The Mississippi in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Camp Clear Creek
In Response To: Camp Clear Creek ()

Believe this is it:

Part series of frequently overlooked sites in and around Corinth, Mississippi.

Part Six – Union Troops Constructed Camp Davies South of Corinth

It’s time for a stroll off the beaten path. The first five places I sent you to were so easy to find you didn’t even need to turn on the GPS. This one will take you to a part of Corinth you’ve probably never seen. And if you think it’s hard to find now, imagine finding it in 1862. Okay, it’s not that difficult to find as the folks in the Sand Hill Community will tell you.
A month after the October, 1862, Battle of Corinth, the Union troops in the area were still on the lookout for any Confederates lurking in the neighborhood. There was no longer any danger of another major battle but there were still enough guerillas and raiders in the area to keep the local commanders on their toes. Camps were set up in strategic locations for two reasons. First, to keep an eye on enemy activity, and, second, to move the soldiers out of town and closer to a reliable supply of fresh water.

The summer of 1862 had been a season of drought and wells and creeks had gone dry. Soldiers from both sides drank from polluted creeks and inevitably came down with dysentery, a great number dying of the malady. Corinth was not a healthy place to be stationed. (For any out-of-towners reading this, our water is much better today!) As a consequence many of the camps were moved to the east and south of town and Clear Creek proved a favorite.

In November, 1862, the 14th Missouri Infantry, also known as Birge’s Western Sharpshooters, made their camp along the lower reaches of Clear Creek, not far from its junction with the Tuscumbia River. The men were all crack shots and wore squirrel tails on their hats to boast of their marksmanship. Located six miles south of Corinth, the camp was eventually enclosed by a wooden stockade and in due course had forty buildings within the walls. The men called it Camp Davies in honor of Brigadier General Thomas A. Davies, the commander of their old division. . . .

. . . . To learn more about Camp Davies come out to the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center. The rangers can provide detailed directions out to the Camp Davies site and show you where to find more research material about this unique Corinth location. The Center is located at 501 West Linden Street and is open 8:00 to 5:00 daily. Park staff can be reached at 662-287-9273.

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