Camp Trousdale facts for kids

Camp Trousdale was an important place in Tennessee during the American Civil War. It was a training camp for soldiers fighting for the Confederate Army. Located near Portland in Sumner County, this camp was used from June to November in 1861. Many Confederate groups, especially from the Army of Tennessee, learned how to be soldiers here. The camp was eventually closed because the Union Army was moving into central Tennessee.

A Busy Training Camp

Camp Trousdale was a great spot for training new soldiers. It was easy to get to because it was near the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. The camp was also close to Nashville, a major city.

Why This Location Was Chosen

The area had good weather and large open fields. These fields were perfect for training new volunteers. Soldiers learned important military drills through lots of daily practice. Camp Trousdale was similar to other training sites, like Camp Moore in Louisiana.

Protecting the Border

Camp Trousdale also served as a starting point for military missions. These missions were often along the Tennessee-Kentucky border. Felix Zollicoffer became the commander of Camp Trousdale in July 1861. He sent soldiers from the camp to help protect Confederate areas near the Cumberland Gap. Sadly, Zollicoffer died during a battle near Mill Springs, Kentucky. His troops had to retreat back into Tennessee.

Dealing with Sickness

Like many military camps during the war, Camp Trousdale faced a big challenge: disease. For example, the Third Tennessee Infantry Regiment moved to the camp hoping to escape an epidemic of measles and other illnesses. But even after they arrived on July 16, 1861, many soldiers still got sick.

Because of this, a military hospital was built at the camp. It was a tent, not a permanent building. Today, archaeologists (people who study old things) think that the hospital site might hold many interesting items. These could include things related to military life, medicine, and how people lived back then.

Fun and Games at Camp

Even with tough training and sickness, soldiers at Camp Trousdale found time to relax. One soldier wrote that dances happened almost every night at the camp! Despite the "mighty tight rools" (strict rules), they found ways to have fun.

The camp was finally closed in November 1861. This happened because the Union Army was advancing into middle Tennessee.

Confederate Units That Trained Here

Many different groups of Confederate soldiers from Tennessee trained at Camp Trousdale. Here are some of them:

• 3rd Infantry - Colonel John C. Brown
• 7th Infantry - Colonel Robert H. Hatton
• 8th Infantry - Colonel Albert Fulton
• 16th Infantry - Colonel John H. Savage
• 17th Infantry - Colonel Tasewell W. Newman
• 18th Infantry - Colonel Joseph B. Palmer
• 20th Infantry - Colonel Joel A. Battle
• 23rd Infantry - Colonel Mathis Martin
• 24th Infantry - Colonel Robert D. Allison
• 32nd Infantry - Colonel Edmund E. Cook
• 35th Infantry - Colonel Benjamin J. Hill
• 41st Infantry - Colonel Robert Farquharson
• 44th Infantry - Colonel Coleman A. McDaniel
• 45th Infantry - Colonel Addison Mitchell
• 55th (McKoin's) Infantry - Colonel James A. McKoin
• 2nd Cavalry - Colonel E. S. Smith
• 2nd Cavalry Battalion - Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Jones
• 1st Artillery Battery - Captain Arthur M. Rutledge
• Morton's Light Artillery - Company - Captain John W. Morton
• Woodwards Cavalry Company - Captain Thomas C. Woodward