize as having traveled the farthest to be at the event.
After an excellent dinner, David Corbett and the Battlefield Balladeers entertained for several hours and good-use was made of the dance floor. However, don't believe anyone who ever tells you the Virginia Reel is easy to learn. Just ask Clancy Scott who was there with his granddaughter.
Some of their songs: Dixie, Yellow Rose of Texas, Camptown Races, My Old Kentucky Home.
There were quite a few folks in Civil War era civilian attire, both male and female. Of course, we had an ample supply of Confederate officers and only one private. Generals Lee and Jackson kind of kept to themselves, but you know how generals can be. One thing I really enjoyed was looking at other people in the hotel's expressions when these Confederates walked around. You just had to wonder what was going through their minds.
Four new men were sworn in as new Camp Douglas members. We are definitely one of, if not the, largest camps north of the Ohio River. I believe we are also the only SCV camp named after a prison.
All hail Lee and Jackson. --the Old Blockade-Runner
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