The Brotherhood of the Palmetto

In early November 1861 (1997), two young officers residents in South Carolina, just licensed from West Point, were expending their last days of leave before go to the front, in Madame Theresa's Billiards and Parlor.

Madame Theresa's Billiards and Parlor

Being there, Colonels Jerry Gouge and Jordi Pueyo were boarded by a misterious grey dressed man, who order them to recruit the most flourish of the South Carolina officiality to form a gentlemen society devoted to develop the sense of fellowship and increase the military skills of his members, while assisting to an unofficial Brigadier School.

Full of young innocent devotion, (years killed the youthness; Madame Theresa's girls take care of the innocency), Colonels Gouge and Pueyo begin his recruitment job, helped by General John Sanders. The fact that Sanders, curiously, never were present when the misterious grey rider appears, points him as the only one possible candidate to be the grey dressed phantom. But young officers never ask five stars Generals.

At the left, Killie Killarney, General Pueyo's most loved... errrrr... actress. At right, Helga Grossenbreasteld, one of the most notorious ladies at Mdme. Theresa's place.

While receiving their first Army appointment and passing the final test in the Brigadier School the three initial members, after long conversations,

General Pueyo's gold sabre, earned at the Brigadier School

dozens of gallons of good liqcuor and serious "consults" with Mdme. Theresa's girls, begin to recruit the first members and decide a name for the society: The Brotherhood of the Palmetto, honoring his State. (Other names as Never Ending Bottle Society, Confederate Surfers Asociation, Society for InterGender Body Fluids Exchange or Don't Care Aim Low Fellowship were desestimed). The Brotherhood was seriously baptized in a formal ceremony, being his patroness Madame Theresa herself.

One of Madame Theresa's most romantic pictures. Her loving and tender behaviour towards the members of the Brotherhood, taking care of all of them even in the worst moments, give her a place in the hearts of all the Brothers.

First members were recruited amongst the South Carolina society, (they came from possibly not the best society, but society at least). Initial members were six, but latest additions increase the number to eight, even from different States.

After near one and a half years of restless job, (mostly inside Mdme. Theresa's rooms), the actual Brotherhood of the Palmetto has reached the highest position between the most respected gentlemen societies of the southern community. His members scalate to prominent positions starting from, I'm sorry to say it, the bottom of the barrel. One President of the CSA, one Secretary of State, three Governors, one Senator, four Congressmen, one General of the Armies and two Lieutenant Generals are some of the high positions members of the BoP reached. Also, some extremely important organizations as the Brigadier School, the Carolina Intelligence Service, the Southern Guardian Party or the fantastic Grain Licquor Connoisseur League appears from inside the ranks of the Brotherhood. They've fight in all War Theaters, by land and sea, and show to all what kind of men can appear if used the correct quantity of alcohol and Madame Theresa's well educated Ladies.

Three members of the Brotherhood (their identity protected), working hard at Mdme. Theresa's.

The actual members are:

John Sanders (aka "JJ")
[General of the Armies and Speaker of the Chamber; actually one of the Holy GA's]
Jerry Gouge (aka "I never micromanage")
[President of the CSA, South Carolina Governor, South Carolina Congressman, Lieutenant General]
Jordi Pueyo (aka "Catalonian Hairy Beast")
[Secretary of State, South Carolina Senator, Lieutenant General]
Vladimir Jokicic (aka "Vladdy" or "Vladivirus")
[Texas Governor, South Carolina Congressman, Major General]
John B. Gordon (aka "Sam's boyfriend")
[South Carolina Governor, Secretary of the Census, Major General]
Frederic Estrada (aka "Prussian Priest")
[South Carolina Congressman, Major General]
Jay Vadakin (aka "Vadikyn", "Vaidikyn" or "Vanakin")
[Tennessee Governor, Major General]
Ivan Pavlovic (aka "Ica"... or was Ica "aka"?)
[Major General]

Former President Gouge, member of the Brotherhood, curious picture when he was only a young officer.

Secretary of State Pueyo, while visiting Queen Victoria

Actually, after another severe and hard war, the Brotherhood is an sleeping one. Members are scattered up and down and Mdme.Theresa's is in serious danger of bankrupcy, after losing the best customers and begin to receive to many Yankees in her halls. Last war the Brothers were real prominent members of southern society and were overloaded with work, (three Brothers were Cabinet members and all the others have serious state or military responsibilities), and they decreased their attendance to Mdme.Theresa's house.

But the spirit remains.

Members are encouraged to send his pictures who, adecuately transformed, will be posted here.

You can see another fine page at the 2nd Corps Page