Brigadier General Milledge L. Bonham
Sons of Confederate Veterans - Camp #48

Sons of Confederate Veterans Logo

Saluda County, South Carolina

Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans:

"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we submit the vindication of the Cause for which we fought; to your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles he loved and which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Remember, it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations."

Lieutenant General Stephen Dill Lee
Commander General, United Confederate Veterans
New Orleans, Louisiana, 1906

Songs

"March of the Sons of Confederate Veterans", arrangement and lyrics by James F. Chumbley.
"Dixie"
"Bonnie Blue Flag"

What is the "Sons of Confederate Veterans"?

The South Carolina Life Endowment

Calendar of Events

Division Events

Camp Events

Other Events

Saturday, 29 September 2001

Dwayne Black and Katie Sease are announcing their intentions to marry.
The wedding will be held at the Watson House in Ridge Spring.

Photo taken at Battle of Aiken 2001

Camp Meetings

Pine Grove School, Saluda County, South Carolina Built in the 1890's to serve the community. The old school building is being repaired and renovated by the camp for a meeting hall (if you would like to help contact the camp or the officers via e-mail). It is located on Highway 39 at Pine Grove Road between Saluda and Ridge Spring, South Carolina.Our regular meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. Feel free to stop by and join us.

Pine Grove School

Camp History

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp #48 was chartered in October 1897 and re-chartered in April 1997 at "Winehall" in Saluda County, South Carolina. "Winehall" is the birthplace of James Butler Bonham, hero of the Alamo and a home of his brother, Brigadier General Milledge L. Bonham.

Camp Officers

`Office`	`Name`	`E-Mail`
`Commander`	`Mickey Matthews`	`msbbmathews@pbtcomm.net`
`Lt. Commander`	`Robert Adams`
`1^st Lt. Commander`	`Artie Rodgers`
`Adjutant & Treasurer`	`Andrew Coleman`
`Color Sergeant`	`Ben W. Forrest`
`Quartermaster`	`Tommy Steele`
`Historian`	`William Samuel Taylor, Sr.`	wstaylor509@yahoo.com
`Chaplain`	`Rev. Burton Campbell`
`Surgeon`
`Past Commander`	`Dwayne Black`	`confederatedwayne@yahoo.com`
`Web Master`	`Jeffery J. Sease`	`deszeldgolos@logicsouth.com`
`Camp E-Mail: mlbonham@yahoo.com`

Brigadier General Milledge Luke Bonham

Brigadier General Milledge L. Bonham Milledge Luke Bonham (1813 - 1890) - Milledge L. Bonham was born on 25 December 1813 in Edgefield District, South Carolina (present day Saluda County). He died on 27 August 1890 in White Sulphur Springs, North Carolina [He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Columbia, South Carolina]. Although not a West Pointer, South Carolina lawyer Milledge Bonham did have some military experience commanding a company of volunteers in the Seminole War and a regular regiment in Mexico. After serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1857-60, Bonham was sent to Mississippi by the state legislature to obtain the cooperation of that state in the secession winter of 1860-61. As a major general of state volunteers, from February 1861, Bonham was placed in charge of Morris Island in Charleston Harbor on 15 April 1861, two days after the fall of Fort Sumter. Going to Virginia in May 1861, Bonham superseded Colonel Cocke in command of the Alexandria Line and was in general command of the area when the fight at Fairfax Court House took place. Superseded after 10 days by General Beauregard, he commanded his brigade at 1^st Manassas (a.k.a. 1^st Bull Run) and until 29 January 1862, when, slighted over seniority matters, he resigned. Bonham won a seat in the Confederate House where he served on the Ways and Means Committee, then resigned on 17 January 1863, to become governor of his state. He served in that office for two years, until reappointed Brigadier General, on 16 February 1865. He commanded a cavalry brigade under Johnston in the Carolinas Campaign. After the surrender he resumed the life of a lawyer and planter.

Douglas S. Freeman, Lee's Lieutenants
Stewart Sifakis, Who was who in the Civil War

Brigadier-General Milledge Luke Bonham was born near Red Bank, Edgefield district, 22 December 1813, the son of Captain James Bonham, who came from Virginia to South Carolina about the close of the last century, and married Sophie, daughter of Jacob Smith, niece of Captain James Butler, head of an illustrious South Carolina family. The grandfather of General Bonham was Major Absalom Bonham, a native of Maryland and a soldier of the Revolutionary War. General Bonham, after graduation at the South Carolina college, had his first military experience as a volunteer in the company of Captain James Jones, in the Seminole war, and was promoted to brigade major, a position corresponding to adjutant-general of brigade. Subsequently, while beginning his career as a lawyer and legislator, he continued his association with the militia and attained the rank of major-general. When war began with Mexico he went to the front as lieutenant-colonel of the Twelfth United States infantry, and served with distinction, earning promotion to colonel, and remained in Mexico a year after the close of the war, as military governor of one of the provinces. Then returning home he resumed the practice of law, was elected solicitor of the southern circuit, and in 1856, upon the death of Preston S. Brooks, was chosen as the successor of that gentleman in Congress. Upon the secession of the State he promptly resigned and was appointed commander-in-chief of the South Carolina army, with the rank of major- general. In this capacity, and waiving all questions of rank and precedence, at the request of Governor Pickens, he served upon the coast in hearty cooperation with General Beauregard, sent there by the provisional government of the Confederate States. At a later date he was commissioned brigadier-general in the provisional army, and he took to Richmond the first troops, not Virginian, that arrived for the defense of the capital. His regiments were commanded by Colonels Kershaw, Williams, Cash and Bacon, and were conspicuous in the operations before Washington and in the first battle of Manassas. Afterward, in consequence of a disagreement with the war department, he resigned and was elected to the Confederate Congress. In December 1862, he was elected governor of the State, an office which he filled with credit. In January 1865, he was appointed to command of a brigade of cavalry, in the organization of which he was engaged at the close of military operations. His subsequent career was marked by the same ardent patriotism. As a delegate to President Grant from the taxpayers' convention, and a supporter of the revolution of 1876, he rendered the State valuable service. He was the first railroad commissioner of South Carolina, in 1878, and subsequently chairman of the commission until his death, 27 August 1890. As a soldier he is described as "one of the finest looking officers in the entire army. His tall, graceful figure, commanding appearance, noble bearing and soldierly mien, all excited the admiration and confidence of his troops. He wore a broad-brimmed hat with a waving plume, and sat his horse with the knightly grace of Charles the Bold or Henry of Navarre. His soldiers were proud of him, and loved to do him homage. While he was a good disciplinarian, so far as the volunteer service required, he did not treat his officers with any air of superiority."

Confederate Military History Vol. 5, pg. 377

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Last Update: 21 June 2001