Camp Salvation (Calexico) facts for kids

Camp Salvation was a special camp created in 1849. It was set up to help people traveling to California during the California Gold Rush. These travelers, called emigrants, were crossing the very tough Sonoran Desert. They used a southern path to reach California.

The camp was located where the town of Calexico, California is today. A military officer named Lieutenant Cave J. Couts established the camp. He was part of a group surveying the border between the United States and Mexico. Camp Salvation helped travelers from September 23 to December 1, 1849. It was an important stop on the Southern Emigrant Trail.

What Was Camp Salvation?

Camp Salvation was a safe place for people who were struggling. Many emigrants were tired and sick after their long journey. They had crossed the hot and dry Sonoran Desert. The camp offered them a chance to rest and get help.

Lieutenant Cave J. Couts and his team made sure travelers had what they needed. This included food, water, and medical care. The camp was a true "salvation" for many. It helped them continue their journey to the gold fields.

A Special Historical Marker

In 1965, a special marker was placed at the site of Camp Salvation. This marker tells the story of the camp. It was put there by the California State Park Commission. The City of Calexico also helped with this project.

The marker is located at 400 Block of East 5th Street in Calexico. It is known as California Historical Landmark number 808.

The words on the marker say:

Marker Number 808, Here on September 23, 1849, Liet. Cave J. Couts, Escourt Commander, International Boundary Commission, established Camp Salvation. From September till the first of December 1849, it served as a refugee center for distressed emigrants attempting to reach the gold fields over the Southern Emigrant Trail.

Who Was Lieutenant Cave J. Couts?

Cave J. Couts was born in Tennessee in 1821. He became a cadet at West Point Military Academy when he was 17. He finished his training in 1843. After that, he became a second lieutenant in the military.

In 1848, Couts and his soldiers traveled to California. Their journey across the Sonoran Desert was very difficult. In 1849, Couts led an expedition to the Gila River. He was in charge of surveying the border between the United States and Mexico.

Couts set up a camp called Camp Calhoun where the Colorado River and Gila River meet. Besides his border work, he helped with relations with Native American tribes. He also helped the "49er" emigrants. These were the people traveling to California for the Gold Rush.

On September 23, 1849, Couts established Camp Salvation. This was a refugee camp in what is now Calexico. It was created to help those traveling to the gold fields.

Couts married Miss Ysidora Bandini in 1851. She was the daughter of Don Juan Bandini from San Diego. Couts and Ysidora had 10 children.

After leaving the Army, Couts became a County Judge. He also became a special agent for Native American affairs for a short time. He visited tribes in San Diego County. He wrote a report with ideas to improve their lives. He also helped hundreds of Native Americans find jobs on his ranch.

Couts lived on a large ranch called Rancho Guajome. It was near present-day Vista, California. He discovered that the soil and climate in San Diego County were great for farming. He was one of the first people in the area to plant many fruit trees. His ranch grew to be very successful.

Couts died in 1874 in San Diego. His home, Rancho Guajome Adobe, has been preserved. It is now a California Historical Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can visit it at Guajome Regional Park in Vista, California.

Images for kids

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  Lieutenant Cave J. Couts in 1843