A crew member of the CSS Alabama was buried last Saturday in Mobile, Alabama’s Magnolia Cemetery.  There was a memorial service in a breath takingly beautiful antebellum cathedral in downtown Mobile.  A wake was held in the Raphael Semmes home.  Raphael Semmes was the skipper of CSS Alabama and his great grandson still resides on the property.  There was a march to the cemetery.  Suffice it to say, there were scads of marchers.  The casket was transported on a caisson pulled by four horses.  That part was nicely done.  This was followed by the longest of long winded grave side services.  After the last molecule of air had been expended from the last set of lungs, the poor guy was finally laid to rest.

As far as authenticity standards go bear in mind the Sons of Confederate Veterans were having their national convention in Mobile that same weekend.

I had conducted a tour of Ft Gaines, on Dauphin Island, as part of the convention itinerary the day before.  The multiple bus loads of the conventioneers who showed up for the tour were in civilian clothing.

At the funeral these fine fellows had on their SCV regalia.  T’was a sight to see.