Brig. General Joseph Bailey Camp #5
Welcome to Brig. General Joseph Bailey Camp #5 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, proudly serving Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana. Organized in July 2018 by 15 male descendants of Union veterans, the Camp received its national charter that August, restoring a proud Union veteran presence to the region. Its establishment marked the first such Camp in Northwest Louisiana since an African-American post of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) existed in Shreveport during the late 1800s.
Bailey Camp #5 proudly bears the name of Brig. General Joseph Bailey, one of the Civil War’s most remarkable engineers (see biographical sketch below). During the 1864 Red River Campaign, Bailey displayed extraordinary ingenuity and determination by designing and supervising the construction of a dam across the Red River, successfully raising the water level enough for the Union gunboats to escape capture. His innovative accomplishment remains one of the most fascinating episodes of the Civil War in Louisiana.
Today, Bailey Camp #5 carries the war hero's spirit of ingenuity, courage, and perseverance into the present. As part of the Department of Texas and Louisiana, its members work to preserve Union history, honor veterans, promote patriotic education, and ensure that the sacrifices of Union soldiers are remembered.
The Camp also recognizes the next generation of citizens and leaders by presenting recognition awards to outstanding JROTC/ROTC students throughout Northwest Louisiana, East Texas, and southern Arkansas. Members also participate in Memorial Day observances and work to locate, document, and preserve the final resting places of Union veterans. Bailey Camp #5 welcomes history-minded patriots, descendants, veterans, and community members to join them in preserving the remarkable legacy of those who served and sacrificed to preserve the Union.
Bailey Camp #5 proudly bears the name of Brig. General Joseph Bailey, one of the Civil War’s most remarkable engineers (see biographical sketch below). During the 1864 Red River Campaign, Bailey displayed extraordinary ingenuity and determination by designing and supervising the construction of a dam across the Red River, successfully raising the water level enough for the Union gunboats to escape capture. His innovative accomplishment remains one of the most fascinating episodes of the Civil War in Louisiana.
Today, Bailey Camp #5 carries the war hero's spirit of ingenuity, courage, and perseverance into the present. As part of the Department of Texas and Louisiana, its members work to preserve Union history, honor veterans, promote patriotic education, and ensure that the sacrifices of Union soldiers are remembered.
The Camp also recognizes the next generation of citizens and leaders by presenting recognition awards to outstanding JROTC/ROTC students throughout Northwest Louisiana, East Texas, and southern Arkansas. Members also participate in Memorial Day observances and work to locate, document, and preserve the final resting places of Union veterans. Bailey Camp #5 welcomes history-minded patriots, descendants, veterans, and community members to join them in preserving the remarkable legacy of those who served and sacrificed to preserve the Union.
