Site Record
Metadata
Site# |
176 |
Site Name |
Camp Abraham Lincoln/Camp Berry |
Description |
Camp Abraham Lincoln, later renamed as Camp Berry, was located in the Ligonia area of South Portland (then known as Cape Elizabeth), Maine. During the Civil War, the volunteer infantry regiments from southern and western Maine mustered in at this location. The site was previously known as Island Park, home to a harness racing track in the 1850s. At the time when President Lincoln called for volunteers to be raised to fight for the Union Army, this large, flat, vacant site next to Portland was identified as ideal for organizing troops. Before it was officially established by the Adjutant General and named Camp Abraham Lincoln in 1862, incoming regiments applied various names to land in this area: Camp Preble, Camp McClellan, Camp Butler, Camp Mason and Camp King. The following regiments mustered at Camp Abraham Lincoln: 5th Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry (Camp Preble) 6th Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry (Camp Preble) 10th Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry (Camp McClellan) 12th Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry (Camp Butler), November 17, 1861 1st Maine Battery of Mounted Artillery, December 18, 1861 7th Maine (returned to Camp Mason for rest and recruitment of replacements), August 1862 17th Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry (Camp King), August 18, 1862 20th Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry (Camp King and Camp Mason), August 29, 1862 23rd Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry, September 29, 1862 25th Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry, September 29, 1862 27th Maine Regiment Voluneer Infantry, September 30, 1862 |
