Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Since I mentioned the Sons of Union Veterans in the last post, here is some more information about them.

From Wikipedia.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUV) grew out of the largest organization of Union veterans established after the war, The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).  Much the same as the Sons of Confederate Veterans grew out of the United Confederate Veterans organization.

It would be necessary to find the next generations to carry on the group's good name as they died out.  This is why the American Legion has its Sons of the American Legion.

The SUV was established in 1881 and was founded by Major Augustus P. Davis for the preservation of the principles of the GAR.  Local groups are organized into camps which then are grouped into departments

Membership on 2022 was 6,574 with headquarters in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Commander-in-Chief in 2022 was Peter J. Hritso.

--Old Secesh

The Matthews and Middlesex County (Virginia) Confederate Monuments and Capt. Sally L. Thompkins Marker

From the November 3, 2021, Daily Press (Virginia)  "Virginia counties vote overwhelmingly  to keep Confederate monuments" by Dave Ress.

The Matthews County monument was erected in 1912, after a six-year fund-raising  effort by the Lane-Diggs Camp of the United Confederate Veterans, the Matthews Monument Association and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

There is also a state marker near the statue for Captain Sally  L. Thompkins, CSA 1833-1916. It reads:  

"Sally Thompkins, born at Poplar Grove, 3 miles  south of here, was the only woman granted a commission in the Army  of the Confederacy.  'Captain Sally' founded and directed Robertson Hospital in Richmond, where over 1300 Confederate  soldiers were cared for  between 1861 and 1865.

"Her grave and monument are located  in Christ Church Cemetery on Williams Wharf Road two miles to the south."

Middlesex erected its United Daughters of the Confederacy monument in 1910.  The inscription on it reads:  "To commemorate the valor and patriotism of the men, and the devotion and sacrifice of the women of Middlesex in defense of their liberties and their homes."

--Old Secesh

McHenry County CW Round Table Discussion Group Meets Sat. June 26: Topic Is CW Veterans' Associations North and South

The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) will be meeting Saturday, June 26, at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois, (U.S. Route 14 and Main Street) at 10 a.m. to noon.

This Saturday's discussion topic is Civil War Veterans' Associations:  North and South.

Of course the biggest Union one was the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and the Confederate one was the United Confederate Veterans (UCV).

Plenty of room and everyone is welcome, members and nonmembers.  Where there is always good discussion and debate and, on occasion, we have even managed to stay sort of on topic.

Stop on in if you're in the area.

--Old Secesh

Honoring the GAR's 150th Anniversary

I missed it by one day, but yesterday, April 6, marked the 150th anniversary of the Grand Army of the Republic.  It was organized April 6, 1866, and composed of all members of the Union military and Revenue Cutter Service.

Its counterpart was the United Confederate Veterans.

The work of both organizations continue on today by their heirs:  The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Sons of Confederate Veterans.

From a SCV Member to the Other Side.  Congratulations.  --Old Secesh

Civil War Veterans-- Part 2: Confederate Organizations

Confederate veterans organized later than their Union counterparts because of losing the war. The United Confederate Veterans, UCV, organization started in 1889 and had 80,000 members by 1903.

Before 1885, the exclusive Association of the Army of Northern Virginia, AANV, dominated Confederate veteran affairs. I belong to the UCV's offshoot, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, SCV.

At first, ex-Confederates were ineligible for federal pensions and hiring preferences, but individual southern states erected Soldiers' Homes to care for the wounded and indigent and some even provided modest pensions.

Much effort went into developing the Lost Cause mythology to cope with the sting of defeat and reintegrating into the nation.

Veterans On a Different Side. --Old Secesh

Will the Real Thomas Ruffin Please Stand Up?

It happens more often than not, but, earlier today I blogged about a group of Confederate Veterans in Mobile, Alabama, going for a bay excursion and picnic at the grounds of Fort Morgan on the 48th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay Aug 5, 1912.  Most of then had been at the battle.

The name of the UCV Camp No. 675 was Withers-Buchanan and I hadn't heard of it before so started doing more research.  That's when I came across the UCV Thomas Ruffin Camp in Goldsboro, North Carolina.  Never heard of it, but I was born and still have family there.  Had to check that out as well.  Never heard of Thomas Ruffin either.

Then, it was two hours later.

And, there were two Thomas Ruffins.  Imagine That?

No Wonder It Takes So long to Do These Dadburn Things.  --Old Secesh

Alabama Still Taxing for Confederate Veterans-- Part 1

From July 20th AP by Jay Reeves.

And, you thought all those old guys were dead. They are and have been for a long time, but if you're living in Alabama, you're still paying for them, sort of. The last of Alabama's some 60,000 Confederate veterans died generations ago, yet citizens are still paying a property tax to support the neediest of those long-ago soldiers.

And, this in a state controlled by Republicans who stand in total opposition to taxation.

The tax once funded the Alabama Confederate Soldiers Home which closed 72 years ago. The tax (well part of it anyway) now goes for the upkeep of Confederate memorial Park, located on the grounds of the Home.

The tax also once brought in millions of dollars for Confederate pensions. These days, lawmakers slice it up and send the monies elsewhere, which they have been doing ever since these men and their wives started dying off.

You have to wonder when those who hate the South's heritage are going to jump on this situation.

More to Come. --Old B-Runner

Was It From "Old Secession?"

From the December 11, 2010, Augusta (Ga) Chronicle "PBS' History detectives explores metal shavings" by AP.

There is a vial of metal shavings. Were these from "Old Secession," a cannon fired Dec. 20, 1860, in Charleston, SC, to celebrate the state's Ordinance of Secession?

The tube where these shavings are has the note that "Old Secession" was rebored at the Charleston Iron Works May 4, 1899, and fired by the Palmetto Guards Co. of the United Confederate Veterans (UCV) in honor of the UCV's reunion that started May 10th.

About 30,000 Confederate veterans attended that reunion in Charleston.

Today, the whereabouts of "Old Secession" are not known. Some shavings from the reboring were given to the veterans in 1899. The Confederate Museum has several envelopes of these shavings, so they will be compared to the ones in the vial.

It is still not known whether the shavings were from this particular cannon. I guess we'll just have to wait until the show comes on the History Channel.

In Honor of the Heroes. --Old B-R'er