From: http://www.scv.org/Camp1653/

CONFEDERATE DESCENDANTS IN BRAZIL

Since the end of the War Between the States, much had been written and said by
all those who wish to find the truth behind America's bloodiest and most
disheartening war. Few realize that this War took more lives than all of
America's other wars together. The War Between the States took more than
600,000 lives and ruined the Southern economy. The scars would take decades to
heal. The immigration of Southerners to Brazil following the War is an
interesting and curious event connected with the War. This immigration was a
direct result of the outcome of the War. 

This wave of immigration, which may have included up to 9,000 people, has left
in Brazil a community of descendants of Southern immigrants. They are
identified as the "Confederados". The descendants are all over the country,
but the largest community, and by far de most important is located in the
State of São Paulo. This community, founded by the Southerners, has grown into
the town of Americana. Americana and its older mother city, Vila Santa Bárbara
(today Santa Bárbara D'Oeste), a few miles apart, are the gravity center of
the community of Southern descendants in Brazil. Since 1954, the Fraternity of
American Descendants has held headquarters there. 

The descendants gather at the Campo Cemetery every quarter session of the
year, on its second Sunday, for a religious service, a discussion of topics
related to Fraternity, and a traditional lunch. Each family brings dishes,
desserts, drinks and all present enjoy Brazilian and Southern favorites in a
communal style. The old-timers chat in the familiar Southern drawl, while
children run and play, speaking Portuguese and very little English. 

The Campo Cemetery is located on the countryside, surrounded by sugar cane
fields. It is 10 miles from Americana and Santa Bárbara D´Oeste. These two
cities are 100 miles from São Paulo, Brazil's largest city and capital of São
Paulo State. 

"Soldier rest! Thy warfare o´er
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking
Days of toil or nights of walking" 

This is the inscription found on the tombstone of Confederate Veteran Napoleon
Bonaparte McAlpine, who lies together with a number of other Confederate
Veterans and Confederado leaders in the Campo Cemetery....

Today the Campo Cemetery is the testament of the most successful Southern
colony founded after the War Between the States. Some of those who immigrated
to Brazil returned to the United States in later years. Those who remained
assimilated into Brazilian society. Very few of the people who live today in
Americana trace their ancestry to the Southern immigrants. The descendants of
the 400 or 500 families that stayed in Brazil are scattered throughout the
country, many living in large cities. Despite this, the Confederados have
managed to found and maintain an Immigration Museum in Santa Bárbara D'Oeste
and the Fraternity is doing very well, with a vibrant Board of Directors and
an affluent membership. Today, the Confederate descendants consider themselves
Brazilians, speak the language and have adopted local customs and manners. 

However, one cannot go to a Fraternity meeting and avoid the strange feeling
that somewhere, somehow, there is a part that always seems to be missing...
The Southern heart so deeply wounded in the battlefields of the War.

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