Local ancestors of Confederate soldiers say heritage under assault

Amidst a spirit of rugged individualism, and an urgent call that the symbols of the Confederacy will face increased attacks in the near future, the Pvt. E.F. Arthur Camp #1783 Sons of Confederate Veterans held its 10th Anniversary Lee/Jackson Secession Dinner at the Corbin Center for Technology and Community Activities Saturday.

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Guest speaker Dr. Thomas Hiter told the history of the population of the American south with immigrants from Scots-Irish heritage – a fact, he said, led to many of the customs and attitudes that prevail today. As an example, Hiter pointed to the Highland hero, the Earl of Cumberland, whose namesake is spread through the area.

Group members parade symbolic Confederate flags at the beginning of the Secession dinner Saturday.

“The fact that we are in the Cumberland brigade of the SCV is not coincidental. The fact we are located on the Cumberland Plateau is not coincidental,” he said. “That we have the Cumberland River near Cumberland Falls and below Cumberland Lake is not coincidental.”

The culture of the Scots-Irish affected such mundane daily things as preference for pork, making of clabber, and a general “just leave me alone” mindset. It’s the last trait, Hiter said, that led so many to take up arms during the Civil War.

“In 1861, when one of their own, Abraham Lincoln, leading the Union Army came marching into eastern Kentucky … and all of the south. All those Scots-Irish saw was English black and tans and Scott highlanders walking across their land yet one more time, killing and burning and acting like it was theirs. So they stood up and fought back. I’m glad they did,” he said. “We can be very proud of that. We can be proud of the freedom that this whole country has bragged of for its whole history.”

The dinner, held every January to honor Confederate Army Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, also serves as an induction ceremony for new members. Taking their oaths Saturday were seven new members of the group: Doug Babb, Benn Gullett, Christian Carter, Alan Warren, Byron Teater, Bob Durham and Chris Cox. To become a member, a person must trace their family lineage back to a soldier in the Confederate Army.

Hiter ended his speech with dire warnings about a culture clash that could soon occur between those, like the group, who wish to preserve Confederate heritage and those who do not.

“We are just about to have to face this same discussion again on a national level,” Hiter said. “People who have no use for individual freedom … who think everything is about the larger group, they are in charge now. We are once again about to have to explain to people that what we want most is to be left alone. To live our own lives our own way. That’s going to be a very hard point of view to defend in the very near future.”

Pvt. E.F. Arthur Camp Commander Wayne Taylor likened the First Crusade to what is happening in America’s current cultural climate.

“Our heritage is not under attack by Muslim extremist … or anything so desperate. It’s under attack by our own people, sometimes our own families,” he said. “These people that are attacking our heritage, they are calling our heroes traitors or criminals. Our symbols we all hold dear are banned. Our children are taught that our heritage is wrong, and to take up a new heritage.”

About 120 people attended the event, many of whom dressed in authentic Confederate uniforms or period costumes.
The dinner was followed by a dance.