MOULTRIE — Georgia’s first chartered Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Southern heritage boys’ camp has gained a good foothold in Colquitt County.

The camp — called Lee’s Cadet Corps — is starting to get recognition at the international level within the parent organization Sons of Confederate Veterans, said Camp Adjutant Keith Taylor.

“It’s something we’ve actually started here locally that appears to be taking off nationally or even internationally,” he said.

The corps is strictly a historical and benevolent, non-political and non-sectional organization. Membership is open to all male individuals ages 5 to 14. There is no requirement to be a descendant of a Confederate soldier or sailor.

Lee’s Cadet Corps focuses on re-instilling pride of Southern heritage in today’s youth, Taylor said. Through field trips, hands-on demonstrations and study, cadets have the opportunity to gain knowledge of the achievements of the Southern people. They participate and host living history events in the surrounding area.

So far, the cadets aren’t children of SCV members, he said. They’re coming straight from the community, and parent feedback has been positive so far, he said, noting one boy has “untied the apron strings” and is becoming more self-confident.

“They’ve seen a total turn around,” he said, recalling the parents’ comments.

Also, parents of cadets involved in the fledgling camp are seeing their sons’ grades improve, he said.

“They know it’s a privilege not a right to be a member. That’s one of our stipulations, to keep grades up. We teach manners — basically how to be gentlemen. Along with that comes getting back to the roots and the history of our nation, all the way back to the founding of Jamestown all the way up to the 1860s where it seems that the public education is trying to drop that off from the radar screen,” Taylor said.

The local camp, George Fennell Newton Camp 674, Georgia Division, Lee’s Cadet Corps, was chartered in October 2004 with 10 members. In the time since, membership has grown to 21 cadets. The organization is sponsored by the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, John K. McNeill SCV Camp 674 and donations from various private concerns .

The camp is named in honor of a local Confederate soldier considered to be the cut of General Lee. At the age of 19, George Fennell Newton enlisted as a member of Co. C, 61st Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at the Battle of Sharpsburg on Sept. 17, 1862. He was again wounded and lost his left arm at the Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863. Newton was married to Julia Ann Elvina Norman and upon his discharge from the Confederate Army, returned to their farm just south of Norman Park where they reared 10 children. Newton was a very well respected gentleman in the county, the SCV said.

Lee’s Cadet Corps is named in honor of Gen. Robert Edward Lee. Lee was considered by many to be of the highest moral and Christian fiber. He also was believed to be one of the best — if not the greatest — military commanders and tacticians to command an army.

By signed proclamation of the governor, April is officially declared Confederate Heritage and History Month in the state of Georgia. The cadets will be involved in many events and celebrations locally. On April 24, cadets will be assisting the United Daughters of the Confederacy in their Confederate Memorial Service on the Colquitt County courthouse square.

They will also march in the Peacock Festival Parade in Pavo. So far, there has been at least 80 percent of participation in cadet events. During a week and a half around Christmas, the cadets marched in four parades and went on a field trip.

The goal of Lee’s Cadet Corps is to bring together young men who might one day be the leaders of the state and local communities.

To date, the cadets have participated in more than 20 events ranging from parades to living history programs and memorial services. The cadets recently attended the Battle of Olustee event in Lake City, Fla. There they spent three days learning and living very much the same as their ancestors did during the 1860s.

Applications for membership in George Fennell Newton 674 are available at the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library and the Museum of Colquitt County History.