Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-22
THE TWO DIVISIONS ||'
or THE DAUGHTERS of THE con-
FEDERACY IN VIRGINIA.
HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION.
Some Errors Corrccted-Thc Various
Steps Taken Looking to Union
Explanation of Name-Cnuse OF
the Troub1e-Cnn Work Side by
Side, However,.
Side, However.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
AS so many mistakes have been made
recently by the press in. Virginia and
Maryland very naturally concerning the
two Divisions OF the United Daughters Of
the Confederacy in Virginia, beg, by re-
quest, as founder and organizer Of the
society in Virginia, to state the follow
ing facts:
In May, 1894, the work was Begin at
the University Of Virginia, by Albemarle
Chapter, No. (now named in honor of
General Richard E. Garnett), as auxiliary
to the Confederate Camp at Charlottes-
vile.
Tenn, the National Society, Daughters
of the Confederacy," as it was first called,
was organized, and all Confederate socie-
ties throughout the South were asked to
united with it and to form chapters in
the several States, three chapters being
sufficient to form a division. Albemarle
at once applied for charter, its presi-
dent having been given papers by DR.. ].
William Jones, then chaplain at the Uni
versity of Virginia, who was requested
by Mrs. Raines, first vice-president of the
National Society, having charge Of the
work in the South Atlantic States, ito
hand these papers to some representative
Confederate woman in Virginia, in order
to organize chapters in that State"
AS the charter was not received, in
quiry was made and the reply came, ''it
had been issued, with full authority to or
ganize. but had been mislaid"; also, that
Alexandria, to whom charter had also
been issued some months later, had been
told that "Albsmarle was charter chap
ter in the State
ALBEMARLE'S DELAY
The national constitution and bylaws
requiring 'lineal descent and excluding,
at first, even sisters and nieces of Con-
federate soldiers, made Albemarle de-
lay joining the National Society," as
sisters" were enrolled in Albemarle
Chapter, and niece Of General A. P.
Hill was Of its officers. Mrs. Goodlett,
first vice-presldent Of the National So
ciety," wrote Mrs. Garrett on March II,
1895. that 1.-The constitution would GER
tainly be amended" and invited her ito
send delegates to confer with them on
the Goth of March, when a meeting for
revision Of the constitution would be
held in Nashville, Tenn" "-Albemarle." in
the meantime, continued to exercise "the
right OF the first chapter in q, State to
organize other chapters
"Alexandria" also began to organize
chapters, and when three were organized.
formed a division. Mrs. Raines at this
time was asking Mrs. Garrett: did you
form Alexandria," 81 have told the Vir-
ginia Division .Albemarles' was the first
charter gre ted il Virginia, which would
give your chapter precedence in the State.
and make you charter chapter II dislike
very much to interfere in State. but
when two factions are the result of a
misunderstanding, the sooner matters are
righted the better for all parties con-
cerned." She adds, "the date of charter
will be examined, and I will see that you
are recognized as charter-chapter in your
State Letters bearing on this subject
from various officers are still on file, but
1.-The charter never arrived; it was seen
later in Nashville, in pigeonhole of an
officers desk awaiting a tube" and the
amende was never made, though just
such trouble as has arisen lately was
predicted by United Daughters Of the
Confederacy officers, who, seeing this
charter, urged that it be forwarded, and
that Alexandria be not allowed to char
ter chapters as well as "Albemarle." AT
the time that the Virginia Division was
formed. "Albemarle" had double its num-
Der Of chapters, but waited for other
chapters in process Of formation, which
wished to take part in this first conven-
ton, and SO this accidental delay pre-
vented It's being the first division in the
State. though based the first chap
ter. When twelve chapters were organ
lied. division was formed on February
u, 1895. at the same spot where the first
chapter was formed.
GRAND DIVISION.
AS it was organized as auxiliary to tie
Grand Camp OF Virginia, Confederate
Veterans, it was christened: THE Grand
Division of Virginia, Daughters of the
Confederacy, the word grand being
used in both cases in simply collective
sense. It was later enrolled as a body,
with the United Daughters of the Con-
federacy. at their convention in Balti-
more, Md, November II, 1897, adding to
that body almost 1000 members. Several
efforts have been made by the Grand Di-
vision of Virginia to unite with the Grand
Division, as the fact Of the existence OF
two divisions in the State was misunder-
stood outside, the mistake Of the United
Daughters Of the Confederacy headquar-
tiers in issuing two charters to organize
in the same State having never been pub
three intellectual attempts at union. the
Grand Division OF Virginia waited for the
next overture to Gene from the Virginia
Division. This was made a year ago at
Staunton, where the Grand Division of
Virginia was in annual session, stating
that the Virginia Division, at its recent
convention, had voted for union, and a
committee Of two ladies' would be sent
to Staunton to confer with the Grand Di-
vision of Virginia. This committee being
prevented from coming, a committee of
the Grand Division of Virginia was APP
pointed to meet that of the Virginia d.
vision. both belonging to the same gene
raj society. The joint committee met at
Richmond, Va, June s. 1902. for the pur-
pose Of considering and suggesting terms
upon which the two divisions could be
united The name OF each was dear to the
respective divisions, SO compromise was
proposed. and the name United Virginia
Division was suggested by Mrs. James
G. Leigh, a member of the Virginia Dit
vision committee from Norfolk. Though
four out of five Of the Grand Division OF
Virginia committee We're opposed to
changing their name, giving as the rea-
son that sit would be discourteous to the
Grand Camp Of Virginia. Confederate
Veterans. in whose honor it was named,''
yet to effect union they were willing to
lay aside their personal feeling, suggest
this new name to chantarS