Camp Moore
Encyclopedia
Camp Moore, north of the Village of Tangipahoa
near Kentwood, Louisiana, was a Confederate
training base and principal base of operations in eastern Louisiana
and southwestern Mississippi
. The base was named for Louisiana Governor Thomas Overton Moore
and operated from May 1861 to 1864 during the American Civil War
. The location of the camp was chosen due to its relatively high ground elevation, abundance of fresh drinking water, and being adjacent to the then New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railroad line. A small portion of the camp remains, containing the Camp Moore Confederate Cemetery and Museum.
Among the thousands of troops who were organized and trained at Camp Moore were the regiment
s that later constituted the Louisiana Tigers
. As many as 20,000 men from Louisiana were trained at Camp Moore before fighting in battles in Kentucky
, Virginia
, Tennessee
, and Arkansas
. Troops from Louisiana
, Mississippi
, and Arkansas
were trained at the base. Establishment of the camp was authorized directly from Confederate President Jefferson Davis
.
Many of the Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery died of various diseases. In the center of the cemetery stands a monument which was dedicated in 1907. The monument measures 22 feet (6.7 m), six inches (152 mm) tall. On top of the monument is a statue of a Confederate private soldier that is six feet tall.
The log house was built in 1929, as a chapter house for Chapter No. 562 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
. Next to the log house, stands a monument to area Confederate soldiers dedicated in 1979.
Built in 1965 and designated as a State Commemorative Area, the museum contains artifacts from the Civil War and regional history. In 1986, Governor Edwards
closed the site, along with other commemorative areas across the State, during a State monetary crunch. Although still owned by Louisiana's State Lands Office, the site was reopened in June, 1993 by a private, non-profit entity, the Camp Moore Historical Association. The Association has a 97-year lease with the State of Louisiana.
The Camp Moore Museum, Memorial, and cemetery is located on US 51 approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) south of the Louisiana/Mississippi
state line. The property comprises approximately 6.2 acres (25,090.5 m²). The Museum is open to the public for tours, Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and closed on major holidays. An annual Civil War re-enactment occurs on the weekend before Thanksgiving each year. This two day event, held on both Saturday and Sunday, features scripted battles, living history displays, and memorial ceremonies.
Tangipahoa, Louisiana
Tangipahoa is a village in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 747 at the 2000 census. It was named after the Native American tribe of the Tangipahoa.Tangipahoa is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
near Kentwood, Louisiana, was a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
training base and principal base of operations in eastern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and southwestern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. The base was named for Louisiana Governor Thomas Overton Moore
Thomas Overton Moore
Thomas Overton Moore was an attorney and politician who was the 16th Governor of Louisiana from 1860 until 1864 during the American Civil War.-Early years:...
and operated from May 1861 to 1864 during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The location of the camp was chosen due to its relatively high ground elevation, abundance of fresh drinking water, and being adjacent to the then New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railroad line. A small portion of the camp remains, containing the Camp Moore Confederate Cemetery and Museum.
Overview
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s that later constituted the Louisiana Tigers
Louisiana Tigers
Louisiana Tigers was the common nickname for certain infantry troops from the state of Louisiana in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Originally applied to a specific company, the nickname expanded to a battalion, then to a brigade, and eventually to all Louisiana troops...
. As many as 20,000 men from Louisiana were trained at Camp Moore before fighting in battles in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. Troops from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
were trained at the base. Establishment of the camp was authorized directly from Confederate President Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
.
Many of the Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery died of various diseases. In the center of the cemetery stands a monument which was dedicated in 1907. The monument measures 22 feet (6.7 m), six inches (152 mm) tall. On top of the monument is a statue of a Confederate private soldier that is six feet tall.
The log house was built in 1929, as a chapter house for Chapter No. 562 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
United Daughters of the Confederacy
The United Daughters of the Confederacy is a women's heritage association dedicated to honoring the memory of those who served in the military and died in service to the Confederate States of America . UDC began as the National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy, organized in 1894 by...
. Next to the log house, stands a monument to area Confederate soldiers dedicated in 1979.
Edwin Edwards
Edwin Washington Edwards served as the Governor of Louisiana for four terms , twice as many terms as any other Louisiana chief executive has served. Edwards was also Louisiana's first Roman Catholic governor in the 20th century...
closed the site, along with other commemorative areas across the State, during a State monetary crunch. Although still owned by Louisiana's State Lands Office, the site was reopened in June, 1993 by a private, non-profit entity, the Camp Moore Historical Association. The Association has a 97-year lease with the State of Louisiana.
The Camp Moore Museum, Memorial, and cemetery is located on US 51 approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) south of the Louisiana/Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
state line. The property comprises approximately 6.2 acres (25,090.5 m²). The Museum is open to the public for tours, Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and closed on major holidays. An annual Civil War re-enactment occurs on the weekend before Thanksgiving each year. This two day event, held on both Saturday and Sunday, features scripted battles, living history displays, and memorial ceremonies.