Near Monroe in Overton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Camp Myers
Confederate Induction Center
Photographed By Don Morfe, July 22, 2013
1. Camp Myers Marker
Inscription.
Camp Myers, a Confederate training camp established early in 1861 in Overton County together with Camp Zollicoffer, was located nearby and named for Calvin Myers, a Mexican War veteran. After Tennessee seceded in June 1861, Camp Myers was used to train men recruited locally. It also became a permanent military post to help secure the border against Federal raids from Kentucky and to suppress the activities of Unionist residents of Overton and Fentress counties. Troops from Camp Myers fought several skirmishes with Unionist home guards and guerrillas. Sgt. Fayette McDowell wrote his family about the many activities in a typical camp day, observing, “You know I am busy. But I stand it very well. I suffer for sleep sometimes.”, Gov. Isham G. Harris appointed Col. Stokely H. Huddleston of Livingston as a recruiter for Camp Myers. Col. Sidney S. Stanton also raised and trained troops here. He recruited several companies for the 25th Tennessee Infantry, which he then led until he was mortally wounded during the Atlanta campaign in 1864. The regiment fought at Fishing Creek, in northern Mississippi during the Shiloh campaign, and at Perryville, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga. In 1864, it was transferred east to Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and ended the war in Virginia, surrendering at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865., Col. John M. Hughs, also of the 25th Tennessee Infantry, operated behind Union lines during the winter of 1863-1864. He led a 300-man Confederate guerrilla unit into Kentucky from here to raid Federal installations., (Inscription under the photo in the center of the marker) , Washing clothes in camp, Harper’s Weekly, July 20, 1861., (Inscription under the photo at the bottom right of the marker) , Confederate recruits drilling in camp, Harper’s Weekly, Nov. 9, 1861
Camp Myers, a Confederate training camp established early in 1861 in Overton County together with Camp Zollicoffer, was located nearby and named for Calvin Myers, a Mexican War veteran. After Tennessee seceded in June 1861, Camp Myers was used to train men recruited locally. It also became a permanent military post to help secure the border against Federal raids from Kentucky and to suppress the activities of Unionist residents of Overton and Fentress counties. Troops from Camp Myers fought several skirmishes with Unionist home guards and guerrillas. Sgt. Fayette McDowell wrote his family about the many activities in a typical camp day, observing, “You know I am busy. But I stand it very well. I suffer for sleep sometimes.”
Gov. Isham G. Harris appointed Col. Stokely H. Huddleston of Livingston as a recruiter for Camp Myers. Col. Sidney S. Stanton also raised and trained troops here. He recruited several companies for the 25th Tennessee Infantry, which he then led until he was mortally wounded during the Atlanta campaign in 1864. The regiment fought at Fishing Creek, in northern Mississippi during the Shiloh campaign, and at Perryville, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga. In 1864, it was transferred east to Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and ended the war in Virginia, surrendering at Appomattox Court House
Click or scan to see this page online
on April 9, 1865.
Col. John M. Hughs, also of the 25th Tennessee Infantry, operated behind Union lines during the winter of 1863-1864. He led a 300-man Confederate guerrilla unit into Kentucky from here to raid Federal installations.
(Inscription under the photo in the center of the marker) Washing clothes in camp, Harper’s Weekly, July 20, 1861.
(Inscription under the photo at the bottom right of the marker) Confederate recruits drilling in camp, Harper’s Weekly, Nov. 9, 1861
Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1865.
Location. 36° 26.934′ N, 85° 12.816′ W. Marker is near Monroe, Tennessee, in Overton County. Marker is on Byrdstown Highway (SR111) north of Beaty Swamp Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Monroe TN 38573, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Alpine School (approx. 3.8 miles away); Albert Houston Roberts (approx. 3.8 miles away); "Tennessee Lead" (approx. 6.4 miles away); a different marker also named
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,138 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.