By the 1890's our Confederate Forefathers, the United Confederate Veterans, were getting on in years and began to look at how to best preserve the legacy of the Cause for which they had fought. To accomplish this honorable goal they established an organization for their descendants - the Sons of Confederate Veterans - in 1896. In 1906 to this organization the Men in Grey left - what is today called "The Charge:"
"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."
Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, Commander General
United Confederate Veterans - New Orleans. Louisiana - 1906
Membership in the SCV is open to all male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate Armed Forces. Membership may be obtained through direct or collateral family lines.
Our members are proud of the grace and elegance of the South. They love to hear 'Dixie' and are proud of the Confederate soldier's Battle Flag.
Sorry your missed this event-please check back here as we will very soon be getting photos and more information on this event for you to see/enjoy.
Our Commander Chris E. Chapman attended this event in Milledgeville, Ga. on Saturday, January 23, 2009 for General Robert E Lee 202nd Birthday Celebration Commander's Report:
Compatriots,
Although the morning was cold, the turn-out was very good 250-300. There was standing room only at the old Capitol. I met SCV members from around the state and enjoyed the event. The SCV was well represented and the rifle and cannon salute afterwards let Milledgeville know we were there.
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Charles T. Zachry SCV Camp #108 Commander Christopher E. Chapman
He was born January 19th, 1807 in Stratford, Virginia. Educated at the US Military Academy and finishing 2nd in his class in 1829, he received a commission as second lieutenant in the engineers. He became first lieutenant in 1836 and captain in 1838. He became famous during the Mexican War and was wounded in the storming of Chapultepec in 1847. He became superintendent of the US Military Academy and later was appointed colonel of cavalry.
When the War Between the States seemed unavoidable, President Lincoln offered him the field command of the Union forces, but Lee declined. On April 20th, 3 days after Virginia seceded from the Union, he submitted his resignation from the US Army. On April 23rd he became Commander in Chief of the military forces of Virginia. He was military advisor to President Jefferson Davis for over a year and then was placed in command of the Army of Northern Virginia. In February 1865 Lee was appointed Commander in Chief of all Confederate armies, two months later the war was over after his surrender to US Grant at Appomattox Court House.
His great battles included Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville and others. The genius of Lee was overcome only by the superior resources and troop strength of the Union. His campaigns are all to this day studied worldwide in military schools as models of strategy and tactics. His ability to anticipate the actions of his opponents and for comprehending their weaknesses was remarkable. He recognized that a small body of soldiers, protected by entrenchment's, can hold an enemy force of many times their number, while the main body outflanks the enemy or attacks a smaller force elsewhere. In his application of this principle, Lee was decades ahead of his time; this tactic was not fully understood or generally adopted until the 20th century.
General Lee applied for but was never granted postwar amnesty. He accepted the presidency of Washington College, now Washington and Lee University. General Robert Edward Lee died there on October 12, 1870. Lee is now remembered as the greatest leader this country has ever had. The only reason he is not more of a national hero is because he chose to defend his home state and wear the "Gray".
The Union seized his home "Arlington House" and turned it into a mass graveyard now known as Arlington National Cemetery. In 1975, 105 years after his death, Robert E. Lee got what he wanted after the war, his citizenship was restored by Congress.
General Robert Edward Lee should also be remember as the man that kept our country together. After 4 long years of war, he was able to do to what he had been doing for Confederate States in order to keep the troops one step ahead of the enemy. He saw past the happenings of the moment, and realized that in order for this country to ever heal, surrender was the only option. It is said that years later before his death he regreted that decision. He was said to have regreted his decision due to the inhumane treatment that Southern citizens received during reconstruction.
Regardless of which side you loyalties reside, General Robert Edward Lee will always be remembered as the greatest American Military General of all time.
General Robert E. Lee at Stonewall Jackson's Grave
General Robert E. Lee and his eldest son, on left, General George Washington Custis Lee; and on his right is Chief Of Staff Colonel Walter Taylor.
General Robert E. Lee at Chancellorsville.
This is said to be the last photograph taken of General Robert E. Lee prior to his death.
God Bless Robert E. Lee*
*Lyrics below video
When Robert E Lee surrended the Confederacy Jefferson Davis was upset about it
He said how dare that man resent an order
Form the president of the Confederate States of America
Then somebody told him that General Lee had made the decision himself
In order to save lives because he felt that the battle comin' up
Would cost about 20,000 lives on both sides
And he said 240,000 dead already is enough
So this song is not about the North or the South but about the bloody brother war
Brother against brother father against son the war that nobody won
And for all those lives that were saved I gotta say God bless Robert E Lee
Well the mansion where the General used to live is burning down
Cottonfields are blue with Sherman's troups
I overheard a yankee say yesterday Nashville fell
So I'm on my way to join the fight General Lee might need my help
But look away look away Dixie I don't want them to see
What they're doing to my Dixie God bless Robert E Lee
Sherman's troups burned Atlanta and the flames lit up the sky
And those of us who survived it are watchin' my Dixie die
But today at Appamattox General Lee sat down
And surrended to the yankees and Ulysees S Grant
So look away look away Dixie...
I won't ever stop loving you my Dixie till they put me in the ground
And the last words they probably hear from me are God bless Robert E Lee.
The Charles T. Zachry SCV Camp #108 McDonough, Georgia would like to welcome all to our website.
