The First Regiment moved into Camp Cameron while it was still under construction. In fact it seems that some work may have continued until September. (1) The new life of a recruit could be a confusing new world. They encountered a new collection of people. In his memoir Thomas Kirwin described entering the camp and finding a "mass of human nature that there commingled for the first time, and truly it was a heterogeneous compound of representatives of nearly every race of people in Europe, and plentifully sprinkled amount them was the leaven of the whole - smart, shrewd, intelligent, quick-eyed and quick-witted Americans, and such a confusing babble as prevaled I never heard before. Wrangling and swearing, drinking and eating, talking and laughing, - all combined to give me no very agreeable for-taste of what I had to expect in my new vocation. I noticed others, new, like myself, to such scenes, who seemed mentally dumbfounded, or unconsciously comparing the quite 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 dislike for the latter." (2) The initial reaction of many recruits seems to have been negative. The beds were uncomfortable and the cloths did not fit well. (3) Though looking back they admit that it was a much easier life than they would lead for the next three years in the field.
Routine may have varied between rigiments but here are a few views from recruite at the camp. Joseph W. Welch of the 38th had this to say about life at cameron. "Two or three hours drill per day is the extent of our labor" (4) "and a little gaurd duty. When off duty the time is occupied by the boys in various ways, such as singing, ball playing, reading etc..."(5) "and coloring meerschaums."(6) Robert Goldwaite mentions writing letters and visits from friends and family also helped pass the time. (7)
The camp was not the popular with everybody in the area. The June 22, 1861 Cambridge Chronicle is one of the sources that mentions the complaints of local farmers. The Camp was noisey and the troops damaged property and stole crops. Though on at least once troops from the camp helped save local property by putting out a barn fire. (8)
As in society in general the army had a strong Anti-Irsh bias. Charles Harvey Brewster complained about the Irish in his letters home. They would not leave the Camp without first getting their pay. (9) Not understanding that the Irish had never known a Government they could trust. How could they ever believe a promise of "go off to war and maybe get killed and we promise to forward your pay to yor family."
Thomas Kirwin hints at the fact that Camp officers took advantage of their position to make money off the troops via "a little innocent private business". (10) He does not go into detail. The officers were not the only ones that sometimes over looked discipline, the recruits often practiced the "French Leave". The troops would sneak out after dark and then sneak back in before light. the gaurds would look the other way. "How mean and guilty we felt when we heard the threatening voice of some old soldier, who was returning from a "French Leave", say "Sentinel, turn your backand walk the other way... this was not the "Front" but only "Old Camp Cameron." (11)
This was the beginning of military training but real army life had not yet been instilled.
(1) Cambridge Chronicle, Sept. 21, 1861
(2) Soldering in North Carolina, Kirwin, Thomas, Printed and Published by Thomas Kirwin, Boston, 1864, pg. 7
(3) A Little Fifer's war Diary, Bardeen, C. W., C. W. Bardeen Publisher, 1910, Syracuse. pg. 20
(4) Cambridge Chronicle, Aug., 30, 1862
(5) Cambridge chronicle, Aug., 23, 1862
(6) Cambridge Chronicle, Aug., 30, 1862
(7) Four Brothers in Blue, Carter, Robert Goldwaite, 1913, washington Press of GibsonBrothers Inc., pg 74
(8) Cambridge Chronicle, Aug., 30, 1862
(9) When This Cruel War is Over, Blight, David W., editor, UMass Press, Amherst MA, 1992, pg 181
(10) Soldering in North Carolina, Kirwin, Thomas, Printed and Published by Thomas Kirwin, Boston, 1864, pg. 7
(11) Four Brothers in Blue, Carter, Robert Goldwaite, 1913, washington Press of GibsonBrothers Inc., pg 75
DAN SULLIVAN
Routine may have varied between rigiments but here are a few views from recruite at the camp. Joseph W. Welch of the 38th had this to say about life at cameron. "Two or three hours drill per day is the extent of our labor" (4) "and a little gaurd duty. When off duty the time is occupied by the boys in various ways, such as singing, ball playing, reading etc..."(5) "and coloring meerschaums."(6) Robert Goldwaite mentions writing letters and visits from friends and family also helped pass the time. (7)
The camp was not the popular with everybody in the area. The June 22, 1861 Cambridge Chronicle is one of the sources that mentions the complaints of local farmers. The Camp was noisey and the troops damaged property and stole crops. Though on at least once troops from the camp helped save local property by putting out a barn fire. (8)
As in society in general the army had a strong Anti-Irsh bias. Charles Harvey Brewster complained about the Irish in his letters home. They would not leave the Camp without first getting their pay. (9) Not understanding that the Irish had never known a Government they could trust. How could they ever believe a promise of "go off to war and maybe get killed and we promise to forward your pay to yor family."
Thomas Kirwin hints at the fact that Camp officers took advantage of their position to make money off the troops via "a little innocent private business". (10) He does not go into detail. The officers were not the only ones that sometimes over looked discipline, the recruits often practiced the "French Leave". The troops would sneak out after dark and then sneak back in before light. the gaurds would look the other way. "How mean and guilty we felt when we heard the threatening voice of some old soldier, who was returning from a "French Leave", say "Sentinel, turn your backand walk the other way... this was not the "Front" but only "Old Camp Cameron." (11)
This was the beginning of military training but real army life had not yet been instilled.
(1) Cambridge Chronicle, Sept. 21, 1861
(2) Soldering in North Carolina, Kirwin, Thomas, Printed and Published by Thomas Kirwin, Boston, 1864, pg. 7
(3) A Little Fifer's war Diary, Bardeen, C. W., C. W. Bardeen Publisher, 1910, Syracuse. pg. 20
(4) Cambridge Chronicle, Aug., 30, 1862
(5) Cambridge chronicle, Aug., 23, 1862
(6) Cambridge Chronicle, Aug., 30, 1862
(7) Four Brothers in Blue, Carter, Robert Goldwaite, 1913, washington Press of GibsonBrothers Inc., pg 74
(8) Cambridge Chronicle, Aug., 30, 1862
(9) When This Cruel War is Over, Blight, David W., editor, UMass Press, Amherst MA, 1992, pg 181
(10) Soldering in North Carolina, Kirwin, Thomas, Printed and Published by Thomas Kirwin, Boston, 1864, pg. 7
(11) Four Brothers in Blue, Carter, Robert Goldwaite, 1913, washington Press of GibsonBrothers Inc., pg 75
DAN SULLIVAN
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