Driftwood in Hays County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Camp Ben McCulloch No. 946 United Confederate Veterans
Photographed By Richard Denney, March 13, 2016
1. Camp Ben McCulloch No. 946 United Confederate Veterans Marker
Small plaque at bottom reads:
Camp Ben McCulloch
18301 FM 1826
Built in 1904
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
Inscription.
Camp Ben McCulloch No. 946 United Confederate Veterans. . Hays County Confederate veterans and their families gathered for a reunion in the summer of 1896 and formally organized the Camp Ben McCulloch Chapter of the United Confederate Veterans. The gathering took place near this site at the Martin Spring and campsite on Onion Creek. The reunion grounds were purchased by the organization in 1904 and have continued as the site of the annual reunion with the exception of one year during World War I., The first commander of Camp Ben McCulloch was Capt. Martin Luther Reed. Other officers elected at the first meeting were Jacob C. Quick, W.M. Weaver, W.W. Davis, W.T. Chapman, Dr. J.M. Pound, and Santa Anna Cruze. The camp was named for Confederate General Ben McCulloch, also a veteran of the Texas Revolution, who died in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in 1862., The reunion grounds and other responsibilities were transferred to the care of the Confederate Sons after Burl Nash, the last veteran in the county, died in 1947 at age 108. The Sons in turn deeded the camp to the grandsons and other descendants of the Confederate veterans. Reunions continue to be held, illustrating the ongoing impact of the Civil War on Texas history.
Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986.
Hays County Confederate veterans and their families gathered for a reunion in the summer of 1896 and formally organized the Camp Ben McCulloch Chapter of the United Confederate Veterans. The gathering took place near this site at the Martin Spring and campsite on Onion Creek. The reunion grounds were purchased by the organization in 1904 and have continued as the site of the annual reunion with the exception of one year during World War I.
The first commander of Camp Ben McCulloch was Capt. Martin Luther Reed. Other officers elected at the first meeting were Jacob C. Quick, W.M. Weaver, W.W. Davis, W.T. Chapman, Dr. J.M. Pound, and Santa Anna Cruze. The camp was named for Confederate General Ben McCulloch, also a veteran of the Texas Revolution, who died in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in 1862.
The reunion grounds and other responsibilities were transferred to the care of the Confederate Sons after Burl Nash, the last veteran in the county, died in 1947 at age 108. The Sons in turn deeded the camp to the grandsons and other descendants of the Confederate veterans. Reunions continue to be held, illustrating the ongoing impact of the Civil War on Texas history.
Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission
Click or scan to see this page online
. (Marker Number 10248.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 30° 7.868′ N, 98° 0.838′ W. Marker is in Driftwood, Texas, in Hays County. Marker is on Farm to Market Road 1826, 0.2 miles west of Farm to Market Road 967, on the left when traveling west. Marker is on pullout near entrance to park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18301 FM Road 1826, Driftwood TX 78619, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Camp Ben McCulloch No. 946 United Confederate Veterans Marker
Photographed By Richard Denney, March 13, 2016
3. Onion Creek
The camp is located on the banks of Onion Creek
Photographed By Richard Denney, March 13, 2016
4. Campsite among ancient oaks along Onion Creek
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2016, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 666 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 15, 2016, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.