Camp Watson
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Camp Watson was a United States Army camp in central Oregon which operated from 1864 through 1869.
History
[edit]Camp Watson was established by Oregon Volunteers on July 12, 1864.[1] The 1st Oregon Cavalry built several log buildings, but no surrounding palisade.[citation needed] The camp was moved from its original location to another one four miles away on October 1.[1] The location was chosen to protect the route of the Dalles-Boise Military Road and its travelers, notably gold miners, from attacks by "Snake Indians" during the Snake War.[citation needed] The Regular Army took over the operation of Camp Watson in May 1866, and the camp was abandoned on May 24, 1869.[2]
Naming
[edit]The camp was named for Second Lieutenant Stephen Watson, who was killed in battle with Snake Indians on May 18, 1864,[3] at Luelling Springs, Oregon. His body was recovered the following day and buried temporarily at Camp Maury until a metal coffin was sent from Fort Dalles, at which point he was moved to Fort Vancouver, Washington where he now lies.
Today
[edit]Today the location of Camp Watson is in Wheeler County, Oregon near the unincorporated area of Antone, approximately twenty-three miles east-southeast of the town of Mitchell (all of which were founded after Camp Watson was abandoned).
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Kenny, Judith Keyes (1957). "The Founding of Camp Watson". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 58 (1): 13.
- ↑ Kenny, Judith Keyes (1957). "The Founding of Camp Watson". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 58 (1): 14.
- ↑ Kenny, Judith Keyes (1957). "The Founding of Camp Watson". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 58 (1): 6, 11, 13.
44°29′07″N 119°53′38″W / 44.48528°N 119.89389°W
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- Pacific coast theater of the American Civil War
- Oregon in the American Civil War
- Military installations in Oregon
- Former installations of the United States Army
- Buildings and structures in Wheeler County, Oregon
- American Civil War army posts
- 1864 establishments in Oregon
- 1869 disestablishments in Oregon
- Snake War
- Military installations established in 1864
- Military installations closed in 1869
- American Civil War stubs