Camp Dennison

Waldschmidt House, Camp Dennisson, Ohio

Camp Dennison notepaper

Camp Dennison was a military recruiting and training post for the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was located near Cincinnati, Ohio, in the village of Indian Hill, Ohio. The camp was named in honor of William Dennison, the 24th Governor of Ohio and a staunch supporter of the Union cause.

History[edit | edit source]

Camp Dennison was established in April 1861, shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War. The site was chosen due to its proximity to Cincinnati, a major transportation hub, and its strategic location along the Little Miami River and the Little Miami Railroad. The camp covered approximately 700 acres and included barracks, training grounds, and a hospital.

The camp served as a training ground for over 50,000 soldiers from Ohio and other states. It was also a key site for the organization and deployment of troops to various battlefronts. The 107th Ohio Infantry Regiment, among others, was organized at Camp Dennison.

Facilities[edit | edit source]

Camp Dennison was equipped with various facilities to support the training and well-being of the soldiers. These included:

Barracks: Wooden structures that housed the soldiers.
Parade Grounds: Open areas used for drilling and training exercises.
Hospital: A medical facility that treated wounded and sick soldiers. The hospital at Camp Dennison was one of the largest in the region and played a crucial role in the care of Union soldiers.

Notable Events[edit | edit source]

One of the notable events at Camp Dennison was the Morgan's Raid in July 1863. Confederate cavalry, led by John Hunt Morgan, attempted to disrupt Union supply lines and create chaos in the region. Although Morgan's forces did not directly attack Camp Dennison, the camp was on high alert, and its troops were involved in the efforts to repel the raid.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

After the war, Camp Dennison was decommissioned, and the land was returned to civilian use. Today, the site is part of the village of Indian Hill, and some of the original buildings still stand as historical landmarks. The Camp Dennison Civil War Museum preserves the history of the camp and its role in the Civil War.