Monument Project
Indiana played an important role during
Membership Information:
Membership in the SUVCW is open to
male descendants (sons, grandsons,
nephews, grand nephews, etc.) of
soldiers, sailors, or marines who were
mustered into Federal service and served
honorably in, were honorably discharged
from, or died in the service of the Union
Army or Navy during the War of the
Rebellion, 1861-1865. Member
applicants must be at least 14 years of age
and must not have been convicted of any
felony. In addition, the applicant and his
ancestor(s), must not have ever borne
arms against the U.S. Government. Male
descendants, ages 6-14, may join as
Juniors with the same stipulations.
Applicants must submit photocopies of
records that substantiate their ancestor's
honorable service to the Union.
Those without a Union ancestor, may
join as an Associate with the privileges
as a Member. Associates must be at least
14 years of age and have never borne
arms against the U.S. Government.
For more information regarding
membership in the SUVCW, please
visit: www.suvcw.org
the American Civil War. During the
course of the war, Indiana contributed
approximately 210,000 soldiers and
millions of dollars of horses, food and
supplies to the U.S. Army. Hoosiers
served in every major engagement of the
war and almost every engagement –
minor or otherwise – in the western
theater of the war. As an agriculturally
rich state containing the fifth-highest
population in the Union and sixth-
highest of all states, Indiana was critical
to Northern success.
To preserve the legacy of those Civil
War heroes who fought to save the
Union, we have plans to erect a
monument in Jennings County and one
in Bartholomew County. If you would
like to support the project by helping
with fund raising or by making a
donation, please contact an SUVCW
223 member or the Jennings County
Community Foundation at their website
(www.jenningsfoundation.net).
 History of the SUVCW
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil
War (SV/SUV/SUVCW) was
established to perpetuate the memory of
the sacrifices of Union soldiers, sailors,
marines and revenue cutter service
members during the Civil War. It is a
national organization composed of male
descendants of those who served,
although males who are not descendants
may become Associate Members.
Designated by the Grand Army of the
Republic (GAR) as its successor
organization in 1931, and chartered by
Congress as a charitable, educational
organization in 1954, the SUV
continues the patriotic work of the GAR.
Each member is sworn to carry on the
ideals of patriotism and fraternity laid
down by his ancestors.
The Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR),
keeps the military aspect alive for
historic and ceremonial activities.
Who is John B. Anderson?
John B. Anderson was born at
Hartsville, Indiana on December 29,
1846. The family moved to
Elizabethtown, Indiana in his early
youth. At the age of 14, John enlisted
with the 6th Ind. Volunteer Infantry,
Company G on September 10, 1861. He
fought in several engagements: The
Battle of Shiloh; The Siege of Corinth,
Mississippi; Murfreesboro, Tennessee;
Liberty Gap; and Chickamauga,
Georgia, where he was wounded in the
face and taken prisoner on September
19, 1863. He was held in several
military prisons: Battlefield, Richmond,
Virginia; Danville Virginia;
Andersonville, Georgia; Charleston,
South Carolina; and Florence, South,
Carolina. Exchanged at Charleston, on
December 20th, 1864, and discharged as
a private January 23, 1865.
Anderson became a charter member of
Elizabethtown’s James Moffatt G.A.R.
Post No. 223 where he served as Post
Commander from its founding on
August 12, 1883. Our Camp’s number
designation honors this Post.
John B. Anderson died on April 10,
1931 and is buried alongside his wife
Laura in Springer Cemetery, southeast
of Columbus, Indiana, on U.S. 31.
John B. Anderson Gravesite – Springer Cemetery
Who Are We?
The John B. Anderson Camp, No. 223
was organized on November 7, 2009,
and mustered in by Indiana State
Department Commander Jack Shaw,
with six charter members: Philip D.
McClure, Camp Commander; Bret
Caldwell, Camp Senior Vice
Commander; John Russell McClure,
Camp Junior Vice Commander; Steve
Coffman, Camp Secretary; Bart
Caldwell, Camp Treasurer; Aaron
Coffman, Camp Chaplain. The Camp
meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
Our Mission: "To perpetuate the
memory of the Grand Army of the
Republic and of the men who saved the
Union 1861 to 1865; to assist in every
practicable way in the preservation and
making available for research of
documents and records pertaining to the
G.A.R. and its members; to cooperate in
doing honor to all who have patriotically
served our country in any war; to teach
patriotism, and the duties of citizenship,
the true history of our country, and the
love and honor of our Flag; to oppose
every tendency or movement that would
weaken loyalty to, or make for the
destruction or impairment of our
constitutional Union; and to inculcate
and broadly sustain the American
principles of representative government,
of equal rights, and of impartial justice
for all."