Camp Dick Robinson facts for kids

Camp Dick Robinson Headquarters
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The farmhouse at Camp Dick Robinson in 1887
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Nearest city	Danville, Kentucky
Area	7 acres (2.8 ha)
Built	1850
NRHP reference No.	76000888
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	December 12, 1976
Removed from NRHP	December 7, 1990

In 1861, during the American Civil War, a special place called Camp Dick Robinson became the first Union army base south of the Ohio River. It was located in Kentucky, a state that was trying to stay neutral at the start of the war. This camp was very important because it helped the Union keep Kentucky on its side.

William "Bull" Nelson, a U.S. Navy lieutenant, played a key role. He started arming people in Kentucky who supported the Union. Soon, he was given permission to gather 10,000 soldiers. These soldiers marched into Camp Dick Robinson on August 6, 1861. Many leaders believed that setting up this camp helped prevent Kentucky from becoming a major battlefield early in the war. It even changed the direction of the war.

Why was Camp Dick Robinson important?

When the Civil War began in April 1861, many people in Kentucky wanted their state to stay out of the fighting. They believed that leaving the United States would cause chaos.

In May, Union supporters in Kentucky received 700 muskets from Lieutenant William Nelson. These weapons helped them stand up to those who wanted Kentucky to join the Confederacy. This support encouraged Kentuckians to vote for leaders who wanted to keep the state in the Union.

After this vote, Nelson realized that Kentucky's "neutral" position was ending. He met with important leaders, including President Abraham Lincoln, to plan how to support Union loyalists in East Tennessee. On July 1, 1861, Nelson was given the job of organizing 10,000 troops.

Choosing the camp location

Nelson looked for a good place to train these new soldiers. He found a 425-acre farm owned by Richard M. Robinson at Hoskins Crossroads. This farm was perfect because it had plenty of land, water from springs and the Dix River, and was near important roads. It also had buildings like a tavern, store, and barn.

On August 5, 1861, Kentuckians voted again, and most elected leaders who supported the Union. This showed that Kentucky was strongly for the Union. The very next day, Union soldiers began arriving at Camp Dick Robinson.

The camp was officially dedicated on August 10. Some newspapers and people who supported the Confederacy were upset about the camp. But Nelson didn't understand why a camp of loyal Kentuckians, gathered under the U.S. flag, would cause worry.

President Lincoln supported Nelson's actions. He told Kentucky's governor that Camp Dick Robinson was set up because many Kentuckians asked for it. Lincoln refused to remove the troops, calling them a "local force."

Building the Union army

By the end of August, Nelson had gathered 3,200 soldiers, 7,000 weapons, and 6 cannons. Soldiers from Kentucky and Tennessee joined the camp. Confederate leaders nearby were worried because Nelson's camp was growing quickly.

Many people feared that Confederate forces would invade Kentucky, take over cities like Frankfort and Louisville, and force the state to leave the Union. But leaders like Garrett Davis insisted that Camp Dick Robinson must stay, even if it meant war.

On September 3, 1861, Kentucky's neutrality officially ended when Confederate troops moved into western Kentucky. The state government then asked the governor to use Kentucky's military to push out the invaders.

Leadership changes at the camp

On September 15, 1861, Brigadier General George Henry Thomas took command of Camp Dick Robinson, replacing Lieutenant Nelson. Nelson was promoted to Brigadier General and given new orders to stop a Confederate attack from eastern Kentucky.

Confederate troops, led by Brigadier General Felix K. Zollicoffer, took over Barbourville, Kentucky, on September 19. They planned to advance toward Richmond and Lexington. President Lincoln hoped that Zollicoffer would leave the area because he feared Camp Dick Robinson.

General Thomas had 9,000 soldiers. He sent them to the Rockcastle Hills to stop the Confederates from moving north. On October 21, these Union soldiers won an important battle at Camp Wildcat.

Camp Dick Robinson continued to receive new soldiers. These troops later helped the Union win the Battle of Mill Springs in January 1862. This victory allowed the Union army to move into Tennessee and take Nashville.

Later use of the camp

In August 1862, Confederate Major General Edmund Kirby Smith led 12,000 troops into Kentucky. He ordered the local Home Guard to leave Garrard County. Confederate General Braxton Bragg then decided to move supplies to Camp Dick Robinson and even set up a new training camp there called Camp Breckinridge.

However, after a major battle at Perryville, Bragg realized his army was outnumbered and decided to leave Kentucky. His troops departed from Camp Breckinridge on October 13.

In 1863, plans were made for a new expedition into East Tennessee. Major General Ambrose Burnside became the commander of the Army of the Ohio. On August 21, a large crowd gathered at Camp Dick Robinson to see the reburial of William "Bull" Nelson behind the original headquarters building.

After the Civil War

The government's lease of Richard M. Robinson's farm ended in June 1865. Friends of William Nelson honored him by raising a large flag near his grave on July 4. However, two years later, people upset with federal policies cut down the flagpole.

The Robinson family faced financial difficulties. Colonel Robinson died in 1869, still waiting for payment for the use of his land and home during the war. His widow, Margaret P. Robinson, eventually received some payment from the government for the rent.

By 1872, Camp Dick Robinson was no longer as important. William Nelson's remains were moved to his family's cemetery plot. Margaret P. Robinson sold parts of the farm over the years, and by 1905, all the land associated with Camp Dick Robinson had been sold.

Today

In 1990, the Robinson house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. However, new owners later changed the house's appearance by adding a brick front. Because of these changes, the building was removed from the register. Road development also changed the original look of the land. Efforts have been made to place a new historical marker at the site.