Thread by @votevets

(THREAD) Confederate traitors killed over 360,000 Americans in the Civil War to defend slavery, yet Army bases across the US bear their namesake with pride. We want to highlight who these monsters were and their crimes against our country:

Camp Beauregard near Pineville, LA, named after Confederate Gen. P.G.T Beauregard. Beauregard led Confederate troops in the First Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Shiloh, and the Second Battle of Petersburg, resulting in the deaths and casualties of over 50,000 troops.

Fort Benning, near Columbus, GA, named after Confederate Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning. An advocate for secession after a failed run for Congress, He was appointed to the GA Supreme Court where he challenged state adherence to the Supreme Court rulings. He ACTUALLY said this:...

...Benning went on to lead “Benning’s Brigade” to fight in the Battle of Antietam, 2nd Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Chickamauga, Battle of Wachatchie, and the Battle of the Wilderness. He has the blood of over 150k wounded and dead troops on his hands.

Fort Bragg in NC, named after Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg. Bragg was a slave owner in LA, and is recognized as one of the WORST generals in the Civil War. His failure at the Battle of Chattanooga at the hands of Ulysses S. Grant ultimately helped hand victory to the North.

Fort Gordon near Grovetown, GA, named after Conf. Maj. Gen. John Brown Gordon. Gordon was the slave owner of a 14-year-old girl. During his time in the Confederate Army, he was known as one of Robert E. Lee’s most trusted generals. It gets worse…

...Post-war, Gordon was an opponent to Reconstruction, advocated for use of violence to preserve white-dominated society, and is believed to have been the head of the KKK in GA. He became the first ex-Confederate to serve in the US Senate and went on to serve as Gov. of GA.

Fort A.P. Hill near Bowling Green, VA, named for Confederate Lieut. Gen. A. P. Hill. Hill often said he'd rather die than see the fall of the Confederacy, and, after leading his “Lightest Division,” he died in battle as an ineffective corp commander known for lacking judgment.

Fort Hood in Killeen, TX, named after Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood. Hood commanded the Texas Brigade and was known for his recklessness. His career was marred by his failure to lead larger commands and his defeats in the Atlanta and the Franklin–Nashville Campaigns.

Fort Lee in Prince George County, VA, named for Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Where to begin… Lee’s cruelty to slaves was infamous, imprisoning many for resistance and breaking up all but one family. Lee himself would often enforce whippings and punishment...

...Lee led the Confederate Army throughout the Civil War, losing to the North at the cost of over 620,000 soldiers. After the war, he argued to a congressional committee that “blacks did not possess the intellectual capacity to vote and participate in politics."

Fort Pickett near Blackstone, VA, named for Confederate Gen. George Pickett. Pickett is known for Pickett's Charge, the Confederate offensive on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Post-war he fled to Canada, fearing persecution for his execution of 22 Union troops.

Fort Polk near Leesville, LA, named for Confederate Gen. Leonidas Polk. Polk was a Bishop and the largest slave owner in Maury County, TN, with nearly 400 slaves. He saw it as his duty as bishop to fight in the war and died in battle with the reputation of a failed commander.

Fort Rucker in Dale County, Alabama, named for Confederate Gen. Edmund Rucker.
Grandson of Gen. James Winchester, a vet of the Revolutionary War, Rucker besmirched his grandfather’s sacrifices to build the nation by joining the Confederacy in tearing apart the country.

Right now, the Army refuses to rename these bases. By doing so, these are the legacies they’re upholding: ones of division and white supremacy. Join us in calling for the renaming of these bases, sign the petition here: bit.ly/3cE199L