Winnie Davis Camp No. 108 UCV
Organization and Early History
"It was the summer of 1861 and men were rushing to join the ranks of the blue and the gray. I along with my brother Newton volunteered and was accepted for duty with the Confederate Army. We served until the end of the war in 1865....." so wrote B. F. Marchbanks many years later. He might have been speaking for all the veterans who were members of the Winnie Davis U. C. V.
It was one of many camps formed throughout the South after the establishment of the United Confederate Veterans Association in 1889. As will be noted, not all members were native Texans or served in a Texas unit, but each proudly wore the gray to fight for the Cause. In reading their service records , memorials, obituaries and other tributes, it is easy to see what they believed in and fought for.
The first meeting (of which we have record) was called to order by Col. M. W. McKnight at the courthouse in January 1890. Capt. R. P. Mackey and J. P. Cooper were chosen chairman and secretary.
A report on organization was presented by a committee composed of members Capt. W. J. F. Ross, E. A. DuBose, Col. M. W. McKnight and E. F. Yeager
"This camp shall be known as Camp Jeff Davis of ex-Confederate soldiers, with headquarters at Waxahachie. The initiation fee shall be 50 cents with monthly dues of ten cents. Officers shall be: Captain, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant, Adjutant, Quartermaster, Surgeon, Chaplain and Officer of the Day." The report was approved as was their recommendation for election of officers .
Those elected were: E. A. DuBose, Captain; Jas. P. Cooper 1st Lt.; Tom Yates, 2nd Lt., S. M. Lackland, Adjutant, Tate Miller, Quartermaster, W. F. Wilson, M. D., Surgeon, Rev. John S. Davis, Chaplain, M. W. McKnight, Officer of the Day.
W. J. F. Ross, A. M. Dechman and E. F. Yeager were appointed members of a Constitution and Bylaws Committee to report at next meeting.
Other action taken: All ex-Confederates in the county were to be invited to unite with the camp. The quartermaster was to furnish a book to the adjutant for the purpose of enrollment and record the names of each comrade: giving residence, company and regiment. All necessary stationary was to be furnished.
Motion was approved designating the date for the next meeting to be Saturday, Feb. 1, 1890 in Waxahachie.
Veterans who enrolled at this meeting were:
M. W. McKnight, E. A. DuBose, W. J. F. Ross, Tom Yates, E. F. Yeager, J. N. Slayden, S. M. Lackland, H. Cohen, R. F. Mackey, E. P. Anderson, G. W. Snow, J. B. Morris, W. F. Wilson, A. M. Dechman, F. P. Wilson, M. W. Ludwick, A. T. Miller, G. H. Cunningham, A. J. Baxter, W. H. Kidd, J. W. Dickson, John S. Davis, J. P. Cooper, A. Blakeny, J. H. Wilkins, J. P. A. Collins. [abstract of article in Waxahachie Enterprise, Jan. 24, 1890]
As stipulated, the next meeting, to complete the organization of the camp, was held the first Saturday in February 1890. Capt. Daboecia [?] presided with 13 members absent. The report of the Constitution and By-laws Committee was adopted with an amendment changing the date for monthly meetings to the 1st Wednesday of each month and the annual meeting the 1st Saturday in August. Fourteen new members were added.- [Unfortunately, names were not listed]. Motion was made and carried that officers elected at the first meeting had been only for organizational purposes, and permanent officers were elected : E. A. Daboccia, [probably DuBose] Captain; J. C. Loggins, 1st Lt.; S. M. Lakeland, Adjutant; A. T. Miller, Quartermaster; W. F. Wilson, Surgeon; J. S. Davis, Chaplain and M. W. McKnight, Officer of the Day. Three committees were appointed: Executive: W. J. F. Ross, R. P. Mackey and T. O May; Finance: : W. D. Neely, Thomas Yates and W. D. Ryburn and Historical: E. F. Yeager, A. M. Dechman and R. G. Sims.
Guest speaker was Rev. Mr. Miller of Alvarado who stood on his one foot and recited the struggles of his people, dwelling on the nobility of Southern blood and receiving round after round of applause from his comrades. The Hon. C. R. Gibson of Austin then entertained with beautiful tributes to Southern chivalry and Southern rights.
Meeting was adjourned to 1st Wednesday in March. [No record of that meeting]
April 9, 1890. An nvitation from a committee in Ennis, inviting Camp Jeff Davis to attend their picnic on May 15th and participate in the pleasures of the occasion was. acccepted. As many of the camp as can attend are requested to meet at that date at the office of B. F. Marchbanks, Ennis, at 10 o'clock and all ex-Confederates, not members, are earnestly invited to meet with Camp Jeff Davis on that occasion and join in the procession of ex-Confederate soldiers. By order of the captain, E. A. DuBuse. /s/ S. M. Lackland, Adj.
[Next known record of a meeting was September, 1890]
A small number of Confederates assembled Saturday at the Board of Trade room for the purpose of electing officers for Camp Jeff Davis. Capt. E. A. DuBose called the meeting to order and the following officers were elected: Dr. J. C. Loggins, Ennis, Captain; Tom Yates, Waxahachie, 1st Lt.; R. P. Mackey, Ferris, 2nd Lt.; Col. M. W. McKnight, Adjutant; Rev. J. S. Davis Chaplain, Dr. W. P. Wilson, Surgeon; A. T. Miller, Quartermaster; W. J. F. Ross, Officer of the Day.
Comrades Cohen, Dechman, McKnight and others made brief comments. It was decided that, when a camp member died he should be buried with appropriate ceremonies by his comrades. Comrades Davis, DuBose and Dechman were requested to prepare a suitable burial service.
Quoting the writer of the article: "For one whose memory reaches back to the trying times of war, but who was spared by youth from being numbered with the ranks, to sit among these old veterans, causes feelings of veneration to spring up in his heart. The young men of today fail to appreciate the heroic deeds fot the brave boys who fought and bled for the preservation of constitutional rights. We should not stand back for them to work alone to procure a home for their decrepit comrades, but show our affection for the war-scaerred veterans who left homes, wife and children for us, we should use our influence and means to establish for them a private retreat where they may be cared for as their patriotism and services demand. " [extract of article in Waxahachie Enterprise, Friday, Sept. 13, 1890]
Camp Jeff Davis, chaired by Capt. W. A. Boyce, met first Monday evening in June at the courthouse. Resolutions were passed expressing thanks to Camp Sterling Price and the people of New Orleans for courtesies extended at the recent reunion. A letter was read from Mrs. Jefferson Davis tendering her grateful thanks for the beautiful star and ribbon presented her by this camp, and assuring her unfaltering regard for the faithful friends of her honored husband.
Mr. E. A. Dubose moved to change the name of the camp to "Winnie Davis" to avoid conflicting with others bearing the name of the grand old hero of the struggle for southern rights.... stating that the veterans would "rally around the daughter of the lost cause with fully as much enthusiasm and reverence as around the memory of her sainted father". Motion carried and Comrades DuBose, Tom Yates and H. Colton were appointed to advise Miss Winnie of the name change. [Extract of article in Waxahachie Enterprise, June 10, 1892]
Camp Winnie Davis, Ex-Confederates, met at the court house Monday [August 1892] and elected the following officers: M. W. McKnight, commander; E. A. duBuse, 1st Lieutenant, Tobe Edmonson, 2nd Lieutenant; John Harrison, Third Lieutenand; W. D. ryburn, adjutant; A. T. Miller, Quartermaster; G. w. Cunningham, Commissary; Dr. W. F. Wilson, surgeon, Rev. J. S. Davis, Chaplain; W. J. F. Ross, Officer of the Day. A letter was read from Miss Winnie Davis thanking the camp for a badge and for honoring her by giving the camp her name. [Extract of article in Waxahachie Enterprise, August 5, 1892]
And who was Winnie Davis?
She was Varina Anne Davis, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Davis, born in 1865. Named for her mother, she was called "Winnie" - a pet name Davis had for both his wife and daughter. Educated in Europe, she was an accomplished artist and writer. She never married and lived with her parents during the 1880s, but during her last years, travelled extensively. After her death in September 1898, she was laid to rest with full military honors by her father in Richmond, Virginia.
Varina Anne "Winnie" Davis
Daughter of Jefferson Davis, President
of the Confederate States of America
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