Letter from Camp Randall by Robert Darrah

Collection — Box: LIB-MS 1

Identifier: LIB-MS-003

Staff Only

Signed letter dated February 17, 1864 from Rob to Charley Darrah writing about guarding the conscripts and draftees, a fire at the Guard House, and attacks on citizens of Madison.

Dates

1864

Creator

Darrah, Robert (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Lawrence University does not hold the copyright for all materials in this collection. Uses beyond those allowed for fair use under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) require the researcher to secure permission from the copyright holder.

Extent

1 items

Additional Description

Biographical or Historical Information

Unknown Union soldier. Camp Randall became the center of Wisconsin military activities, and more than 70,000 men were quartered and trained there. In July, 1863 Lincoln called for a draft, all men between the ages of 18 and 45 to be enrolled into local militia units and be available to be called into national service. By late 1863 men coming into Camp Randall were conscripts and draftees not volunteers. Draftees after mustering in were under armed guard with orders to shoot anyone who tried to escape. Problems began in the camp and in Madison from a lack of discipline and too many men for the federal military agents to feed, clothe, and equip.