How do you locate CW camps?

Find a library that has a set of the OR's (official records) of the Civil War. Now go through them looking for information on troop movements in your area. Also read books on the historys of the counties in which you want to search. I have found this to be a great way to find camps that have no mention in the OR's. Also a great thing to have is the Official Military Atlas of the Civil War. If you find reference to a camp that gives you location information (ex. "we camped at the mouth of Duck Creek"), get topographical maps of the area and look for terrain there that would be suitable for a camp. Typically slightly elevated terrain that would allow rain to flow off, usually in close proximity to a road existing in that time period, and also has close access to water. There are still untouched camps out there. I found a Union camp several years ago that took me a year of research and hunting for, but when I finally walked into it, it was ON! I have spent the last two months doing the same research I wrote about above and as soon as winter breaks I have about 6 camp site to locate. Do your research and you will likely be successful. Good luck!
 

I live in Harpers Ferry. I can help if you ever need some. Just let me know.
 

Two books, "finding civil war campsites in rural areas" and "interpreting history from relics found in civil war campsites" by POCHE ASSOCIATES are a treasure trove of information if you could locate them
 

CWnut said:
Two books, "finding civil war campsites in rural areas" and "interpreting history from relics found in civil war campsites" by POCHE ASSOCIATES are a treasure trove of information if you could locate them
Click to expand...

Thanks, I just ordered a copy. I know most of the history from around here and I guess alot of it is common sense. I have permission to hunt a farm that's adjacent to the C & O canal which had alot of troop movement. Just lookin for a little edge.
 

joad said:
CWnut said:
Two books, "finding civil war campsites in rural areas" and "interpreting history from relics found in civil war campsites" by POCHE ASSOCIATES are a treasure trove of information if you could locate them
Click to expand...

Thanks, I just ordered a copy. I know most of the history from around here and I guess alot of it is common sense. I have permission to hunt a farm that's adjacent to the C & O canal which had alot of troop movement. Just lookin for a little edge.
Click to expand...

The 2 guys who put together these books, have literally made a science of looking for, finding, and cataloging CW camps. They teach you how to determine the layout of the camp from the relics found. Excellent material. :thumbsup:
 

I have the perfect resource for you. It is called "Finding Civil War Camps in Rural Areas." You can't go wrong with it. Here is the link: http://www.pochefamily.org/books/findingcwcamps.htm I paid about 15.00 for i and it gives you all the ways to determine where CW camsites where looking at Topographic maps, Google Earth by determinig where CW roads were and the types of land features that were common to civil war camsites such as stream fords and other terrain features that indicate a possible site. Check it out it is well worth the 15.00 or so to get it. :icon_thumright:
 

Check for local history clubs and organiztions. They'll know it all pretty much. Plus you'll might make some friends.
 

Wow. That is a pretty heavy duty question. I have hunted areas where you are at when I lived in N. VA. I can tell you that the area you are in isn't a bad place to just get permission and jump on to some farm fields to get some decent relics. If you are looking for camps of course doing your research and hitting the books is always required. The good news is that many camps didn't make it into any easy to find research texts...that is the beauty of this hobby. I have actually found an entire colonial house communites based of the finds and remants of small cellar holes over the years.

In N. Va and Northern MD, there are a few tricks that you can use in finding inhabited areas. The key is where there were people in your area there were troops.

1. Look for water...I am in the military and you have to have water. Water is essential so even small brooks and streams were all that were needed. Keep in mind also that we have really had a serious impact on the terrain so many brooks and streams may be gone now due to damming and road building and the like.

2. High flat ground. Be it a day camp or winter quarters which need large areas for laying out a perm/temp camp, you cannot sleep on a hill...although never just walk over hillsides leading up to these areas. Soil slumping over the years and troop movements with pickets and scouts will make these areas also worth moving your coil over. From a defensive standpoint the high ground is the place to be.

3. Roads. Be it for moving in and out of an area, bringing in supplies or taking up the march again roads are key. Often old unpaved roads are now paved but some roads are lost to the woods. If you know what to look for you will often come across old roads in the woods, yet another place to move your coil across. Just because a known road doesn't exist again won't disqualify an area also.

4. Talk to the folks around. The land owners and farmers know the history also and know what they have seen on their property. This has been by far the BEST way to zero in on known sites. The locals know best. Never be afraid to ask the folks around. When I have fallen short I have been redirected by locals to the right spot or another area I didn't even know about.

Good Luck!

Archmjr

4.
 

I live in Frederick, MD. There are many great sites around on private property. Send me an email and I would be more than happy to assist you. A lot of the sites have been hit pretty hard by other detectorist in the past. Also there is a local detecting club for Washington and Frederick County.
 

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