In official correspondence, each "Camp of Instruction" was called by its number. Each Confederate state had either one or two designated camps. Camp Watts at Notasulga was Camp of Instruction No. 1, while Camp Buckner at Talladega was Camp of Instruction No. 2.

During the 20th century the U.S. military usually named camps after leaders from the past:
Fort Benning
Fort Polk
Fort Hood
Fort McClellan
Fort Bragg

Fort Campbell is an exception, being named for an antebellum goveror of Tennessee, William Bowen Campbell.

In late 1862 the two officially designated Camps of Instruction were named for contemporary leaders such as Governor Watts, most important civil official in Alabama, and General Buckner, leader of the most important Confederate military command in the state.