Chickamauga in Walker County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Camp George H. Thomas

Historic Camp Thomas

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

1. Camp George H. Thomas Marker

Inscription. In 1895, the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park became the country's first National Military Park. The following year, Congress passed legislation allowing the Military Park to be used as a training ground for the Army. As war with Spain looked inevitable, in early 1898 the Chickamauga Battlefield Park came under consideration is the place of troop training. The reason was the Chickamauga Park offered good railroad link's to most parts of the country. Besides the adequate railroads, the climate was warm and would help acclimate many of the Northern troops to the Cuban weather conditions.

On April 14, 1898, the first regular army unit, the all Black 25th Infantry Regiment arrived at Chickamauga Park. On April 21, Maj. Gen. John R. Brooke arrived in camp and took command of the camp. He made his headquarters at Lytle Hill on April 25, the same day, war was declared on Spain. More regular Army units arrived, and their total strength grew to 7,300 men. On April 23, the site was named Camp George H. Thomas in honor of the Civil War General who had fought here. On May 14, all regular army units had left and

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volunteer state units started arriving. Their numbers would swell to at least 45,000 by the end of the month.

Camp Thomas involved intensive training. Reveille was 4:40 a.m. It was intense and grueling. There was also a dress parade every evening. The supply of tents available at Camp Thomas was in short supply, and the men crowded 7 to 9 men in a tent measured 7 feet by 9 feet. The tents had no floors, there were no cots or beds, and the men had a single blanket each. There were no regular cooks or mess halls. Cooking was done over open fires and the soldiers had to find and cook their own meals. They then had to wash their own dishes, often without water, which was quite scarce at that time. Due to lack of sanitation, disease was rampant.

On August 8, largely due to the unhealthy conditions, secretary of war Russell A. Alger ordered the camp to begin closing. Sick soldiers in the two camp hospitals were sent home on furlough to recover. Other troops were sent to other camps were discharged and sent home.

By the middle of September most of the soldiers had departed. More than 72,000 troops had been in the camp. The park was

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

2. Camp George H. Thomas Marker

Close-up view, that is displayed on the marker, of Maj. General John R. Brooke.

in ruins, many trees had been destroyed, some being used for firewood, some cut for poles, while others were destroyed by Cavalry horses and other livestock that ate the bark. More than 3,000 latrines were disinfected and filled, buildings were dismantled, refuse burned. Resurfacing the roads and removing dead timber continued. Work by park laborers went to replace historical markers broken during the occupation. In all, more than $25,000 was spent refurbishing the battlefield after the Spanish-American war.

The military presence continued with the opening of Fort Oglethorpe in December, 1904.

For more information on historic Chickamauga, please visit the Depot Museum, inquire at Town Hall or look up the homepages for the city of Chickamauga and the Chickamauga campaign trail on the Internet:
www.CityofChickamaugaGeorgia.org
and
www.ChickamaugaCampaignTrail.org.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Spanish-American. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1958.

Location. 34° 52.246′ N, 85° 17.555′ W. Marker is in Chickamauga, Georgia, in Walker County. It can be reached from Cove Road (Georgia

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

3. Camp George H. Thomas Marker

Close-up view, that is displayed on the marker, of a Map of Camp Thomas.

Route 341) south of Gordon Street. This marker cannot be seen from the roadway because it is located in a community park, at the Crawfish Springs, behind the Crawfish Springs Water Tower. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chickamauga GA 30707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Town of Lytle (here, next to this marker); Sickness at Camp Thomas (here, next to this marker); North and South Reunited (a few steps from this marker); Crawfish Spring (a few steps from this marker); 3rd Confederate Georgia Cavalry (within

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

4. Camp George H. Thomas Marker

Close-up view, that is displayed on the marker, of a picture of Soldiers Relaxing in Camp.

shouting distance of this marker); 4th Georgia Cavalry (within shouting distance of this marker); Hospitals, Right Wing, Union Army. (within shouting distance of this marker); Field Headquarters Army of the Cumberland (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chickamauga.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

5. Camp George H. Thomas Marker

View of the featured marker, situated to the left of "the Town of Lytle" marker.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

6. Camp George H. Thomas Marker

View of the featured marker, to the far left of a group of four markers, with the Crawfish Springs in the distant background.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, August 19, 2014

7. Camp George H. Thomas Marker

A distant view of the featured marker, along with several other markers, situated behind the Crawfish Springs water tower.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,049 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 27, 2015, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.