Pigeon Forge Spring Time Music in the Mountains Parade - Part 1

The CSA January 1862 offer to end slavery

Dear Ms. Lunelle, 

On Monday, April 28 2023 our Confederate contingent sat aboard our carriage awaiting the start of the Pigeon Forge Springtime Music in the Mountains Parade fka Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Homecoming Parade

After having driven some nine hours plus from Marion, Alabama, I would be forewarned and asked by the Knoxville Camp Commander, the Honorable Earl Smith to stay on board the and not to try and march. I told him I would march as long as I could and if necessary ride.

As soon as the Sons of Confederate Veterans hit the boulevard everything changed. Santa Claus would have been jealous of the attention given to the Sons of Confederate Veterans from the top of the buildings down to the street.  The atmosphere went up with the rebel yells, woops and hollers and applause.

I had marched less than a quarter of a mile when my body shut down. I could go no farther. Several of the men would carry me back to the staging area of the carriage where I would sit down breathing heavily. I turned to look back across and almost behind me to see that baby Ramsey had somehow gotten from under his blanket. This baby boy had already shown his love for me, my flag and the buttons on my uniform jacket. With both of his little arms outstretched he seemed to be motioning for me to get up. And I did! Heading straight to the side railing, I would shout out the Rebel Yell and began talking to the crowd all the way from where we had begun.