Sons of Union Veterans Protect Civil War Monuments

By Dan Meehan

Charles W. Canney Camp No. 5, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, is a non-profit organization in Rochester, New Hampshire, dedicated to preserving and promoting the Civil War and the Union Veterans. One of the biggest projects the Camp has started is helping the communities of New Hampshire raise the funds and awareness needed to restore their Civil War Monuments. Currently there are around 61 Civil War monuments throughout the state; a few communities have more than one.

When the Camp finds out a community is raising funds for preserving a monument, the Camp notifies the people involved about its help and resources. The Camp will research the monument, take photos, log the monument, research the town's Civil War history, make a brochure about the monument and project, and hold encampments. The Camp will also apply for a small grant through the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

About a year ago, Camp members read about a restoration project started by the American Veterans of Foreign Wars in the town of Raymond, New Hampshire. The Camp approached the VFW and discussed how they could help. Since then the Camp has helped raise over $9,000 toward their $30,000 goal.

The Camp was also able to secure a grant from the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War to help restore the Portsmouth Civil War monument. It was re-dedicated in 2003.

The Camp makes it a point to tell the citizens of the community that 100 percent of all the money raised for the restoration project goes toward the project. The Camp makes no money, but feels the responsibility of saving these monuments.

Along with fundraising, the Camp strives to teach children about the Civil War and their town’s role in it. In communities restoring monuments, the Camp visits schools in period uniforms and talks about the town at the time of the Civil War, the town veterans, life as a soldier, and their monument. The Camp feels that this is very important; these children will be the future caretakers of the monuments that we are trying to save today.

In addition to its school and organizational demonstrations and talks, the Camp holds memorials, performs living history, and does research on Civil War Veterans.

Recently the Camp contacted SOS! to find out how to find and hire a conservator and to learn more fundraising ideas. The Camp hopes to become a center point for communities wanting to restore their Civil War monuments.

The Camp was chartered in July 2001 and named after the original one, Charles W. Canney Camp No. 29, organized in 1887. The Camp was named after 19-year-old Charles William Canney, the son of Edward M. Canney, born in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire. Charles had lived in Rochester for two years with his family when he enlisted into Company D, 5th New Hampshire Regiment as a private on October 23, 1861. He was later promoted to sergeant and killed on June 3, 1864, at the battle of Cold Harbor, where he was then buried. The camp was disbanded in 1914.

The Sons of Union Veterans is the heir to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization made up of Honorably Discharged Union Veterans. Rochester's GAR Post was organized in February 1870 and named Sampson Post # 22, after Lieutenant John C. Sampson of Company H, 9th New Hampshire Regiment. Sampson was killed on July 30, 1864, during the battle of the Crater. Sampson Post disbanded in November 1928, when it turned over the Memorial Day work of the GAR to the Rochester American Legion Post No. 7.

At one time New Hampshire had 94 GAR Posts, and almost every Post had a Sons of Veterans Camp. Today in New Hampshire, only five Sons of Veterans Camps remain.

More information can be found at the Camp's web site at www.cwcanneycamp5.org or e mail commander@cwcanneycamp5.org.

Photos: Top, a new project in Candia, New Hampshire. The musket was broken off during Halloween 2003. Below, the camp flag.