How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

[Iceman]

I am trying to write an essay / paper on a Civil War camp that existed in my home town of Caseyville, IL. The camp was called Camp Bissell, and it was the camp of the 12th Illinois Infantry for roughly 3 weeks in May of 1861. My question is; how many acres would a full regiment take up when they were in camp? I'm trying to determine the general area where the camp would have been, if I would know how much space a full regiment would have taken up. I know the general location of where the camp was, but now I'm trying to draw a generalized line over this area as a rough proximity as to the location and size of their camp.

Thanks!

[john duffer]

Re: How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

Per US Regs 400 paces x 481 paces so a shade over 24 acres.

[Iceman]

Re: How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

When I Google Earth the site of where Camp Bissell was located, and when I try to determine the size and location of this camp using 24 acres (or 116,160 sq. yards), it seems WAY to large of an area. I'm sure you're right with your U.S. reg's, but it just seems massive. If I were to send to you an image of where this camp was said to have been located, could you over-lay where the camp could have been based upon 24 acres? My personal email is; nbclark78@gmail.com

Thanks.

[cprljohnivey]

Re: How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

Few things you might consider about size of the camp. Your talking early 1861 so a full 1000 man regiment. Consider that the camp needed to make room for company officers, and Regimental staff. Surgeons. Duty posts. A cooks area. etc... Below I linked some period images of camps. One thing that is not included in the pictures are the wagons. The wagon park and room for the horses/mules and the officer's mounts must also be accounted for. Hope this helps.

http://www.pochefamily.org/Books/OVM196EXP.html

http://www.51illinois.org/camp_douglas.html

http://www.philaprintshop.com/images/campnpbanks.jpg

http://www.philaprintshop.com/images/sachseftmonroe.jpg

http://www.philaprintshop.com/images/campoliver.jpg

[CompanyWag]

Re: How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

May of 1861. Had all the companies of the 12th been fully assembled by that date? Had the regiment accumulated all the various camp equippage and impedimentia? Wagons and tentage may not even have been on the scene at that early date. How versed were the officers in the layout of a camp of an infantry regiment? Things may not have been done entirely by the book by such a green regiment.

[Cumpston1862]

Re: How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

Not sure if this figures into the equation either but the 12th Illinois in May of 1861 would have been a 3 month or 90 day volunteer regiment.

Two of my ancestors joined up with the 12th later in October of 1861 after they had been reorganized into a 3 year regiment. I would be fascinated to hear your findings Nic.

[Iceman]

Re: How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

Yes, in May of 1861, the 12th IL Inf. was a 90 day regiment. And yes, they were a full 10 company regiment while in camp at Caseyville. At first, the 12th were at Camp Yates, in Springfield, where they were organized. On May 10th, the same day as the capture of Camp Jackson in St. Louis, the 12th arrived in Caseyville. They traveled from Springfield to Caseyville via railroad, which would probably have eliminated all the baggage wagons, etc. They did have tents, however. Only Co. F, who were from Galena, had uniforms; all other companies in the 12th were still in civilian clothing. The uniform of Co. F was a Jager inspired uniform. The 12th were so green at Caseyville that they were still learning how to fill out morning reports, which U.S. Grant helped them do when Grant stayed at Camp Bissell for two days while visiting friends in Co. F.

[CompanyWag]

Re: How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

Nic,

I assume you've read this description from the Memoirs of Gen. A. C. Ducat, 1897:

One of the first labors of the Adjutant at Caseyville was the laying off of the encampment. The region was a pleasant one. From the edge of a bluff at the left, looking westward, one saw cultivated farms here and there in the valley, separated by streams bordered with broad belts of forest. Beyond these and beyond the unseen Mississippi could be discerned the distant spires of St. Louis. The camp named by Colonel McArthur, Camp Bissell, was set upon high and undulating ground, and the easy slopes over which the men had traced its regular streets, were mantled at that season with a smooth elastic turf —Kentucky blue grass speckled with blossoms of white clover. This natural lawn covered all the clear spaces. Better parade and drill ground regiment never had.

[Iceman]

Re: How many acres would a regiment in camp take up?

Paul,

Yep, that's in my research file on Camp Bissell.

Thanks.