# Camp Watson

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**Camp Watson** was a [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) camp in central [Oregon](/source/Oregon) which operated from 1864 through 1869.

## History

Camp Watson was established by Oregon Volunteers on July 12, 1864.[1] The [1st Oregon Cavalry](/source/1st_Oregon_Cavalry) built several log buildings, but no surrounding palisade.[citation needed] The camp was moved from its original location to another one four miles away on October 1.[1] The location was chosen to protect the route of [the Dalles-Boise Military Road](/source/The_Dalles-Boise_Military_Road) and its travelers, notably gold miners, from attacks by "[Snake Indians](/source/Snake_Indians)" during the [Snake War](/source/Snake_War).[citation needed] The [Regular Army](/source/Regular_Army_(United_States)) took over the operation of Camp Watson in May 1866, and the camp was abandoned on May 24, 1869.[2]

## Naming

The camp was named for Second Lieutenant [Stephen Watson](/source/Stephen_Watson_(Oregon_politician)), who was killed in battle with Snake Indians on May 18, 1864,[3] at Luelling Springs, Oregon. His body was recovered the following day and buried temporarily at [Camp Maury](/source/Camp_Maury) until a metal coffin was sent from [Fort Dalles](/source/Fort_Dalles), at which point he was moved to [Fort Vancouver](/source/Vancouver_Barracks), [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)) where he now lies.

## Today

Today the location of Camp Watson is in [Wheeler County, Oregon](/source/Wheeler_County,_Oregon) near the unincorporated area of [Antone](/source/Antone,_Oregon), approximately twenty-three miles east-southeast of the town of [Mitchell](/source/Mitchell,_Oregon) (all of which were founded after Camp Watson was abandoned).

## See also

- [John M. Drake](/source/John_M._Drake)

## References

1. Kenny, Judith Keyes (1957). "The Founding of Camp Watson". *Oregon Historical Quarterly*. **58** (1): 13.

1. Kenny, Judith Keyes (1957). "The Founding of Camp Watson". *Oregon Historical Quarterly*. **58** (1): 14.

1. Kenny, Judith Keyes (1957). "The Founding of Camp Watson". *Oregon Historical Quarterly*. **58** (1): 6, 11, 13.

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