Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-06-22
Reserves for the Army Of the East
Embryo of a Camp-A School for
Sixty Thousand Soldiers.

The citizens of New York will soon
be able to view a spectacle such as
has never before been presented on
this continent. We are about to have
within easy reach a grand entrenched
camp of reserve greater than that at
Aldershott, and as great as that at
Chalons. The campaign has fairly
opened before us, and to provide for
its exigencies it is necessary for Gov
ernment to keep in reserve an army of
recruits, who, as fast as they are prop
erly drilled and equipped, can be sent
forward to fill the gaps made by battle
and pestilence. In all our wars there
have been these camps of reserve, but
never on a scale Of magnitude at all
approaching that Of the one we are
to see formed. However Jealous, will
ing, and brave our volunteers may be,
they are totally unfit for active service
until they have passed through a thor
ough diclipline, and been suitably arm
ed and equipped. To turn these raw
recruits, then, into good soldiers, they
must be placed in camps ofinstruction,
whence, as soon as possible, and when
ever needed, they can be drafted into
the army.
1t was rumored, some time ago, that
Government contemplated the forma-
ton Of three such grand camps, one of
which was to be in Ohio, one in Penn
sylvania and one near this CITY,
Whether the former two are to be Gre
ated or not we cannot say; the latter
has been commenced. Ground was
broken for it on the goth inst, On Sta
ten Island, and the work is rapidly be
ing pushed forward. The location is
the extensive plateau a mile south cas-
terly from Fort Richmond, extending
from the line of DIR. Posts house to
New-Drop Lane, and running with a
gradual slope to the waters Of the Low
er Bay. The tract is nearly square,
comprising about 10000 acres, we'll
furnished with wood and water, and is
in every respect we'll adapted to the
purpose in view. On this great natur-
al parade-ground there is ample space
for the evolutions Of 10000 men, while
the depth of water along shore is such
that the transports necessary to convey
them to any designated point can lie
at anchor, and at signal come to the
wharf at any state of tide, and receive
the troops on board.
Since the goth inst, some two hun
dred sappers and miners, under COM
mand of Capt. W. Okell, have been oc-
cupied in clearing the ground Of stones,
stumps, weeds and rubbish, and have
made satisfactory progress in the work.
An old ruined house and a barn are
being repaired, the former being in
tended for reading-room, post-office,
and offices, and the latter for the ac-
commodation of cavalry horses. The
old fences aud he'd ge-rows on the
whole track, are to be removed, and
4 feet ditch is to be dug all around the
boundaries, and the bank is to be
mounted with artillery so as to make
the camp thoroughly entrenchod and
fortified
The natural slope Of the ground from
the railroad to the waters edge is to
the southeast. Towards the railroad a
thick belt of timber breaks the force Of
the north-easterly winds, and from
this eminence where the marquee Of
the commandment is to be pitched,
the whole camp will be in full view, its
snowy streets stretching in regular
lines to the blue waters Of the distant
bay. When the camp is thoroughly
established, the view from this point,
when 10000 men are in line at once III
review, will be really splendid. Not
all Of the TO- 900 acres will be cleared
at once, for although the Government
have contracted for immediate occupa-
ton if necessary, the corps will not be
interfered with until it becomes obso-
lute.y necessary. The owners of $50
acres have generously offered their
land without charge, and q handsome,
commodious villa has been placed at
the disposal of Col. Qate Major) Will
hanson, q. S. A, commandant of the
camp, for his headquarters, without
any expense to the Government.
1t was at first intended to attach the
name of Washington to the camp, but
this title having already been chosen
by Col. Wilson's Zouaves for their en-
campment at Quarantine, it has been
determined to call it Camp Scott, as a
tribute Of respect for our splendid octo-
genarion general. 1t has been placed
by the War Department under the
charge Of Col. Williamson of the ar
my, an officer fully qualified to perform
the duties Of the station.
The Colonel has contracted with
Mr.. Norman Wizard for three batteries
of six pieces each of steel ri1ed can
hon, throwing respectively six, twelve,