Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc.

You can make a difference by donating today to Brig. Gen. J.J. Alfred A. Mouton Camp 778, Sons of Confederate Veterans Inc., of Opelousas.

On February 22, 1920, the Louisiana Division and then active John B. Gordon Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) erected a monument on the grounds of the parish courthouse to honor St. Landry Parish Dead and Veterans of the War Between the States (1861-1865). It also specifically pays tribute to our Camp namesake, General Alfred Mouton and prominent parish citizens who served, Captains William DeJean and Sam Haas.

Since its inception in 2001, the Mouton Camp has held memorial services at the monument every June in observance of Confederate Memorial Day (June 3rd in Louisiana).

In March 2022, the St. Landry Parish Council, governing body for the parish (county), against a majority of citizens who spoke at various parish council meetings in favor of leaving the monument alone, voted to remove the monument. In the same vote, the parish gave the monument to the UDC and the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). The Mouton Camp stepped up and accepted the monument to ensure its care. While the parish is responsible for the physical relocation of the monument, the SCV is responsible for finding it a new home as well as preparing a base for the monument. While we fought to keep the monument within the boundaries of St. Landry Parish, sadly, this did not work out for various reasons.

The SCV reached out to the Camp Moore Historical Association and asked if the monument could be relocated there. Camp Moore, located in Tangipahoa, Louisiana, was a Confederate training base and principal base of operations in eastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi from 1861 to 1864. On its grounds is an active museum, Confederate Cemetery and monuments. The Board members of the Association voted to accept the monument on the grounds while stipulating that ownership, care and responsibility remain with the SCV.

Preparations are currently underway to prepare a base for the monument and once the monument is relocated there and efforts to provide beautification as well as maintain care for the monument in the years to come will be the responsibility of the SCV. These costs will be the responsibility of the Mouton Camp. In order to pay for the concrete base and future expenses, the Mouton Camp is seeking to raise funds and your help would be greatly appreciated.