Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-06-28
The RespOnsibIlIIy at Camp Dennisou


The Responsibility at Camp DennisOn'
The Ohio State Journal makes the fol-
lowing statement in regard to Camp Den
nison, which shows that whatever its haps
and mishaps, it is entirely under the con-
troll of the United States officers, and not,
in any way, under the management of Gov,
Dennison, or the State authorities
CAMP DENNIsoN AND OTHER CAMPS.
fI sPits Of many announcements in the
newspapers that Camp Dennison is camp
for the United States soldiers, officers, pfi-
Yates and citizens persist in holding the
State authorities responsible for its man.
sgement, for quarter-master and commits
sary duties respecting the troops there, and
for the payment of officers and men mus
tered into United States service.
The facts are that Camp Dennison was
aaid out by w. s. Rosecraus, now Briga-
.dier General in the United States Army,
under orders from General Mcclellan
United States Quartermaster John H.
Dickinson, superintended the construction
of, and paid for the huts and barracks
erected there. United States Commissary
w. w. Burns, has provided all the rations
for soldiers at Camp Dennison, and all that
the State authorities have done respecting
'that camp, or all they could do, was to ad-
vance to Quartermaster Dickinson, out of
the appropriation of 100000 made by the
Legislature in aid of tho General Govern
ment, such sums for the purchase of cloth
ing as he declared il necessary to have, in
order TO uniform the troops in time for
marching orders. The only order issued
by Governor Dennison, and the only one he
was authorized to issue respecting soldiers
at Camp Dennison, explained the manner
in which, under instructions from the War
Department, three months volunteers
might be recognized into volunteers for
the war. The executive of Ohio, or his
Adjutant General, would be guilty of
breach of property, if either of them should
issue pass to any citizen who might wish
to visit friend in that camp.
None other than United States officers
have been in command at Camp Dennison,
and it would be as reasonable to hold the
State authorities responsible for the care
and conduct, or pay of Indiana, Illinois, or
Michigan soldiers mustered into United
States service in those States, as for men
mustered at Camp Dennison Excluding,
as causes Of complaint, inexperience of off
GERS and men, We can only account for the
confusion which has held the Governor and
his staff TO accountability for trials and
tribulatioBs in a United States camp, by
remembering that our people are jealous Of
Federal Intervention, and are proud Of
State Sovereignty.
But now that we forget State lines
that the East and the West move together
in q common cause--to crush rebellion
against a common Government, let us make
proper distinction between what is State
and what is Federal authority-between
what is State and what aaral respon-
Bibility, holding both Federal
powers, justly aeeountab
There arc properly nowsH5 State camps
In Ohio. Camp Dennison and Camp
Chase are the two camps now occupied,
and the soldiers in them are only soldiers
that have been, or are being mustered into
the service Of the United States for three
years should the war so long continue.