Portland in Sumner County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Cold Spring School
Site of Camp Trousdale
Because of a lack of potable water, Camp Trousdale moved in June to an area of wide rolling fields near the one-room Cold Spring School that Thomas Baskerville had constructed in 1857. The school served as a regimental hospital. Soon more than 6,000 men were drilling in the camp, and some of the sick were treated at the school building. Later, Camp Trousdale relocated to present-day TGT Road, again because of water contamination. The only barracks in the state that housed Confederate troops were built there, then razed in February 1862 before Union forces arrived and occupied the area.
Federal troops under the command of Lt. Col. Gustavus Tafels, 106th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, subsequently fortified the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, constructing Fort Mitchell to guard the nearby trestle. Fort Smith, named for Col. George P. Smith, 129th Illinois Infantry, served as a temporary railroad to receive and ship Union supplies by wagons to Nashville.
“We are getting on very well; except for the measles and mumps, our men would be in fine health. So far as my regiment is concerned, there is perfect order and discipline.” — Col. Robert Hatton, 7th Tennessee Infantry, June 21, 1861
(captions)
Gen. Felix Zollicoffer Courtesy Pat Meguiar
Cold Spring School - Courtesy Pat Meguiar
Scroll flask and .36 caliber Navy Colt bullet mold found at Camp Trousdale site Courtesy Pat Meguiar
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 February 1862.
Location. 36° 34.998′ N, 86° 30.524′ W. Marker is in Portland, Tennessee, in Sumner County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Portland Boulevard and 2nd Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Portland Blvd, Portland TN 37148, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Historic Cold Springs (here, next to this marker); In Memory of Our Brave Men and Women (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Freedom: Bought with their lives" (about 300 feet away); In Honor and Remembrance (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named In Honor and Remembrance (about 700 feet away); Portland - Strawberry Capital of Middle Tennessee (approx. 0.4 miles away); Richland (approx. 0.4 miles away); Invasion of Kentucky (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 622 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on May 5, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 9, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.