Smoking as fire hazard at Camp Morton

[paulcalloway]

... having served out the food to the best of his ability, the sergeant in charge was obliged to see that the clean straw supplied for the bunks was equally apportioned. If left unguarded it had a way of disappearing. Quantities of straw about the camp presented a fire hazard that demanded unceasing vigilance; smoking was restricted, for in a high wind a fire would have produced a major tragedy.

Source:
Hattie Lou Winslow & Joseph R. Moore. 1995. Camp Morton 1861-1865, Indianapolis Prison Camp. Indianapolis. Indianapolis Historical Society. p. 32.

[SGulley]

Re: Smoking as fire hazard at Camp Morton

Tragedy at Camp Morton you say? That could be remedied in the near future no? wink wink.

[Todd Watts]

Re: Smoking as fire hazard at Camp Morton

That is a fear we still live with today. I am always a bit worried about the bales of straw pulled up near campfires and LEFT there overnight right near our closely-pitched rows of canvas. We had a bale at Stones River one night literally explode it flames near a campfire. Luckily some guys were awake when it went, but the ground was scortched for a good 10" radius around the bale's ashen remnants. That was even with 3 guys frantically stomping and beating the flames out.

[Mark Carey]

Re: Smoking as fire hazard at Camp Morton

At an event last year a fella went to fill canteens for his company and why he was gone his fellow comrades spread straw around the fire to try and bed down. the fire quickly jumped onto the straw and burned up the poor guy filling canteens knapsack, traps and a few other items. Imagine how you would feel to come back to find your kit was burnt up in a fire due to negligence. The whole regiment threw in money and managed to raise I think around 300 dollars for the poor fella but its the principle of the whole thing. It could of ended alot worse!

Mark Carey
-64th Ohio-
-The Devils Own-