Once the camp was abandoned by McGowan’s troops, there is little
doubt that local
citizens came in and scavenged the camp for resources, mainly
the timbers of the structures to
serve as fuel or fence materials and any remaining supplies that
could augment the local
community’s depleted resources. Since abandonment of the camps,
the area has never been
plowed and surface remains of the huts and associated features,
mainly in the form of
depressions and mounds, are very evident today.
In addition to the documented history of the camp, we are fortunate
to have several descriptions
of huts built within the camp. One account by a soldier in McGowan’s
Brigade provides a
detailed description of the new quarters erected after the brigade
relocated in January 27, 1864:
“The size of the house when finished was about 12 feet square,
being entirely built of
logs, chinked with clay. The chimney was built of split wood,
chinked with clay the
same as the house, but having a thick coat of clay inside to
prevent taking fire. The
protection, however, was but partial, so that there was hardly
a day in the winter but
somebody’s chimney was on fire in the camp. (Benson 1962:55)