|
N.B. Forrest Camp 215
Sons of
Confederate Veterans
Nathan
Bedford Forrest Park, Memphis, Tennessee
Nathan Bedford Forrest Camp 215
Sons of Confederate Veterans
On June 28, 1900, a group of over 100 sons and grandsons of
Confederate Veterans met in Memphis to organize a local chapter,
or "camp," of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans, later
known as the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). Following
active debate, the camp was named for Confederate cavalry
general Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877), a Memphian. On March
27, 1901, a charter was issued, thus making N.B. Forrest Camp
215 the first SCV camp in Memphis. It had 537 members by the
time the national reunion in Memphis later that year of 15,000
Confederate Veterans, welcomed by camp commander Episcopal
Bishop Thomas F. Gallor. As part of those festivities, 12,000
people attended the Confederate Ball hosted by the Forrest Camp
in a wooden structure erected for the purpose on a site
including present day Confederate Park. The camp was also
organized the United Confederate Veterans (UCV) national
reunions in Memphis in 1909 and 1924, and hosted SCV national
conventions, or "reunions," here in 1959, 1976, and 2002.
Over the years, many prominent area civic and religious leaders
have been members of the camp. SCV national headquarters was
located in Memphis from 1910 - 1913, and during this time camp
membership rose to 700, making it the largest SCV camp in the
United States. Beginning in 1901, Camp 215 helped raise funds
for the Forrest Equestrian Monument dedicated in this park in
1905 and in 2002 it funded replacement of the weathered
gravestones of Forrest and his wife at the monument. In the
latter part of the 20th century, the Camp was active in the
preservation of Confederate Park and Jefferson Davis Park, the
upkeep of over 1000 soldiers graves at Confederate Rest in
Elmwood Cemetery, the restoration of General Forrest's boyhood
home near Chapel Hill, Tn and the promotion of history programs
in local schools. The Forrest Camp, fulfilling a tradition of
over 100 years, continues to lead and provide assistance in
projects involving preservation of Confederate history and
Southern heritage.
Erected by the N.B. Forrest Camp 215, Sons of Confederate
Veterans, June 2004.
|
