Confederate Heroes’ Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about American Civil War

Confederate Heroes’ Day is celebrated annually on April 26 in numerous southern U.S. states. The day is set aside to honour all Confederate soldiers who lost their lives battling in the American Civil War. It is a day to reflect on the sacrifices and accomplishments of the Confederate soldiers who did everything they could to defend their beliefs. The heroic struggle of these men will live on in the memory of all southerners eternally. We recognise the reason for this and join the former Confederate states in honouring their fallen sons and daughters.

The background of Confederate Heroes’ Day

Confederate Heroes’ Day, also known as Confederate Memorial Day or Confederate Decoration Day, is a state holiday commemorating the approximately 260,000 Confederate soldiers who died during the American Civil War. It was first observed in 1866, approximately 156 years ago.

In 1866, the Ladies Memorial Association’s deceased Confederate veterans came up with the concept of setting aside a day to honour the Georgia branch. The branch sent letters to all former Confederate ladies’ associations inviting them to participate in the commemoration. Elizabeth Rutherford Ellis, a member of the association, chose April 26 as the date for the holiday to commemorate the day in 1865 when Confederate General Johnston surrendered to Union Major General Sherman, effectively ending the Civil War.

Most states continue to observe it on or around April 26. Alabama and Florida commemorate theirs on the fourth Monday of April, whereas Mississippi celebrates on the final Monday of April. The Carolinas celebrate on May 10th. Texas, Kentucky, and Tennessee deviate significantly from the April 26 celebration. Texas commemorates on January 19, while Kentucky and Tennessee observe on June 3. States select observance days based on significant events. In 1916, ten states observed the holiday on June 3, the date of birth of then-Confederate president Jefferson Davis. Other states observed the holiday on May 10, the day Davis was captured by Union forces. The day was first observed as a public holiday in 1874, when Georgia legislation declared it to be so. Today, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina observe the day as a legal holiday, while Florida and North Carolina observe the day but do not close their offices and institutions.

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5 interesting facts about the American Civil War

One-tenth of the immigrants who comprised one-third of the Union army were African Americans.

The Black Union soldiers protested the disparity between their pay and that of white soldiers by refusing for 18 months to accept their meagre pay.

In contrast to the common belief that General Grant of the Union army was the most brutal general, Robert Lee of the Confederate army was found to be more cruel, as he especially enjoyed attacks by and on his soldiers.

More Americans perished in the American Civil War than in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War combined.

Not all U.S. states were directly involved in the conflict; border states included Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri, among others.

CONFEDERATE HEROES’ DAY DATES