Additional Camp Cameron related images

These images come from old postcards. The first is of the Arligton MA G.A.R. Hall #36, the Francis Gould Hall. This is where the gilded ball from the Camp Cameron flsgstaff went. The second is a view of Russell Park the flagstaff's second home in Arlington.  It is faint but the pole is in the photo.

DAN SULLIVAN

Residents and soldiers did not always make a good mix.

The locals and the soldiers did not always get along.

Many did not consider Camp Cameron a good neighbor. Complaints were made about noise, property and crop damage not only by recruits but also their visitors. (1) Arrests in the area increased because of the camp. (2) Some of the incidents include a fight between two recruits, John Riley and John Cooney and a Mr. Blanchard. The recruits were charged with assault and Blanchard ended up in critical condition. (3) The Boston Herald reported a fight on Nov. 9 1861 between two volunteers and the Cambridge Police. As soon as the camp opened, a shanty was opened across the street for the sale of illegal alcohol. (4) Gambling was also a problem. A dice game called a sweat-cloth was practiced extensively in the camp. (5) The camp also attracted recruits who wanted to swindle the Army through the practice of bounty jumping. This is when a recruit receives his signing bounty then deserts to reenlist someplace else.
Another activity that received complaints was the fact that the
Union Horse RR used their cars to haul the lumber to build the camp, on a
Sunday! (6)

(1)
Cambridge Chronicle, June 22, 1861
(2)
Boston Evening Transcript, Jan. 6, 1862, pg. 2
(3)
Boston Evening Transcript, July 20, 1861, pg 4
(4)
Boston Evening Transcript, Jun. 17, 1861, pg. 2
(5)
Boston Evening Transcript, Sep. 5, 1862
(6)
Cambridge Chronicle, June 22, 1861

Possible photo of Camp Cameron

Over a decade ago this photo was found by other researchers. Sadly the member of that team who found this photo has passed away. The source of the photo has also been lost. The photo fits the descriptions of the camp I have found. Peaked buildings (From the distance this photo seems to have been taken I do not think those are tents) A road going up the middle, A big flag pole and a field in front. The flagstaff at Camp Cameron was 130 ft. tall. Newspaper articles pertaining to a fall two carpenters had off the roof of one of the barracks say they fell 25 ft. The flag pole in this photo is several times the hieght of the buildings. That would fit. I also know that it is early photography, it is distant and grainy. It could be any place. Most regiments from Camp Cameron spent some time around Washington and there was a Camp Cameron there also. It is possible that a book or article one one of the Cameron regiments contained a photo of "Camp Cameron" but not the correct Cameron. The images I have seen of that camp show tents and it was much bigger than this photo seems, but this could be only a small portion.  I have held this photo for over two years trying to find the source. I have not given up but I am offering it up for what it is, a very possible photo of Camp Camp Cameron. When I confirm this photo I will update here.

Dan Sullivan

The First Regiment of Heavy Artillery CO "L"

This group had a complicated path to being formed. It began life as the 14th Infantry. After training as an Infantry Regiment and going to the front as infantry it was reassigned to become an artillery regiment. This required more than just a name change and retraining. An artillerry regiment has an additional fifty men per company and two additional companies. One of the two new companies was CO. "L" of Salem. The company also had a mixed history. When it was first formed it was intended to be a Cavalry company assigned to a regiment forming in Detroit, MI. This never happened and it was put into the First Heavy artillery, so a Company trained to be cavalry was assigned to an artillery regiment trained to be infantry. (1)
On Feb. 19, 1862 Capt. E.A. Andrews moved his fifty men from Salem to Camp Cameron. (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

(2) Boston Evening Transcript, Feb. 22, 1862, pg. 4

DAN SULLIVAN

Capt. Sibley and CO "H" of the new 29th Regiment

I do not know much about this company's stay at the camp yet. As I have stated before, the original 29th was merged into the 28th. The state soon began to form a new 29th Regiment (not Irish). early in 1861 seven companieas were sent to Ft. Warren. here they formed a battalion. When the time came to form a new 29th the state used these seven companies as the core of the new regiment. (1)
One of the three new companies was recruited by Henry R. Sibley of Charlestown. Since this group celebrated Christmas while still in Charlestown it is clear that this companydid not move to Cameron  until late December or early Jan, where they were under the general command of the 28th Regiment, until that regiment left on the 11th. From this date until the 29th also left for the war on the 13th they had the responsibliity of guarding the camp and the property in it. (2)

(1) The History of the Tewnty-Ninth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in The Late War of Rebellion, Osborne, William H., Boston, Albert J. Wright, 1877, pg. 13
(2) The History of the Tewnty-Ninth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in The Late War of Rebellion, Osborne, William H., Boston, Albert J. Wright, 1877, pg. 104

DAN SULLIVAN

The 9TH REGIMENTAL BAND

I recently discovered a group that I was unaware of that spent time at Camp Cameron. This was the regimental band for the 9th Regiment. When the regiment left the state the band was not yet ready. Lt. P. W. Black was assigned the task of remaining behind and recruiting this group. He did this at Cameron. He recruited 22 men for the band, which was lead by Michael O'Connor. This fact was reported in the Boston Evening transcript on July 3, 1861. At that time the band was schedualed to join its regiment within the week. (1) This was delayed, which was not uncommon. Records show that Patrick Burns deserted from the camp on July 18. So this group occupied  Camp Cameron from at least July 3, to at least July 18, 1861. (2)
This would have put them in the camp at the same time as the 16th regiment.

(1) Boston Evening Transcript, July 3, 1861, pg. 1
(2) Record of the Massachusetts Volunteers, 1861-1865, Wright & Potter, Printers to the State, pg. 83, 1870.

DAN SULLIVAN

MASS. 28th Regiment leaves for the seat of war.

On December 23, 1861 a detacment of the 28th was sent to the Cambridge Cemetery for the purpose of paying final respects to a fallen soldiers. This was John Irving. Irving was a resident of Cambridge and a member of CO I in the 24th Regiment. He in Annapolis of lung desease. His body was escorted to the cemetary by recruits from the 28th and a very large crowd of civilians. Before the advent of modern medicine, sickness claimed as many men in war as fighting. The service was performed by Rev. Dr. Hoppin. (1)
A few days later the 28th also lost one of its own members, William Walton of Lowell. He was a private in CO G and left behid a wife and two young children. The cause of his death is not known. (2)
In early Jan. the Secretary of War sent word for the 28th to begin preparing to leave the state. Col. Monteith, the new commander of the 28th, communicated to Gen. Butler that the command was fully equipted and ready to leave on Jan. 11, 1862. Their baggae wagons began arriving in Boston around nine A.M.at the Worcester Depot. Marching from Camp Cameron the troops did not arrive on Boston Common until Two P.M. before continueing on to the train station. From Boston they traveled to Ft. Columbus in NY where they continued their training for about another month. They brought with them three flags that had been presented to them the day before by Gov. Andrew and Mayor Wightman. Wightman's flag was green silk and combined both American and Irish themes. Andrew gave the regiment a State flag as well as the U.S. flag. Both men made speeches. (3)
On the way to Worcester, Private Patrick Wall of CO A fell off the train and lost one of his legs. (4)

(1) Boston Evening Transcript, Dec. 23, 1861, pg. 2
(2)  Boston Evening Transcript, Dec.30, 1861, pg. 4
(3) Boston Evening Transcript, Jan.11, 1862, pg. 2-4
(4) Boston Evening Transcript, Jan. 13, 1862 pg. 2