Near Livingston in Overton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Camp Zollicoffer
More Men than Firearms
The soldiers found camp life challenging. In August 1861, Amanda McDowell of Sparta wrote that the camp “food is beef, bacon and flour bread with no way to cook it. They have a camp kettle, and frying pan, and no dish {es} at all. Jack says they have not even got a dish rag or bit of soap, and they cannot cook decently that way.” Lt. Spencer B. Talley, 28th Tennessee Infantry, noted than many soldiers “had no arms save a few old squirrel rifles and occasional pistol.” Confederate Col. John P. Murray, the ranking officer, complained to Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston about trying to operate a camp in a region so devoid of resources. He reported having ten companies with 917 privates but only 665 weapons.
Many Confederate regiments were trained here, including Col. Sidney S Stanton’s 25th Tennessee Infantry. Organized in August 1861, it had 683 soldiers in January 1862. It fought at Perryville, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga, then moved to Virginia and fought at Drewry’s Bluff and Petersburg. The regiment surrendered with 4 officers and 21 men at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865
(Inscription under photo on left side)
Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer-Courtesy Tennessee State Library and Archives.
(Inscription under photo on bottom right side)
This idealized view of a “Confederate camp” was published in London in 1871-Courtesy Library of Congress
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 month for this entry is January 1862.
Location. 36° 22.667′ N, 85° 22.217′ W. Marker is near Livingston, Tennessee, in Overton County. Marker is on Hilham Highway south of Day Mountain Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Livingston TN 38570, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Staff Sergeant Loval E. Ayers (approx. 2.7 miles away); Birthplace of Lester Raymond Flatt (approx. 2.7 miles away); Overton County Courthouse (approx. 2.7 miles away); a different marker also named Overton County Courthouse (approx. 2.7 miles away); Overton County Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away); Specialist 4 James T. Davis (approx. 2.7 miles away); Albert Houston Roberts (approx. 2.9 miles away); Crockett's Camp (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Livingston.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,533 times since then and 87 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.