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Secession Camp 4

 

It is the duty of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to defend the Confederate Soldier’s good name, and to ensure that the true history of the South is presented to future generations

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 150 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. 

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. Secession Camp #4 is pleased to assist the Confederate Heritage Trust with the yearly Hunley Housatonic Memorial Service, Confederate Ghost Walk, and Battle of Secessionville Commemoration.

Special projects over the year have included the observance of Confederate Memorial Day and the annual Confederate Ghost Walk at 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 & 2022 South Carolina Division Conventions

* Hosted the 2000 SCV National Reunion

* Co-hosted the 2014 SCV National Reunion

* Hosted the 2024 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.
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Charter Members of Secession Camp

Randall B. Burbage

William H. Creech III

Anderson S. Langdale

Drew McDonald

Larry Steedly

Phillip Bradley

Manning Williams Sr.(deceased)

Clay Martin

Phillip Ramsey

Leon “Buddy” Ward

Don Clanton

Bob Hunt(deceased)

Mark Blalock

James Speicher

Past Commanders

Randall B. Burbage

1991 – 1992

Clayton S. Martin

1998 – 1999

David Rentz

2004 – 2005

William P. Norris

2008 – 2009

David Rentz

2015 – 2017

Michael Dixon

2024 – 2028

Don Clanton

1993 – 1995

Randall B. Burbage

2000 – 2001

William J. Baber

2006 – 2007

E. C. Moon

2012 – 2013

Randall B. Burbage

2017 – 2019

William H. Creech III

1996 – 1997

E. C. Moon

2002 – 2003

John Genes

2010 – 2011

Alan Baillie

2014 – 2015

Charles Long

2019 – 2024

White Star Award

The White Star is awarded by the officers of Secession Camp #4. The very first White Star was given for a year or more of dedication to activities outside the Camp which promotes and helps preserve Confederate history. The following compatriots embodied these criteria when they were presented with this prestigious award.

Larry Steedly

1994

Gene Patrick

1997

Robert Moorer

2000

Randall B. Burbage

2003

Andy Langdale

2006

Paul Brown

2009

Michael Dixon

2012

Randy Lesemann

2015

 Walter Carr

2017

 Leon Wilson

2019

Glenn F. McConnell

2022

Charles Fox

2025

Manning Williams

1995

Rick Hatcher

1998

John L. Dangerfield

2001

Benny A. Slay

2004

Wayne Dukes

2007

Robert Gormane

2010

Perry Gene Patrick II

2013

Don Petty

2016

Don Pace

2018

Michael Thomas

2020

Fred Polston

2023

Wayne Tallent

1996

Jim Dickerson

1999

Bill Norris

2002

Loren O’Donnell

2005

Brian Riddle

2008

John Kohr

2011

Perry Gene Patrick I

2014

Randy Lesemann

2017

James Lawrence Walker

2019

Richard W. Hatcher

2021

William Sharbrough

2024

Compatriot of the Year

Compatriot of the Year is awarded by Secession Camp #4 members. The Compatriot that is presented this award has shown that he actively supports the activities of the camp and that he promotes the history of the Confederacy and the Confederate Soldiers. The following compatriots embodied these criteria when they were presented with this prestigious award. On two occasions, the members of Secession Camp 4 felt two associate members deserved the honor and they were awarded the title of Compatriot of the Year.

Andy Langdale

1994

George Naumann *

1997

Sy Mabie *

2000

John L. Dangerfield

2003

Andy Langdale

2007

David E. Rentz

2010

Robert Gorman

2013

Bobby Gorman

2016

Michael Dixon

2019

Rick Little

2022

Paul Murray

2025

Philip Bradley

1995

Elmore Marlow

1998

William P. Norris

2001

Don Pace

2005

Andy Langdale

2008

Michael Dixon

2011

David E. Rentz

2014

Charles Long

2017

Michael Dixon

2020

Rob Dillon

2023

Glenn McConnell

1996

John L. Dangerfield

1999

Andy Langdale

2002

Jimmy Wheeler

2006

Don Pace

2009

John Kohr

2012

Bobby Gorman

2015

Bobby Gorman

2018

Wes Reynolds

2021

Rick Little

2024

Brigadier General Johnson Hagood Award

Awarded by the Commander and the Executive Committee to an Officer who goes above and beyond his assigned duties within Secession Camp #4 and the SCV.

David Rentz

2005

Elmore Marlow

2008

Not Awarded

2011

John Ball Waring

2014

Charles Long

2018

Cain Griffin

2020

John Waring

2023

Kevin Cunningham

2025

Sy Mabie

2006

John Genes

2009

John Ball Waring

2012

Gene Patrick

2016

John Waring

2019

Gene Patrick

2021

Cane Griffin

2024

Gene Patrick

2007

William P. Norris

2010

Jack Stroman

2013

Randy Burbage

2017

Charles Long

2019

Sid H, Shingler

2022

Paul Murray

2024

Sponsored Camps

Continuing to follow the traditions that were outlined in the SCV by the men who founded this Heritage of Honor organization, Secession Camp continues to grow and expand in many ways. One of the most successful ways the members of the SCV continues to grow is by the formation of active camps that are willing to put forth the effort to protect our Confederate Heritage. Secession Camp #4 has sponsored the following SCV camps.

Colonel Olin M. Dantzler 73

Orangeburg

Colleton Rangers 1643

Walterboro

Pvt. John S. Bird 38

North Charleston (disbanded)

Moultrie Camp 27

Mt. Pleasant

Gen Ellison Capers 1212

Moncks Corner

Ft. Johnson 1201

James Island (disbanded)

H.L. Hunley Camp 143

Summerville

Star of the West 1253

The Citadel – Charleston

Our Mission

The Sons of Confederate Veterans, a historical honor society, is a nonprofit and charitable organization composed of the direct heirs of the United Confederate Veterans. Membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans is open to all male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces. Come join us! There has never been a more important time than now to stand up and get involved with the preservation of our unique history and culture!

Quick Links

Contact Us

Head Office

P.O. Box 80342, Charleston,
South Carolina 29416

Email

Support@SCV4.org
Donate@SCV4.org

Copyright SCV4.org    All Rights Reserved 1991 – 2026

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