Camp Stanton, Charles County, Maryland, added to the Civil War Trails program

Originally published February 2022 · p. 38

Jason Shaffer, Direction of Operations for Civil War Trails, Inc. levels the new interpretive sign which helps visitors better understand how the United States soldiers who trained here helped change the course of history. Courtesy Civil War Trails, Inc.

Camp Stanton, Charles County, Maryland, added to the Civil War Trails program In December 2021, a new Civil War Trails sign was installed at Serenity Farm near Benedict, Maryland. The sign enables visitors to stand in the footsteps of the black men who trained at Camp Stanton from 1863–1864. It is one of seven Civil War Trails sites in the county and the first in the state to tell the story of the formation and training of ‘United States Colored Troops (USCT).’ The new sign replaces an older version that served visitors for over a decade along the Benedict waterfront. Once archeology completed in 2016 by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration uncovered the camp’s actual location a few miles west of town, a new sign was required. Dr. Julie Schablitsky, Chief Archaeologist for the Maryland Department of Transportation said, “The power of archaeology allows us to learn about the daily lives of all people. It does not discriminate. At Camp Stanton, we saw the ghostly outlines of tents and fires. Minié balls, knapsack hooks, and lost buttons showed us where United States Colored Troops lived and trained. Archaeology traced their movements on the landscape and gave us a glimpse of solider life in Southern Maryland.” The Civil War Trails program is unique in that it constantly updates sign content and locations to keep pace with scholarship and the expectations of visitors. “It is important to continually enhance the visitors’ experience,” said Ashley Chenault, Tourism Chief for Charles County. “We are confident that the new location will inspire travelers to follow the Civil War Trail.” The Charles County Recreation, Parks, and Tourism office was the fiscal partner, enabling the new sign to be developed and installed. Each Civil War Trails site, like Serenity Farm, is marketed internationally by municipal destination marketing organizations, state travel offices, parks, and other stakeholders. There are over 1,400 sites across six states with a large number dedicated to telling historically marginalized stories like Camp Stanton. “Our nation’s Civil War story is incredibly diverse,” said Drew Gruber, Executive Director of Civil War Trails, Inc. “As you turn the page, moving past the same-old, age-old Civil War stories you will find out about places like Camp Stanton.” To find out more about the program visit www.civilwartrails. org. To plan your trip to this site and others in Charles County visit www.explorecharlescounty.com. Inspired by Camp Stanton? Snap a sign selfie and tag @civilwartrails and @explorecharlescounty.

The new Civil War Trails sign located at 6932 Serenity Farm Rd., Benedict, Maryland, faces south towards Route 231 and the location of the sprawling training camp that was in operation during 1863–1864. Courtesy Civil War Trails, Inc.