United Confederate Veterans facts for kids

An unknown veteran of the American Civil War wearing a Southern Cross of Honor medal.

The United Confederate Veterans (UCV) was a group for former soldiers and sailors of the Confederate States. It was based in New Orleans, Louisiana. This organization was formed on June 10, 1889. It brought together many smaller groups of veterans from different states.

The UCV was similar to the Grand Army of the Republic, which was a group for Union veterans.

History of the United Confederate Veterans

How the UCV Started and Grew

Before the UCV, many local groups for veterans existed across the Southern United States. Most of these smaller groups joined the UCV. The UCV grew very quickly in the 1890s. By 1898, 1,555 local groups, called "camps," were part of the UCV.

The UCV had the most members between 1898 and 1904. After this time, many veterans began to pass away. This caused the group's membership to slowly decline.

What Was the UCV's Main Goal?

The UCV created a written plan, like a rulebook, for its goals and how it would be set up. It was organized a bit like a military, with leaders at the top and local groups at the bottom.

However, their main goals were not military. They wanted to focus on "social, literary, historical, and benevolent" activities. This meant they aimed to help each other, share stories, remember history, and do good deeds. For example, the UCV helped fund a monument called Florida's Tribute to the Women of the Confederacy in 1915.

Annual Gatherings: UCV Reunions

The UCV held a big meeting and social event every year. These events were led by the Commander-in-Chief, who was the main leader. These yearly reunions helped the UCV achieve its goals.

Cities that hosted the reunions worked hard to make them special. They tried to make each event bigger and better than the last. Even as fewer veterans were alive, the reunions grew in size and importance. Many veterans brought their families and friends, making the crowds even larger.

Southerners often saw these conventions as major social events. In the late 1890s, about 30,000 veterans and 50,000 visitors attended each reunion. The numbers kept growing. In 1911, an amazing 106,000 members and guests came to Little Rock, Arkansas. This city was less than half that size itself!

Over time, fewer veterans were left, and the reunions became smaller. But they still continued. In 1950, only one member, 98-year-old James Moore, could attend the 60th reunion. The very last reunion was held in Norfolk, Virginia, from May 30 to June 3, 1951. Only three members were able to attend: William Townsend, John B. Salling, and William Bush. The U.S. Post Office even made a special 3-cent stamp for this final reunion. The last confirmed Confederate veteran, Pleasant Crump, passed away on December 31, 1951, at age 104.

The Confederate Veteran Magazine

Another important part of the UCV's success was its monthly magazine, Confederate Veteran. This magazine became the official publication of the UCV. It started in January 1893, created by Sumner Archibald Cunningham. The UCV officially adopted it the next year.

Cunningham was the editor for 21 years. He even left most of his money to make sure the magazine could keep going. The magazine was very well-made and widely read. Many veterans wrote their memories or articles for it.

Many more people read the magazine than just those who bought it. This is because many local camps and homes for soldiers received copies for everyone to share. For example, in its first year, about 6,500 copies were printed each month. But Cunningham believed that 50,000 people read the 12th issue.

Images for kids

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  Cherokee Confederate veterans at the UCV reunion in New Orleans, 1903.

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  Confederate veterans reunion in May 1911.

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  A 1951 commemorative postage stamp for the UCV.

See also

• Confederate Memorial Day
• List of Confederate monuments and memorials
• Grand Army of the Republic
• Confederate Memorial Hall
• Confederate Memorial Hall Museum
• Southern Cross of Honor
• Lost Cause of the Confederacy
• Louisiana in the American Civil War
• Sons of Confederate Veterans, headquartered in Columbia, Tennessee
• United Daughters of the Confederacy