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Camp Morton inspections and reports

 Collection — Folder: S1493
Identifier: S1493

Scope and Contents

This collection includes photostatic copies of War Department records regarding Camp Morton at Indianapolis, Indiana. Ranging from 1862 to 1865, the copied records include inspection reports, post general and special orders, and correspondence regarding the prisoners and conditions at the camp. The collection also includes four typewritten pages of annotated notes regarding the copied records. Correspondents include Dr. John S. Bobbs, Joseph B. Brown, Henry C. Carrington, John M. Cuyler, James A. Edwards, James A. Ekin, Dr. David Funkhouser, Alvin P. Hovey, and Richard Owen.

Dates

  • 1862-1865

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Historical Note

Camp Morton was a military training center and prisoner-of-war camp located in Indianapolis, Indiana during the U.S. Civil War. Following the fall of Fort Sumter in April, 1861, Governor Oliver P. Morton offered 10,000 Hoosier troops to fight for the Union. Governor Morton selected the Indiana State Fairgrounds just north of the city to house and train new recruits. After the Union victory at Fort Donelson in February, 1862, Confederate prisoners were sent to the camp. By early 1863, the camp was "much dilapidated and sadly in need of repairs." There were many complaints about the conditions at the camp and improvements were seen after Col. Ambrose A. Stevens became commandant in October, 1863. The last Confederate prisoners left the camp in June, 1865.

Sources:

Hunter, Lloyd A. "Camp Morton." In The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis edited by David J. Bodenhamer and Robert G. Barrows, 381-382. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1994.

Winslow, Hattie Lou and Joseph R.H. Moore. Camp Morton 1861-1865: Indianapolis Prison Camp. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1995.

Extent

0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2018/04/23 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2018/04/23 by Laura Eliason.
Title
Camp Morton inspections and reports
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671