Camp Johnson

This Confederate camp of instruction was once located about 1 mi. NW at Lightwood Knot Springs, site of a popular resort prior to the War Between the States.

Erected 1993 by The General Wade Hampton Camp #273, Sons of Confederate Veterans and the 20th S.C. Volunteers.

Lighwood Knot Springs
August 30, 1861

DEAR TRIMMIER: Here we are in camp taking our first lessons in this new kind of life. The transformation is very great, but easily borne by those who are desirous of serving their country. Our ride to Columbia presented no scenes of unusual interest; yet it was very gratifying to see the high respect paid in us by persons of all ages, sizes, colors and sexes. Old men with silvery locks — young men in the prime of life — little boys and girls — old ladies in the evening of their day — fair maidens, and in fact every one who could get to the Railroad greeted us with sundry cheers, waving of handkerchiefs, and every possible mode of respect. But the most affecting scene, after parting from the dear ones at home, was a group of women, in coase homespun, evidently in moderate circumstances, standing by the roadside weeping as though every one on board had been a son or brother. God bless those poor women who wept and prayed for us as they stood below Jonesville.

On Tuesday evening we reached our camp, on a beautiful sandy plain, seven miles from Columbia. The water is good, but not so cold as that in your village. Our fare is good, consisting of bacon, beef, rice, sugar, coffee, flour and crackers, so our friends at home need not have any fears of us perishing. The men in our company are taking their new life with much cheerfulness. The measles are in camp, but in none of the Spartanmburg companies yet. With this exception, the health of the place is good.

Several regiments are nearly or quite complete. Gen. [a militia rank] Edwards will be sure of one,; also Cols. Dunnovant and DeSaussure. As a regiment is formed, they move to themselves and form a separate encampment. You would be pleased (or perhaps disgusted) to see the great number of office seekers in camp. They seem almost as numerous as the privates. Some little men want very high offices, and some big men would be satisfied with any office whatever, just so they can serve their country and undergo no hardships.

Our worthy chaplain, Rev. A. W. Walker, has prayers with the company night and morning and the men, not only of our company, but of others, flock together as though they were at a camp meeting.

August 31. — Five companies leave to-day to complete Jones’ regiment at Aiken [in camp at Kalmia Hill]. The Cape Hatteras affair is bring the war a little closer to us. But that is the kind of fighting we want on our coasts, for then we will have double the advantage. [Be careful what you ask for.] Tell all the Spartanburg people to direct their letters to Lighwood Knot Spring, care of the Captain of the person to whom they are writing.

Come down and see us, and we will give you as good a reception as we can in our tents. There is always a plate (a tin one) and a cup for our Spartanburg friends on our table. You need not smile, for we have a table and cups too. The health of our camp continues good.

L. K.