Department of North CarolinaUnited Spanish War Veterans, April 18th, 1904, to January 21st, 1979
The North Carolina Camps of the United Spanish War Veterans first attempted to organize themselves into a Department in 1912 when the Provisional Division of North Carolina was established under Comrade John A. Guffey of Asheville. However these early efforts would not come to fruition until 1924. The Department of North Carolina was officially organized and instituted on February 27th, 1924, following the first department convention held in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Department continued for the next fifty-five years until the death of the last member of the department on March 10th, 1978 - Commander Robert O. Bibb of Salisbury. Following his death the department was officially disbanded on January 21st, 1979, per Special Order No. 3, Headquarters, United Spanish War Veterans.
Department Commanders, 1924 to 1979
| TERM | COMMANDER | TERM | COMMANDER |
| 1912 | John A. Guffey | 1952-1953 | Thomas V. Griswold |
| 1924-1925 | Halsey B. Leavitt | 1953-1954 | Lyman C. Sevier |
| 1925-1926 | William E. Garrett | 1954 | John T. Perkins (died in office) |
| 1926-1927 | L.M. Gipson | 1954-1955 | John D. Cole |
| 1927-1928 | J.C. Benjamin | 1955-1956 | John L. Bostian |
| 1928-1929 | J.W. Thurman | 1956-1957 | Alice T. Perry |
| 1929-1930 | H.W. Edmonds | 1957-1958 | M.B. Delysle |
| 1930-1931 | R.M. Parrott | 1958-1959 | M.B. Delysle |
| 1931-1932 | John L. Boothe | 1959-1960 | W.W. Roberts (died in office) |
| 1932-1933 | Daniel V. Carter | 1960-1961 | Leighton Brown |
| 1933-1934 | W. Capers White | 1961-1962 | Roy A. Koon |
| 1934-1935 | Eubert Lyerly | 1962-1963 | John D. Cole |
| 1935-1936 | Luther L. Merchant | 1963-1964 | Leighton Brown |
| 1936-1937 | Robert P. Hackney | 1964-1965 | Leighton Brown |
| 1937-1938 | Joseph M. Mabery | 1965-1966 | Leighton Brown |
| 1938-1939 | George W. Hartley (died in office) | 1966-1967 | Leighton Brown |
| 1939-1940 | John K. Stradley | 1967-1968 | Leighton Brown |
| 1940-1941 | E.J. Sharpe | 1968-1969 | Leighton Brown (died in office) |
| 1941-1942 | Whitman A. Neal | 1969-1970 | Champion McD. Davis |
| 1942-1943 | Thomas A. Winder | 1970-1971 | Champion McD. Davis |
| 1943-1944 | Elbert M. Jarrett | 1971-1972 | Champion McD. Davis |
| 1944-1945 | Leighton Brown | 1972-1973 | Champion McD. Davis |
| 1945-1946 | Albert Watson | 1973-1974 | Champion McD. Davis(died in office) |
| 1946-1947 | A.B. Frost | 1974-1975 | John B. Jordan |
| 1947-1948 | Thomas A. Price | 1975-1976 | Robert O. Bibb |
| 1948-1949 | John A. Wagner | 1976-1977 | Robert O. Bibb |
| 1949-1950 | J.M. Saunders | 1977-1978 | Robert O. Bibb |
| 1950-1951 | E.D. Sineath | 1978-1979 | Robert O. Bibb (died in office) |
| 1951-1952 | Charles J. Satterwhite | | |
Camps of the Department
(*) These Camps were colored camps and were attached to the Department of the Potomac
THOMAS W. PATTON CAMP NO. 1 (A) - Asheville, Buncombe County
The Thomas W. Patton Camp No. 1 was organized and instituted prior to 1912 in Asheville, Buncombe County. The camp was disbanded on June 30th, 1919. The camp was named in honor of Thomas Walton Patton (1841-1907) of Asheville, who had served in the American Civil War as a Private in Company E of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment for six months, and then as the Captain of Company C of the 60th North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment until he surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina. During the War with Spain he returned to uniform and was mustered into service as 1st Lieutenant & Battalion Adjutant of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, serving from April 1898 to April 1899.
CHASE ADAMS CAMP NO. 1 (B) - Charlotte, Mecklenburg County
The Chase Adams Camp No. 1 was organized and institued in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County. The camp was named in honor of William Chase Adams ( 1872-1898) who served as a Corporal in Company M of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from June 1898. Corporal Adams was one of the members of the regiment who contracted typhoid fever and on August 12th, 1898, he died of the diesase while in camp at Jacksonville, Florida. His remains were returned to North Carolina and he was buried with full honors at the Greenhill Cemetery in Greensboro.
WORTH BAGLEY CAMP NO. 2 - Raleigh, Wake County
The Worth Bagley Camp No. 2 was organized and instituted on March 13th, 1926, in Raleigh, Wake County. The camp was named in honor of Worth Bagley (1874-1898), a native North Carolinian and U.S. Naval Academy graduate. He was killed in action on May 11th, 1898, during the actions of the USS Winslow in the bombardment at Cardenas, Cuba, giving him the distinction of being the first American officer killed in the line of duty during the War with Spain.
WORTH BAGLEY CAMP NO. 3 (A) - Tarboro, Edgecombe County
The Worth Bagley Camp No. 3 was oragnized and insituted sometime around 1912 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County. The camp was disbanded on June 30th, 1919. The camp was named in honor of Ensign Worth Bagley of whom more information will be found with the Worth Bagley Camp No. 2.
JOSEPH ARMFIELD CAMP NO. 3 (B) - Durham, Durham County
The Joseph Armfield Camp No. 3 was organized and instituted in the 1920's in Durham, Durham County. The camp was named in honor of Joseph Franklin Armfield (1862-1910) of Statesville, who served during the War with Spain as the Colonel of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from April 1898 to April 1899, and after the war would fill the position of Adjutant General of the State of North Carolina from March 2nd, 1909, to October 12th, 1910.
WAYNESVILLE CAMP NO. 4 (A) - Waynesville, Haywood County
The Waynesville Camp No. 4 was organized and instituted sometime prior to 1912 as part of the efforts to organize the North Carolina Veterans, in Waynesville, Haywood County. The camp was disbanded on June 30th, 1919.
DANIEL GRIER CAMP NO. 4 (B) - Gastonia, Gaston County
The Daniel Grier Camp No. 4 was organized and instituted on August 9th, 1924, at Gastonia, Gaston County. The camp was disbanded on December 21st, 1959. The camp was named in honor of Daniel Derondo Grier (1881-1911) of Matthews, North Carolina, who had served as a Private in Company A (The Hornets Nest Riflemen) of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from April 1898 to April 1899.
HENDERSONVILLE CAMP NO. 5 (A) - Hendersonville, Henderson County
The Hendersonville Camp No. 5 (A) was organized and instituted sometime between 1910 and 1912 in Hendersonville, Henderson County. After the failure to succesfully organize the Department, and the influx of other organizations following the end of the First World War, the camp was disbanded on June 30th, 1919.
THOMAS W. PATTON CAMP NO. 5 (B) - Asheville, Buncombe County
The Thomas W. Patton Camp No. 5 (B) was organized and instituted on February 20th, 1924, in Asheville, Buncombe County. For more information on the namesake of this camp see the Thomas W. Patton Camp No. 1 (A).
SHIPP-BAGLEY CAMP NO. 6 (A) - Wilmington, New Hanover County
The Shipp-Bagley Camp No. 6 was oragnized sometime prior to 1912 in Wilmington, New Hanover County, as part of the early efforts to form a Department. The camp was officially disbanded on June 30th, 1919. The camp was named in honor of 1st Lieutenant William E. Shipp and Ensign Worth Bagley, two North Carolina natives who died during the War with Spain, and of whom brief descriptions camp be found with the Worth Bagley Camp No. 2 and the William E. Shipp Camp No. 19.
PERCY GRAY CAMP NO. 6 (B) - Greensboro, Guilford County
The Percy Gray Camp No. 6 was organized and instituted on February 23rd, 1924, at Greensboro, Guilford County. The camp was named in honor of Robert Percy Gray (1863-1906) of Greensboro, who served as the Captain of Company D of the 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from April to November 1898.
J.C. BESSENT CAMP NO. 7 - Winston-Salem, Forsyth County
The J.C. Bessent Camp No. 7 was organized and instituted on February 25th, 1924, in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County. The camps membership slowly declined and in 1926 it was disbanded, however was reorganized and reinstituted on February 18th, 1929. The camp was officially disbanded on October 6th, 1947. The camp was named in honor of Jesse C. Bessent (1855-1924) of Winston, who had served as the Captain of Company C (Forsyth Riflemen) of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from April 1898 to April 1899.
WILMINGTON CAMP NO. 8 - Wilmington, New Hanover County
The Wilmington Camp No. 8 was organized and instituted on August 8th, 1924, in Wilmington, New Hanover County.
JOHN W. COTTON CAMP NO. 9 - Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County
The John W. Cotton Camp No. 9 was organized and instituted on August 11th, 1925, at Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County. The camp was disbanded on August 17th, 1946. The camp was named in honor of John Whitaker Cotton (1845-1922) of Tarboro. During the Civil War he had served as a Private in Company A of the 3rd North Carolina Volunteer Artillery Regiment, and afterwards took he took an active part in the North Carolina State Guard, rising to the rank of Brigadier General in 1891. At the start of the War with Spain he was mustered into service as the Captain of Company I of the 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment in May 1898, and was shortly thereafter promoted to Major of the Regiment, being mustered out of service with them on November 25th, 1898.
JUNIUS T. GARDNER CAMP NO. 10 - Shelby, Cleveland County
The Junius T. Gardner Camp No. 10 was organized and instituted on March 20th, 1928, at Shelby, Cleveland County. The camp was disbanded on March 25th, 1963. The camp was named in honor of Junius Tazewll Gardner (1860-1925) of Shelby, who served as the Captain of Company G (Cleveland Guards) of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from April 1898 to April 1899.
WILLIAM MCMAHAN CAMP NO. 11 (A) - Spruce Pines, Mitchell County
The William McMahan Camp No. 11 (A) was organized and instituted on November 9th, 1928, at Spruce Pines, Mitchell County.
WILLIAM T.R. BELL CAMP NO. 11 (B) - Rutherfordton, Rutherford County
The William T.R. Bell Camp No. 11 (B) was organized and instituted on November 9th, 1928, in Rutherfordton, Rutherford County. In early 1932 the camp was disbanded, however was reorganized and reinstituted on March 15th, 1932. The camp was disbanded on December 16th, 1952. The camp was named in honor of William Terrell Reilly Bell (1843-1917) of Rutherfordton, a Civil War veteran who had served as the 3rd Lieutenant of Company I of the 59th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment and as the 2nd Lieutenant of Company I of the 9th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and after the war settled in North Carolina where he took up a career as an educator for the remainder of his life. During the War with Spain he served as the Captain of Company B of the 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from May to November 1898.
HUGH A. LOVE CAMP NO. 12 - Waynesville, Haywood County
The Hugh A. Love Camp No. 12 was organized and instituted on December 12th, 1928, at Waynesville, Haywood County. The camp was named in honor of Hugh Arthur Love (1873-1927) of Waynesville who had served as the 2nd Lieutenant of Company H of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from April 1898 to April 1899.
WILKESBORO CAMP NO. 13 - Wilkesboro, Wilkes County
The Wilkesboro Camp No. 13 was organized and instituted on January 24th, 1929, at Wilkesboro, Wilkes County.
JOSEPH F. GOODMAN CAMP NO. 14 - Concord, Cabarrus County
The Joseph F. Goodman Camp No. 14 was organized and instituted on July 4th, 1929, at Concord, Cabarrus County. The camp was named in honor of Joseph F. Goodman (1870-1926) of Concord, who had served from April 1898 to April 1899 as the 2nd Lieutenant of Company L of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
C.M. MCCORKLE CAMP NO. 15 - Hickory, Catawba County
The C.M. McCorkle Camp No. 15 was organized and instituted on June 29th, 1929, in Hickory, North Carolina. The camp was named in honor of Charles Milton McCorkle (1875-1929) of Newton, North Carolina, who had served during the War with Spain as a Corporal in Company A of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from April 1898, until he was discharged due to disability on December 31st, 1898. He would return to the service during the First World War, serving as a Lieutenant Colonel & Judge Advocate, with the men raised during the war, from 1917 to 1920, when he recieved an appointment as a Major in the Judge Advocate Generals Department of the Regular Army on July 1st, 1920. He would remain in the Army until retiring on October 6th, 1927, due to disability incurred in the line of duty.
JOHN M. ALLISON CAMP NO. 16 - Statesville, Iredell County
The John M. Allison Camp No. 16 was organized and instituted on November 19th, 1929, at Statesville, Iredell County. The camp was disbanded on May 21st, 1953. The camp was named in honor of John M. Allison (1869-1929) of Statesville, who had served as an officer in the North Carolina State Guard, and was mustered into United States service for the War with Spain as a First Lieutenant & Battalion Adjutant with the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, serving with them from April 1898 to April 1899.
JAMES THOMAS SMITH CAMP NO. 17 - Farmville, Pitt County
The James T. Smith Camp No. 17 was organized and instituted on January 7th, 1930, at Farmville, North Carolina. The camp was disbanded on July 15th, 1944. The camp was named in honor of James Thomas Smith (1846-1918) of Greenville, North Carolina, who had served as the Captain of Company E (Pitt Rifles) of the 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from May 1898 to November 1898.
WADE HAYES CAMP NO. 18 - Bryson City, Swain County
The Wade Hayes No. 18 was organized and instituted on January 16th, 1930, at Bryson City, Swain County. The camp was disbanded on March 15th, 1932. The camp was named in honor of Wade Hampton Hayes (1877-1907) who had served as a Sergeant in Company L of the 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from May to December 1898.
WILLIAM E. SHIPP CAMP NO. 19 - Hendersonville, Henderson County
The William E. Shipp Camp No. 19 was organized and instituted on April 7th, 1930, in Hendersonville, Henderson County. The camp was disbanded on December 31st, 1933. The camp was named in honor of William Ewen Shipp (1861-1898), a West Point graduate and Regular Army office he was serving as a 1st Lieutenant with the 10th United States Cavalry Regiment at the start of the War with Spain. He was killed in action on July 1st, 1898, near Santiago de Cuba, and is buried with his family in St. Luke's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
JAMES L. WATSON CAMP NO. 20 - Salisbury, Rowan County
The James L. Watson Camp No. 20 was organized and instituted on April 28th, 1930, at Salisbury, Rowan County. The camp was named in honor of Sergeant James L. Watson of Company L (Cabarrus Light Infantry) of the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, who served with the comapny from April 1898 to April 1899.
STEPHEN J. COBB CAMP NO. 21 (A) - Hamlet, Richmond County
The Stephen J. Cobb Camp No. 21 was organized and instituted on June 20th, 1930, at Hamlet, Richmond County. The camp existed for only a short time, and on October 3rd, 1933, it was consolidated with the Benjamin R. Huske Camp No. 23 and designated as the Stephen J. Cobb Camp No. 21 (B). The camp was named in honor of Stephen Jorden Cobb (1839-1914) of Lumber Bridge; he had served during the American Civil War as a Private in Company D of the 51st North Carolina Infantry Regiment, having been wounded on May 31st, 1864, at the battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, and was retired due to those wounds in November 1864. Returning home he took an active part in the North Carolina State Guard from 1858 to 1905, rising to the rank of Brigadier General before retiring. At the start of the War with Spain he was serving with the "Lumber Bridge Light Infantry" of Lumber Bridge, and with them he was mustered into service as the Captain of Company F of the 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, serving with them from May to December 1898.
STEPHEN J. COBB CAMP NO. 21 (B) - Fayetteville, Cumberland County
The Stephen J. Cobb Camp No. 21 (B) was organized by the consolidation of the Cobb Camp No. 21 of Hamlet and Huske No. 23 of Fayetteville on October 3rd, 1933. The camp retained the name of the original Camp No. 21.
MARION CAMP NO. 22 - Marion, McDowell County
The Marion Camp No. 22 was organized and instituted on June 27th, 1930, in Marion, McDowell County. The camp was disbanded on June 21st, 1951.
BENJAMIN R. HUSKE CAMP NO. 23 - Fayetteville, Cumberland County
The Benjamin R. Huske Camp No. 23 was organized and instituted on January 29th, 1931, at Fayetteville, Cumberland County. The camp existed for only a short time, and on October 3rd, 1933, it was consolidated with the Stephen J. Cobb Camp No. 21 (A) and designated as the Stephen J. Cobb Camp No. 21 (B). The camp was named in honor of Benjamin Robinson Huske (1862-1938) of Fayettevillewho served as the Captain of the "Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry," and led the company during the War with Spain as Captain of Company A of the 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from May to December 1898.
SOUTHERN PINES CAMP NO. 24 - Southern Pines, Moore County
The Southern Pines Camp was organized and instituted on February 10th, 1931, in Southern Pines, Moore County.
NANTAHALA CAMP NO. 25 - Sylva, Jackson County
The Nantahala Camp No. 25 was organized and instituted on September 3rd, 1939, in Sylva, Jackson County; the camps name came from the nearby Nantahala River. The camp was disbanded on January 30th, 1961.
WILLIAM CULBERT CAMP NO. 21 - Greensboro, Guilford County
The William Culbert Camp No. 21, a colored camp, was organized and instituted on March 28th, 1929, in Greensboro, Guilford County, as part of the Department of the Potomac. The camp was disbanded on August 3rd, 1971.
JAMES H. YOUNG CAMP NO. 24 - Raleigh, Wake County
The James H. Young Camp No. 24, a colored camp, was organized and instituted on September 24th, 1929, in Raleigh, Wake County, as part of the Department of the Potomac. The camp was disbanded on October 18th, 1944. The camp was named in honor of James Hunter Young (1859-1921) of Raleigh, a local politican, government worker and leader in the colored community. During the War with Spain he served as the Colonel of the 3rd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from May 1898 to February 1899.
JAMES E. DELLINGER CAMP NO. 26 - Winston-Salem, Forsyth County
The James E. Dellinger Camp No. 26, a colored camp, was organized and instituted on May 10th, 1930, at Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, as part of the Department of the Potomac. The camp was disbanded on February 29th, 1940. The camp was named in honor of James E. Dellinger of Greensboro, who had served as Major & Regimental Surgeon of the 3rd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from July 1898 to February 1899.
C.S.L.A. TAYLOR CAMP NO. 30 - Charlotte, Mecklenburg County
The C.S.L.A. Taylor Camp No. 30, a colored camp, was organized and instituted on June 19th, 1934, at Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, as part of the Department of the Potomac. The camp was disbanded on June 30th, 1937. The camp was named in honor of Charles Samuel Lafayette Alexander Taylor (1854-1934) of Charlotte, a prominent local politician and proponent of the Charlotte Fire Department. During the War with Spain he was mustered into service, and served, as the Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from May 1898 to February 1899.
TOM FORNEY CAMP NO. 33 - Asheville, Buncombe County
The Tom Forney Camp No. 33, a colored camp, was organized and instituted on April 7th, 1938, in Asheville, Buncombe County, as part of the Department of the Potomac. The camp was disbanded on April 12th, 1954. The camp was named in honor of Thomas Forney of Asheville, who had served as a Private in Company G of the 3rd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment from July 1898 to January 1899.
Resources
Books & Published Material
- �Camps of the United Spanish War Veterans. Local Lairs of the Military Order of the Serpent, 1904-1992.� George Kane; Massachusetts.
- "Proceedings of the Stated Convention of the 91st National Encampment, United Spanish War Veterans. Toldeo, September 8 through September 13, 1989." U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1991.
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