Hey Y'all,
I know all about Wilson's raid, and his taking Selma, Montgomery, etc.. But I have always wondered why he or someone else didn't send a party to raid or burn Prattville. I know the yankees had parties raiding in Autauga Co. because it is handed down by in my wife's family who lived north of Prattville, the Rawlinson and/or DeRamus families, about how her g.g.grandmother and her people could see smoke going up in all directions as far as you could see, as one after another of their neighbors homes and farms were looted and burned. The only reason their place wasn't burned was because my wife's g.g.grandmother couldn't see too well. When the dirty, dusty yankees rode up asking for food supplies and forage for them and their horses, she thought they were our boys(Confederates) and gladly informed them where all the food and forage was hidden, praising them and the South. The yankees gladly took their goods, but spared the house, etc..
Anyway, back to a possible raid on Prattville: Located in Prattville were Daniel Pratt's Cotton Gin factory, railway shops, and cotton and woolen mills. Not only did they churn out cloth, but I have heard that they made uniforms too. And for such an extensive operation I would not be surprised if they also made accourtrements too. Also, I saw on ebay a beautiful D-Guard Bowie knife made by some outfit in Prattville, Ala. Why didn't Wilson want to destroy these operations too!!?? I have always wondered about that.
Thanks, and forgive me for getting long winded.
Dave