The Military Order of the Stars and Bars: Honoring Confederate Officers and Their Descendants

Hereditary and patriotic societies play a significant role in preserving history, genealogy, and heritage. Among them is the Military Order of the Stars and Bars (MOSB), an organization that traces its legacy to the American Civil War. Founded to honor the service of Confederate officers and their descendants, the MOSB has evolved into a heritage group dedicated to history, education, and remembrance.

Formation of the Military Order of the Stars and Bars

On June 10th, 1889, in New Orleans, Louisiana, a group of proud surviving soldiers of the Confederate States of America organized an association called the United Confederate Veterans. Its goals were to protect and defend the honor and dignity of the memory of the Confederate soldier.

This first meeting of what they named the “Order of the Stars & Bars” was convened with a great deal of enthusiasm by seventeen former Confederate officers as well as an additional forty-seven male descendants of Confederate officers in attendance. These dedicated men were unanimous in voting to begin a new CSA veteran society that would hold annual meetings. The OSB was unique in that the organization was made up of veterans and their descendants with the understanding that as the original Confederate officers died that it was the sacred responsibility of their male offspring to continue to carry on the purposes of the Order.

The name of the Order was changed to “The Military Order of the Stars & Bars” at the 39th General Convention held in Memphis, Tennessee in 1976. The first National Flag of the Confederate States of America, the Stars and Bars was accepted as the official insignia of the Order and the commanding officer title was changed to Commander General of the Military Order of the Star and Bars.

Today the fraternal Military Order of the Stars & Bars, a non-profit 501(c) 3, non-political educational, historical, patriotic, and heritage group continues its dedication to the preservation of Southern history and remains the only heritage organization actually founded by Confederate veterans. A wide range of programs have been added to reorganize outstanding contributions in the fields of history, fine arts and journalism.

Mission and Objectives

As the ranks of the aged veterans of the UCV began to thin with the passage of time, a group of the surviving Confederate officers met in Columbia, South Carolina on August 30th, 1938 to discuss their concerns that the unique contributions made by the Confederate leadership were not properly chronicled in our nation’s history books. They felt a particular duty fell to them as members of the Officers Corp.

The MOSB is mindful of the nearly one-million Americans who died in the Civil War as well as those who survived it. Today, the mission is to perpetuate the idealism that animated the Confederate Cause and to honor the courage, devotion and endurance of those who dedicated their lives and services during four years of devastating war, and who, throughout the dreadful decade of reconstruction, labored heroically for the restoration of self-government as the most precious heritage of the American Revolution. Many of their members have also served in the armed forces of the United States.

Membership Criteria

Membership in the Military Order of the Stars and Bars is hereditary and requires applicants to:

Prove direct lineal or collateral descent from:
- A commissioned officer of the Confederate States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps, or
- A member of the Confederate Congress.
Provide genealogical documentation for each generation, similar to requirements of other lineage societies.

The MOSB also admits associate members who do not meet lineage qualifications but support the society’s historical and educational goals.

Activities and Contributions

The MOSB has remained active for more than eight decades, contributing to scholarship and preservation in several ways. College scholarships are offered to worthy candidates to emphasize the need for truth in Confederate history. Prestigious literary prizes are awarded to authors and publishing houses. Monuments are being erected to the CSA soldiers. Journalists who practice ethical and fair reporting of local and Southern history are recognized. An emphasis is placed on American Patriotism and the honoring of all American veterans of all wars.

The “Officer’s Call” is the official Magazine of the Military Order of the Stars and Bars.

Conclusion

Since 1938, the Military Order of the Stars and Bars has sought to honor Confederate commissioned officers and leaders while supporting genealogy, scholarship, and preservation. Through publications, educational programs, and memorial activities, it connects descendants with their past and contributes to the broader—and often contested—landscape of Civil War memory in the United States.

The Military Order of the Stars and Bars: Honoring Confederate Officers and Their Descendants