Medical District in Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

N. B. Forrest Camp 215 Sons of Confederate Veterans

Photographed by Ken Smith, February 3, 2009

1. N. B. Forrest Camp 215 Sons of Confederate Veterans Marker

Inscription.

N. B. Forrest Camp 215 Sons of Confederate Veterans. . , On June 28, 1900, a group of over 100 sons and grandsons of Confederate veterans met in Memphis to organize a local chapter, or "camp" of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans, later known as the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). Following active debate, the camp was named for Confederate cavalry general Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-77), a Memphian. On March 27, 1901, a charter was issued, thus making N.B. Forrest Camp 215 the first SCV camp in Memphis. It had 537 members by the time of the national reunion in Memphis later that year of 15,000 Confederate Veterans, welcomed by camp commander Episcopal Bishop Thomas F. Gailor. As part of the festivities, 12,000 people attended the Confederate Ball hosted by the Forrest Camp in a wooden structure erected for that purpose on a site including present-day Confederate Park. The camp also organized the United Confederate Veterans (UCV) national reunions in Memphis in 1909 and 1924, and hosted SCV national conventions, or "reunions," here in 1959, 1976 and 2002., Reverse: , Over the years, many prominent area civic and religious leaders have been members of the camp. SCV national headquarters was located in Memphis from 1910 through 1913, and during this time camp membership rose to 700, making it the largest SCV camp in the United States. Beginning in 1901, Camp 215 helped raise funds for the Forrest Equestrian Monument dedicated in this park in 1905, and in 2002 it funded replacement of the weathered gravestones of Forrest and his wife in the Monument. In the latter part of the 20th century, the Camp was active in the preservation of Confederate Park and Jefferson Davis Park, the upkeep of over 1000 soldiers' graves at Confederate Rest in Elmwood Cemetery, the restoration of General Forrest's boyhood home near Chapel Hill, TN, and the promotion of history programs in local schools. The Forrest Camp, fulfilling a tradition of over 100 years, continues to lead and provide assistance in projects involving preservation of Confederate history and Southern heritage.

On June 28, 1900, a group of over 100 sons and grandsons of Confederate veterans met in Memphis to organize a local chapter, or "camp" of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans, later known as the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). Following active debate, the camp was named for Confederate cavalry general Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-77), a Memphian. On March 27, 1901, a charter was issued, thus making N.B. Forrest Camp 215 the first SCV camp in Memphis. It had 537 members by the time of the national reunion in Memphis later that year of 15,000 Confederate Veterans, welcomed by camp commander Episcopal Bishop Thomas F. Gailor. As part of the festivities, 12,000 people attended the Confederate Ball hosted by the Forrest Camp in a wooden structure erected for that purpose on a site including present-day Confederate Park. The camp also organized the United Confederate Veterans (UCV) national reunions in Memphis in 1909 and 1924, and hosted SCV national conventions, or "reunions," here in 1959, 1976 and 2002.

Reverse:
Over the years, many prominent area civic and religious leaders have been members of the camp. SCV national

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headquarters was located in Memphis from 1910 through 1913, and during this time camp membership rose to 700, making it the largest SCV camp in the United States. Beginning in 1901, Camp 215 helped raise funds for the Forrest Equestrian Monument dedicated in this park in 1905, and in 2002 it funded replacement of the weathered gravestones of Forrest and his wife in the Monument. In the latter part of the 20th century, the Camp was active in the preservation of Confederate Park and Jefferson Davis Park, the upkeep of over 1000 soldiers' graves at Confederate Rest in Elmwood Cemetery, the restoration of General Forrest's boyhood home near Chapel Hill, TN, and the promotion of history programs in local schools. The Forrest Camp, fulfilling a tradition of over 100 years, continues to lead and provide assistance in projects involving preservation of Confederate history and Southern heritage.

Erected 2004 by N.B Forrest Camp 215, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans

Photographed by Ken Smith, February 3, 2009

2. N. B. Forrest Camp 215 Sons of Confederate Veterans Marker

series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1885.

Location. 35° 8.33′ N, 90° 2.1′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in the Medical District. It is on Union Avenue (U.S. 51) west of Dunlap Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 799 Madison Avenue, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Nathan Bedford Forrest III, Airman (within shouting distance of this marker); Memphis City Hospital (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Elvis Presley and Sun Records / Sun Records

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 25, 2020

3. N. B. Forrest Camp 215 Sons of Confederate Veterans Marker

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Campbell Clinic (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lowenstein Mansion (approx. 0.3 miles away); Russwood Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); The First Railroad in West Tennessee (approx. 0.3 miles away); Luke Edward Wright (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Nathan Bedford Forrest (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 2,254 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 13, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. 3. submitted on April 27, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.