Association of Confederate Soldiers
Encyclopedia
The Association of Confederate Soldiers (Tennessee Division) was an organization formed by veterans of the American Civil War
in 1887 as an offshoot of the United Confederate Veterans
. Its goals included funding the construction of a monument to Confederate
valor, caring for Confederate graves, encouraging accounts of the Civil War that would honor and defend the Confederate cause, and bringing living veterans closer through programs designed to benefit ailing Confederate veterans and needy widows and orphans.
The association held annual reunions, the last of which took place in 1951. As with many other veterans groups, individual camps (formally called Bivouacs) were named in honor of former Confederate notables, including Tennessee generals James E. Rains and Frank Cheatham
. Dr. Joseph Jones served as the association's surgeon general and helped sponsor efforts in 1890 to archive and maintain Confederate army medical records.
In 1889, the organization successfully sponsored legislation in Tennessee to provide funding for the Confederate Soldiers' Home and Cemetery. The building opened in 1892, and was managed by a board of fifteen trustees, (six of whom were women). Each served until death or resignation, when his or her successor was appointed by the Governor of Tennessee upon the recommendation of the Association of Confederate Soldiers. The home closed in 1941.
The Association of Confederate Soldiers was also affiliated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans
, and some of the ACS bivouacs are still active as SCV camps today.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1887 as an offshoot of the United Confederate Veterans
United Confederate Veterans
The United Confederate Veterans, also known as the UCV, was a veteran's organization for former Confederate soldiers of the American Civil War, and was equivalent to the Grand Army of the Republic which was the organization for Union veterans....
. Its goals included funding the construction of a monument to Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
valor, caring for Confederate graves, encouraging accounts of the Civil War that would honor and defend the Confederate cause, and bringing living veterans closer through programs designed to benefit ailing Confederate veterans and needy widows and orphans.
The association held annual reunions, the last of which took place in 1951. As with many other veterans groups, individual camps (formally called Bivouacs) were named in honor of former Confederate notables, including Tennessee generals James E. Rains and Frank Cheatham
Benjamin F. Cheatham
Benjamin Franklin Cheatham , known also as Frank, was a Tennessee aristocrat, California gold miner, and a General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, serving in many battles of the Western Theater.-Early years:Cheatham was born in Nashville, Tennessee on a plantation...
. Dr. Joseph Jones served as the association's surgeon general and helped sponsor efforts in 1890 to archive and maintain Confederate army medical records.
In 1889, the organization successfully sponsored legislation in Tennessee to provide funding for the Confederate Soldiers' Home and Cemetery. The building opened in 1892, and was managed by a board of fifteen trustees, (six of whom were women). Each served until death or resignation, when his or her successor was appointed by the Governor of Tennessee upon the recommendation of the Association of Confederate Soldiers. The home closed in 1941.
The Association of Confederate Soldiers was also affiliated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Confederate Veterans is an American national heritage organization with members in all fifty states and in almost a dozen countries in Europe, Australia and South America...
, and some of the ACS bivouacs are still active as SCV camps today.