History of Camp Cameron
Cambridge/Somerville Ma. June 1861-Jan. 1863
By Dan Sullivan
(April 12-14, 1861 Ft Sumter)
(April 20, Robert E. Lee
resigns from the U.S. Army)
At the start of the Civil War, the general belief on bothsides was that it would be a short war.
Because of this, Lincolns’ first call for troops was for the duration of only ninety days.
When it became clear that this was not the case, the Union began enlisting troops for up to three years.
In order to facilitate this, many camps of rendezvous andinstruction
were set up around the state. One such camp was Camp Cameron. This
camp straddled the North Cambridge and West Somerville town line. It was named
in honor of Lincoln’s first Secretary of War, Simon Cameron. The land was leased
by the state, from the Union Horse Railroad. (1) On Sunday, June 9, 1861 200,000
board feet of lumber was delivered to the camp as part of the construction of
the barracks and other buildings. (2) Luckily, for us we have a firsthand
account of how the camp appeared when finished. Andrew J. Bennett of the First Massachusetts Light Battery spent time at Camp Cameron. After the war, he wrote this description of the camp.
“This was a Farm extending from the Old Lexington Pike,
(now Holland St., Somerville) which crosses Winter Hill and thence over
the ridge in Somerville to Arlington, south to North Avenue (now Massachusetts
Ave) in Cambridge, or to the old Pike that leads from Harvard Square in Old
Cambridge to Arlington, and there unites with the road from Somerville, the
southern half of the farm in Cambridge was a plateau of perhaps ten acres,
extending back from the Cambridge road, and falling off quite abruptly to a
meadow through which ran a little brook, a branch of the Alewife. (Tannery Brook)
On the Northern border of this plateau, extending with intervals between them,
clean across the plain, were barracks. About midway in the range of buildings,
and between the two middle barracks in the range a road passed from the
Cambridge road, north dividing the plain in two, and crossing the little brook
and the sloping field beyond, which was in Somerville, the barracks at the east
of this bridle-road were occupied by the boys of the First Light Battery, and those
on the west were early during our stay in this camp, used by men of the Twenty-Sixth,
of which the old Sixth, that went through Baltimore on the 19th of April, was the nucleus.
Between the barracks and the Cambridge road was the drill ground, and a fine one it was.”
“Near the south bank of the little brook, and to the east of the bridle-road, was the
Commissary and Quarter Masters Department building, and to its left and rear,
if you were looking south, were our stables. North of the brook and well up the
slope to the west of the bridle-road, were the headquarters of the battery.”
“Recruiting for the company continued both in town and at the camp, until the
complement for Light Artillery was obtained.” (3)
Two rough maps also exists, which shows thirty structures. (4)
This is a figure that is supported by a June 15, 1861 story in the Cambridge
Chronicle. Camp Cameron included 140 acres. (5) The barracks had a long
“bowling-alley” shape, “having the entrance at one end, a broad aisle running
through the centre, and a double row of bunks, one above the other, on either
side. They were calculated to hold one company of a hundred men.” (6)
Ventilation was enhanced by an unknown number of windows each of the
barrack. (7)
According to Thomas Kirwan, life in the camp brought a new recruit
into contact with a great variety of people. “truly it was a heterogeneous
compound representing nearly every race of people in Europe, and plentifully
sprinkled among them was a leaven of the whole smart, shrewd, intelligent,
quick-eyed and quick-witted Americans and such a confusing babble as prevailed
I have never heard before. Wrangling and swearing, drinking and eating, talking
and laughing, ----all combined to give me no very agreeable foretaste of what I
had to expect in my new vocation. I noticed others, new, like myself, to such
scenes, who seemed mentally dumb founded, or unconsciously comparing the quiet
routine of the life they led at home to the new one they had assumed, and, no
doubt, to the great advantage of the former and the dislike of the latter. (8)
Very quickly buildings where put near the camp to sell refreshments to the troops.(9)
Sutlers have always followed armies.
Routine may have varied from regiment to regiment but hereare a few views from
recruits at the camp. J.W.W. (Joseph W. Welch) (10) of CO "A" in the 38th had
this to say about life at Camp Cameron. “Two or three hours drill per day is the
extent of our labor” (11) and a little guard duty. When off duty the time is occupied
by the boys in various ways, such as singing, ball playing, reading etc…” (12)
“and coloring meerschaums’.” (13) Robert Goldwaite mentions letter writing and
visits from friends and family also helped pass the time. (14)
The recruits’ new life was not comfortable. Uniforms and blankets were made of
“coarse wool” and their bunks were very crowded (15) and made of hard boards. (16)
A recruit’s stay in a camp of rendezvous and instruction was not a long one during
the Civil War. Generally, a regiment would be sent to the front soon after they
reached full strength. Still, the stay could be a tough one, due to the fact that the
camps were so close to the community. “They were in sight of home in many cases,
yet outside of its comforts.” (17)
Camp Cameron had no fence around it. This led to both easy desertions
(18) and “French Leaves.” This was the practice of sneaking out of camp at
night and returning without permission. This practice was often over looked by
guards. (19) The camp underwent a name change. The new name was Camp Day, a
name that may have been used all along by the locals. (20) Day was the name of
the family who had owned most of the land the camp occupied. (21) Most likely the
reason for this change was that it became embarrassing after Simon Cameron
became involved in a corruption scandal. It appears, from letters published in
the Cambridge Chronicle, that the name change became official between the dates
of Aug. 13 and Aug. 21, 1862. (22) Another possible source of the new name is
Lt. Col. Hannibal Day; he was the “General Superintendent of Recruiting
Services for the State of Massachusetts.” On June 11, 1862, he became Military
commander of the Boston area. (23) It may also have been a combination of both.
On Aug. 27, Secretary of War Simon Cameron issued Gen. Orders 58 and 61. These
orders put Camp Cameron and certain other camps under federal control. Lt. Col.
Hannibal Day was put in charge. (24)
What drove much of the desertion was a practice known a
bounty jumping. In an attempt to encourage more volunteers, the Union would
eventually would pay enlistees a bounty to sign up. Many people made a career
of enlisting in one town. The recruits would collect their bounty, desert, and
then move on to another town or state. They would do this repeatedly. Because
of the trouble with desertion, the camp was eventually closed for a more secure
location, Ft. Independence in Boston Harbor. (25) An attempt was made to save
the camp by Gardner Greene Hubbard, the owner of the Union R.R. and Alexander
Graham Bell’s future father-in-law. In a letter to Col. Day, he suggested
building a fence around the barracks. This fence was not erected. (26) On Jan.
13, 1862 the War Department sent an order to Hannibal Day instructing him to
begin sending recruits to Ft. Independence and Ft Warren, if the forts could
accommodate them. (27) It does not seem that Ft Warren was used for this purpose.
Ft. Independence was very over crowded at first, due to the number of prisoners
kept there at the time. (28)
The medical care seemed to be wanting at times. J. T. G. Nichols the acting
Surgeon had this to say on Sept. 4, 1862. “The accommodations for the sick
at this depot are very imperfect. Arrangements are now being made to supply
this defect.” (29) Charles Harvey Brewster who had been sent back from the
front to work at recruiting went to the doctor and was told he had nothing for
him. (30) Both of these instances were late in the history of the camp.
Lice is always a problem with crowed army conditions and Camp
Cameron was no exception. (31)
An early controversy arose when a Mr. Swain claimed that the Union Horse
RR was in forfeiture of their charter by running cars and hauling lumber on a
Sunday. The Mayor examined the charter and could find no violation. The city
of Cambridge made an offer to provide rations to the troops at Camps Ellsworth
and Cameron, but did not realize how long they would stay. After six weeks, they
concluded they could not afford this and passed an order to stop this service on
June 28, 1861. Another problem caused by the camp was noise and property
damage. (32) On at least one occasion troops from the camp helped to put out a
fire in the area. (33) Among other features each camp had a surgeon (34) and as
of July 22, 1862 one drumming instructor. (35)
I have found two instances of non-Massachusetts recruits at Camp Cameron. The
first is Henry L. Robinson. He was the company cook for company “G” of the NH
Eight Infantry. This regiment was part of Gen. Butlers’force that went to Ship Island
Miss. Here he became sick. Along with other infirmed soldiers and a lot of cotton,
he was put on board the Undaunted for Boston. In the spring of 1862, he went to Camp
Cameron. Here he received his first pay since being in the army. Weather he was sent
to Camp Cameron simply to collect back pay or to recuperate, I do not know yet. (36)
In addition, how many soldiers went is unknown. The second instance is a California
private who was not present when the Alien Commission Office came to forward him
to his regiment. Was he stationed there or just there for transport I do not know yet. (37)
(1) Cambridge Chronicle, June 22, 1861
(2) Cambridge Chronicle, June 15, 1861
(3) Story of the First Massachusetts Light Battery, Attached
to the 6th Army Corp. , Andrew J. Bennett, 1886, Press of De Land
& Barta, Boston, Ma
(4) Cambridge Historical Commission
(5) Cambridge Chronicle, June 15, 1861
(6) Hardtack and Coffee, Billings, John D., 1888, George M.
Smith & Co. Boston, pg 45 & 46
(7) Atlantic Monthly, Vol. X, Ticknor and Fields, Boston,
1962 pg. 491 & 493
(8) Soldiering in North Carolina…, Kirwan, Thomas, 1864,
Thomas Kirwan, Boston, PG 6
(9) Cambridge Chronicle, June 22, 1861
(10) Cambridge Chronicle, August 30, 1862
(11) Cambridge Chronicle, August 23, 1862
(12) Cambridge Chronicle, August 16, 1862
(13) Cambridge Chronicle, August 23, 1862
(14) Four Brothers in Blue or Sunshine and Shadows of the
War of the Rebellion a Story of the Great Civil War From Bull Run to
Appomattox, carter, Robert Goldwaite, 1913, Washington Press of Gibson Brothers
inc., pg 74
(15) A Little Fifer’s War Diary, Bardeen, C. W., 1910, C. W.
Bardeen, Syracuse, NY pg 20
(16) Four Brothers in Blue or Sunshine and Shadows of the
War of the Rebellion a Story of the Great Civil War From Bull Run to
Appomattox, carter, Robert Goldwaite, 1913, Washington Press of Gibson Brothers
inc., pg 74
(17) Hardtack and Coffee, Billings, John D., 1888, George M.
Smith & Co. Boston, pg 211
(18) Letter from Gardner G. Hubbard, owner of the Union R.
R. to Col. Hannibal Day, Sept. 1, 1862, National Archives, and Records
Administration, Waltham, RG 110, stack C, Row 29, Entry 825.
(19) Four Brothers in Blue or Sunshine and Shadows of the
War of the Rebellion a Story of the Great Civil War From Bull Run to Appomattox,
Carter, Robert Goldwaite, 1913, Washington Press of Gibson Brothers inc., pg 75
(20) Cambridge Chronicle, June 29, 1861
(21) CHC Document, “Camp Cameron” February 3, 1998
(22) Letters from J. W. W., Co A, 38th Reg. M.V.
(23) Special order 131, war Department, Adjutant Generals
Office , Washington, NARA
(24) War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to
Series III-Vol. I., Root, Elihu, Secretary of War, Ainsworth, Gen. Fred C. and
Kirkley, Joseph W., Moodey, John S. Indexer, Government Printing Office,
Washington, 1902, pg. 459,460,412 and 424.
(25) History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, With
Biographical Sketches of Many Prominent Men, Vol. I, Hurd, D. Hamilton, 1890, J.W. Lewis &
Co., Philadelphia, pg 187
(26) Letter from Gardner G. Hubbard, owner of the Union R.
R. to Col. Hannibal Day, Sept. 1, 1862, National Archives and Records
Administration, Waltham, RG 110, stack C, Row 29, Entry 825.
(27) Letter from Thomas M. Vincent, Assistant Adjutant General,
War Department, Washington D.C. to Lt. Col. Hannibal Day, Jan. 13, 1863. NARA
Waltham, MA, RG 110, Ent. 825. Box 4.
(28) Letter from Ft. Independence to Col. Hannibal Day, Jan.
22, 1863. NARA, Waltham MA, RG 110, ENT. 825 Box 4
(29) Telegram from J.T.G. Nichols Sept. 4, 1862.
(30) Letter from
Charles Harvey Brewster to his sister Mary, August 30, 1862, Historic
Northampton, Northampton, Ma.
(31) Atlantic Monthly, a Magazine of Literature, Art, and
Politics. Vol. X, Ticknor and Fields, Boston, 1862, pg. 490
(32) Cambridge Chronicle, June 22, 1861
(33) Cambridge Chronicle, Aug. 30, 1862
(34) Letter from W. A. Nichols, Adjutant Generals’ Office
Washington, Oct. 14 1862 to Captain J. B. Collins4th Infantry Boston, MA.
(35) Letter from C. P. Woolcott, War Department, July 22nd,
1862, to MA Adjutant General William Schouler.
(36) History of Pittsfield, N.H. in the Great Rebellion,
H.L. Robinson, Pittsfield, N.H., 1893 pg. 131
(37) Letter from Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Alien
Commissions Office to Hannibal Day, Jan. 16th, 1863.
First Regiment Massachusetts
Infantry (June 13, 1861 - June 15, 1861)
One of the three-year regiments was the First Massachusetts
Infantry. Its core made up of the old Massachusetts 1st Volunteer
Militia returning from its three-month duty. This group had several homes in
its short stay in the state. Faneuil Hall was the first. This was quickly found
to be too small so the First was moved to an old icehouse at Fresh Pond in
Cambridge. (1) All 1047 men formed on the Boston Common on June 1 and marched
to Fresh Pond. (2) This location was
known as Camp Ellsworth. After the state began to set up barracks, it was
determined that this site was also not going to fit their needs. The
surrounding area being too wet and “unhealthy.” (3) They found a site that fit,
Camp Cameron! The new camp was only about a mile away from Camp Ellsworth.
The First was commanded by Col. Robert Cowdin of Boston. (4)
During their stay in Cambridge, they were trained in how to set up a camp and
had target practice. Arms consisted of 1855 rifled muskets. (5) Their stay in
this new home was very short. They moved in on June 13, 1861 and left for the
seat of the war on June 15. (6) The regiment left with ninety wagons. They
marched through the streets of Cambridge for Boston Common and then to the
Providence RR Depot. As they passed through Cambridge, they were met spectators
who waited for over an hour to see the recruits. Engine #2 of the Cambridge
fire department was also out and gave them a salute. It was a hot day and as
they wore their gray overcoats, many men succumbed to the heat. (7) Reaching
the Boston Common they formed on the Parade Grounds, which were roped off. The
crowd of friends and relatives broke through the ropes to embrace their loved
ones. When it came time for the First to leave for the depot only about
two-thirds of them regained order, the rest simply followed in the crowd. (8)
(1) Hardtack & Coffee, The Unwritten Story of Army Life, Billings, John D. 1888, George
M. Smith & Co. Boston, PG 45
(2) Massachusetts Register, 1862 serial Number, Ninety-Four,
Adams, Sampson, & Co. Boston. Pg 314
(3) Hardtack & Coffee, The Unwritten Story of
Army Life, Billings, John D. 1888, George M. Smith & Co. Boston, PG 45
(4) Massachusetts in the Rebellion. A Record of the
Historical Position of the Commonwealth and The service of leading Statesmen,
The Military, the Colleges, and the People, in the Civil war of 1861-1865, Headley,
P. C., 1866, Walker, Fuller and CO. , Boston, pg 145
(5) Cambridge Chronicle, June 15, 1861
(6) Massachusetts in the War, 1861-1865,
Bowen, James Lorenzo, Clark W. Bryant & CO, 1889, pg. 100
(7) Cambridge Chronicle, June 22,1861
(8) Boston Common, Barber, Samuel, Christopher Publishing House, Boston, pg. 199 & 200
The great Comet of 1861 (C/1861 J1) becomes visible to the
naked eye, north of the equator on June 29, 1861. It stay visible until mid
august.
Eleventh Regiment
Massachusetts Infantry (June 15, 1861 - June 29, 1861)
This regiment was recruited in Boston and commanded by Col.
George Clark Jr. Its first eight companies were first housed at 179 Court St.
in Boston. (1) The owner of the property allowed the regiment to use it free of
charge. This included, “water, gas, cooking utensils, food, mattresses, and
furniture.” The recruits became known as the Boston Volunteers. (2) On May 9,
1861, they were moved to Ft. Warren. On June 13, the regiment was mustered in.
On June 15, the men were ordered to Camp Cameron. (3) On the 28th
Governor Andrew visited the camp for the flagstaff raising ceremony. (4) The
next day, June 29, the regiment left for the front. (5) Mrs. Capt. E. H.
Sanford was a major financial supporter of this regiment (6)
(1) Massachusetts in the War 1861-1865., Bowen, James, 1889, Clark W. Bryan, Springfield, pg. 207
& 208
(2) Massachusetts Register, 1862 serial Number,
Ninety-Four, Adams, Sampson, & Co. Boston. Pg. 269
(3) Massachusetts in the War 1861-1865., Bowen,
James, 1889, Clark W. Bryan, Springfield, pg. 207 & 208
(4) Order of Exercises on Occasion of raising the
Flag, Cambridge Historical Commission.
(5) Massachusetts in the War 1861-1865., Bowen,
James, 1889, Clark W. Bryan, Springfield, pg. 208
(6) Massachusetts Register, 1862 serial Number, Ninety-Four,
Adams, Sampson, & Co. Boston. Pg. 269
(July 21, 1861 first battle of
Manassas, a Union defeat)
(July 27, 1861 Gen. George
McClellan becomes commander of the army of the Potomac)
Sixteenth Regiment
Massachusetts Infantry (June 25, 1861 - Aug. 17, 1861)
This regiment was formed under the command of Col. Powell T.
Wyman, on July 2, 1861.(1) The Sixteenth was ordered to Camp Cameron on June
25, 1861(2) Co. K, of Watertown had been boarded at the Spring Hotel and tented
near Mr. Lathrop’s , did not arrive until July 2. (3) CO H was mustered in on
June29, CO’s A,B,C & K on July 2 and the rest on July 12.(4) They left on
Aug. 17. At eight o’clock in the morning, of the day of departure , the troops
were drawn up in line on the parade ground, and their arms and equipments
carefully inspected, after which they left the camp shortly before noon, in
heavy marching order. Each soldier had forty rounds of cartridges in his
cartridge-box, and two days rations in his haversack; altogether they took seven
days’ cooked rations and 60,000 cartridges. “The streets of Cambridge and
Boston were occupied by many people to see them off. “ Soon after three
o’clock, the train of twenty-one cars started, leaving Boston and home behind.”
(5) June saw three different regiments in the camp. The regimental chaplain was
Arthur Buckminster Fuller (6) who gave his service every Sunday at 5:00 P.M.
both here and at the front. (7)
(1) Massachusetts Register, 1862 serial Number,
Ninety-Four, Adams, Sampson, & Co. Boston. Pg. 314
2) Massachusetts in the Rebellion. A Record of the
Historical Position of the Commonwealth and The service of leading Statesmen,
The Military, the Colleges, and the People, in the Civil war of 1861-1865,
Headley, P. C., 1866, Walker, Fuller and CO. , Boston, pg 237
(3) Watertown’s Military History, Committee
Representing the Sons of the American Revolution & GAR post 81, David Clapp
& Son, Printers, Boston, 1907, p136 & 242
(4) Massachusetts in the War 1861-1865., Bowen,
James, 1889, Clark W. Bryan, Springfield
(5) Massachusetts Register, 1862 serial Number,
Ninety-Four, Adams, Sampson, & Co. Boston. Pg. 314
(6) Harvard Memorial Biographies, Higginson, Thomas
Wentworth, Sever & Francis, Cambridge, 1866, pg. 85
(7) Chaplain Fuller: Being a Life Sketch of a New
England Clergyman and Army Chaplain, Fuller, Richard F., Walker, Wise, and
Company, 1863, Boston. Pg 175.
First Light Battery Aug. 27, 1861 - Oct. 3, 1861
The majority of this battery where enlisted
at a recruiting office on Hanover St. or the old armory on Cooper St. in
Boston. These men where mustered in on Aug. 28, 1861. They went on to Camp
Cameron that afternoon. (1) Recruiting
and mustering was complete by early Sept. On “Oct. 3 150 men, 125 horses, two
rifled and two smooth six-pounders and two 12-pound howitzers with complete
equipment” (2) left for the front, at
3:00 P.M.. Their equipmtent also included One ammunition wagon and many
caissons, each of these were drawn by six horses and three baggage wagons,
drawn by four horses and an army forge. (3)
They march through Cambridge and Boston to the State House was lined
with cheering people. At the State House Gov. Andrew reviewed them. From there
they proceeded to Old Colony train depot. Captain Josiah Porter from Cambridge
was a veteran of the Mass. Militia. (4)
(1) The Story of the First Massachusetts Light
Battery Attached to the Sixth Corps. Bennett, A. J., 1886, Press of Deland and
Barta, Boston. Pg. 18
(2) Massachusetts in the War 1861-1865., Bowen,
James, 1889, Clark W. Bryan, Springfield pg. 786
(3) Massachusetts Register, 1862 serial Number,
Ninety-Four, Adams, Sampson, & Co. Boston. Pg. 409
(4) The Story of the First Massachusetts Light
Battery Attached to the Sixth Corps. Bennett, A. J., 1886, Press of Deland and
Barta, Boston. Pg. 18 & 19
Twenty-Sixth Regiment
Massachusetts Infantry Aug. 28 -
Nov. 19, 1861
The 26th was originally known as the 6th. This three month regiment was the one that
was attacked on its way through Baltimore. Its’ Colonel was Edward F. Jones. On
Aug. 28, they went to Camp Cameron. On Sep. 23, the regiment was transferred to
Camp Chase in Lowell. (1) They left for the front on Nov. 19, 1861
(1) Massachusetts in the War 1861-1865., Bowen,
James, 1889, Clark W. Bryan, Springfield
(2) Massachusetts in the Rebellion. A Record of the
Historical Position of the Commonwealth and The service of leading Statesmen,
The Military, the Colleges, and the People, in the Civil war of 1861-1865,
Headley, P. C., 1866, Walker, Fuller and CO. , Boston, pg 30
Twenty-Eighth Regiment
Massachusetts Infantry Sep. 22, 1861 - Jan. 11, 1862
"Faugh a Ballagh”
This was one of two Irish regiments that the state tried to
recruit at the same time. The other being the Twenty-Ninth, recruited in Framingham.
The 28th went to Camp Cameron on Sep. 22, 1861. They were led by Col. William
Monteith. The men where mustered on Dec. 13, 1861. (1) The 29th regiment was
intended for the Irish Brigade. The 28th had been intended for Gen.
Butler. The reason for trying to form two Irish regiments came about as a
compromise by the governor. Thomas Meagher of New York, the driving force
behind the Irish Brigade, wanted a regiment from Mass. The owners of two local
papers, Patrick Donahoe (The Pilot) and B. S. Treanor (Irish Patriot) also
wanted another Irish regiment from Mass. The problem was they both wanted their
own candidates to lead it. On top of this Gen Butler needed troops fast. Andrew
decided to form two regiments. He thought this would satisfy both the Boston
and New York groups. Unfortunately, New York men ended up in leadership
positions of both groups. Monteith was named Col. Of the twenty eighth and
Thomas Murphy was to be Colonel of the 29th. Due to a mistake,
Matthew Murphy was appointed instead. Problems arose from the start. Not only
where both groups behind schedule but discord was rampant. Mass. Adjutant
General William Schouler discovered that Murphy was seldom at his post and the
troops were happier when he was away. Matthew Murphy heard he was about to lose
his position he traveled from Framingham to Cambridge seeking support from the
28th. After his speech, many men deserted. This was the last straw
for Andrew. (2)
A bit of a controversy arose in the recruiting of these two
regiments. William Schouler contacted Gen. Butler in Lowell about equipping the
Twenty-Eighth, which he was supposed to take. At this time, it was also
determined to be necessary to combine the two partially formed regiments at
Camp Cameron, to avoid delays. The fifteen partial companies, from the two
camps made eight full companies. (3) This was an idea indorsed by many of the
officers of both regiments. (4) Disagreements also arose over the officers
appointed by the Governor. (5) The state also requested that Butler supply men
for the two unformed companies. Butlers’ conditions to take the regiment would
not have allowed it to be counted as a regiment raised by the state, thus not
being counted in the states quota. This was unacceptable to Gov. Andrew. (6)
The disagreement turned to name calling between Gen. Butler and Governor
Andrew. Butler asserted, “I have failed utterly in my attempts to arrange with
Gov. Andrew. I have abased myself in trying. He holds that the United States
has no authority to raise troops outside of the Governor of Massachusetts.”
“Finding that as soon as the 28th (Irish) regiment had been assigned
to me, Governor Andrew organized another (Irish) 29th regiment in
exact rival, so that neither could succeed…I then began recruiting a regiment
for myself, but was informed by Governor Andrew in substance that the President
of the United States had no right to recruit men for Volunteer Service of the
United States in Massachusetts without his leave. This doctrine of secession
did not seem to me any more sound uttered by a John Brown abolitionist north of
Mason & Dixon line” (7) The governor’s office held that Butler raised
troops & appointed officers, duties that only the governor could perform. (8)
They left Camp Cameron on Jan. 11. (9)
(1) Massachusetts in the War 1861-1865., Bowen, James, 1889, Clark W. Bryan, Springfield pg 420
(2) Thomas Francis Meagher and the Irish brigade in the Civil War, Callaghan, Daniel M., McFarland
& Co. Jefferson, N.C., 2006, pg. 49 & 50.
(3) Letter from Mass. Adj. Gen. William Schouler to Maj. George C. Strong. 11/9/1861.
Mass. State Archives, Letters to Regiments, Book W32.
(4) Letter from officers of 28th & 39th Regiments, Oct. 5, 1861.
Massachusetts State Archives, Letters on regiments, Book W32
(5) Letter from Mass. Adjutant General William Schouler to Lt. Col. Henry Lee, Oct. 25,
1861, Mass. State Archives, Letters on Regiments, Book W32
(6) History of Massachusetts in the Civil War,
Schouler, William, E. P. Dutton & CO. Publishers, Boston, 1868, PG 277-279
(7) Private and Official Correspondence of Gen.
Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the Civil War, Vol.1, April 1860-June
1862, Privately Issued, 1917 pg. 277-283
(8) Massachusetts in the Rebellion. A Record of the
Historical Position of the Commonwealth and The service of leading Statesmen,
The Military, the Colleges, and the People, in the Civil war of 1861-1865,
Headley, P. C., 1866, Walker, Fuller and CO. , Boston, pg 280-281
(9) Massachusetts in the War 1861-1865., Bowen,
James, 1889, Clark W. Bryan, Springfield
pg 420
(10) Cambridge Chronicle, Jan. 11, 1862
Thirty-Second Regiment
Massachusetts Infantry (CO E) Dec. 13, 1861- Dec. 29, 1861
What would eventually become CO. A was being recruited for
Ft. Warren. The recruiting office was in Hingham Town Hall, “Camp Dimmick”.
This company was completed when thirty-one men were sent from Camp Cameron.
This company was then sent to Ft. warren on Nov. 27, 1861. Soon after CO. A
left Hingham a recruiting Office was opened in Oasis Hall to enlist men to join
a company in Braintree company under Capt. Bumpus. This would become CO. E. Hingham
was able to enlist 32 men and on Dec. 13, 1861, the Hingham men left for Camp
Cameron. Here they were consolidated into CO E under Capt Bumpus. Co. E was
mustered in on Dec. 2. They stayed at Camp Cameron until Dec. 24 when they went
to Fort Warren. (1)
(1) Town of Hingham in the Late Civil War, With
Sketches of its Soldiers and Sailors at the Dedication of the Soldiers’ and
Sailors’ Monument, Burr, Fearing, & Lincoln. Published by order of the
Town, 1876, pg. 184 & 185
Twenty-Ninth Massachusetts
Infantry (CO. H) Jan. 1862- Jan. 13, 1862
Captain Sibley commanded CO. H. (1) Recruiting began October
31, 1861. “The Adjutant-General’s office dictated that if they could recruit a
full company in ten days or less that company would be included in a regiment
to be formed from companies at Ft. Monroe. This goal was met. It was known as
“the Charlestown Company. In January, they were ordered to Camp Cameron, while
there they were under the command of Col. Monteith of the 28th.
Companies “G,” “H” and “F” left the state for Newport News on Jan. 13, 1862. (2)
The companies of the new 29th were recruited separately with no coordination
between them. They were put together to form a new 29th after the
original was consolidated into the 28th. Some of the men in this regiment came from the
old Third and Fourth regiments of ninety days men. When their three months
ended, Gen. Butler reorganized them into the Massachusetts Battalion. Because
they were not immediately made into a new regiment, men who were among the
first to volunteer became the 29th Regiment. (3)
(1) History of the Twenty-Ninth regiment of Massachusetts
Volunteer Infantry in the Late War of the Rebellion, Osborne, William H. Albert
J. Wright, Printer, Boston, 1877, pg. 14
(2) History of the Twenty-Ninth regiment of
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in the Late War of the Rebellion, Osborne,
William H. Albert J. Wright, Printer, Boston, 1877, pg. 102-104
(3) History of the Twenty-Ninth regiment of
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in the Late War of the Rebellion, Osborne,
William H. Albert J. Wright, Printer, Boston, 1877, pg.13 & 14
(Feb. 6 & 16, 1862, Gen.
Grant captures Forts Henry & Donaldson)
(March 1862 McClellan begins
his Peninsula Campaign)
First Regiment Massachusetts
Heavy Artillery (CO. L) Feb. 1862 - Mar. 22, 1862
This artillery regiment has a complicated history. It began
as the Fourteenth Massachusetts Infantry. This organization left the state o
August 7, 1861. From Mass. It went to Fort Albany outside of Washington. It was
reorganized into an artillery regiment on Jan. 1, 1862. This required that each
company add fifty more men. It also required two new companies, “L” and “M.”
Company “L” also had a varied past. It was formed in Ipswich with the intent of
going into a Calvary regiment in Michigan. This plan failed so it was
reassigned to the First Heavy Artillery. (1) The company consisted of about
forty recruits from Ipswich and about thirty more from Lowell. In February,
they were ordered to Camp Cameron where recruiting continued. The mustering of
these men took place on Feb. 20 and Feb. 24. Capt. Eben A. Andrews was not mustered
in until Mar. 19. Company “M” was stationed in Lynn. Both companies were sent
to Ft. Albany on Mar. 22. It appears the after the fourteenth Infantry was
changed to Artillery it was sometimes referred to as the Fourteenth Heavy
Artillery. This may have simple been confusion. (2)
(1) Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay
Colony, VOL. II, A History of the Town From 1700-1917, Waters, Thomas Franklin,
Ipswich Historical Society, Ipswich MA, 1917, pg. 663 & 667
(2) History of the First Regiment of Heavy Artillery
Massachusetts Volunteers, Formerly the Fourteenth regiment of Infantry,
1861-1865, Roe, Alfred Seelye A.B., Nutt, Charles A.B., Regimental Association,
1917, pg. 71
(Apr. 6 & 7, 1862 Battle
of Shiloh, day 1 goes badly for the Union but they rally and day 2 is a
decisive Union victory)
(May 31, 1862 Battle of Seven
Pines, Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston is wounded, he is replaced by Gen.
Robert E. Lee)
Eight Light Battery
Massachusetts Artillery May 1862 - June 25, 1862
This was a six-month battery. Recruiting began on May 27,
1862. After one month, 40 men were sworn in and sent to Camp Cameron. By June 25,
recruiting was complete and they left for Washington. During the journey to Washington,
their train derailed just outside of Trenton. Two men and thirteen horses were
killed. Thirteen men were also injured and much equipment was lost. The captain
of this Battery was Asa M. Cook. (1)
(1) Massachusetts in the Rebellion. A Record of the
Historical Position of the Commonwealth and The service of leading Statesmen,
The Military, the Colleges, and the People, in the Civil war of 1861-1865,
Headley, P. C., 1866, Walker, Fuller and CO. , Boston, pg 520
June 25, -July 1, 1862 Seven Days Battle, Lee attacks
McClellan who begins withdrawal)
Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts
Regiment Infantry CO’s (A, B, F) Aug. 4, 1862-Aug. 26, 1862
The 38th is another partial regiment for Camp
Cameron. It was a nine-month regiment. Most of the Regiment, seven companies,
went to Camp Stanton in Lynnfield. The final three companies went to Camp
Cameron in Cambridge. Because of this split there was, at first, some confusion
on the naming of the companies. This was not fixed until the full regiment left
the state. The Cambridge companies ended up with the designations of “A”,””B”
and “F.” Company “A” came from Cambridgeport, Company “B” was mostly made up of
men from East Cambridge and Company “F” was also from Cambridgeport. By this time,
the name of the camp had been changed to Camp Day and other than these three
companies the camp was now used to recruit replacement men for regiments
already in the field. The camp was so crowded at this time, that many of the
men from the 38th were furloughed every night and came back to camp
at sunrise. Since most of the men from these companies, where from Cambridge
they probably went home to sleep. Capt. McLaughlin mustered them in on Aug. 22.
They left the state on Aug. 26; 1862.The Cambridge companies reached Boston
late and had to take a different train from the Lynnfield men. (1) When they
did leave Camp Day there was no time to provide provisions and they had very
little to eat on their journey to the seat of the war. (2) They received their
orders to march so last minute that they were not fully outfitted in either
uniforms or arms. (3) When these three companies returned home Cambridge gave
them a great reception. (4)
(1) The Story of the Thirty Eighth Regiment of
Massachusetts Volunteers, Powers, George W., Dakin and Metcalf, Cambridge
Press, 1866, pg. 3-9
(2) Letters to the Cambridge Chronicle, Sept. 6, 1862 from JWW of CO A (Joseph W. Welch?)
& Hosea Jewell
(3) The Story of the Thirty Eighth Regiment of
Massachusetts Volunteers, Powers, George W., Dakin and Metcalf, Cambridge
Press, 1866, pg. 9
(4) The Story of the Thirty Eighth Regiment of
Massachusetts Volunteers, Powers, George W., Dakin and Metcalf, Cambridge
Press, 1866, pg.219
(Aug. 29/30, 1862 second
Battle of Manassas, a defeat for the Union)
(Sep. 17, 1862 Battle of
Antietam, bloodiest day an American history, McClellan claims victory but
misses an chance to destroy Lee’s Army)
(Sep. 22, 1862 In response to
Manassas Lincoln releases his Emancipation Proclamation)
(Nov. 7, 1862 Gen. Burnside
replaces McClellan)
(Dec. 13, 1862 Battle of
Fredericksburg, a Union defeat)
(Jan. 25, 1862 Gen. Hooker
replaces Burnside)
Recruiting for regiments already in the field
By July of 1862, Camp Cameron changed from
a camp that trained soldiers for new regiments to the main camp that recruited
men as replacements for regiments already in the field, (1) (Get exact date MA
Arch) the exception to this was the three companies of the Thirty-Eighth. The
war had been raging for about a year and a half and the need for more men was
great. Recruits came in constantly from various recruiting offices in the state
in groups of twenty-fifty and they left for the front in groups of 100-500 for
various regiments. (2)
(1) The Thirty-Ninth Regiment,
Massachusetts volunteers 1862-1865, Roe, Alfred S., Regimental veterans
Association, Worcester, MA, 1914 pg. 10
(2) Soldiering in North Carolina…, Kirwan, Thomas, 1864, Thomas Kirwan,
Boston, PG 7
Whenever the reasons for closing the camp came up the practice of bounty
jumping is given. I have come to believe that
this is only part of the reason. Bounty jumping was also practiced in camps
that did not close. Desertion was exaggerated at Cameron by the lack of a
fence. Fences though not universal in the camps were not unheard of. (1) What
was the difference between this camp and other camps that stayed open and those
that had erected fences? When the regular army took over other options were now
available. Yes, they had a problem with desertion. Yes, a fence could have
lessened this problem. The Army had other facilities in the area, namely the
harbor forts and they were not far away. Even without the problem of bounty
jumping Camp Cameron may have seemed redundant. It was an expense to rent when
they already owned other bases. The harbor forts where crowded so it is
possible that the army did not go into this already thinking of closing the
camp. (2) Discussion of this did begin quickly. (3) It may not have been a
predetermined result, but why would the army want to continue an extra expense
to maintain a property that was not working well when other option where at
hand. This only becomes clearer when you consider that they would have to incur
more expense to improve the camp by building a fence. Remember the forts by
their very nature already had walls around them. Hannibal Day also had an
office in Boston so the Fort Independence would have been closer.
(1) Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General
Benj. F. Butler, Butler’s Book, Butler, Benj. F. 1892, A.M. Thayer & Co., Boston. Pg. 312
This very quick summary of Camp Cameron and
the people, who went through it, is not meant to be complete. It is not even a
finished product. My research has only just begun.
Dan Sullivan
Thebookoasis311@rcn.com
I owe thanks to many people for their help
in my ongoing research. First to my brother Ed and our great, great
grandfather, Private Michael Driscoll of Companies “F” and “C” of the
Massachusetts 28th Infantry. "Faugh a Ballagh” Joe
Keefe and the rest of the staff at the National Archives in Waltham Ma, the
Cambridge Historical Commission, Mass. State Archives, the Local History Room
at the Reading Public Library, Reading Mass., Marie Panik of Historic
Northampton, Northampton, Ma and the Cambridge Public Libraries, Cambridge MA.
Finally, I would like to thank Charles and
Etta Pickett and Fred, and Bessie for
helping me realize I could do this work, without ever knowing it.
