Who We Are

On 9 April 2005, the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Dixie Defenders Camp 2086 was chartered in Cross City, Dixie County, Florida. The chartering date of the Camp commemorates the date General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia on 9 April 1865. In 2020 we changed our camp number to 1861, to signify a very special date in southern history.

What of the name? We decided to do everything in our power to defend Dixie and live and fight by the Charge given to the SCV in 1896 by General Stephen D. Lee and that famous Charge. Therefore, we became Dixie Defenders. We are proud of the SCV and proud to live up to our name.

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the memory and heritage of the Confederacy and our Confederate ancestors through memorial, historical, and educational activities. We are part of a national organization known as the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This is neither, a hate group or political organization, but rather a historical, patriotic organization dedicated to preserving the true history of the events during the years 1861 – 1865.

The citizen-soldiers who fought for the Confederacy personified the best qualities of America. The preservation of liberty and freedom was the motivating factor in the South's decision to fight the Second American Revolution. The tenacity with which Confederate soldiers fought underscored their belief in the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. These attributes are the underpinning of our democratic society and represent the foundation on which this nation was built. Today, the Sons of Confederate Veterans is preserving the history and legacy of these heroes, so future generations can understand the motives that animated the Southern Cause.

Being part of the SCV, we reject any person or group whose actions tarnish or bring dishonor upon the Confederate soldier and/or his reason for fighting. This particularly applies to those groups and persons using our cherished flag as a symbol for their own dishonorable purposes.

What We Do

The Sons of Confederate Veterans have ongoing programs in local, state and national levels that offer members a wide range of activities to preserve our Confederate history.

The Dixie Defenders Camp 2086 is actively involved in community affairs and has and will continue to assist in bringing together people of all races in a common bond toward unity and understanding. We do this through a variety of activities, including preservation work, marking Confederate soldier’s graves, historical reenactments, historic publications, historic presentations and regular meetings to discuss the military and political history of the Civil War.

Florida Division Headquarters

The Sons of Confederate Veterans, Florida Division, Inc. is a vibrant, fast-growing, non-profit corporation, consisting of over 50 camps and more than 1,300 members throughout the state of Florida. Its headquarters, lead by Division Commander Kelly V. Crocker, is located in Trenton, Florida.

Website

National Headquarters

The Sons of Confederate Veterans General Headquarters, known as "Elm Springs", is located in Columbia Tennessee, approximately 45 miles south of Nashville and approximately 20 miles south of Franklin.

"Elm Springs" is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST. The home and gift shop are closed Saturday and Sunday. The local phone number is 931-380-1844.