General Nathan Bedford Forrest Camp #469
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Rome, GA
General Nathan Bedford Forrest Camp # 469 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the memory and heritage of the Confederacy and our Confederate ancestors through memorial, historical, and educational activities.
Calling Rome, Georgia home, General Nathan Bedford Forrest Camp # 469 has been active, having completed several projects including the placement of military markers on the graves of Confederate soldiers through Memorial Services, erecting an historical roadside marker commemorating the Battle of Farmers Bridge, repairing the damaged roadside marker in Alabama marking the spot where Gen Forrest captured a much greater Federal army led by one Able Streight, the donation of microfilm records to Sarah Hightower Regional Library, the entry of the Camp float in numerous Christmas parades as well as the presentation of Living Histories in all the local elementary schools. We are also proud to announce that our Camp in general, and one of our members in particular, Gilbert Smith, was instrumental in having Ft Norton - situated in the center of Rome - preserved as a Civil War Battlefield site on October 20, 2001. Sadly, Gilbert 'crossed over the river' in December of 2000, but his memory will last forever since the primary trail meandering through the site is named in his honor. Camp 469 also has numerous members who are always willing and eager to speak to and educate organizations on various aspects of the Civil War.
The main cemetery used by the city of Rome to bury the Civil War dead was Myrtle Hill Cemetery, 1 of 17 Victorian-style cemeteries still being used in the U.S. today. Located in the center of the city, Myrtle Hill, home to Fort Stovall during 1863 to 1864, was 1 of the 3 heavily fortified hills that protected Rome during the Civil War. Mrs. Ellen Axson Wilson, first wife of President Woodrow Wilson, is buried there. Also laid to rest there is The Known Soldier - Charles Graves.
Another important, albeit considerably smaller, cemetery in the Rome area that received Civil War dead was Mizpah Church Cemetery, located about 10 miles east of Rome on highway 293.
To contact us, write to: SCV Camp 469, 76 Plantation Dr., Rome, GA
WHO ARE THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS?
The citizen-soldier who fought for the Confederacy personified the best qualities of America. The preservation of liberty and freedom was the motivating factor in the South's decision to fight the second American Revolution. The tenacity with which Confederate soldiers fought underscored their belief in the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. These attributes are the underpinning of our democratic society and represent the foundation on which this nation was built.
Today, the Sons of Confederate Veterans is preserving the history and legacy of these heroes, so future generations can understand the motives that animated the Southern Cause.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is the direct heir of the United Confederate Veterans, and the oldest hereditary organization for male descendants of Confederate soldiers. Organized at Richmond, Virginia in 1896, The SCV was created for the purpose of preserving and defending the history, heritage and principles of the Old South. It serves today as a means for a gentleman to honor his Southern ancestry. The SCV rejects any person or group whose actions tarnish or bring dishonor upon the Confederate soldier or his reason for fighting. This particularly applies to those groups and persons using our cherished flag as a symbol of hatred, or for their own dishonorable purposes. The SCV continues to serve as a historical, patriotic, and non-political organization dedicated to insuring that the true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved.
In addition to the privilege of belonging to an organization devoted exclusively to commemorating and honoring Confederate soldiers, members are eligible for other benefits. Every member receives the Confederate Veteran, the bi-monthly national magazine which contains in-depth historical articles on the war along with news affecting Southern Heritage. The programs of the SCV range from assistance to undergraduate students through the General Stand Watie Scholarship to medical research grants given through the Brooks Fund.
Commission to the SCV by Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee
Addressing the 1906 combined reunions of the United Confederate Veterans and the Sons of the Confederate Veterans in New Orleans, Lt. General Stephen D. Lee issued his famous Charge to SCV members as a reminder of the sacred honor and duty entrusted to them. Just as important today, The Charge continues to be the basis of all we should endeavor to accomplish as the true keepers of Confederate Heritage.
"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit 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 which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Are you also ready to die for your country? Is your life worthy to be remembered along with theirs? Do you choose for yourself this greatness of soul?
"Not in the clamor of the crowded street,
"Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng,
"But in ourselves are triumph and defeat."
Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee
New Orleans April 25, 1906
To members and nonmembers of the Sons of Confederate Veterans alike, the following explanation of the Commission to the SCV by Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee is a must-read and are words worth pondering
Will You Answer the Call?
by: Rick Veal, McGowan #40, Laurens, SC
There has, for the last couple of years, been a change growing in our ranks. The Old Guard is steadily being replaced by a new generation of younger, more vigorous men who are willing to stand up for those who went before us. This "Old Guard" is made up of the sons of the Depression and World War II generation; those who without fail never questioned the actions of the government because the government saved them from poverty and then set the world free from tyranny. They in return taught their sons never to question the acts of that government and to be "Proud Americans" first and Southron's somewhere else down the list. As a result, our organization almost died during this time except for the actions of a few brave and loyal men. The "New Guard" that is presently filling the ranks is made up of a different fiber, cut from a different cloth. It is a generation who grew up with Vietnam, the Sexual Revolution, and open corruption in government. The New doesn't just look to the Old for instruction; they look past the Old to those we stand for to get instruction. They look back to a better time, a time when men were free in this country. They look to a time when they were South Carolinians, Georgians, Tennesseeans, Texans, Mississippians, Alabamians, Louisianans, proud to be citizens of their State first and Americans second. They look to their heritage and the men who fought to sustain that form of government handed to them from the founders. They are a new breed, a special group. This changing of the guard has resulted in the present turmoil in our ranks. It is caused by those in power wishing to hold fast to that power; a desire to prevent change because it is out of their "comfort zone". As a result, we have those who would betray their brothers in arms by any means. They will use outsiders and outside forces to cast a foul light on those who are taking the lead. We have recently seen this acted out in St. Louis ( It is rumored there is a move afoot to challenge the elections ), again at the Georgia Reunion, with the antics of those overturning the will of the delegates, and even those who would thump their own pathetic chest and announce to the world through the press "Look what I have done! Look at these who want to change -- they're not like me -- they'll upset the boat, we must stop them and you (the press) can help". Any time there is change in any organization it results in a certain amount of turmoil, but as the new moves to the fore, it calls for a time of reckoning, a time to re-examine who we are and where we come from. With that in mind, take few moments to ponder the charge given us by those men of yore and it's meaning. Are you willing to swear to the Charge? Do you have a place in the New Guard or the Old? When you read the Charge, does it stir your heart, or do you just rattle it off by rote? Biology teaches us that the bloodline is passed from the father to the child, it's the father's contribution to the new life being formed. That means that you and I, Sons of Confederate Veterans, have the same blood that flowed through their veins in ours -- the same blood that they so willingly spilled for freedom. That blood courses through your body, so that when you hear "Dixie", the Charge, or recite the salute to the Battle Flag, you should be able to hear them crying out to you, "Avenge me, Stand up for me, Don't forget me". As we ... enter ... another century, change is in the air. Our Southland is calling out, Dixie is gathering her sons, beckoning them to come home, to answer her call again. Will you answer? Consider our Charge:
"TO YOU, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, - You are, by virtue of your bloodline, a son of the greatest fighting man to ever fill the ranks of any army, anywhere, anytime. You don't walk in his shadow, you fill his boots, you take up his musket, his fight, you stand where he has fallen. You are his SON!
"WE WILL COMMIT THE VINDICATION OF THE CAUSE - The Cause, that of self-government as set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the right of all men to freely govern themselves, is the cause they went to war to protect. The justification and defense of that cause has been given to you. You, his Son, must take a stand, you must never let any other issue cloud his reason for fighting. He can no longer give his reasons for fighting, But you can. You are his SON!
"FOR WHICH WE FOUGHT. - You must stand against his enemies. You must give reason for his willingness to shed his blood. You must remember every farm, and field, every creek and river that has swallowed his blood. Stand tall, be proud, answer for the blood that flows in your veins. You are his SON!
"TO YOUR STRENGTH WILL BE GIVEN - He defended his actions as long and as vigorously as he could. To his dying breath he proclaimed he did the right thing. He answered when his State called, he defended her against invaders, he stood between them and his home. Many never returned to their homes. As he grew old and became infirm, he saw a need to continue the defense of his actions. The mantle has passed from him to you. Are you worthy to wear it? Your strong shoulders have replaced his weak, aged ones in the fight. Your strength has replaced his. You are his SON!
"THE DEFENSE OF THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER'S GOOD NAME, - He is your family, your heritage, he did no wrong. You must never take a stand against your blood with outsiders. Do not be like others who have denied him. Take your stand, defend him regardless of the end results. He cared not for the opinion of others in his defense of his home and State. Likewise, you should care not for the opinions of others in your stout defense of him. His blood, in your veins, pleads with you to defend him; to take his place at the bar of justice, to stand for him and declare his case to the world. You are his SON!
"THE GUARDIANSHIP OF HIS HISTORY, - You are the guardian, the caretaker of his legacy. He has passed a glorious heritage to you. If you don't guard it, if you don't stand in the breech, it will be taken from you. His graves, his monuments, his works, all are in your care. You must never allow his enemy to render his memory meaningless. You are the guard, you stand at the gates, you are all that stands between him and his enemies. You are his SON!
"THE EMULATION OF HIS VIRTUES, - You must follow his example, his morals, those things that he held dear. He was a man of principle, regardless of the thoughts or opinions of others. He stood on his principles, his values; even to the point of death. He did not back down, he not compromise, he did not give up. You are to follow his lead, stand on his principles, adopt his values, his resolve to win at all costs. You are his SON!
"AND THE PERPETRATION OF THOSE PRINCIPLES HE LOVED - You are to commit to your life the things he stood for; the values he so willingly fought and died to protect. You are his legacy, his only hope, he depends on you. He was willing to give up all comforts for his principles. He lost all that the world holds valuable; property, money, and position but he held fast to the important things: principles and values. That was all he had left of this world's riches to pass along to you. He has bequeathed them to you, are you willing to commit your life to his, to stand for what he has left you. You are his SON!
"AND WHICH YOU LOVE ALSO, - You can show your love for him by sharing his values and principles. When you stand in the open, toe to toe with his enemy, never backing down, you demonstrate your love for his values and principles. You proclaim your oneness with him. You are his SON!
"AND THOSE IDEALS WHICH MADE HIM GLORIOUS - It was his willingness to stand for what he believed in that shed the light of glory on his face. You know his ideals, they cry out to you each day. Every time you see your freedom erode a little further, let his spirit stand up in you, let the glory of his beliefs shine in you. Be as resolved as he was. You are his SON!
"AND WHICH YOU ALSO CHERISH. - Hold dear those things he has passed to you through the ages. You must govern your life in accordance with his values and principles. You are his last line of defense, his last hope. If you let his values slip then he is gone forever. Hold close to you the heritage he has given, protect it with your life and all that you hold dear. You are his SON!
"ARE YOU ALSO READY TO DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY? - He was and often did. His country, The Confederate States of America, is your country. It is conquered and the enemy's poison tries to replace his values and morals. Your country is calling, can you hear it? It's not a loud call, but it's there nonetheless. It's a small voice, but growing louder, it's that stirring in your breast when you catch a glimpse of his flag, his monument, his graves. It's that feeling of kinship you get when you talk to others of like blood and heritage. Will you answer the call, will you give all for him and his country ... your country? You are his SON!
"IS YOUR LIFE WORTHY TO BE REMEMBERED ALONG WITH THEIRS? - Only you can answer this question. How will you be remembered? Will your sons remember you as the one who stood tall and firm in the shoes of your ancestor? Or will your son do, as many of us are now doing, point an accusing finger at you proclaiming "You failed, you let the enemy breech the works, you let the colors fall!" Do you have what it takes to be numbered with him? You have his blood. You are his SON!
"DO YOU CHOSE FOR YOURSELF THIS GREATNESS OF SOUL? - You have a choice to make. Will you chose to be like him, to allow his blood and spirit to guide your actions? Or will you take the easy way out, saying "Sometimes you have to let a monument go! You can't win them all". Only you can make the choice, but you must live with the choice you make. The colors are falling all around you, will you pick them up, will you lead, or will you let the colors lay and retreat even further? The choice is yours -- will you share his greatness and glory, pass his heritage and legacy on to your sons? The mantle rests on your shoulders. What will you do with it? You are his SON!"
[Home]