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Princess Anne County in
the War of Northern Aggression
In 1861 when Virginia seceded from
the Union, three companies, the
Seaboard
Rifles, Atlantic Guards and the Princess Anne Cavalry,
were promptly mustered into service. Later, other
Infantry Companies were organized, as was a company of
artillery. In all, nine companies of men would be
formed, march off and leave Princess Anne County
to fight and repel Virginia’s invaders. Many of these
brave souls would never return.
Princess Anne County
during Reconstruction
Those who did return in 1865 were
the heroes and survivors of four of the most brutal
years of combat this nation has ever endured. Those who
could, tried to take up where they had left off. The
survivors of the War Between the States would be the
major players in what would become a United States. Our
Ex-Confederate Patriots would suffer through the
indignities of reconstruction to build a new South.
That new South is right here in Virginia Beach.
In some respects, they did their job too well, for 137
years later, they are all but forgotten. However, if
you look really close, you can see their names on our
streets, subdivisions and cemeteries. Names like
Bonney, Davis, Fentress, Kellam, Land, Munden, Murden,
Whitehouse and Whitehurst just to name a few.
United Confederate
Veterans Camp #96
On October 9, 1900 fifteen
Confederate Veterans gathered at the office of county
treasurer John Woohouse to form the Princess Anne Camp
#96, United Confederate Veterans. Mr. Woodhouse was
elected their first Commander, and School Superintendent
O. B. Mears was the first Adjutant.
Sons of Confederate
Veterans Camp #1993
Over 100 years later on April 24th
2002, fifteen residents of Virginia Beach met and formed
the Princess Anne Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans in
their honor. On May 7th 2002, the Princess Anne Camp
#1993 was chartered.
Since that date we have undertaken to restore some
dignity to the Fisher Family Cemetery at Castleton where
four Confederate Veterans are buried. We have
also restored numerous other cemeteries. Many other
projects are scheduled for the upcoming year. We look
forward to our organization working hand in hand with
other civic and community organizations to preserve the
buried history of Virginia Beach. Recently, our camp was
featured in the Beacon Newspaper for the Rededication
Ceremony we performed at the Shipp Cemetery. We have
also been prominently featured in the Confederate
Veteran Magazine and the Old Dominion Voice.
If you are interested in perpetuating and sharing the
history of your Confederate ancestor, please join us.
We meet the last Monday of each month at Gus & George's
Spaghetti & Steak House. Our meeting starts at 6:30.
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