African American soldiers in formation at Camp George Meade, Pennsylvania

Camp George G. Meade near Middletown, Pennsylvania, was a camp established and subsequently abandoned by the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish–American War.

History

Camp Meade was established August 24, 1898, and soon thereafter was occupied by the Second Army Corps, of about 22,000 men[1] under command of Maj. Gen. William M. Graham, which had been moved from Camp Alger in an attempt to outrun the typhoid fever epidemic.[2] Camp Meade was visited by President William McKinley on August 27, 1898.[3]

It was inspected November 3 and 4, and found to be spacious and well laid out. The water supply was obtained from artesian wells, and was piped to every organization. It was both good and abundant. The hospitals were commodious, and well equipped and conducted. The bathing facilities for the men were ample. The sanitary and other conditions were of high order, and the camp as a whole was open to but little criticism. The testimony of a number of officers and men was taken, and the troops and camp inspected. In November this camp was discontinued and the troops—not mustered out—distributed to the various camps in the South. The number of deaths to October 11 was 64.[4] Camp Meade was abandoned about November 17, 1898.[5] The 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the Second Army Corps was relocated to Camp Fornance, Columbia, South Carolina, and a brigade of the 1st Division, Second Corps to Camp Marion, Summerville, South Carolina.

Part of the camp was reopened in April 1899 for the muster out of a number of volunteer units (2nd, 4th, 5th and 9th U.S. Vol. Inf.) up through June 1899. In addition, several of the new volunteer regiments authorized by Congress in 1899 for the Philippine–American War assembled there during July to November 1899. The Mt. Gretna rifle range was used by these regiments.

Namesake

Named after George Gordon Meade, (1815–1872) a career United States Army officer and famous Civil War general.

Location

The camp was located south of Harrisburg and just west of Middletown. The site is bisected by the east-west Pennsylvania turnpike (76) east-west State Highway 283 and the north–south extension from State Highway 283 to the Harrisburg International Airport. The site is north of the airport in between Middletown and Highspire. The land rises to the north from the Susquehanna River. Much of the area in the north central part of the camp is still semi-rural. Residential areas cover many of the sites south of State Highway 283. Rosedale Road cuts across the site diagonally northwest–southwest. The Penn State University Harrisburg Campus is at the south side of the site and a number of the 1898 camp sites are located on the campus. There is a historical marker on the west side of Pennsylvania Highway 441 (Union Street) at the Middletown Area High School (1155 North Union Street).[6]

Camp Conewago

The 203rd Regiment of the New York U.S. Volunteer Infantry was moved to a quarantine camp at Conewago, Pennsylvania on October 2, 1898, because of the high incidence of typhoid in its ranks at Camp Meade. Conewago is a small town southeast of Middletown. The regiment remained there until it left for Camp Wetherill, Greenville, South Carolina, on November 12, 1898. This camp is sometimes referred to as Camp Conewago. The camp site was near the Conewago railroad station.

References

  1. ↑ CAMP MEADE FILLING UP; Thirty Thousand Men Are Expected in Ten Days and More Ground Is Needed., New York Times, August 20, 1898.
  2. ↑ Report on the origin and spread of typhoid fever in the U. S. military camps during the Spanish War of 1898, Issue 757 of House document Volume 2, Walter Reed, United States. Surgeon-General's Office, Victor Clarence Vaughan, Edward Oram Shakespeare, Publisher Govt. Print. Off., 1904.
  3. ↑ REVIEW BY THE PRESIDENT.; Troops at Camp Meade Will March Past Him To-morrow -- A Spaniard Arrested., New York Times, August 26, 1898.
  4. ↑ Report of the Commission Appointed by the President to Investigate the Conduct of the War Department in the War with Spain, Govt. Print. Off., 1899.
  5. ↑ Camp Meade Now Wholly Deserted New York Times, November 18, 1898.
  6. ↑ Camp George Gordon Meade Historical Marker
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