Confederate Bell County

Confederate Bell County. . The Confederate tradition in Bell County goes back to the War between the States itself. The citizens of Bell County were very pro-Southern in their opinions. Voters in Bell County overwhelming voted for Texas to leave the Union. In a state wide referendum in 1861, the vote in the county was 495 for secession (71%) to 198 against secession (29%.). , Citizens in Bell County also answered the Confederacy's call to service. It has been estimated that about 1,037 men joined the Confederate Army from Bell County. Using the 1860 Census there were a total of 1,054 white males in the county from age 15 to 59 and 1,037 served, about a 98% level of service. Those left behind worked hard to support the war effort. Ladies sewed uniforms, flags, hats were made here in the county, and food was produced by the women and children left behind. It was a total effort for the Confederacy by the people of Bell County. , Fortunately, Bell County, being on the edge of the western frontier, was spared from much of the ravages of the long war. Those Bell County men, who answered the call of duty and survived the long war, came home to start anew. They were joined by many other Confederate veterans who came from other Southern states where their homes and farms had been destroyed at the hands of Union invaders. As these veterans and their family members passed on many were buried here in the South Belton Cemetery.