Officers | History Maryland Flag | Maryland State Song | Proclamation

Division Officers

History of the Maryland Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans

The earliest origins of the Maryland Division trace back to the formation of The Society of the Army and Navy of the Confederate States in 1871. This society was comprised mainly of Confederate veterans and raised money to help needy veterans and defray burial expenses for Confederate veterans who died.

By 1893, there were three additional groups in existence to support the veteran's interests, United Confederate Veterans, Confederate Soldiers Association, and the Maryland Line.

By 1900, the newly formed Sons of Confederate Veterans had three active camps in Maryland. But with the passing of time, the veteran's ranks thinned and participation in the UCV and the SCV dwindled. By the late 1920's, the SCV was defunct in Maryland and in 1945, Eli Scott Dance, the last Maryland Confederate, died.

In 1966, renewed interest led to the formation of the Roger Brook Taney Camp #1293 in Montgomery County. Following their stated goals "to encourage fellow countrymen to read and study and understand the values of the American Constitution as an instrument to protect them from being marched in step by power hungry politicians," camp members advocated strong patriotic and Southern ideals.

In 1979, with the support and encouragement of the Virginia Division, another camp was formed in Maryland with yet another camp forming the following year. Since then 12 camps have been formed and are active in the state of Maryland.

The camps participate in many patriotic and heritage commemorations as well as support educational and benevolent activities.

Maryland Flag & Bottony Cross
The History of the Maryland Flag

The Maryland flag has been described as the perfect state flag--bold colors, interesting patterns, and correct heraldry--a flag that fairly shouts "Maryland." The design of the flag comes from the shield in the coat of arms of the Calvert family, the colonial proprietors of Maryland. George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore, adopted a coat of arms that included a shield with alternating quadrants featuring the yellow-and-black colors of his paternal family and the red-and-white colors of his maternal family, the Crosslands.

When the General Assembly in 1904 adopted a banner of this design as the state flag, a link was forged between modern-day Maryland and the very earliest chapter of the proprietorship of the Calvert family. Continued at: || This History from: Office of the Secretary of State of Maryland © Copyright, February 5, 1996, Office of the Secretary of State & Maryland State Archives

Maryland State Song
Maryland My Maryland

The nine-stanza poem, "Maryland, My Maryland," was written by James Ryder Randall in 1861. A native of Maryland, Randall was teaching in Louisiana in the early days of the Civil War, and he was outraged at the news of Union troops being marched through Baltimore. The poem articulated Randall's Confederate sympathies.

Set to the traditional tune of "Lauriger Horatius" ("O, Tannenbaum"), the song achieved wide popularity in Maryland and throughout the South. "Maryland, My Maryland" was adopted as the State song in 1939 (Chapter 451, Acts of 1939; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-307).

Maryland, My Maryland
by James Ryder Randall

1. The despot's heel is on thy shore, Maryland!
   His torch is at thy temple door, Maryland!
   Avenge the patriotic gore That flecked the streets of Baltimore, And be the battle queen of yore, Maryland! My Maryland!
   
2. Hark to an exiled son's appeal, Maryland!
   My mother State! to thee I kneel, Maryland!
   For life and death, for woe and weal, Thy peerless chivalry reveal, And gird they beauteous limbs with steel, Maryland! My Maryland!
   
3. Thou wilt not cower in the dust, Maryland!
   Thy beaming sword shall never rust, Maryland!
   Remember Carroll's sacred trust, Remember Howard's warlike thrust,- And all they slumberers with the just, Maryland! My Maryland!
   
4. Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day, Maryland!
   Come with thy panoplied array, Maryland!
   With Ringgold's spirit for the fray, With Watson's blood at Monterey, With fearless Lowe and dashing May, Maryland! My Maryland!
   
5. Come! for thy shield is bright and strong, Maryland!
   Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong, Maryland!
   Come to thine own heroic throng, Stalking wtih Liberty along, And chaunt thy dauntless slogan song, Maryland! My Maryland!
   
6. Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain, Maryland!
   Virginia should not call in vain, Maryland!
   She meets her sisters on the plain- "Sic semper!" 'tis the proud refrain That baffles minions back again, Maryland! My Maryland!
   
7. I see the blush upon thy cheek, Maryland!
   For thou wast ever bravely meek, Maryland!
   But lo! there surges forth a shriek From hill to fill, from creek to creek- Potomac calls to Chesapeake, Maryland! My Maryland!
   
8. Thou wilt not yield the vandal toll, Maryland!
   Thou wilt not crook to his control, Maryland!
   Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the blade, the shot, the bowl, Than crucifixion of the soul, Maryland! My Maryland!
   
9. I hear the distant thunder-hum, Maryland!
   The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum, Maryland!
   She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb- Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum! She breathes! she burns! she'll come! she'll come! Maryland! My Maryland!
   

Proclamation - 1862

To the PEOPLE of MARYLAND.

After sixteen months of oppression more galling than the Austrian tyranny, the Victorious Army of the South brings freedom to your doors. Its Standard now waves from the Potomac to Mason and Dixon's Line. The Men of Maryland who during the last long months, have been crushed under the heel of this terrible despotism now have the opportunity for working out their own redemption for which they have so long waited and suffered and hoped.

The Government of the Confederate States is pledged by the unanimous vote of its Congress, by the distinct declaration of its President, the Soldier and Statesman DAVIS, never to cease this War until Maryland has the opportunity to decide for herself her own fate, untrammelled and free from Federal bayonets.

The People of the South with unanimity unparalleled, have given their hearts to our native State and hundreds of thousands of her sons have sworn with arms in their hands, that you shall be free.

You must now do your part. We have the Arms here for you. I am authorized immediately to muster in for the War, Companies and Regiments. The Companies of one hundred men each. The Regiments of ten Companies. Come all who wish to strike for their liberties and their homes. Let each man provide himself with a stout pair of Shoes, a good Blanket and a Tin Cup --- Jackson's men have no Baggage.

Officers are in Frederick to receive Recruits, and all Companies formed will be armed as soon as mustered in.

Rise at once!

Remember the cells of Fort McHenry! Remember the dungeons of Fort Lafayette and Fort Warren! the insults to your Wives and Daughters --- the Arrests --- the midnight searches of your houses!

Remember these your wrongs, and rise at once in arms and strike for Liberty and Right!

BRADLEY T. JOHNSON,
COLONEL C. S. A.
Frederick, Maryland, Sept. 8th, 1862