Taylor Barracks (Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
During the American Civil War
, Taylor Barracks was a military induction center in Louisville, Kentucky
for African-American troops
, and after the war it was a United States Army
base for both black and white troops during Reconstruction.
The wooden barracks were erected at Third and Oak Streets on the southern outskirts of Louisville about a mile from Beargrass Creek
, and were designed to house new volunteers for the Union Army
. They were named for former President
Zachary Taylor
. Planned began in early 1864, and the barracks were constructed quickly, with several wooden frame, shingled buildings arranged in a square. Slaves who served with the Union received their freedom, but many slaves volunteered for the cause of ending slavery altogether. Recruits for the new regiment
s were transported from as far away as New York City
and Boston. By late March, more than 100 men were arriving daily.
The facility grew to cover four city blocks, or 16 acres (64,749.8 m²). Fresh water was provided by the nearby Ohio River
, sent through city water pipes. The post also included a jail to house Union deserters, as well as a hospital and a reception hall. Other buildings included stables, quartermaster
storehouses, kitchens, bakery, officer quarters, workshops, and a post library, as well as a small firehouse to shelter the post's fire engine.
As with many Civil War posts located near marshy ground, disease was a constant threat, especially typhoid, cholera
, dysentery
, and rheumatism
. Dead soldiers from Taylor Barracks were transported to Cave Hill Cemetery for burial.
Colonel Oliver Hazard P. Cary was in charge of the barracks from early 1865 until September. Most significant activity ceased after June 1866, although the Army kept the barracks open for several years to recruit and train Buffalo Soldiers and other black troops.
During World War I
, another military base south of Louisville was known as Camp Taylor
; it was a major training facility for white troops as well.
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...
, Taylor Barracks was a military induction center in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
for African-American troops
United States Colored Troops
The United States Colored Troops were regiments of the United States Army during the American Civil War that were composed of African American soldiers. First recruited in 1863, by the end of the Civil War, the men of the 175 regiments of the USCT constituted approximately one-tenth of the Union...
, and after the war it was a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
base for both black and white troops during Reconstruction.
The wooden barracks were erected at Third and Oak Streets on the southern outskirts of Louisville about a mile from Beargrass Creek
Beargrass Creek
Beargrass Creek is the name given to several forks of a creek in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The Beargrass Creek watershed is the largest in the county, draining over ....
, and were designed to house new volunteers for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. They were named for former President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
. Planned began in early 1864, and the barracks were constructed quickly, with several wooden frame, shingled buildings arranged in a square. Slaves who served with the Union received their freedom, but many slaves volunteered for the cause of ending slavery altogether. Recruits for the new regiment
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 were transported from as far away as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Boston. By late March, more than 100 men were arriving daily.
The facility grew to cover four city blocks, or 16 acres (64,749.8 m²). Fresh water was provided by the nearby Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, sent through city water pipes. The post also included a jail to house Union deserters, as well as a hospital and a reception hall. Other buildings included stables, quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
storehouses, kitchens, bakery, officer quarters, workshops, and a post library, as well as a small firehouse to shelter the post's fire engine.
As with many Civil War posts located near marshy ground, disease was a constant threat, especially typhoid, cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
, dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
, and rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
. Dead soldiers from Taylor Barracks were transported to Cave Hill Cemetery for burial.
Colonel Oliver Hazard P. Cary was in charge of the barracks from early 1865 until September. Most significant activity ceased after June 1866, although the Army kept the barracks open for several years to recruit and train Buffalo Soldiers and other black troops.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, another military base south of Louisville was known as Camp Taylor
Camp Taylor
Camp Taylor is a neighborhood and former military base six miles southeast of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, USA. First announced on June 11, 1917 it was originally a military camp named for former president Zachary Taylor...
; it was a major training facility for white troops as well.
See also
- American Civil War fortifications in LouisvilleAmerican Civil War fortifications in LouisvilleLouisville's fortifications for the American Civil War were designed to protect Louisville, Kentucky, as it was an important supply station for the Union's fight in the western theater of the war. They were typically named for fallen Union officers; usually those that served in the Army of the Ohio...
- Louisville in the American Civil War