Camp Meigs

Last updated
Recruiting poster, 1863. Recruiting poster for the Massachusetts 54th regiment.jpg
Recruiting poster, 1863.
Monument to soldiers who died at Camp Meigs in the Old Village Cemetery Monument to soldiers who died at Camp Meigs.jpg
Monument to soldiers who died at Camp Meigs in the Old Village Cemetery

Camp Meigs is a former American Civil War training camp that existed from 1862 to 1865 in Readville, Massachusetts. [1] It was combined from the former Camp Brigham (formed to train the 18th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry) [2] [3] and Camp Massasoit (formed to train the 24th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry) [4] [5] and trained the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, among others. The 54th regiment was one of the first official African-American units in the United States during the Civil War. The former camps were merged into Camp Meigs in August 1862. [6]

Contents

Other units that trained there include the 11th, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 47th, 48th, 55th, 56th, 58th, 59th, 60th and 62nd regiments of infantry; the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th regiments of cavalry; the 2nd regiment of heavy artillery; and the 5th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 16th batteries of light artillery. [6] The 6th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 26th Unattached Companies Massachusetts Volunteer Militia were also at the camp during the war. [7] It was the busiest training camp in Massachusetts. [6]

In 1869, the land was obtained by the Norfolk Agricultural Association, improved upon, and ultimately became the Readville Race Track. On December 12, 1915, the newly formed Sturtevant Aeroplane Company tested its new A-3 Battleplane prototype on the Readville field, becoming the first American airplane engineered specifically for air combat. [8] The A-3 was designed by Grover C. Loening, most recently the Army’s aeronautical engineer at San Diego and hired by Sturtevant. The Battleplane featured a water-cooled 140 hp Sturtevant V-8 engine with two removable 8-foot × 2.5-foot nacelles positioned mid-wing for machine gunners to fire outside the propeller arc. The test flight was piloted by Lt. Byron Jones.

By World War II, the site was largely abandoned, although U.S. Navy pilots from Squantum Naval Air Station flying their Stearman biplanes would practice "touch and go" landings on the remnants of the old oval track. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> African-American Union Army unit of the Civil War (1863–65)

The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was the second African-American regiment, following the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment, organized in the Northern states during the Civil War. Authorized by the Emancipation Proclamation, the regiment consisted of African-American enlisted men commanded by white officers. The 54th Massachusetts was a major force in the pioneering of African American civil war regiments, with 150 all black regiments being raised after the raising of the 54th Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">28th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 28th Massachusetts Infantry regiment was the second primarily Irish American volunteer infantry regiment recruited in Massachusetts for service in the American Civil War. The regiment's motto was Faugh a Ballagh

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Readville, Boston</span>

Readville is part of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. Readville's ZIP Code is 02136. It was called Dedham Low Plains from 1655 until it was renamed after the mill owner James Read in 1847. It was part of Dedham until 1867. It is served by Readville station on the MBTA Commuter Rail. It is on the original alignment of Route 128, later part of a since-discontinued section of Route 135. Readville is bordered by the Town of Milton to the south and the Town of Dedham to the west. Paul's Bridge, which is at the neighborhood's entrance as one approaches Milton, is one of the oldest bridges in the Commonwealth. The name comes from James Read, a resident and cotton mill owner. Readville is covered by Boston Police Department District E-18 in Hyde Park and a fire station on Neponset Valley Parkway houses Boston Engine Company 49. Readville is also home to several light industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "Harvard Regiment", was a regiment of infantry in the American Civil War. The regiment was so nicknamed because the officers of the 20th were young Harvard graduates. In addition, some, but not all, of the private soldiers had attended Harvard. The 20th was organized at Camp Meigs in Readville, August 29 to September 4, 1861. After training they left Massachusetts for Washington, D. C., September 4. They would fight until the war's conclusion being mustered out on July 16 and discharged July 28, 1865. Fogel et al's Union Army Data urban sample suggests perhaps as many as two-thirds of the regiment's enlisted were immigrants with Irish immigrants making up half of the regiment's total.

The 53rd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment recruited in Massachusetts for service in the American Civil War. The volunteers, mostly farmers, predominantly hailed from north-central Massachusetts.

The 60th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War from 1864 to 1865.

The 62nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment being raised to serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The war ended before the unit was complete.

The 61st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment raised for one year's service in the Union Army during the American Civil War from 1864 to 1865.

The 41st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was a three-year infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was recruited as part of Governors Banks' and Andrew's recruitment drives to supply the union with a military force to hold and expand Union control of the lower Mississippi. In the late winter/early spring of 1863, it was converted to mounted infantry and later to cavalry. On its conversion in June 1863 at Port Hudson, it was disestablished and re-established as the 3rd Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Readville Race Track</span> Historic race track in Massachusetts

The Readville Race Track located in Readville, Massachusetts had a famous and exciting history for Harness Racing, Motorcycle Racing, Auto Racing and early military combat Aviation. When the track officially opened on August 25, 1896, it quickly became one of the premier venues for harness racing in the United States. It was known as one of the country's fastest courses and many records were broken there. In 1903 history was made at Readville when a five-year-old mare named Lou Dillon became the first trotter to run a two-minute mile. On August 25, 1908 the most spectacular event in all harness horse history was staged, the $50,000 American Trotting Derby won by Allan Winter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John H. Harbourne</span> American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient

John H. Harbourne was an English born American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Harbourne received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Harbourne's medal was won for his actions during the Second Battle of Petersburg on June 17, 1864. He was honored with the award on February 24, 1897.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

24th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. It was organized around September-December 1861 at Camp Massasoit in Readville, under Col. Thomas G. Stevenson. The regiment served with the Coast Division commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside. The Coast Division was deployed in January 1862 for operations on the coast of North Carolina, and participated in the Battle of Roanoke Island and the Battle of New Bern among other engagements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">16th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 16th Massachusetts was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War formed of volunteers from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was the sister regiment of the renowned Massachusetts 54th Volunteers during the latter half of the American Civil War. The enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 opened the way for the enlistment of free men of color and newly liberated slaves to fight for their freedom within the Union Army. As the ranks of the 54th Massachusetts quickly reached its full complement of recruits, an overflow of colored volunteers continued to pour in from several other states outside Massachusetts — many of whom simply had not arrived in time — prompting Governor John Albion Andrew to authorize yet another regiment of colored soldiers sponsored by the Commonwealth. Lieutenant Colonel Norwood P. Hallowell of the 54th Massachusetts was promoted to colonel and appointed commander of the 55th Massachusetts on May 30, 1863. Five companies of the 55th Massachusetts were mustered into service on May 31; two more companies were mustered in on June 15; and the last three on June 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">45th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

45th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. The regiment trained at Camp Meigs in Readville, Massachusetts before traveling to North Carolina, where they fought in the Battle of Kinston in December 1862, and in skirmishes in and around New Bern, North Carolina in the spring of 1863. They suffered heavy casualties in battle and due to fever. In June they returned to Boston, where they patrolled the streets to quell any draft riots, and were discharged on July 21. They were commanded by Colonel Charles R. Codman (1829-1918).

The 40th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a three-year infantry regiment of the Union Army that served in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, the Army of the Potomac, and the Department of the South during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">42nd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 42nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was a regiment of infantry that served two tours in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was first formed in September 1862 in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">43rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 43rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was a regiment of infantry that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was first formed in September 1862 in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months. The nucleus of the regiment was the Second Battalion Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, a unit dating to 1798 known as the Boston Light Infantry and nicknamed the "Tigers." The 43rd Massachusetts therefore became known as the "Tiger Regiment."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">44th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 44th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was a regiment of infantry that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Its nucleus was the 4th Battalion Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, known as the "New England Guards". An old state militia unit dating back to the Revolution, the 4th Battalion was called upon to serve garrison duty at Fort Independence shortly after the beginning of the Civil War. After President Abraham Lincoln's August 1862 call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months the 4th Battalion was given permission to recruit to a full regiment and to muster into federal service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">47th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 47th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was a regiment of infantry that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was one of the 18 Massachusetts regiments formed in response to President Abraham Lincoln's August 1862 call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months. The unit was known as the "Merchant's Guard Regiment" having been recruited primarily through the efforts of Boston merchant Lucius B. Marsh, who became the regiment's Colonel and commanding officer. The regiment's service was unusual in that it never saw combat as a full regiment. Two detached companies saw minor skirmishing without casualties. Instead of active combat duty, the regiment served guard and provost duty in various camps and fortifications in and about New Orleans, Louisiana.

References

  1. "Boston Harbor I - Camp Meigs". American Forts Network. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  2. "Boston Harbor I - Camp Brigham". American Forts Network. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. Schouler, William (1868). A History of Massachusetts in the Civil War. Boston: E.P. Dutton & Co. pp. 189–190.
  4. Miller, Richard F. (2012). States at War, Volume 1: A Reference Guide for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont in the Civil War. Hanover: University Press of New England. p. 339. ISBN   978-1611683240.
  5. Schouler 1868, pp. 191–192.
  6. 1 2 3 Browne, Patrick (May 2015). "Civil War Training Camps in Massachusetts, Part One". Historical Digression.
  7. Higginson, Thomas Wentworth (State Historian) (1896). Massachusetts in the Army and Navy During the War of 1861-65, Vol I. Boston, MA: Wright and Potter Printing Co, State Printers. pp. 319–326.
  8. "Sturtevant Aeroplane Co".
  9. "Sturtevant Aviation History".

42°13′50.13″N71°8′3.00″W / 42.2305917°N 71.1341667°W / 42.2305917; -71.1341667