Huts and History: The Historical Archaeology of Military Encampment During the American Civil War

301 Pages·2006·7.54 MB·English

by  David Gerald Orr

G The American Civil War soldier, confined
Clarence Geier, professor of anthropology at e much of the time to his camp, suffered from
i
e
James Madison University, is the author of r boredom and sickness. Encampment was not
,
Archaeological Perspectives on the American Civil O only tedious but detrimental to his health as
“Huts and History moves beyond r
War (UPF, 2001) and Look to the Earth: Historic r well; far more soldiers died of diseases from
Archaeology and the American Civil War. archaeological interest in battlefield , an sharing close quarters with their comrades
sites, tactics and artifacts to focus on a d
than from wounds on the battlefield. Until
David Orr is senior regional archaeologist for soldier’s most common activity—life in R
e HuTs now, archaeologists have concentrated their
the National Park Service’s Northeast region camp. This book will prove interesting to e
v study on the battle sites and overlooked the
and research professor of anthropology at a wide variety of historical and military e
s importance of the camps. This edited collection
Temple University. He has written extensively archaeologists, preservationists and
is the first dedicated to the archaeology of
on topics in historical archaeology and historians; and to those with a general AnD
Civil War encampments. It contends that
contributed most recently to Archaeology and interest in eighteenth- and nineteenth-
H i sto ry intensive study to interpret and preserve
the Muses. century conflicts.”—G. Michael Pratt, H
these sites will help to ensure their protection
director, Center for Historic and Military
Matthew Reeves is director of archaeology u as well as expand our understanding of the
Archaeology, and professor of anthropology, The Historical Archaeology
for the Montpelier Foundation and adjunct nineteenth-century soldier’s life.
Heidelberg College
associate professor of anthropology at James T of Military Encampment Whether the encampments served as
Madison University. He is a contributor to Places sites where tens of thousands of men were
s during the American Civil War
in Mind: Archaeology as Applied Anthropology. mobilized for training or where smaller groups
were taught maneuvers, they were significant
A
in several ways: as “cultural landscapes”
“[This book] not only plumbs the n characterized by architectural features, as
fascinating history of encampments; socially and politically organized “mobile
D
it [also] establishes new models for communities,” and as infrastructures created to
their study, emphasizing innovative support soldiers’ needs. The authors’ techniques
H
and nontraditional methods to can be applied to camps not only of the Civil
delve into the data sets that really i War but the French and Indian War, the
give us insight into a soldier’s life s American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the
in the field.”—Douglas D. Scott, Mexican War as well.
T
National Park Service Midwest
Archaeological Center O
R
y
University Press of Florida ISBN 0-8130-2941-4
15 Northwest 15th Street ,!7IA8B3-acjebc!
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
univERsiTy pREss Of flORiDA upf EDiTED By
Clarence R. Geier David G. Orr Matthew B. Reeves
Huts and History
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola

Huts and History
The Historical Archaeology of Military
Encampment During the American Civil War
Edited by
Clarence R. Geier
David G. Orr
Matthew B. Reeves
University Press of Florida
Gainesville/Tallahassee/Tampa/Boca Raton
Pensacola/Orlando/Miami/Jacksonville/Ft. Myers/Sarasota
Copyright 2006 by Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Huts and history: the historical archaeology of military encampment during the
American Civil War / [editd by] Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, Matthew B.
Reeves.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8130-2941-2 (cloth)
ISBN 978-0-8130-3705-9 (e-book)
1. United States—History—Civil War, 1861–1865—Antiquities.
I. Geier, Clarence R. II. Orr, David Gerald, 1942–. III. Reeves, Matthew B.
E646.5.H88 2006
973.7'3—dc22 2005058572
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State
University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida At-
lantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University,
Florida State University, New College of Florida, University of Central Florida,
University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida,
and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
The editors dedicate this volume to the professional and amateur historian and
preservation communities who have committed themselves to merge their com-
mon interests to insure the preservation and interpretion of the cultural re-
sources that speak to the military history of North America. In particular we
recognize the efforts of private individuals such as D. P. Newton of Falmouth,
Virginia. For decades, he and his father documented military encampments in
Stafford County, Virginia. Their understanding of the historic importance of
these sites convinced them to share their knowledge in the establishment of the
outstanding White Oak Museum, whose interpretations of camp life attract
both professional researchers and the public.
This volume is also personally dedicated to:
My parents, Clarence R. Geier, Sr., and Dorothy Elizabeth Confer Geier, both
deceased. Their love and unwavering support provided me the education and
opportunity to pursue a career that I dearly love.
C. R. Geier
Linda—for her support, love, and courage.
D. G. Orr
My children, Cole and Tess.
M. B. Reeves

Contents
List of Figures ix
List of Tables xiii
Foreword xv
Part I. Introduction and Background 1
Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves
1. “I Am Now Very Comfortably Situated for the Winter Having a Very Nice
Chimney Attached to My Tent, and Everything That Tends to Make This
Unhappy Life Pleasant and Agreeable” 5
Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves
2. Blueprint for Nineteenth-Century Camps: Castramentation, 1778–1865
28
Joseph W. A. Whitehorne
Part II. Survey and Management of Civil War Encampments 51
Matthew B. Reeves, Clarence R. Geier, and David G. Orr
3. Finding Civil War Sites: What Relic Hunters Know, What Archaeologists
Should and Need to Know 55
Bryan L. Corle and Joseph F. Balicki
4. Guarding the Junction: The Encampment of the 14th New Jersey Infantry
74
Brandon S. Bies
Part III. Encampment Plan and Layout 93
Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves
5. “Masterly Inactivity”: The Confederate Cantonment Supporting the
1861–1862 Blockade of the Potomac River, Evansport, Virginia 97
Joseph F. Balicki
6. Civil War Housing Insights from Camp Nelson, Kentucky 136
W. Stephen McBride and Kim A. McBride
Part IV. Encampment Architecture and Material Culture 173
David G. Orr, Clarence R. Geier, and Matthew B. Reeves
7. “Right Nice Little House[s]”: Winter Camp Architecture of the Ameri-
can Civil War 177
Dean E. Nelson
8. Under the Forest Floor: Excavations at a Confederate Winter
Encampment, Orange, Virginia 194
Matthew B. Reeves and Clarence R. Geier
9. “Beautiful Confusion”: The Archaeology of Civil War Camp Life in
an Urban Context 216
Garrett R. Fesler, Matthew R. Laird, and Hank D. Lutton
10. Cabin in Command: The City Point Headquarters
of Ulysses S. Grant 244
David G. Orr
Part V. Conclusions and Beginnings 263
David G. Orr and Clarence R. Geier
List of Contributors 269
Index 273
Figures
1.1. Encampment of army general Philip Sheridan 9
2.1. Von Steuben’s plan for a single-battalion regimental camp 32
2.2. Von Steuben’s plan for a two-battalion regimental camp 33
2.3. Revolutionary War battalion log-house city 34
2.4. Civil War–era battalion forming on color line 36
2.5. Civil War camp of regiment of infantry 38
2.6. Civil War camp of regiment of five squadrons of cavalry 39
4.1. Portion of sketch map by Corporal James Bullman of Camp Hooker 78
4.2. Officers’ quarters at Brandy Station, Virginia 79
4.3. Sergeant Albert Harrison, Company G, 14th New Jersey Infantry 80
4.4. Union skirmishers retreating across the railroad bridge over the
Monocacy River 87
4.5. Circa 1908 postcard of the monument of the 14th New Jersey Infantry at
Monocacy National Battlefield 88
5.1. “‘Masterly Inactivity,’ or Six Months on the Potomac” 98
5.2. The mid-Atlantic region, showing the position of the armies during the
blockade 99
5.3. Confederate blockade of the Potomac 101
5.4. Sketch of Virginia and rebel camps and batteries 103
5.5. The rebel batteries on the lower Potomac 106
5.6. Map of the Confederate positions in the vicinity of Evansport, Virginia
107
5.7. Site map of Evansport cantonment, showing archaeological features 109
5.8. Site map, Camp French 112
5.9. Site map, Camp Mallory 115
5.10. Site map, Camp Holmes 117
5.11. Spider fry pan fragments 120
5.12. Unnamed camp 121
5.13. Camp Holmes hut depressions 125
5.14. Representative sample of aboveground hut features 126
5.15. Hearth and chimney excavation at Camp Holmes 129
6.1. Miller’s map (1866) of Camp Nelson 137
6.2. Photo of Soldiers’ Home 142