It is the last week of June 1861. The 500+ acres that make up Camp Dennison are alive with activity as over 10.000 Ohio volunteers have rendezvoused at the site for organization and training.
At regular intervals, trains arrive at the Little Miami Railroad depot laden with new recruits, supplies, and civilian visitors from all around the state. In the fields along the eastern edge of the camp, bordering the Little Miami Railroad, are the cantonments and tents of the 5th, 6th and 10th Ohio infantry. Large fields, which just a few months earlier were planted in wheat and corn, have been beaten into dusty parade grounds by the plodding feet of thousands of marching soldiers.
The calls of bugles and drums, the crackle of musketry and the thunder of field guns can be heard from early morning until sundown each day.
General George McClellan, commanding the Ohio Militia, visits the site on a regular basis to examine the progress being made in the formation of this new volunteers force.
On successive day, large groups of local citizen supporters of the 10th Ohio and 6th Infantry regiments arrive at Camp Dennison.
These groups deliver patriotic addresses to the troops and present beautifully crafted flags and engraved swords to the regimental officers.
Many soldiers at the camp have not yet received their uniforms and equipage from the army.
Others are still clad in the brightly colored or ornamental garb of their independent militia companies.
The 5th and 6th Ohio have just recently received theirs issue of Federal blue uniforms, accouterments, and muskets.
Now , to the strains of theirs officer´s commands, they have to set to work in learning the fine art of soldiering.
Interesting Historical Sidbar: On June 23rd, a train carrying the 6th Indiana Infantry arrives at Camp Dennison. The Hoosriers are bound for the West Virgina and have passed through Cincinnati earlier in the day.
At the Camp Dennison they become the “guests� of the 6th Ohio, who welcome them to the camp.
The next day, as the Indiana regiment prepers to board the trains, the 6th Ohio boys offer a hearty cheer and stuff rations into the haversacks of their departing neighbor statesmen.