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Camp Vigo

During the Civil War, mustering or rendezvous camps were used to gather Home Guards and volunteers from the surrounding counties and towns into companies to form regiments. Here the soldiers learned their first lessons in soldiering, even though they may not have yet obtained uniforms or arms.  Many learned their left foot from their right, using hay and straw stuck into their shoe laces or tied around the shoe to distinguish left (Hayfoot) from their right (Strawfoot).

Very little has been written about Camp Vigo.  It is mentioned in letters, diaries and memoirs by many of the soldiers who mustered in there, but its location and features have not been well documented.  During its short life as a recruiting camp, three regiments were formed at Camp Vigo, the 14th, 31st and 43rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry regiments.

The Vigo County fairgrounds north of Terre Haute, IN were made into Camp Vigo beginning around the 10th of May 1861.  The camp was named in honor of Francis Vigo, the famous Italian Revolutionary War patriot and fur trader for whom the County was named after.  The land for the fairgrounds was purchased by the Vigo County Fair Grounds Company in 1859 from Demas Deming who was a trustee for the creditors of James Farrington the original land owner.(1)  The grounds covered approximately 51 acres and was located west of 7th street.  To get an idea of where the fairgrounds and camp was located, picture it  being opposite of the NW corner of present day Collett Park.  This would have been the SE corner of the fairgrounds.  Essentially if one draws a rectangle starting at the corner of  7th and Collett Avenue, then draw a line directly west to where 3rd street would intersect, then go north and stop at Florida Ave., then head east along Florida Ave. to 7th Street, then turn south and follow 7th street back to Collett Ave.  Shortly after the Civil War the grounds were sold to John J. Brake on June 28, 1865.(2)  See map at the bottom of this page.

The camp was enclosed by a high board fence.  Along the sides were stalls that were used during the county fair to house and display livestock and farm equipment.  There were some stalls that had overhead lofts where the new recruits made their quarters.  The soldiers lived and cooked their meals on the first floor and slept upstairs in the straw.

The book GALLANT FOURTEENTH (3), describes how the former fairgrounds was used, "Its mechanical-arts and other fair buildings were to be used as barracks and its display fields as parade grounds, but it could not be readied for at least a week from the time of its designation by the legislature.  Men arriving for the new regiment [14th Indiana] had to be housed at the firehouse in downtown Terre Haute."

The camp was used from around early May through October 1861 as a recruiting camp.  It is believed to have been turned into a prison camp called Camp Harrison for a short time in 1862, however I have not found reliable documentation to confirm this.  It is known that several Confederates were sent to Terre Haute after the battle of Fort Donelson.  Some are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Daily Camp Life:
"Soldiering" as one would expect was very new and different to a bunch of young farm boys or boys from town.  Camp life was exciting and at first, somewhat scary, but a daily routine soon changed them.  Those first few days in camp would be something they would talk about for the rest of their lives with fondness.  Fun and "hilarity" was common and many times tricks, jokes and pranks would occur requiring discipline to be administered.  Some were locked up in the "Guard House" for their offenses including the charge of "drunkenness".

The following excerpt from the Memoir by William Turner Glenn of Company "G", 31st Indiana Volunteer Infantry(4), gives one a good idea of what camp life was like for a new regiment.

"Camp life, as experienced by the boys of Co. G, is now described. First thing in the early morning was the reveille call, performed by fife and drum. This signalized the beginning of the day. The sleepy and the snoring were rudely awakened, told to pick the straw from their hair, carefully fold blankets and don uniforms.

Those who had been delegated to prepare breakfast, eagerly set to work at the various chores assigned. Other men, while breakfast was being prepared, went through a series of exercises, as prescribed by Army regulations.

When the morning repast was announced, the men, with great celerity, flocked to the tables with fare from pots, pans a skillets. The day’s work was thus fairly inaugurated.

After breakfast, came Police Call, at which time all litter and rubbish on the grounds were gathered and disposed of beyond camp confines.

At seven o'clock was the Surgeon's call. The sick and lame went to the Surgeon's quarters for examination and treatment. Should any in camp resort to feigned illness or indisposition, an unpalatable potion was dispensed to speed up recovery. Results were effective in this respect.

Another performance of fife and drum filled the air at seven-thirty. This indicated the time had come for drill, all Companies participating. Drilling for some time, the men were ordered to their respective quarters for a period of rest. After a brief rest, drilling was resumed. Co. G was rated as one of the best drilled outfits in camp.

Promptly at noon, was the dinner call, the most welcome call of all. Drilling began again in the afternoon..

At six o'clock, assembly call spread its summons over the camp. Every Company of the Regiment fell into groups and lined up in front of Headquarters. From here, they marched to the parade grounds, where the entire Regiment was to be reviewed by the Adjutant.

The band played a march and then a quickstep while the Companies were forming in line. The Adjutant turned the Regiment over to the Colonel, who put his troops through all the different evolutions given in the Manual of Arms. The Adjutant afterwards took charge, commanding all the Orderly Sergeants to report the condition of their Companies.

Then the Commissioned Officers proceeded to the front and center of the Regiment and lined up facing the Colonel, who was saluted. The Colonel then paid compliments or offered criticism, according to his views. The various Companies returned to their quarters, this march being in charge of orderlies.

At nine o'clock was tattoo by the drummers. This was time for roll call. When taps sounded, lights were extinguished and bedtime had arrived. For the day, camp duties were over. So, day by day, Co. G was fast developing into a fighting force, which later was to do battle with the enemy."

At the entrance a guard was posted.  Each person entering was asked by the guard, "Soldier or Citizen?"  As a new recruit, you would answer "Citizen".  As you entered you would pass a Sutler (civilian merchant) stand.   Normally a Captain would administer you an oath, however this would not be the final oath you would take before officially becoming a member of a regiment.  You would then be shown where you were to bunk and the recruit would be assigned to a mess of consisting of  4 to 6 men.  The responsibility of cooking for the mess would fall on you on certain days.(5)

From John Day's Memoir (6)  comes this excerpt referring to being assigned to a mess;

“This is where we live, make yourself at home” said Sergt. Cox.  I was assigned to a mess (No. 4) and was told by the head of the Mess that according to rule it would devolve on me to cook the next day, but I would have an assistant.  This was something I had never done and told him so.  “You will soon learn.  Many of us never cooked a pot of pork in our lives until we came into camp” he said “and now we can well enough for a General.”  I didn’t like the idea at all but as I was a new recruit, I said nothing more.

"Next morning I was shown the cooking utensils and “grub” to cook & furnished with a list of the Mess and went [to] work.  My assistant helped, of course, and with his instructions I got along tolerably well.  No one grumbled as I feared they would.  Dinner and supper were cooked and I went to my bunk to rest rejoicing that the dreaded task was over for that day."

Historical Marker: In 1962 the Indiana Civil War Centennial Commission erected a Historical Marker ID#: 84.1962.1 on U.S. Hwy 41 about Camp Vigo  It is no longer standing.  The text of the Marker is: CAMP VIGO 1861-1862 Site of Camp Vigo. training camp for Civil War units from Clay, Parke, Vermillion, Sullivan, Vigo and other counties.  The 14th, 31st. and 43rd Indiana Regiments were organized here. NEW HISTORICAL MARKER: I would like to initiate installing a new Historical Marker.  I believe it should be placed at the NW corner of Collett Park instead of on the highway as before.  This is no small task and I will need help from individuals and hopefully a History Group from the area.  If you are interested in supporting this effort please contact me.

Present day map above, 1858 Map below

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Sources:
(1) Article by Mike McCormick entitled VIGO COUNTY'S FIRST FAIR STAGED IN 1852 from the Terre Haute Tribune Star, October 2, 2004.
(2) Ditto
(3) GALLANT FOURTEENTH, The Story of an Indiana Civil War Regiment by Nancy Niblack Baxter, 1980.
(4) from the booklet, COMPANY "G", MONROE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CIVIL WAR, written by Bennett P. Reed, containing the Memoir by William Turner Glenn of Company "G", 31st Indiana Volunteer Infantry, published by: Monroe County Historical Society, Bloomington, IN.,
(5) Memoirs of Private John Day, 31st Indiana, Co. K.  (William Henry Smith Memorial Library)
(6) Ditto