Calhoun in McLean County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Camp Calhoun Cemetery

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 13, 2018

1. Camp Calhoun Cemetery Marker

Inscription.

Camp Calhoun Cemetery. . Well over 200 soldiers are known to have died of disease during Camp Calhoun's short existence. The number is probably higher but many records are missing or incomplete.. , "there health is so very bad" It was not long before illness and disease were rampant at Camp Calhoun, a situation that was, unfortunately, common in many garrisons and recruiting camps. Once measles, mumps, typhoid, pneumonia and influenza entered camp they spread rapidly, with deadly results. Calhoun became a city of makeshift hospitals. The Courthouse, Methodist Church and a number of private homes were filled with ailing soldiers. , Crowded Conditions, Poor Hygiene and Rats Why did so many men die of disease while at Camp Calhoun? Many of the young men who came to Calhoun had never traveled far from home and they had never been exposed to common diseases. These men were thrown together in cramped and often unsanitary conditions. There was little understanding of how diseases were contracted or transmitted in the 1860s. The causes of infection were unknown. A large infestation of rats made matters even worse., Camp Calhoun's dead were buried here, in two lots set aside for a community cemetery in the original 1852 plat of Calhoun. Those who died in camp are not the only soldiers buried here. The eight men killed during the Battle of Sacramento on December 28, 1861 and the two who later died of wounds sustained in that battle were also buried here. Several soldiers died in accidents. They too were interred here., Restoring Camp Calhoun Cemetery Efforts to identify those interred in the Camp Calhoun Cemetery and to erect suitable memorials began in 1997. The restored Camp Calhoun Cemetery was dedicated in May 2008. , . . . i have been visiting my friends in the 31st reg, at calhoun kentky to my sorrow they are in bad condition of health caused by imprudence incompatincy or neglect of the officers there health is so very bad only near half of the reg is able to turnout to service . . . many of the sick and feeble have spent there last money and there friends money to procure some little nourshing food . . . from a letter to Indiana Governor O. P. Morton dated January 10, 1862 from a visitor to Camp Calhoun (Spelling original). , Photo captions: Top right: Dr. James M. Baily was a surgeon in the 26th Kentucky Infantry, organized at Camp Calhoun in December 1861. Bottom left: Thousands of patriotic young men enlisted in the Union army. Many did not survive their short tenure in recruiting and training camps.

Well over 200 soldiers are known to have died of disease during Camp Calhoun's short existence. The number is probably higher but many records are missing or incomplete.

"there health is so very bad"
It was not long before illness and disease were rampant at Camp Calhoun, a situation that was, unfortunately, common in many garrisons and recruiting camps. Once measles, mumps, typhoid, pneumonia and influenza entered camp they spread rapidly, with deadly results. Calhoun became a city of makeshift hospitals. The Courthouse, Methodist Church and a number of private homes were filled with ailing soldiers.

Crowded Conditions, Poor Hygiene and Rats
Why did so many men die of disease while at Camp Calhoun? Many of the young men who came to Calhoun had never traveled far from home and they had never been exposed to common diseases. These men were thrown together in cramped and often unsanitary conditions. There was little understanding of how diseases were contracted or transmitted in the 1860s. The causes of infection were unknown. A large infestation of rats made matters even worse.

Camp Calhoun's dead were buried here, in two lots set aside for a community cemetery in the original 1852 plat of Calhoun. Those who died in camp

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are not the only soldiers buried here. The eight men killed during the Battle of Sacramento on December 28, 1861 and the two who later died of wounds sustained in that battle were also buried here. Several soldiers died in accidents. They too were interred here.

Restoring Camp Calhoun Cemetery
Efforts to identify those interred in the Camp Calhoun Cemetery and to erect suitable memorials began in 1997. The restored Camp Calhoun Cemetery was dedicated in May 2008.

. . . i have been visiting my friends in the 31st reg, at calhoun kentky to my sorrow they are in bad condition of health caused by imprudence incompatincy or neglect of the officers there health is so very bad only near half of the reg is able to turnout to service . . . many of the sick and feeble have spent there last money and there friends money to procure some little nourshing food . . .
from a letter to Indiana Governor O. P. Morton dated January 10,
1862 from a visitor to Camp Calhoun (Spelling original).

Photo captions:
Top right: Dr. James M. Baily was a surgeon in the 26th Kentucky Infantry, organized at Camp Calhoun in December 1861.
Bottom left: Thousands of patriotic young men enlisted in the Union army. Many did not survive their short tenure in recruiting and training camps.

Erected

Camp Calhoun Cemetery Marker on right of tri-sided pedestal. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 13, 2018

2. Camp Calhoun Cemetery Marker on right of tri-sided pedestal.

2008 by Commonwealth of Kentucky, City of Calhoun, McLean County Cemetery Board & Fiscal Court, Forrest's Orphans Camp 1744 SCV.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 10, 1852.

Location. 37° 32.255′ N, 87° 15.696′ W. Marker is in Calhoun, Kentucky, in McLean County. Marker is on West 3rd Street west of Poplar Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: West 3rd Street, Calhoun KY 42327, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Camp Calhoun (here, next to this marker); Forrest Reconnoitered (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); County Named / Calhoun (approx. 0.2 miles away); McLean County War Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Charles Hansford / Charles Hansford (1759-1850) (approx. 0.8 miles away); Union Camp Site / McLean County Recruits, Co. D 35 Regt. KY. Vol. Mounted Inf. (approx. 6.1 miles away); Livermore Bridge (approx. 7.9 miles away); William Worthington (1761-1848) (approx. 9.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Calhoun.

The Camp Calhoon Cemetery was errected to honor the memory of the Union dead at Camp Calhoon. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 13, 2018

3. The Camp Calhoon Cemetery was errected to honor the memory of the Union dead at Camp Calhoon.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 13, 2018

4. Camp Calhoun Cemetery Marker

Units of those interred here. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 13, 2018

5. Units of those interred here.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 334 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 10, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.