Secession Camp #4 is based in Charleston, South Carolina, and was chartered with the SCV in January of 1991. Camp #4 is active in our community and State and supports many historical projects and activities that help ensure that the true history of the South and the Confederate Soldier is passed down to future generations. Special projects over the year include the observance of Confederate Memorial Day, the Confederate Heritage Motorcycle Ride, and the annual Confederate Ghost Walk at beautiful Magnolia Cemetery. Regular projects include adopt-a-highway cleanups, cemetery cleanups, along with re-enacting and teaching living histories at local schools.

Meetings are on the third Tuesday in Charleston, South Carolina. There will be an inspirational and educational guest speaker at every meeting, and we welcome all visitors and guests to come to join us. We also welcome any verifiable male descendant of a Confederate Soldier to apply for membership and offer Associate membership to those that are unable to provide a verifiable ancestor.

If you are interested in perpetuating the ideals that motivated your Confederate ancestor, Secession Camp #4 – Sons of Confederate Veterans needs you! The memory and reputation of the Confederate soldier, as well as the motives for his suffering and sacrifice, are being consciously distorted by some in an attempt to alter history. Unless the descendants of Southern soldiers resist those efforts, a unique part of our nations & cultural heritage will cease to exist. Come join us!

History of Secession Camp #4

The Camp held its first meeting on December 13, 1990, and received its charter on January 17, 1991, with a charter membership of 14.  The primary focus and driving purpose of the new camp was to be active in promoting, and defending, the good name of the Confederate Soldier following the SCV charge, goals, and guidelines. Secession Camp chartered with Camp #1542. In 1992, Commander Randall B. Burbage placed a request to have Camp #4 re-issued. An original Charter camp of the USCV, Moultrie Camp 4, was being reserved in the event another camp in the area of its original chartered area requested the number. Headquarters granted the request and reissued Camp #4 to Secession Camp #4. Since being chartered, the camp has grown to over 250 members. There are a good many re-enactors in the camp. The camp remains active significantly expanding its presence in the Charleston area by the high visibility of many of its projects. Regular monthly meetings continue to number around 100 in attendance.

In 1999, Secession Camp #4 became an integral part of the Confederate Heritage Trust (CHT) as one of the founding members. The CHT is an organization of several Southern Heritage groups in the Charleston area which work together on major projects and lend expertise, manpower, and support for projects that would be too large for a single group to handle. Collectively, these groups enhance history for posterity, public awareness, and education on matters about the Confederate Soldier, his cause, and Southern Heritage in general. By co-sponsoring these events, we can spread our message and obtain much favorable publicity and recognition in addition to performing valuable service.

Special projects over the year have included the observance of Confederate Memorial Day and the annual Confederate Ghost Walk at old beautiful Magnolia Cemetery where over 1,000 Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines are buried. Proceeds from the Confederate Ghost Walk are used for maintenance of the Soldiers; markers at the cemetery and the purchase of flags flying at the Confederate Soldier Memorial at the Soldier’s ground section of the cemetery.

With the help of the CHT, and after more than ten years of recovery efforts from the Mariners Cemetery beneath The Citadels Johnson Hagood Stadium, the remains of the first Hunley crew and 59 other Confederate Mariners were re-interred in Magnolia Cemetery. The final H.L. Hunley Crew was re-interred in 2004 resting alongside the first two crews that participated in the testing of the world’s first submarine to successfully sink an enemy ship in combat.

Other special events and projects include:

* A restoration and dedication of Battery Number Five, James Island, SC in 1992. 

* Fundraising provided $2,000.00 for UDCs Confederate Museum in Charleston after Hurricane Hugo severely damaged the building.

* Cleanups of Ft. Sumter and Castle Pinckney

* Hosted the 1993 South Carolina Division Convention

* Hosted the 2003 South Carolina Division Convention aboard the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point

* Hosted 2011, 2014, 2016 & 2018 South Carolina Division Conventions

* Hosted the 2000 SCV National Reunion

* Co-hosted the 2014 SCV National Reunion

* The Confederate Heritage Ride (started in 2005 )

Secession Camp #4 has many other projects and activities for its members which are positive and promote the good name of the Confederate Soldier. Camp members have established a reputation for availability and dedication to seeing these projects completed. Regular highway cleanups, living histories at local schools, and a camp color guard available for appropriate special ceremonies or functions present a community-minded image. Further, many of our Camp members have had letters regarding Southern Heritage,  Confederate Flag issues, or related matters published in local newspapers. Members are frequently asked to speak as a guest in schools or at meetings of other organizations on matters relating to the Confederate soldier. The Camp has setup information and recruiting booths at many functions in the local community to raise awareness and recruit the future members of  The Cause.

The camp looks forward to many more years of dedication to the SCV and our Confederate Heritage.