Camp Curtin
| Company type | Military training facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Military |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Defunct | 1865 |
| Headquarters | Harrisburg , United States |
Area served | United States (Union Army) |
| Products | Military training, supply depot, hospital center, prisoner-of-war camp |
Camp Curtin served as a prominent Union Army training facility located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania during the American Civil War. It spanned 80 acres situated north of Pennsylvania's capitol building, established on the former grounds of the Dauphin County Agricultural Fair.
History
In the aftermath of the April 1861 bombardment and capitulation of Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers to quell the Southern insurrection. Responding to this, Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin requested 13,000 men to defend the Union. Thousands quickly gathered in Harrisburg but lacked a formal training location. To address this need, Dauphin County authorities provided the Agricultural Society’s land for military use. On April 18, 1861, Maj. Joseph F. Knipe inaugurated the camp, originally intended to be named Camp Union, but ultimately designated Camp Curtin in honor of the governor. Command of the camp was held by Truman Seymour from December 1861 through March 1862.
Throughout its operation, Camp Curtin processed over 300,000 soldiers, making it the largest Federal training facility during the conflict. By mid-1862, it was reported that daily rations required twenty tons of prepared food to sustain the troops. Harrisburg’s advantageous position at the crossroads of major east-west and north-south rail lines enabled swift movement of personnel and supplies. The camp trained not only Pennsylvania regiments but also units from Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and the Regular Army. Its functions extended beyond training to include serving as a supply depot, hospital center, and prisoner-of-war camp. Following the war’s conclusion, it acted as a discharge point before officially closing on November 11, 1865.
1861
Between April 18 and April 22, 1861, numerous military units assembled at Camp Curtin. These included the Allen Infantry (Lehigh County), Johnstown Infantry, Pittsburgh Rifles, Ringgold Artillery (Reading), Bellfonte Fencibles, Cameron Guards, Chambers Artillery, Easton Fencibles, Juniata Rifles, Lancaster Fencibles, Lewisburg Infantry, National Guards, Reading Artillerists, Shawnee Guards, Tyrone Artillerists, Union Light Infantry, U.S. Zouaves (Pittsburgh), Wayne Guards, West Chester Rifles, Brigade Rifles (Minersville), Columbia Infantry, Keystone Rifles, Lebanon Guards, Madison Guards, Minersville Artillerists, Scott Artillery (Schuylkill Haven), Wayne Artillery, Wyoming Artillery, Allegheny Light Guards and Allegheny Rifles (Allegheny County), Anderson Greys, Brady Alpines (Armstrong County), Cameron Infantry—the sole uniformed company at Camp Curtin by late May—First Pennsylvania Zouaves (Pittsburgh), Marion Rifles (Schuylkill County), Nagle Guards (Pottsville), Pittsburgh Invincibles, Port Clinton Artillery, Scranton Union Volunteers, Tower Guards (Schuylkill County), Washington Rifles, and Wyoming Light Dragoons.
During the summer months of 1861, members of the Pennsylvania State Legislature were also called into federal service as part of the Legislative Guard.
Within a few months after its establishment, Camp Curtin recorded occurrences where suspected Confederate spies were captured and detained.
See also
- Camp Curtin Fire Station: historic fire station located in Harrisburg
- Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: neighborhood named after the camp
- Camp Curtin Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church: church commemorating soldiers from the Civil War era
- Harrisburg School District: includes details about Camp Curtin School