Skirmish re-enactment boosts attendance
at Camp Nelson’s Civil War Days event

Some 200 visitors were on hand for Camp Nelson’s Civil War Days Sept. 22-23, enhanced by a skirmish depicting a June 1864 raid on the Union supply depot by Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan.

A skirmish re-enactment was conducted both days at 2 p.m. and was featured along with living history activities, drills, demonstrations, camp scenarios and period music.

The re-enactment focused on defense of the depot and encampment during six days of June in which civilian employees were asked to take up arms and defend the 800-acre facility. The camp was considered a ripe plum by Morgan’s Raiders as it consisted of more than 300 buildings associated with its function as a quartermaster and commissary depot, recruitment center and hospital.

Civilian employees were required to maintain the camp and haul supplies during the 1864 skirmish. Carpenters, blacksmiths, wagon and harness makers and teamsters were among the necessary personnel.

When Morgan and his men attacked, the military force stationed at the camp was judged inadequate for its defense, according to Major C.E. Compton. The major called for volunteers and noted that without a single exception all the employees came forward and offered their services. Only 600 arms were available at that time and Compton was able to find a man for every weapon.

The camp usually was garrisoned by 3,000-8,000 soldiers and, on occasion, supplied armies in the field as was deemed necessary. Morgan’s Raid happened at a time when the troop population was at a particularly low point.

During its period of operation, the camp was the staging ground and supply center for three key campaigns:

• Major Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s August-November 1863 Knoxville invasion;
• Major Gen. Stephen Burbridge’s October 1864 Southwestern Virginia activity; and
• Burbridge’s wing of Major Gen. George Stoneman’s December 1864 campaign.

All three campaigns involved crossing rugged terrain over rough roads that made the supply network from Camp Nelson difficult to maintain. The camp was instrumental in providing supplies for all three campaigns with the Knoxville outing and Stoneman’s venture resulting in Union victories.