Research Files of Dr. John Neff
Document Type
Data Set
Publication Date
6-28-2010
Abstract
Almost immediately after the end of the Civil War, veterans sought out occasions to gather together, to relive their shared experiences, find solace in their battle-forged bonds, to celebrate their heroic deeds, and commemorate the sacrifices of their fallen comrades. These reunions of regiments, corps, armies, and fraternal organizations – so important to the soldiers and their families – came eventually to serve as symbol of a wider national reunification, despite the vast majority of reunions remaining purely separate former Union or Confederate affairs. By contrast, at infrequent “Blue and Gray” reunions, veterans of both sides made conciliatory overtures, enjoyed the hospitality of former enemies and celebrated their collective American identity. Attended by the hundreds and thousands, reunions of all kinds evoked powerful sentiments and became fertile ground for the construction of Civil War memory.
The location, frequency, attendance, and content of these reunions not only demonstrates the popularity of this form of remembrance, but also the national imperative to commemorate the Civil War in a way that honored its veterans and gave meaning to their sacrifices.
What follows, admittedly incomplete, is a listing of reunions from 1866 to 1951, both Union and Confederate, as well as the less frequent “Blue and Gray” reunions. Compiled from the pages of veteran publications, including the Confederate Veteran, Southern Bivouac, the Journals of the GAR Grand Encampments, and The History of the Grand Army of the Republic, this list provides a sense of the power and breadth of this commemorative movement.
Relational Format
Data Set
Recommended Citation
Neff, John, "Reunions" (2010). Research Files of Dr. John Neff. 6.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/neff_research/6
Accessibility Status
Searchable text
Comments
This work in progress originally appeared on the website of the Center for Civil War Research at the University of Mississippi. Additional detail is available in the "Memory Database" data set, posted separately.
Additional files include portions of the data set in alternative formats.