Charter Signed for New Civic Club

BY MELANIE BUCK –

A charter was signed on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 to establish the Captain William Harrison Earp Chapter, The United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), a local chapter of the 95-year old national organization. Thirteen founding members of the new local chapter held a reception at Mena Mountain Resort to honor the signing of their charter.

The Mena chapter of UDC, the Captain William Harrison Earp Chapter, was named after the leader of the infamous Polk County Invincibles during the Civil War. Earp had moved to Dallas in the 1850’s, along with his parents, six sisters and two brothers. He later married and had four daughters, of which he would return to after the Civil War had ended.

Earp enlisted in the Army of the Confederacy on August 17, 1861, in Missouri. He was soon promoted to the rank of captain and put in command of Company H of the 4^th Arkansas Infantry, better known as the Polk County Invincibles. His first battle was the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern in Pea Ridge, Arkansas. The 4^th Arkansas Infantry would go on to fight numerous major battles during the war.

Two founding members of the local UDC charter are related to Captain Earp. Cortez Copher, one of the members, said that it will take about six weeks to hear back on whether their charter is approved. Upon approval, officers will be chosen and the Captain William Harrison Earp Chapter, The United Daughters of the Confederacy will be officially established in Mena.

“UDC is comprised of descendants of those who served and those who fell in the service of the Confederate States of America during the War Between the States,” said member Era Looney. In addition, UDC honors Confederate ancestors through activities that fulfill the historical, benevolent, memorial, and patriotic objectives of the organization. UDC was founded 95-years ago to honor, protect, and preserve members’ Confederate heritage, ensuring that the noble sacrifices made by their ancestors are not forgotten.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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