Department of the Columbia
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Preserving the lessons of the Civil War for the next generation
In Memoriam
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War solemnly recognizes the death of Real Son and Life Member John Wilson Oliver Jr., on 15 November 2021, at the age of 96 years. Brother Oliver was a member of the Major William Anderson McTeer Camp 39 of the Department of Tennessee and had resided in Morristown, Tennessee prior to his passing.
Brother Oliver was the son of John Wilson Oliver, Sr., who was mustered into service into Company F, 4th Tennessee Infantry with the rank of private. The 4th Tennessee Infantry was subsequently re-organized into the 1st Tennessee Cavalry. The unit was engaged in numerous actions in Eastern and Middle Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and Northern and Central Georgia including the Battles of Franklin and Nashville and the pursuit of General John Bell Hood. He was honorably discharged August 2, 1865.
Find Your Camp
Gov. Isaac Stevens Camp No. 1 of Olympia, WA
With a date of rank of June 10, 1995, this camp serves the 19 counties of Western Washington.
Learn MoreFort Walla Walla Camp No. 3 of Kennewick, WA
With a date of rank of March 30, 2015, this camp serves the 20 counties of Eastern Washington.
Learn MoreCol. Edward D. Baker Camp No. 6
With a date of rank of November 20, 2004, this camp serves the state of Oregon.
Learn MoreGen. George Wright Camp No. 1865
With a date of rank of October 6, 2015, this camp serves the state of Alaska.
Learn MoreGov. Isaac Stevens Auxiliary No. 1
Serving Washington and Alaska. The Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is the female counterpart to the SUVCW.
Learn MoreSons of Veterans Reserve
The Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) is the ceremonial uniformed military component of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW).
Learn MoreMary Ann Lee Baker Auxiliary No. 6
Serving Oregon. The Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is the female counterpart to the SUVCW.
Learn MoreAbout Us
The Department of the Columbia oversees camps and SUVCW members in the Pacific Northwest, covering Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. A roster of our current Department officers can be found here.
SUVCW members enjoy fellowship and engage in many projects to preserve the memory of those who served the Union. We also work to educate the next generation about the Civil War and its impact on our nation. Click here to find a Camp near you and join us!
Join the SUVCW
Click here to find your camp and follow the instructions from your Camp page to join or just to learn more. If you are not sure which camp applies to you, or if you have other questions about joining, e-mail us at join@suvpnw.org and we will assist you.
What We Do
Graves Registration, Protection, and Last Soldier Projects
We locate the final resting places of all Union Civil War Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, in our area and enter that into our authoritative database for researchers. We ascertain the condition of and bring to the attention of proper authorities the need for repair or replacement of grave markers of Civil War veterans. We also locate and appropriately mark the final resting place of the last Union Civil War Veteran buried in each county/borough and in each state.
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Monument Protection and Preservation
As legal heir to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), preservation and protection of GAR monuments and memorials is one of the most important purposes of the SUVCW. The purpose of this program is to physically search out, inspect, and catalog each and every GAR and Civil War monument and memorial that can be found.
Remembering the Grand Army of the Republic
The SUVCW is the legal heir and successor to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), and in accordance with our Congressional Charter and the Deed of Conveyance between the GAR and the SUVCW, we are directed "to assist in every practicable way in preserving, and making available for research, documents and records pertaining to the Grand Army of the Republic and its members."
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Our Union Ancestors
Department Brothers and Auxiliary Sisters honor Union Veterans of the Civil War by learning about them through research, discovering the facts of their military service, and understanding the times in which they lived. See our list of Union ancestors and learn more about their service.
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Recognizing Future Leaders
We are pleased to recognize the achievements of our next generation of leaders. The SUVCW recognizes Eagle Scouts and deserving ROTC and JROTC cadets and the ASUVCW recognizes Girl Scout Gold Award recipients.
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Fellowship and Fraternity
Members of the SUVCW refer to each other as "Brothers". We are part of a long tradition of service and camaraderie. We meet and work with our fellow Brothers at the Camp level, and there are opportunities to meet at the Department and National levels as well.
Events
Remembrance Day for the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War has been set for Saturday, November 20, 2021. Col. Edward D. Baker Camp No. 6 will host this annual observance in the GAR Cemetery in Newberg at 11:00. A special highlight will be the dedication of the restored GAR monument. Some of you haven’t yet seen the monument in its pristine glory. The boys outdid themselves on this one.
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Department Historian Jim Dimond, PCC will be doing a presentation, via Zoom, to the Puget Sound Civil War Round Table.
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