Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Eleventh leaves

On june 28, 1861 a flag raising ceremony was held at the camp. A large flag was raised by Gov. Andrew. Speechs were made by R. S. Dana Esq., Gov. Andrew and Judge Washburn. The recruits sang the national antham and the chaplain of the Eleventh led a prayer. (1)
The next day the regiment and twenty wagons proceded to the Old Colony train depot. From here they went to New York City. (2)

(1) Flag raising ceremony program
(2) Massachusetts register pg. 270

DAN SULLIVAN

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Camp Cameron keeps getting bigger!

In the past I have stated that Camp Cameron extended from what is now Mass. Ave. in Cambridge into Somerville to what is now Holland St. This is wrong. I should have realized this from the start. I let my knowledge of the current street map blind me. Andrew Bennett clearly states that the camp extended to the "Old Lexington Pike,  which crosses Winter Hill and thence over the ridge in Somerville to Arlington". (1) Holland street does not do this, Broadway does. It all clicked the other day when I found out that Holland St. was not created until 1870.
This source also confirmed a suspicion I have had for awhile. The local militia had used some of the property for musters before the war. It seems that the old militia muster field was 50 acres. (2)

(1) Story of the First Massachusetts Light Battery, Attached to the 6th Army Corp. , Andrew J. Bennett, 1886, Press of De Land & Barta, Boston, Ma
(2) beyond the Neck: The architecture and Development of somerville, Mass., Zellie, Carole, Office of Housing and Community Development, 1982, pg. 137

DAN SULLIVAN

Monday, June 20, 2011

Everyday Life at Camp Cameron

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

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment

The Eleventh was organized at Ft. Warren. (1) It was the third Massachusetts regiment to be mustered into three year service on June 13th. (2)
The original recruiting occurred at 179 Court St in Boston. this location was provide free by its owner. This included Water & gas, plus food, furniture and utensils. They also received patronage from Mrs. E. H. Sanford. Mrs Sanford donate cash, 800 linen towels, 1600 combs, 400 brushes  1600 cakes of soap, 125 pair of stockings, 40 pair of shoes, 6000 cigars, 100 bundles of handkerchiefs and much more. They left for Ft. warren on May 9. Here they began to drill. Eight days later the regiment left for Camp Cameron. Before leaving both the 11th and the 12th regiment, also at Ft. Warren gave an exchange of cheers for each other and then united in song. The regiment reached Boston aboard the steamers Nantucket and Nelly Baker. The march proceeded up state St. through Charlestown. In Charlestown the Eleventh was fed and entertained by the town. This lasted until 3:00 when the march was resumed to Camp Cameron. Here they went on army rations(3)

(1) Massachusetts Adjutent-Generals Report, 1862, Schouler, William, pg. 132
(2) Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865, Bowen, James L., Bryan, Clark W., Springfield, 1889 pg. 207
(3) Massachussetts Register, Serial Number 94, pg. 269-270


DAN SULLIVAN

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The First Regiment Leaves Camp Cameron

This was the first three year regiment to go to the war. I have already given a description of their trip trough Cambridge and Boston in my first post. From Boston they traveled by train to NY. From here they traveled by steamer to Jersey City. They had the honor of being the first MA regiment to march through Baltimore since the Sixth Ma. Militia (3 month Reg.) was attacted on April 19th. From here they went to Washington. (1) The First served in the Army of the Potomac from 1861-1865. They were involved in the battles of Blackurns Falls, Bull Run, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and the NY draft riots. (2)

(1) Massachusetts Register, 1862, Serial number 94, Adams, Sampson & Co. Boston, pg. 230
(2)Massachusetts in the War,1861-1865,  Bowen, James L., Clark W. Bryant & Co. 1889, pg 101-112


DAN SULLIVAN

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Future Camp Cameron regiment, the 11th Infantry, was mustered into service at Ft Warren in Boston Harbor on June 13th, 1861. (1)
After only one day at Camp Cameron the 1st Regiment received its' orders to move to Washington the next day. (2)

(1) Massachusetts in the War, 1861-1865, Bowen, James L., Clark W. Bryan & CO. Springfield, MA. 1889 pg. 146
(2) History of the First regiment Massachusetts Infantry, From the 25th of May of 1861 to the 25th of May 1864, Cudworth, Warren handel, Wakler, Fuller & Co., Boston, 1866 pg 18

DAN SULLIVAN

Monday, June 13, 2011

Happy Birthday Camp Cameron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1st Massachusetts

On the 13th of June, 1861 the Massachusetts First Infantry moved from Fresh Pond to Camp Cameron. They occupied the camp even though construction was still going on. Again they were mobbed with vistors, wanting to see the new camp. (1) The new camp was leased by the state until October. (2)
Also on this day a future Camp cameron Regiment, the 11th, was mustered into service at Fort Warren in Boston. (3)

(1) History of the First Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, From the 25th of May of 1861 to the 25th of May 1864. Cudworth, Warren Handel, 1866, Walker, Fuller & Co.. Boston. pg 17
(2) Cambridge Chronicle, June 15, 1861
(3) Massachusetts in the War, 1861-1865, Bowen, James L., Clark W. Bryan & Co., Springfield, MA, 1889


DAN SULLIVAN

Friday, June 10, 2011

June 9th 1861 construction begins

On Sunday morning, June 9th, 1861 the Cambridge Chronical watched six loads of lumber cross the West Boston Bridge on its way to camp cameron. (This is the bridge now known as the Longfellow bridge). The lumber amounted to about 200,000 board feet and was only part of the wood that would be used to construct the barracks.
Camp Ellsworth was busy this day also. Word was out that the regiment would soon be leaving for the seat of the war. This brought throngs of well wishers out to the camp for one last visit. So many carrages made the trip to Fresh pond that the roads in the area were blocked. (1)

(1) Cambridge Chronicle, June 15,1861

DAN SULLIVAN

Monday, June 6, 2011

Cambridge before Camp Cameron

Both Cambridge and Massachusetts were at the fore front of Civil war preparadness. When Gov. Andrew took office he began preparing for war at once. On the day he took office he sent messages to the governors of the other New England states urging them to also prepare. He then sent word to the local militias to get ready. Musters had to be readied, the effectivness of enlistees had to be found out. age, health and family situations had to be made clear. Basically the state needed to find out how many men were really able to go to war. Because of this, when Lincoln called for troops Mass. was able to respond very quickly.
Cambridge has the honor of raising the first company in the state. On Jan. 5, 1861 James Richardson put a notice in the Cambridge Chronicle calling for volunteers for an infantry company. They soon began drilling and on April 16th they were called by the Governor to appear at the State House and be organized into a regiment. (1)

(1) Massachusetts an the Army and Navy, During the War of 1861-65, Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, Wright & Potter Printing CO., State Printers, Boston, 1896

DAN SULLIVAN

Friday, June 3, 2011

The Cost of War

Here is part of a list I found at the National archives in Waltham MA. It is from the Office of Army Clothing & Equipage New York. 7th july, 1862. It has nothing to do with Camp Cameron, but it is still interesting.

List of Prices of Army Clothing

Uniform hats, without trimings       1.10
with trimings                                   2.00
Forage caps                                        .55
Uniform Coats Private                     6.70
               Jacket calvery                  5.55
Flannel Shirt                                     .75
Boots                                               3.40
Knassack complete                         2.44
Haversack                                          .48
Blankets woolen                             3.00

NARA RG 110/Stack C/ Row 26/ Comp 01/ Shelf 8-3/ Box 4
  


DAN SULLIVAN

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Sad note for Civil War History

On Memorial Day I was standing in front of my store, The Book Oasis in Stoneham, MA, watching the parade. One of the groups marching was the MA 5th Battery re-enactors. I overheard an adult say to his son "What are these guys supposed to be, Hobos?" It is a shame that anyone can be so uneducated!


DAN SULLIVAN

This day in Camp Cameron History 6/1/1861

 All 1047 men of the First Infantry  formed on the Boston Common on June 1 and marched to Fresh Pond in Cambridge, MA.  (1) They occupied an old ice house. This location was known as Camp Ellsworth. (2)


 (1)    Massachusetts Register, 1862 serial Number, Ninety-Four, Adams, Sampson, & Co. Boston. Pg 314
(2)     Hardtack & Coffee, The Unwritten Story of Army Life, Billings, John D. 1888, George M. Smith & Co. Boston, PG 45 

DAN SULLIVAN