THE SHOALS-Three times an important meeting was rescheduled until the Alabama Chapter of the Natchez Trace Parkway Association (NTPA) finally met Monday March 16 at Florence Tourism in McFarland Park. Chairman Annie Perry was able to introduce Dick Jordan, the new President of the Tennessee-Alabama-Mississippi NTPA organization. The background for the meeting is this. After winning the January 8, 1815 Battle of New Orleans, General Jackson and his soldiers returned home on the Natchez Trace to Nashville. They were national heroes. The communities along the way honored them with Victory Balls. This January, the first Victory Ball was held in New Orleans. NTPA will offer Victory Balls in Natchez April 25th, Tuscumbia June 13th and the Hermitage on July 4. The Alabama Chapter is hosting this Shoals Area June 12-14 celebration called “The Triumphant Return Celebrating a New American Spirit.” Events are planned in the Quad-Cities using re-enactors from several states and period musicians from Mississippi and Missouri. This celebration is considered a prelude to state-wide events of the Alabama State Bicentennial.
The keynote event will be the Victory Ball at Locust Hill, built by Colonel William Winter in 1823. General Andrew Jackson, his wife Rachel, and Andrew, Jr. will parade through Tuscumbia with military retinue to Locust Hill. The doors will open at 6PM and close at 11PM, Saturday, June 13. There will be ors’d’oeuves and a cash bar in an atmosphere of classical music by the Sinclair Quartet. Period dances will begin at 7PM with music by the Booneslick Boys of Missouri and dance steps called by Marty Aubuchon. All events for the weekend will be free to the public except the Victory Ball. Tickets will be available May 1.
Each NTPA chapter supports the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway, your nearest national park, offering Living History, Cycling, Hiking events. Last year, Alabama NTPA had a Living History event at Colberts Ferry that was hugely successful. This year will be even greater by including cycling and hiking events, details to be announced.
Prior to the big weekend there will be Period 1812 workshops April 4 at Florence Library 
to make dance clothing for both men and women; May 10 (location to be selected) to learn dances for the Victory Ball from Marty Aubuchon from Missouri. There will be speakers at Muscle Shoals Public Library on Saturday morning June 6.
A block or two from the Sheffield Standpipe is the oldest walnut tree in Alabama. Long ago General Jackson and his troops camped under that tree. Tents will be set up for an Encampment beginning Thursday June 11. There will be infantry and cavalry soldiers and cannoneers with the same cannon fired January at the Battle of New Orleans. There will be Indians from Major Uriah Blue’s detachment camping there through June 14th.
Friday morning June 12th at the Sheffield Encampment, the soldiers and Indians will teach the public. At 2PM, the re-enactors will join the American Legion Color Guard at the Tuscumbia Court House to honor the War of 1812 veterans. The veterans include a host of Native Americans such as Lt. Tuscumby, namesake for the city and Capt. George Colbert, namesake for the County. Another veteran, General Pushmataha will give the pledge of allegiance in his native Choctaw to honor Native soldiers.
The Alabama Chapter has instituted an essay contest among area grades 9-12 in public, private, and home schools to honor War of 1812 veterans. Lee Freeman of the Florence Lauderdale Library provided a list of 113 veterans from Franklin, Colbert, and Lauderdale Counties. A $200 prize will be awarded in May and the winner will be recognized on Friday June 12th at Colbert County Courthouse.
The public will be welcomed by Mayor Mickey Haddock Saturday morning 10 AM at McFarland Park. General John Coffee will give the speech to dismiss the troops from military service and lay a wreath for Coffee’s grave. Immediately afterward, there will be speeches at the Florence Tourism conference room.
The ending event will be a period Church service by Pastor Jeff Sinclair at the Sheffield Encampment, 9AM, Sunday, June 14th. Public is invited, but please bring a lawn chair.
