Camp Misery, located off the bank of the Rappahannock River, was a Union Army camp established in 1861. It was originally known as Camp Butler, but earned the name Camp Misery because of the horrific winter in 1862 that the soldiers experienced.[1][2][3]
Spring runoff in the stream just south of Camp Misery, Jewel Basin
The Winter of 1862 proved to be one of the harshest winters encountered during the Civil War. Camp Butler was plagued pneumonia, cholera, smallpox, dysentery, malaria and other diseases exacerbated by close contact, poor nutrition, and inadequate clothing and housing.[4] Camp Butler also held prisoners, and due to the poor health conditions over 148 prisoners died within two-and-a-half weeks.
The mortality at Camp Butler averaged around 3 to 4 soldiers per day, with the death toll reaching as high as 15 men on some days.[5] According to records kept by a Dr. Reece, a physician in the camp, by June 1862, 336 soldiers had been hospitalized. Because of the high mortality and harsh weather conditions recorded in this particular camp, Camp Butler was dubbed "Camp Misery" by Civil War soldiers and historians.
Excavationedit
Since 2008, Virginia's Department of Historic Resources has conducted excavations in hopes of learning more about the condition of life in Camp Butler. However, may be brought to a halt by the planned 2017 construction of a new high school.[6]James Madison University and the Stafford County School System have begun to excavate a street located in Camp Butler looking for clues to Civil War life.
Referencesedit
^Branscome, Jeff. . Fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
camp, misery, located, bank, rappahannock, river, union, army, camp, established, 1861, originally, known, camp, butler, earned, name, because, horrific, winter, 1862, that, soldiers, experienced, spring, runoff, stream, just, south, jewel, basin, contents, wi. Camp Misery located off the bank of the Rappahannock River was a Union Army camp established in 1861 It was originally known as Camp Butler but earned the name Camp Misery because of the horrific winter in 1862 that the soldiers experienced 1 2 3 Spring runoff in the stream just south of Camp Misery Jewel Basin Contents 1 Winter 1862 2 Excavation 3 References 4 External linksWinter 1862 editThe Winter of 1862 proved to be one of the harshest winters encountered during the Civil War Camp Butler was plagued pneumonia cholera smallpox dysentery malaria and other diseases exacerbated by close contact poor nutrition and inadequate clothing and housing 4 Camp Butler also held prisoners and due to the poor health conditions over 148 prisoners died within two and a half weeks The mortality at Camp Butler averaged around 3 to 4 soldiers per day with the death toll reaching as high as 15 men on some days 5 According to records kept by a Dr Reece a physician in the camp by June 1862 336 soldiers had been hospitalized Because of the high mortality and harsh weather conditions recorded in this particular camp Camp Butler was dubbed Camp Misery by Civil War soldiers and historians Excavation editSince 2008 Virginia s Department of Historic Resources has conducted excavations in hopes of learning more about the condition of life in Camp Butler However may be brought to a halt by the planned 2017 construction of a new high school 6 James Madison University and the Stafford County School System have begun to excavate a street located in Camp Butler looking for clues to Civil War life References edit Branscome Jeff Archaeologists inspect Union s Camp Misery Fredericksburg com Archived from the original on 15 November 2010 Retrieved 3 May 2011 Camp Misery Excavation 26 January 2011 MCANDREW Tara Camp Misery Medicine was sparse at badly overcrowded Camp Butler Illinois Times Archived from the original on 11 March 2012 Retrieved 3 May 2011 Camp Misery Excavation Retrieved 7 June 2011 Camp Misery Illinois Times Archived from the original on 11 March 2012 Retrieved 7 June 2011 Archaeologists inspect Union s Camp Misery Fredericksburg com Archived from the original on 15 November 2010 Retrieved 7 June 2011 External links editCamp Misery Excavation Camp Misery Archived 2012 03 11 at the Wayback Machine Archaeologists inspect Union s Camp Misery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Camp Misery amp oldid 1184585206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
