Historic California Posts, Camps,
Stations and Airfields
Camp Fitzgerald
(Los Angeles County)
Camp Fitzgerald
by Colonel Herbert M. Hart, USMC (Ret)
Established in early June
1861, near Los Angeles, where it occupied three different sites,
each abandoned on account of the lack of water and pasture for
the horses, Camp Fitzgerald was first garrisoned by Colonel James Henry Carleton, 1st Dragoons, with Companies
B and K, 1st Dragoons, and Companies F and I, 6th Infantry. Most
of the 304 troops came from Fort Tejon, where Carleton was stationed
until May 3, and Fort Mojave, New Mexico, between June 12 and
June 27. The camp was named in honor of Brevet Major Edward H.
Fitzgerald, 1st Dragoons, who died in 1860. On September 8, 1861,
Companies F and I, 6th Infantry, numbering 118 men, left for
Fort Yuma. On September 20 Carleton and his
1st Dragoons evacuated Camp Fitzgerald.
Camp Fitzgerald's plan
approved in July, 1861, probably was made more compact and adapted
to Camp Latham tent site occupied in September,
1861. From wagons to band tent was 250 paces, cannon on right
actually was 100 paces beyond tents. Inspected in 1862, Latham's
tents were found to be worn out, soldiers' uniforms shoddy, and
almost all 100 horses present unfit for use. (Redrawn from National
Archives plot.)
This page
was reprinted with permission from Old Forts of the Far West,
published in 1965
