“Imagine a time before selfies” This marker tells a story. It’s the Camp Ben McCulloch No. 946 United Confederate Veterans Plaque. It stands as a testament to a unique chapter in Texas history. The plaque speaks of reunions. Hays County Confederate veterans and their families gathered here. They met in the summer of 1896. They formally organized the Camp Ben McCulloch chapter. The meetings took place near Martin Springs. This was a campsite on Onion Creek. The land became the official reunion grounds in 1904. Annual reunions continued. The tradition paused only once during World War I.
Captain Martin Luther Reed led Camp Ben McCulloch. Other officers included Jacob C Quick W M Weaver W W Davis W T Chapman Dr J M Pound and Santa Anna Cruze. The camp’s name honors General Ben McCulloch. He was a Confederate general. He also fought in the Texas Revolution. He died at the Battle of Pea Ridge Arkansas in 1862.
The story continues. After Burl Nash’s death in 1947 the Confederate Sons took over. Nash was the last surviving veteran of the county. He lived to be 108 years old. The Sons later transferred the grounds to the grandsons and descendants of the veterans. The reunions remain an enduring tradition. They demonstrate the Civil War’s lasting impact on Texas. This plaque a simple metal rectangle is more than a marker. It’s a living record of remembrance. It links us to the past echoing with the stories of those who came before.