Children of the Confederacy
The United Daughters of the Confederacy’s commitment to future generations led them to create the Children of the Confederacy (CofC) in 1896. Members of the CofC ranged from infants to eighteen years old. The youth organization opened membership to both boys and girls. In Louisville, Mrs. Mattie Bruce Reynolds stared the CofC E. M. Bruce Chapter on March 8, 1901. Reynolds belonged to the Albert Sydney Johnston Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Reynolds’ CofC chapter was assisted by other members of her UCD chapter as well.
The Creed of the Children of the Confederacy affirmed, “Because we desire to perpetuate, in love and honor, the heroic deeds of those who enlisted in the Confederate Services, and upheld its flag through four years of war, we, the children of the South, have united in an Organization called the Children of the Confederacy, in which our strength, enthusiasm and love of justice can exert its influence. We, therefore pledge ourselves to preserve pure ideals; to honor the memory of our beloved Veterans; to study and teach the truths of history (one of the most important of which is, that the War Between the States was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery) and always to act in a manner that will reflect honor upon our noble and patriotic ancestors.”