Meet the Sons of Confederate Veterans
Within months following the cessation of hostilities between the North and South in 1865, groups of male
descendants of those who served in the Confederate Army and Navy were formed throughout the South. Their
main objective was the welfare and comfort of the veterans who had "worn the gray." They soon realized their
efforts would be more effective if they joined together in some sort of federation. In this way, they could render
assistance to support the United Confederate Veterans which had been organized in New Orleans on June 10,
1889.
Such a federation became a reality on July 1, 1896 in Richmond, Virginia during the annual re-union of the
United Confederate Veterans. On this date twenty-four "camps" from five Southern states, approved the
formation of the "United Sons of Confederate Veterans." J.E.B. Stuart, Jr., was elected the first leader.
The United Sons of Confederate Veterans declared certain objectives. Because they had initially formed camps to
assist the Confederate veterans, it was only natural that they were committed "... to comfort, succor, and assist
needy, Confederate Veterans, their wives, widows and orphans." Their annual meetings were held on the same
date and site as that of the United Confederate Veterans.
However, these farsighted young men realized that the day would come when there would be no more veterans,
widows or orphans to assist. Therefore one of their declared objectives was to see" ...that the events of the War
Between the States are authentically and dearly written..." remembered and defended.
In 1912 the name was shortened to "Sons of Confederate Veterans.” Today the Sons of the Confederate
Veterans [SCV] is growing throughout the South and the nation.
The SCV is a voluntary organization of direct and collateral descendants of those who served honorably in the
Army and Navy of the Confederate States of America. It is patriotic, historic.al, educational, benevolent, non-
political and non-sectarian.
The SCV is organized into three departments as was the Confederate Army. The Army of Northern Virginia
Department, comprising the states of Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, West Virginia, the District
of Columbia and those states located east of Ohio and North of Virginia. The Army of Tennessee Department
consisting of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Florida and those states not included in the
other departments. The Army of Trans-Mississippi consisting of Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma,
Missouri, New Mexico and all other states west of the Mississippi River.
The SCV is led by a Commander-in-Chief and Lieutenant Commander-in-Chief, both of whom are elected in
even years, for a term of two years. Between the annual re-unions the administrative responsibilities are vested
in the General Executive Council.
SCV general headquarters is located in Columbia, Tennessee. Elm Springs, an ante-bellum mansion, is the site
of our national offices. Member's records and ancestry are maintained here. Daily business affairs are conducted
by an Executive Director chosen by the General Executive Council.
The Confederate Veteran, official magazine of the SCV, is published 6 times per year. The cost of the magazine
is included in membership dues.
Each Army Department is divided into Divisions. Unless otherwise authorized by the Commander-in-Chief each
division must contain at least 5 camps. A division is composed of camps found within a respective state.
The Camp is the basic unit of the SCV. Seven or more men who are eligible for membership may apply for a
Camp charter. These camps elect a Commander, Lt. Commander, Adjutant, Chaplain and such other officers as
they choose.
Camps meet monthly for a program and fellowship. Camps sponsor social events for members and their families.
Camps select their own projects. These may include maintaining and preserving Confederate monuments and
memorials; marking graves of Confederate veterans, field trips, living history encampments, re-enactments,
scholarships and always includes Confederate Memorial Day services.
Our goals remain those found in the commission given to us by General Stephen D. Lee, "To you, Sons of
Confederate Veterans, we submit the vindication of the Cause for which we fought; to your strength will be given the
defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the
perpetuation of those principles he loved and which made him glorious and which you also cherish." Remember it is
your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations.
While that last sentence may not have been a part of General Lee's original Charge, we at Camp 842 include it
because the truth of the statement follows the General's sentiment so logically. It is our belief that if we don't
share that true Southern History with others, who will?
Within months following the cessation of hostilities between the North and South in 1865, groups of male
descendants of those who served in the Confederate Army and Navy were formed throughout the South. Their
main objective was the welfare and comfort of the veterans who had "worn the gray." They soon realized their
efforts would be more effective if they joined together in some sort of federation. In this way, they could render
assistance to support the United Confederate Veterans which had been organized in New Orleans on June 10,
1889.
Such a federation became a reality on July 1, 1896 in Richmond, Virginia during the annual re-union of the
United Confederate Veterans. On this date twenty-four "camps" from five Southern states, approved the
formation of the "United Sons of Confederate Veterans." J.E.B. Stuart, Jr., was elected the first leader.
The United Sons of Confederate Veterans declared certain objectives. Because they had initially formed camps to
assist the Confederate veterans, it was only natural that they were committed "... to comfort, succor, and assist
needy, Confederate Veterans, their wives, widows and orphans." Their annual meetings were held on the same
date and site as that of the United Confederate Veterans.
However, these farsighted young men realized that the day would come when there would be no more veterans,
widows or orphans to assist. Therefore one of their declared objectives was to see" ...that the events of the War
Between the States are authentically and dearly written..." remembered and defended.
In 1912 the name was shortened to "Sons of Confederate Veterans.” Today the Sons of the Confederate
Veterans [SCV] is growing throughout the South and the nation.
The SCV is a voluntary organization of direct and collateral descendants of those who served honorably in the
Army and Navy of the Confederate States of America. It is patriotic, historic.al, educational, benevolent, non-
political and non-sectarian.
The SCV is organized into three departments as was the Confederate Army. The Army of Northern Virginia
Department, comprising the states of Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, West Virginia, the District
of Columbia and those states located east of Ohio and North of Virginia. The Army of Tennessee Department
consisting of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Florida and those states not included in the
other departments. The Army of Trans-Mississippi consisting of Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma,
Missouri, New Mexico and all other states west of the Mississippi River.
The SCV is led by a Commander-in-Chief and Lieutenant Commander-in-Chief, both of whom are elected in
even years, for a term of two years. Between the annual re-unions the administrative responsibilities are vested
in the General Executive Council.
SCV general headquarters is located in Columbia, Tennessee. Elm Springs, an ante-bellum mansion, is the site
of our national offices. Member's records and ancestry are maintained here. Daily business affairs are conducted
by an Executive Director chosen by the General Executive Council.
The Confederate Veteran, official magazine of the SCV, is published 6 times per year. The cost of the magazine
is included in membership dues.
Each Army Department is divided into Divisions. Unless otherwise authorized by the Commander-in-Chief each
division must contain at least 5 camps. A division is composed of camps found within a respective state.
The Camp is the basic unit of the SCV. Seven or more men who are eligible for membership may apply for a
Camp charter. These camps elect a Commander, Lt. Commander, Adjutant, Chaplain and such other officers as
they choose.
Camps meet monthly for a program and fellowship. Camps sponsor social events for members and their families.
Camps select their own projects. These may include maintaining and preserving Confederate monuments and
memorials; marking graves of Confederate veterans, field trips, living history encampments, re-enactments,
scholarships and always includes Confederate Memorial Day services.
Our goals remain those found in the commission given to us by General Stephen D. Lee, "To you, Sons of
Confederate Veterans, we submit the vindication of the Cause for which we fought; to your strength will be given the
defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the
perpetuation of those principles he loved and which made him glorious and which you also cherish." Remember it is
your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations.
While that last sentence may not have been a part of General Lee's original Charge, we at Camp 842 include it
because the truth of the statement follows the General's sentiment so logically. It is our belief that if we don't
share that true Southern History with others, who will?
| General Stephen D. Lee in 1862. |
| Following the War Between the States, General Lee served as the first president of what would become Mississippi State University. |
South Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
Policy on Hate Groups
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is not a hate group. The South Carolina Division SCV does not knowingly
allow anyone with ties to hate groups to join and has removed, and will remove, anyone from its ranks who
expresses racist sentiments. Specifically, the following is not allowed and will be grounds for immediate dismissal:
* Attempting to recruit fellow members for racist organizations such as
the Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi Party or National Alliance.
* Membership in any racist organization such as, but not limited to,
the Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi Party or National Alliance.
* Disseminating racist literature to fellow SCV members by mail or in
person.
* Membership in any organization promoting a violent overthrow of
the United States Government.
ALL MEMBERS MUST BE AWARE OF THESE RESTRICTIONS, AS THEY WILL BE RIGOROUSLY
ENFORCED.
Loving the South and defending its culture, symbols, and heritage does not mean hate. In fact, many SCV
members are descendants of African-American, Jewish, Native American, Hispanic, and Asian Confederates.
These groups' contributions to Southern culture have made it a beautiful and unique region. To deny their
descendants membership in our organization would betray our principles and the very Ancestors we honor. We
welcome all descendants of Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines or those who materially aided the South
in its struggle for independence.
Policy on Hate Groups
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is not a hate group. The South Carolina Division SCV does not knowingly
allow anyone with ties to hate groups to join and has removed, and will remove, anyone from its ranks who
expresses racist sentiments. Specifically, the following is not allowed and will be grounds for immediate dismissal:
* Attempting to recruit fellow members for racist organizations such as
the Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi Party or National Alliance.
* Membership in any racist organization such as, but not limited to,
the Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi Party or National Alliance.
* Disseminating racist literature to fellow SCV members by mail or in
person.
* Membership in any organization promoting a violent overthrow of
the United States Government.
ALL MEMBERS MUST BE AWARE OF THESE RESTRICTIONS, AS THEY WILL BE RIGOROUSLY
ENFORCED.
Loving the South and defending its culture, symbols, and heritage does not mean hate. In fact, many SCV
members are descendants of African-American, Jewish, Native American, Hispanic, and Asian Confederates.
These groups' contributions to Southern culture have made it a beautiful and unique region. To deny their
descendants membership in our organization would betray our principles and the very Ancestors we honor. We
welcome all descendants of Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines or those who materially aided the South
in its struggle for independence.
Rivers Bridge Camp No. 842 Welcomes You
The members of Rivers Bridge Camp No. 842, Sons of Confederate Veterans welcome you. It is our hope that we
may encourage your interest in the history of the Confederate soldier and the South in general. As you come to
know us better, you will find that both are very near and dear to our hearts. It is a given that the Confederate
Soldier and the Confederate Battle Flag are inseparable; our reverence for the Battle Flag therefore is based
entirely upon that connection. Not only do we stand in defense of the Confederate Soldier’s good name, but also
of those things which he cherished and for which he fought and died.
Arthur Fremantle wrote, "After having lived with the veterans of Bragg and Lee, I was able to form a still higher
estimate of Confederate soldiers. Their obedience and forbearance in success, their discipline under disaster, their
patience under suffering, under hardships, or when wounded, and their boundless devotion to their country under all
circumstances, are beyond all praise." We concur with his estimate.
The members of Rivers Bridge Camp No. 842, Sons of Confederate Veterans welcome you. It is our hope that we
may encourage your interest in the history of the Confederate soldier and the South in general. As you come to
know us better, you will find that both are very near and dear to our hearts. It is a given that the Confederate
Soldier and the Confederate Battle Flag are inseparable; our reverence for the Battle Flag therefore is based
entirely upon that connection. Not only do we stand in defense of the Confederate Soldier’s good name, but also
of those things which he cherished and for which he fought and died.
Arthur Fremantle wrote, "After having lived with the veterans of Bragg and Lee, I was able to form a still higher
estimate of Confederate soldiers. Their obedience and forbearance in success, their discipline under disaster, their
patience under suffering, under hardships, or when wounded, and their boundless devotion to their country under all
circumstances, are beyond all praise." We concur with his estimate.
| The Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States is here; are you being bombarded with politically correct coverage? Demand the truth. Click logo above for more information. |
| Click logo above for the Sons of Confederate Veterans website. |
| Click palmetto above for the Sons of Confederate Veterans South Carolina Division website. |
"It is our duty to keep the memory of our heroes green..." Jefferson Davis
| Updated 07/06/14 |
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| Click graphic above for more information on the Monument for the Signers of the SC Ordinance of Secession. |
| Rivers Bridge Camp No. 842 Sons of Confederate Veterans |
| This flag has been carried and flown in many wars around the world as an emblem of Southern pride not hatred. |
Dedicated to the Sons and Daughters of “the
Lost Cause,” who should know of the valor,
trials, suffering and privations of the noblest
people and the grandest army that God ever put
on this earth, so that they too can pass down to
their children and their children’s children a
true history of the great deeds of this glorious
Southland, for the cause and principles they
loved so well and for which they suffered, bled
and died.
Frank M. Mixson
| Dedication |
