Civil War Camps
Colfax and Jackson

CAMP COLFAX
Located about two blocks north of the location of the marker.  It was a plot of ground at the west edge of La Porte, (at this time, the City of La Porte's west boundary was L Street) beyond L Street and a small lake in existence then which became known as Camp Lake, and bounded on the north be Second Street.

The 9th Regiment organized and mustered into service at Indianapolis, 25 April 1861, for three months service. At the end of the three months service, the 9th returned and went into rendezvous at Camp Colfax, under the command of Col. Robert H. Milroy.  (Abstracted from information in files of La Porte County Historical Society, Inc., La Porte, IN)

The camp was named in honor of Schuyler Colfax, U. S. Representative 1855-1869 and Vice-President 1869-1873.

CAMP JACKSON

Located at "Stanton's Grove," one mile east of La Porte on land owned by Elijah Stanton.  It was on Section 25, Twp. 37 North, Range 3 West  (Center Twp.).  The cabin in the photo at left belonged to Richard Harris, an early settler, and was used as headquarters.  They also used the nearby Quaker Church for a time and prior to the barracks for the camp being ready for occupancy, one company of Col. Miller's Regiment was encamped at the County Fair Grounds.  The camp was in existence about three months.  (Abstracted from copy of a clipping from LA PORTE HERALD, August 17, 1861)

According to a plat map of La Porte County, 1862, the County Fair Grounds were located on Ohio Street and bounded on the north by Niles Street.

Verification of Camp Jackson at La Porte - 29th Indiana Regimant

Considerable research has been done regarding these camps and anyone wishing to further pursue the history of these camps is invited to utilize the information contained in the files maintained by the La Porte County Historical Society in the research area in the society's museum.

History presented by Fern Eddy Schultz