Civil War in Illinois 2011-- Part 2: SCV-- Lincoln's Home-- Butler-- A Hoot-- A Cap-- and a Fiesta

APRIL 30th-- SATURDAY


Spent much of the day at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois at the annual Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Illinois Division Conference. We were essentially enveloped by the much-larger Illinois Knights of Columbus Convention.

We had 30 division members in attendance, out of 160 statewide. One camp has disbanded and another is gone, bringing us down to five camps, the minimum we can have to be a division in the SCV. It is difficult operating "behind enemy lines" as we do. Lack of members and great distances are really big problems.

Camp commanders gave their reports and I was introduced as the commander of the newest, yet-to-be-named, camp.

During lunch, Gale Red gave an excellent presentation on the Alton, Illinois, Confederate prison camp.


LINCOLN'S HOME, CAMP BUTLER AND BEYOND

Upon adjournment, the group went to Abraham Lincoln's home for a group picture, then several of us drove out to the Camp Butler National Cemetery where we visited the Confederate graves and monument.

Then Liz and I went to Hooter's to play NTN (our 28th new site this year and 938th overall). Then, we went to Capital City and enjoyed the $1.50 draft beers while playing NTN with JJ. Last stop was at La Fiesta for shrimp nachos and giant mugs (32-0z) of beer.

A Long Day. --RoadDog