History of the John M. Jordan Camp #581
Sons of Confederate Veterans

By Douglas W. Powell
Past Camp Adjutant
August 16, 2008

The John M. Jordan Camp #581, Sons of Confederate Veterans, was founded in 1908. It became inactive about the time of the death of the last local Confederate veterans but was rechartered in 2003. Its history is closely tied to that of the local Confederate veterans organizations.

Prior to 1889 there were various veteran organizations throughout the south, but no united organization. On June 10, 1889, a convention of veterans was held in New Orleans for the purpose of organizing a national association. Meanwhile, in Virginia the Grand Camp was an umbrella organization that resisted incorporation into the national United Confederate Veterans organization for some years.

A camp of Confederate veterans had been organized in South Boston, Virginia, in 1896, commanded by Major Henry A. Edmondson. A few weeks later in that same year United Confederate Veteran Reunion #6 was held at Richmond. There, on June 30, 1896, the national organization of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans was formed.

These two national organizations continue to meet together for many years. But it would still be a few years before a sons camp was formed in Halifax County. Meanwhile, the United Confederate Veteran national reunions were held annually with the 9th meeting being in Charleston in 1899. It was then that the Halifax County Camp No. 1208 of South Boston joined the United Confederate Veterans national organization.

A letter to the editor of the Halifax Gazette from Samuel L. Adams of Cluster Springs was published in the May 21, 1908, edition. It announced a meeting to be held at Houston (present day Halifax) on the following Monday to form a local Sons of Confederate Veterans camp in the county.

Mr. Adams went on to say, "In the course of time the organization of Confederate Veterans will cease to exist, for the ranks of the 'old boys who wore the gray' are fast thinning out, and in thirty years more, nearly all will have crossed the river; and to their sons and grandsons must be committed for preservation, the old records and relics, and this trust we should gladly and willingly accept, as well as cultivate the ties of friendship that ought to exist between all whose ancestors have together shared the privations, dangers and sufferings of such a conflict as took place in the trying days of war for Southern Independence."

Though no records are known to still exist from that May 1908 meeting, it obviously resulted in the selection of officers and in the naming of the new camp the John M. Jordan Camp. In June the Halifax Gazette reported that, "More than forty have joined . . . ."

2nd Lt. John M. Jordan for whom the SCV camp was named had been buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston in 1904. His tombstone is engraved, "Lieut. John M. Jordan, Aged 70 years, Co. C, 3 Va. Cav. CSA."

Jordan enlisted in the "Black Walnut Dragoons" as it was organized in Halifax County as Capt. William H. Easley's Company of Cavalry, a unit that would become Company C, 3rd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Mustered into service on May 28, 1861, at Richmond, he reenlisted in May 1862, was elected as 3rd Lieutenant in May 1863, and was wounded at Yellow Tavern on May 11, 1864. He was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant that year on September 23.

After his captain, John A. Chappell, was killed at Winchester later that month, Lt. Jordan found himself in command of the cavalry company until the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.

The Halifax Gazette on July 23, 1908, published articles indicating the close relationship the SCV camp had with the veterans camp. In it Commander E. N. Hardy and Adjutant Henry Easley announced the meeting of the Halifax County C. V. at 11 a. m. on September 21. Next, S. L. Adams, Adjutant, and E. N. Hardy, Commander, announced the meeting of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans camp that same day, but at 2 p. m.

The John M. Jordan Camp #581, United Sons of Confederate Veterans received its charter on August 8, 1908. It was involved in the saving of the site of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge, now the core of Staunton River Battlefield State Park. A deed was made in 1910, by the owner of the fortifications at the battlefield to four area trustees. They included Tucker C. Watkins, Sr., and Samuel L. Adams, members of the John M. Jordan Camp. The trustees were empowered to convey the property to the State of Virginia, or to a Monument Association to be organized as a historical park commemorating the battle which took place there, although that did not happen until many years later.

In 1912 the word "United" was dropped from United Sons of Confederate Veterans to avoid it being confused with the United States Colored Veterans and the Sons of Confederate Veterans name used today was born.

Thanks to the efforts of SCV member Samuel Adams and others support of the veterans continued by the Board of Supervisors. Expenses were paid for attendance at Virginia and national veterans reunions for 24 years; from the Gettysburg event in 1913 until the 1937 reunion.

An old camp history book in the SCV headquarters shows the John M. Jordan Camp #581 of South Boston, Virginia, with 10 members having paid its dues in 1935. Its commander at that time was R. D. Merritt and the adjutant was L. P. Waskey.

After becoming inactive for years, on February 24, 2003, an organizational meeting was held at Halifax to recharter the John M. Jordan Camp. Over $500 was collected that night as a donation to the Halifax County War Memorial project. A new charter was issued to the John M. Jordan Camp #581 on September 15, 2003, and was presented to the local membership during its regular October meeting.

Since it was dedicated the local SCV camp has provided the leadership and coordination for a Memorial Day commemoration program each year at the Halifax County War Memorial.