The Confederate Home in Pewee Valley was created to house veterans from the Civil War that served in the Confederate Army.

The Confederate Home

In 1901, the Kentucky State Legislature introduced an act to support a Confederate Home for veterans that had served in the Confederate army during the Civil War.  Many of these veterans had lost their families and finances during the reconstructive period.  In 1902, 40 acres in Pewee Valley that included the home of Villa Ridge was dedicated by Governor J. C. W. Beckham, as the Confederate Home of Kentucky and an infirmary was added a year later.  Gov. Beckham’s speech included the following:

“Kentucky must not be considered tardy and neglectful in making this provision for her gallant sons who followed the flag of the Confederacy; for it should be remembered that the soldier of the South, who passed through the terrible ordeal of the war and the far more terrible ordeal of the reconstruction, with his spirit tested in the fire of defeat and suffering, come through it all as a proud and independent American citizen.  He has asked nothing but the rights guaranteed him by the Constitution and the privilege of earning by his own brawn and brain an honest living, faithful to his obligations as a man and his duties as a citizen.”

By 1908 there were 348 veterans registered as living at the Confederate Home.  Additional land was purchased at the Pewee Valley Cemetery as a burial site for the veterans, many who had no living relatives, others who wanted to be buried with the men of whom they had served in battle.  Today there are 313 veterans buried at the Confederate Cemetery.

Many of the veterans had served under John Hunt Morgan, Lee Jackson and the fourth Kentucky Infantry, “Orphan Brigade”. The Confederate Home Messenger was a monthly publication for the veterans that gave accounts of war experiences as well as information about upcoming events and news from the Confederate Home.  The following is an account taken by Capt. Thompson of veteran Taylor McCoy who was a private in the Orphan Brigade and detailed as a sharp shooter.

“While occupying his position [Private McCoy] in the corps of sharp shooters, he had been shot at several times by an invisible foe. Screening himself from danger as best he could, he scanned with searching eyes the ground in front of him.  Looking higher he saw the top branches of a tree swaying gently back and forth. Ah! There was his foeman.  Looking through his telescopic sights, he located his man and fired.  A piercing cry and a boy fell from the treetop.  McCoy, unnerved, dropped to the ground, and when Major Heweitt ran to him, and asked him if he was hurt, he said, “No Major, I am not hurt, but I have killed a boy,” adding, “I did not come here, Major, to fight boys, but men.”  Truly has it been said: “The bravest are the tenderest.”

On March 25, 1920, a fire destroyed the main building and west wing of the infirmary. After major repairs from the fire, the Home was kept open until an Act approved by the state legislature, March 17, 1934, provided for the sale of the Pewee Valley property.  At that time there were 5 veterans left in the Home and they were removed to the Pewee Valley Sanatorium (which is now the location of the Friendship Manor Nursing Home).