Camp Nelson

https://www.nps.gov/cane/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Nelson_Heritage_National_Monument Camp Nelson National Monument is national monument, historical museum and park located in southern Jessamine County, Kentucky, 20 miles (32 km) south of Lexington, Kentucky. The American Civil War era camp was established in 1863 as a depot for the Union Army during the Civil War. It became a recruiting ground for new soldiers from Eastern Tennessee and enslaved people, many of whom had fled their living conditions to be soldiers. The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. Over the next 3 years. the site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for United States Colored Troops and a refugee camp for their families. It served as a shelter for civilians fleeing war and for enslaved people hoping to secure their freedom and aid in the destruction of slavery. Camp Nelson National Monument is located along US 27 about 20 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, 6 miles south of Nicholasville on US 27, and 16 miles north of Danville, KY on US 27. The Park entrance is on the original Danville Pike, adjacent to US 27, one mile north of the Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Camp Nelson National Monument Visitor Center, Museum, and Barracks The Visitor Center, Museum, and Barracks are open 5-days a week (Wednesday through Sunday), 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. The buildings are closed on Monday and Tuesday The buildings are closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving. and Christmas. The Oliver Perry White House is closed for renovations. The Visitor Center provides an orientation to the events that unfolded at Camp Nelson through exhibits and a 17-minute film. The Reconstructed Barracks features the award-winning Network to Freedom and Soldiers Exhibit. Camp Nelson National Monument is located along highway US 27 about 20 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, 6 miles south of Nicholasville on US 27, and 7.5 miles southeast of Wilmore along US 1268. The park entrance is on the original Danville Pike, adjacent to US 27, one mile north of the Camp Nelson National Cemetery. The visitor center is just inside the park gates. Camp Nelson National Monument Visitor Center A paved path leads to a gray wooden building with US Flag flying. Camp Nelson National Monument Visitor Center and Museum In the Footsteps of Freedom at Camp Nelson National Monument A living historian wearing a US Army Civil War uniform and park ranger walk on a mowed path. A Park Ranger and a United States Colored Troops [USCT] soldier walking on a trail. Trees and people can be seen in the background. Camp Nelson National Monument's Pastoral Landscape Open fields of green grass with trees during a colorful sunrise. View of Camp Nelson's pastoral landscape looking northeast near the Visitor Center. Interior of Soldiers' Barrack Building A row of rough, wooden bunk beds in the soldiers' barrack house. Visit the barracks to imagine life at Camp Nelson during the Civil War. Perry House A white, 2 story farm house with a Civil War cannon sitting in front of it The Perry House at Camp Nelson United States Colored Troops at Camp Nelson, KY during the Civil War African American Civil War soldiers stand at attention outside their barracks. African American Civil War soldiers fighting for the Union stand at attention outside their barracks at Camp Nelson, KY. Living History Demonstration at Camp Nelson National Monument Living Historians portraying US Army artillery practice loading a cannon 14th Kentucky Light Artillery performing an artillery demonstration at Camp Nelson National Monument. Reconstruction Era African American Schools in the South Learn about the development of Black post-emancipation schools in the South as part of the legacy of Black communities’ dedication and commitment to ensuring civil rights. Ten case studies highlight Reconstruction Era education stories and sites in and around national parks. Sepia-toned image of students standing outside of a small, white wooden school building. Rewarding Historic Preservation Project at Camp Nelson National Monument Unlocks New Opportunities Meet Jon Casado, American Conservation Experience member, who recently served at Camp Nelson National Monument in Florida on a Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Maintenance Action Team (MAT) project. Jon Casado poses on downed tree with vegetation around him. Historic Preservation Project at Camp Nelson National Monument Delivers Practical and Meaningful Experience Meet Sarah Kachinovas, American Conservation Experience member, who recently served at Camp Nelson National Monument in Florida on a Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Maintenance Action Team (MAT) project. Sarah Kachinovas smiles for a photograph Project Profile: A Strategic Approach to Building Forest Resiliency in Southeast Parks The National Park Service is addressing the climate change vulnerability of southeast park ecosystems. Fall-colored trees on a mountain slope. A tree is in the right-side foreground. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Camp Nelson National Monument, Kentucky Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. Photo of a park visitor center with wood siding

Camp Nelson Camp Nelson National Monument Kentucky National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Men in a cavalry unit of the US Colored Troops stand for review outside their barracks at Camp Nelson. More than 10,000 Black soldiers trained here. Camp Nelson provides a window into America's complicated soul. The year was 1863. The United States Civil War was entering its third year and the US Army needed a secure place for a new supply depot. Army engineers scouted south from Nicholasville. They came to this plateau and stopped. This was it. The land dropped steeply on three sides to the Kentucky River and Hickman Creek. The engineers quickly designed fortifications to protect the north end. {See the map on the other side.) NATIONAL ARCHIVES Military campaigns soon shifted to other parts of the country, and Camp Nelson evolved into a new role. It became a major recruitment center for the US Colored Troops (USCT). Thousands of Black men freed themselves from enslavement by enlisting. {See "Soldiers" below for how this happened.) The army disbanded the USCT after the war but soon formed permanent Black-only regiments. Many veterans enlisted again. Later nicknamed Buffalo Soldiers, some became the first rangers in America's national parks. Camp Nelson National Monument is a portal to understanding how the Civil At Camp Nelson, Black soldiers were joined by their families, who were not War inspired the fight for civil rights. This quiet landscape holds the stories freed. Their status was uncertain and dangerous until a tragedy brought their of soldiers and refugees, freed and enslaved, attempting to forge their place Camp Nelson served as a supply depot and staging area for operations in plight to national attention. {See "Refugees" about the hardships they endured.) in America and to secure their rights as humans and citizens. The fight for the surrounding region. It featured 300 buildings, including barracks, hospicivil rights continues today. tals, workshops, stables, and mess halls. {Depot details are below.) From here, After the war, the army shut down Camp Nelson. Most refugees left the US Army launched its successful campaign to liberate the people of East Kentucky to search for new opportunities. A few stayed here, establishing a Come, look through the window with us. Tennessee from the Confederacy. community called Ariel on the site of the refugee camp. Now known as Hall, its residents still include descendants of USCT soldiers and refugees. ARMY DEPOT HARNESS AND SHOEING SHOPS Farriers bend to the task of protecting horse and mule hooves with iron shoes. SOLDIERS HOME AND CAMP OFFICES Up to 300 wounded men could be cared for here before going back to war or being discharged. SOLDIERS NATIONAL ARCHIVES ARMY-BUILT COTTAGES Soldiers' families pose outside their cottages. Not everyone had such sturdy housing. REFUGEES UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY Camp Nelson served as a major supply base for the US Army. A constant flow of people, animals, wagons, and cannons from central Kentucky stopped here on their way to the battlefields of Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia. The army also trained and equipped thousands of soldiers at this base. The US Army relied on soldiers, civilians, and enslaved people to construct and operate the depot. Camp Nelson teemed with activity, and at times its population rose higher than Lexington's. Each day saw a variety of people coming on to the base to work or otherwise interact with the military. They included merchants, shop owners, photographers, leather workers, horse trainers, teachers, preachers, doctors, and nurses. The base also provided shelter for White refugees fleeing the war. Many found their way into military service at Camp Nelson. The army organized them into regiments of infantry, mounted infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The US Army's liberation of Knoxville, Tennessee, in September 1863 showed Camp Nelson's important role in military success. However, the supply lines proved too long and difficult to maintain. As a result. Camp Nelson's mission evolved from supply depot to recruitment center for the US Colored Troops (USCT). Kentucky was a border state during the Civil War—it remained in the United States but maintained the institution of slavery. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, defined a path toward freedom for enslaved people in most seceded (Confederate) states. It did not apply to people in the border states of Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, and West Virginia. their enslavers. Even so, hundreds made it to Camp Nelson each day. However, Lincoln's proclamation provided a new option for Black men in Kentucky starting in 1864. If they volunteered for the USCT, they would be emancipated— if they could get to an army base. Many were assaulted, murdered, or returned to At Camp Nelson, the army also organized the 124th US Colored Infantry for boys and older men who could