Cobb Camp History
Camp #97 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans was organized and chartered in the spring of 1985 by a small group of local men from the Athens area interested in their Confederate heritage. There was at least one previous SCV camp in Athens. Records show a camp named after the famous Athens wartime “Troupe Artillery” was active for some years in the past but no account of its activities and the year it ceased to exist have been located. It is believed that it became active in the 1920’s or 30’s and that its membership was primarily “real sons” of the soldiers in gray.
The modern day organization is named for the highest ranking Athenian killed during the war – Brigadier General T. R. R. Cobb, a prominent local active in educational, religious, and political arenas before the war. Camp #97 has grown from that small group of 25 charter members to just under 100 as of the date of this publication. Through the years, members, as well as former members, have moved and formed at least three other camps. Camp members have been called upon to serve as division officers and act as part of the committee to draft the latest division constitution.
Member Eugene Malcolm was instrumental in initiation the Robert E. Lee commemoration held at the capitol each January 19. Member Clyde Noble is the bandmaster of the 37th Georgia Band which has played in many concerts, and also had a part in the movie “Glory.” Since its chartering, Camp #97 has observed Confederate Memorial Day by placing flags on the veterans’ graves in Oconee Hill Cemetery and other area cemeteries in Clarke, Oconee, Jackson, and Oglethorpe counties. A ceremony is held each April in conjunction with the commemoration of the day.
The camp has contributed to efforts to mark the deeds of Athens soldiers in other places and has continued to mark graves of veterans with government-supplied stones. In addition, Camp #97 has regularly contributed to the Oconee Hill Cemetery and has purchased Southern history books and visuals for public and school libraries. Camp meetings are held each month on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Smith House in Athens. The varied and interesting programs related to the Confederate period presented by authors, scholars, experts, and informed members and guests have become hallmarks of the monthly meetings. An outing is hosted each July by the camp, as is a Christmas party each December.
Members receive a subscription to the camp newsletter The Cobb Courier, the division newsletter, The Georgia Confederate, and the international magazine, The Confederate Veteran. All members of the local camp are also members of the Georgia Division and the international organization of The Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Camp #97 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans was organized and chartered in the spring of 1985 by a small group of local men from the Athens area interested in their Confederate heritage. There was at least one previous SCV camp in Athens. Records show a camp named after the famous Athens wartime “Troupe Artillery” was active for some years in the past but no account of its activities and the year it ceased to exist have been located. It is believed that it became active in the 1920’s or 30’s and that its membership was primarily “real sons” of the soldiers in gray.
The modern day organization is named for the highest ranking Athenian killed during the war – Brigadier General T. R. R. Cobb, a prominent local active in educational, religious, and political arenas before the war. Camp #97 has grown from that small group of 25 charter members to just under 100 as of the date of this publication. Through the years, members, as well as former members, have moved and formed at least three other camps. Camp members have been called upon to serve as division officers and act as part of the committee to draft the latest division constitution.
Member Eugene Malcolm was instrumental in initiation the Robert E. Lee commemoration held at the capitol each January 19. Member Clyde Noble is the bandmaster of the 37th Georgia Band which has played in many concerts, and also had a part in the movie “Glory.” Since its chartering, Camp #97 has observed Confederate Memorial Day by placing flags on the veterans’ graves in Oconee Hill Cemetery and other area cemeteries in Clarke, Oconee, Jackson, and Oglethorpe counties. A ceremony is held each April in conjunction with the commemoration of the day.
The camp has contributed to efforts to mark the deeds of Athens soldiers in other places and has continued to mark graves of veterans with government-supplied stones. In addition, Camp #97 has regularly contributed to the Oconee Hill Cemetery and has purchased Southern history books and visuals for public and school libraries. Camp meetings are held each month on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Smith House in Athens. The varied and interesting programs related to the Confederate period presented by authors, scholars, experts, and informed members and guests have become hallmarks of the monthly meetings. An outing is hosted each July by the camp, as is a Christmas party each December.
Members receive a subscription to the camp newsletter The Cobb Courier, the division newsletter, The Georgia Confederate, and the international magazine, The Confederate Veteran. All members of the local camp are also members of the Georgia Division and the international organization of The Sons of Confederate Veterans.