Frequently Asked Questions

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The SCV is the direct heir of the United Confederate Veterans, and the oldest hereditary organization for male descendants of Confederate soldiers. Organized at Richmond, Virginia in 1896, the SCV continues to serve as a historical, patriotic, and non-political organization dedicated to insuring that a true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved. You can learn more at https://scv.org/what-is-the-scv/

Membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans is open to all male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces. Membership can be obtained through either lineal (a person who is a direct descendant such as a child to his or her natural parent or grandparent) or collateral (a descendant that is not direct, such as a niece or a cousin) family lines and kinship to a veteran must be documented genealogically. The minimum age for full membership is 12, but there is no minimum for Cadet membership.

Applicants should submit an application form, along with a detailed genealogy describing their relationship to the veteran, and proof of his service.

To obtain proof of his service, contact the archives of the state from which the soldier fought and obtain a copy of the veteran's military service record. All Southern state archives have microfilm records of the soldiers who fought from that state, and a copy of the information can be obtained for a nominal fee. In addition, the former Confederate states awarded pensions to veterans and their widows. All of these records contain a wealth of information that can be used to document military service.

Please note that finding someone listed in the Broadfoot Roster with the same name as your ancestor does not constitute proof (John Jones from Tennessee). You must use accepted standards of genealogical research to demonstrate that the two men are, in fact, the same.

 The SCV has a network of genealogists and links to assist you in tracing your ancestor's Confederate service. Reach out to us or visit a meeting and we will point you in the right direction!

We meet on the Second Tuesday of every month at Poppa Rollo's Pizza on Valley Mills in Waco. Dinner at 6:00 PM, meeting starts at 7:00 PM. For more information visit our Meetings page.

Felix Huston Robertson, the only Texas-born general officer to serve the Confederacy, was born on March 9, 1839, at Washington-on-the-Brazos, the son of Mary Cummins and Jerome Bonaparte Robertson. His father Jerome also attained the rank of Brigadier General at the head of the famed Hood's Texas Brigade. Felix attended Baylor University and was appointed to West Point in 1857. 

He resigned shortly before graduation in order to offer his services to the Confederacy. Robertson rose rapidly in the army. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of artillery and participated in the staff of Gen. A.H. Gladden at Pensacola, Florida. Considered by many of his superiors to be "an able and accomplished artillery officer," Robertson, who had been named Captain in charge of an Alabama battery, fought with workmanlike efficiency at Shiloh. At Murfreesboro his controversial but nonetheless courageous performance under fire was noticed by General Braxton Bragg, then commanding the Army of Tennessee. As a reward for his services, Robertson was promoted to the rank of Major and given command of the artillery reserves. After leading a battalion at Chickamauga, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was given charge of Gen. Joseph Wheeler's cavalry-corps artillery, which he led during the 1864 Atlanta campaign. 

On July 26, 1864, Robertson was appointed Brigadier General. After serving as General Wheeler's chief of staff, he commanded a brigade and then a small division. A severe wound inflicted on November 29, 1864, at Buckhead Creek near Augusta Georgia, ended Roberton's active service. 

His military career, despite his rapid advancement, was not without controversy.  He was often an unwilling subordinate, and his loyalty to General Bragg sometimes caused friction with other officers. Robertson was also a strict disciplinarian whose punishments and Indian-like features earned him the nickname "Comanche Robertson". 

After the war, Robertson returned to Texas and made his permanent residence in Waco.  He read law and soon became a member of the State Bar of Texas. With his father, he invested in railroads and real estate. Robertson was an enthusiastic member of the United Confederate Veterans and served as the Commander of the Texas Division in 1911. 

He was married twice; his first wife was Sarah Davis, whom he wed in 1864. After she died, he married Elizabeth Dwyer, in 1892. 

At the time of his death in Waco on April 20, 1928, Robertson was the last surviving General of the Confederacy. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Waco.

Of course! You can look over the list of speakers here: https://scvtexas.org/speakers 

If you find one that interests you, let our Lt. Commander know so that he can reach out to them.