United Confederate Veterans
Encyclopedia
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
(GAR) which was the organization for Union veterans.
, in 1889, several of these groups united and formed the United Confederate Veterans Association. The organization was founded to serve as a benevolent, historical, social and literary association. The UCV was active well into the 1940s. Its final reunion was held in Norfolk, Virginia
, in 1951.
The primary functions of the organization were to provide for widows and orphans of former Confederate soldiers, preserve relics and mementos, care for disabled former soldiers, preserve a record of the service of its members, and organize reunions and fraternal gatherings. At its height, membership in the organization was approximately 160,000 former Confederate soldiers organized into 1,885 local camps. A privately produced magazine called Confederate Veteran was popular with UCV members, with articles about events during the war and providing a forum for lost comrades to locate one another.
The organizational structure of the UCV was based on a military-style hierarchy with a national headquarters, three departments, divisions within those departments, and finally the local camps. The national officers were at first known as "Generals Commanding" and later as "Commander-in-Chief." Commanders were not based on the actual rank of the veteran while in service. Commanders-in-Chief ranged from former generals to former privates. Former Confederate General John Brown Gordon
was the first commander of the UCV in 1890, holding this position until his death in 1904, when he was succeeded by Stephen D. Lee
. Later commanders included former generals Clement A. Evans
, William L. Cabell and George W. Gordon.
in New Orleans as a sign of respect. Between 1881 and 1887, Federal and Confederate veterans held 24 major reunions together. The 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg
attracted 8,000 Confederate and 44,000 Union veterans. It was common practice for both the GAR and the UCV to produce medals, ribbons, and other assorted memorabilia to commemorate reunions and gatherings. These items are considered collector's items today and are much sought after.
At its final national reunion in May, 1951, a commemorative postage stamp was issued. It was virtually identical to the one printed in 1949 for the last national encampment of the GAR.
(SCV) was formed by sons of UCV members for descendants of Confederate veterans. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
(SUVCW) is the equivalent organization for the descendants of Union soldiers. Both organizations still exist today.
An organization for female descendants of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy
was also formed. Later, Tennessee UCV members formed an offset group, the Association of Confederate Soldiers
, to raise funds for and administer veterans homes and cemeteries in that state.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
soldiers of the American Civil War
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...
, and was equivalent to the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
(GAR) which was the organization for Union veterans.
History
Prior to 1889, Confederate veterans had no national organization similar to the Grand Army of the Republic. Several separate fraternal and memorial groups existed on a local and regional level. Meeting in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, in 1889, several of these groups united and formed the United Confederate Veterans Association. The organization was founded to serve as a benevolent, historical, social and literary association. The UCV was active well into the 1940s. Its final reunion was held in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, in 1951.
The primary functions of the organization were to provide for widows and orphans of former Confederate soldiers, preserve relics and mementos, care for disabled former soldiers, preserve a record of the service of its members, and organize reunions and fraternal gatherings. At its height, membership in the organization was approximately 160,000 former Confederate soldiers organized into 1,885 local camps. A privately produced magazine called Confederate Veteran was popular with UCV members, with articles about events during the war and providing a forum for lost comrades to locate one another.
The organizational structure of the UCV was based on a military-style hierarchy with a national headquarters, three departments, divisions within those departments, and finally the local camps. The national officers were at first known as "Generals Commanding" and later as "Commander-in-Chief." Commanders were not based on the actual rank of the veteran while in service. Commanders-in-Chief ranged from former generals to former privates. Former Confederate General John Brown Gordon
John Brown Gordon
John Brown Gordon was one of Robert E. Lee's most trusted Confederate generals during the American Civil War. After the war, he was a strong opponent of Reconstruction and is thought by some to have been the titular leader of the Ku Klux Klan in Georgia during the late 1860s. A member of the...
was the first commander of the UCV in 1890, holding this position until his death in 1904, when he was succeeded by Stephen D. Lee
Stephen D. Lee
Stephen Dill Lee was an American soldier, planter, legislator, and author. He was the youngest Confederate lieutenant general during the American Civil War, and later served as the first president of Mississippi A&M College...
. Later commanders included former generals Clement A. Evans
Clement A. Evans
Clement Anselm Evans was a Confederate infantry general in the American Civil War. He was also a noted politician, preacher, historian and prolific author....
, William L. Cabell and George W. Gordon.
Commanders in Chief of the United Confederate Veterans
- John B. Gordon 1889-1904
- Stephen D. Lee 1904-1908
- W.L. Cabell 1908-1909
- Clem A. Evans 1909-1911
- George W. Gordon 1911-1912
- C.I. Walker 1912-1913
- Bennett H. Young 1913-1916
- George P. Harrison 1916-1919
- K.M. Van Zandt 1919-1921
- Julian S. Carr 1921-1923
- Wm. B. Halderman 1923-1924
- James A. Thomas 1924-1925
- Walker B. Freeman 1925-1926
- M.D. Vance 1926-1927
- J.C. Foster 1927-1928
- Albert T. Goodwyn 1928-1929
- Richard A. Sneed 1929-1930
- Len W. Stephens 1930-1931
- Charles A. DeSaussure 1931-1932
- Homer T. Atkinson 1932-1934
- Rice A. Pierce 1934-1935
- Harry R. Lee 1935-1936
- Homer T. Atkinson 1936-1937
- John M. Claypool 1937-1938
- John W. Harris 1938-1939
- Julius F. Howell 1939-1941
- John M. Claypool 1941-1942
- John w. Harris 1942-1943
- Homer T. Atkinson 1943-1945
- William Banks 1945-1946
- William Henry Taylor Dowling 1946-1947
- James W. Moore 1947-1948
- Wm. M. Buck 1948-1949
- James W. Moore 1949-1951
National Reunions
The UCV organized many local and national reunions of Confederate veterans. Some of the national reunions attracted thousands of former veterans. In 1875, the Confederate and Union veterans first met in reunion at Bunker Hill. In 1881 Union veterans decorated Confederate graves during Mardi GrasMardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
in New Orleans as a sign of respect. Between 1881 and 1887, Federal and Confederate veterans held 24 major reunions together. The 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
attracted 8,000 Confederate and 44,000 Union veterans. It was common practice for both the GAR and the UCV to produce medals, ribbons, and other assorted memorabilia to commemorate reunions and gatherings. These items are considered collector's items today and are much sought after.
Legacy
In 1896, a successor organization, the Sons of Confederate VeteransSons 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...
(SCV) was formed by sons of UCV members for descendants of Confederate veterans. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is an American fraternal organization, the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic . Founded in late 1881, it was originally one of several competing organizations of descendants of Union veterans...
(SUVCW) is the equivalent organization for the descendants of Union soldiers. Both organizations still exist today.
An organization for female descendants of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy
United Daughters of the Confederacy
The United Daughters of the Confederacy is a women's heritage association dedicated to honoring the memory of those who served in the military and died in service to the Confederate States of America . UDC began as the National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy, organized in 1894 by...
was also formed. Later, Tennessee UCV members formed an offset group, the Association of Confederate Soldiers
Association of Confederate Soldiers
The Association of Confederate Soldiers was an organization formed by veterans of the American Civil War in 1887 as an offshoot of the United Confederate Veterans...
, to raise funds for and administer veterans homes and cemeteries in that state.
See also
- Grand Army of the RepublicGrand Army of the RepublicThe Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
- Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil WarSons of Union Veterans of the Civil WarSons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is an American fraternal organization, the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic . Founded in late 1881, it was originally one of several competing organizations of descendants of Union veterans...
- Sons of Confederate VeteransSons of Confederate VeteransSons 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...
- Military Order of the Stars and BarsMilitary Order of the Stars and BarsThe Military Order of the Stars and Bars is a fraternal organization for documented descendants of men who served as commissioned officers in the armed forces of the Confederate States of America or who are descended from members of the Confederate Congress, or any elected or appointed member of...
- United Daughters of the ConfederacyUnited Daughters of the ConfederacyThe United Daughters of the Confederacy is a women's heritage association dedicated to honoring the memory of those who served in the military and died in service to the Confederate States of America . UDC began as the National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy, organized in 1894 by...