Camp Black - Garden City, Hemstead Plains 1898

     Camp Black was formed on the Hempstead Plains, in March 1898, in support of the Spanish-American War. Camp Black was bounded on the north by Old Country Road, on the west by Clinton Road, and on the south by the Central Line rail. Camp Black was opened on April 29, 1898. The first regiment to occupy Camp Black was Co. H of the 71st Regiment. The Camp officially closed on September 28, 1898.  If you have images of todays traditional campsites in your mind Camp Black was no walk in the park.   It definitely was not a place to relax like a Cancun resort or cheap Caribbean vacations.


Fighting 69th drilling in column formation at Camp Black - from the Nassau County Museum Collection

The "Fighting 69th" was a mustered into Federal service on May 19, 1898. They reported to Camp Black at Hempstead, Long Island. They were then ordered to  Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, Tennessee which was the designated training grounds for troops designated to serve in the Caribbean. On May 26th the 69th Reported to Camp Thomas and was brigaded with National Guard units from other states to form the Second Brigade, Second Division, Third Army Corp.  The Regiment spent eight months in training and preparation but the war ended before they could see duty over seas. They were mustered out of Federal service on January 31, 1899.
 
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