| Camp Watts Notasulga, AL |
History of Camp Watts
Camp Watts was located on what is now known as Union Camp Road in Notasulga, AL. This location is currently private
property and is used for cattle. This location was once a hospital, camp, train depot and supply point for confederate soldiers
during the civil war. Camp Watts was commanded by Major William G. Swanson in 1862. This Camp was capable of
supporting anywhere from 2000-3000 men at any given time. This location served as a camp of conscripts for training soldiers
and picking up supplies as well. Which came in on the railroad still located just across the street. The old rail road spur that
once ran from the main rail way right to the camp can still be seen in the bare trail stretched across the back side of the
baseball field just in front of the property. The hospital which was once here is still a mystery as to just where exactly the
hospital was situated on this property. Along with the hospital there is no way to pin point the cemetery either. This cemetery
would hold the remains of confederate and union soldiers alike. It's said that after the camp was removed the property was
bought and the land was farmed. The graves of these soldiers where never moved. The slaves that farmed this land moved
the large white stones that marked each grave to farm the land. This property has changed hands on many occasions threw
the years, and the location of the grave sites are forever lost.
Investigation of Camp Watts
Investigating Camp Watts has posed difficult, in that 320 acres of farm land populated by sometimes honary cattle makes it
difficult to conduct a thorough investigation of the property. Currently we are looking to pin point where the hospital and camp
would have been. We have found evidence of where the camp and hospital may have been based on artifacts found on the
property. Some of the items we have found are parts of an old well, to include the brick and mortar and an old bucket. The
property itself gives us clues as to where a large scale tent or building may have been. The ground close to the location
where the well was found is built up like a road may have once been there.
The grave markers here are in an obvious place under a large and very old oak tree. However we know this is not the
location of the buried soldiers. Since we know that farmers and slaves moved stones from the fields. We know this location
was chosen by family as a memorial site but not the actual resting place of the soldiers who died here. There is evidence in
The Civil War Archives of Alabama that some of the Union General Lovell H. Rousseau's raiders may be buried here as well.
The Alabama Paranormal Research Team is still investigating the Camp Watts location to hopefully uncover some hard
evidence of where the hospital and grave sites are located. As well as some evidence of the legends of this historic place
being haunted by civil war soldiers. Sounds of cannon fire and the voices of men talking are just a few of the reports from this
location. The city of Notasulga lost there records room to a fire in 1997. Many historic records where lost in that fire to include
information on Camp Watts as well as other locations in Notasulga our team has been asked to investigate. Even if our team
finds no evidence of paranormal activity it's our duty as American's to help preserve our history.
Evidence
None at this time
Non-Paranormal photos and information
Camp Watts was located on what is now known as Union Camp Road in Notasulga, AL. This location is currently private
property and is used for cattle. This location was once a hospital, camp, train depot and supply point for confederate soldiers
during the civil war. Camp Watts was commanded by Major William G. Swanson in 1862. This Camp was capable of
supporting anywhere from 2000-3000 men at any given time. This location served as a camp of conscripts for training soldiers
and picking up supplies as well. Which came in on the railroad still located just across the street. The old rail road spur that
once ran from the main rail way right to the camp can still be seen in the bare trail stretched across the back side of the
baseball field just in front of the property. The hospital which was once here is still a mystery as to just where exactly the
hospital was situated on this property. Along with the hospital there is no way to pin point the cemetery either. This cemetery
would hold the remains of confederate and union soldiers alike. It's said that after the camp was removed the property was
bought and the land was farmed. The graves of these soldiers where never moved. The slaves that farmed this land moved
the large white stones that marked each grave to farm the land. This property has changed hands on many occasions threw
the years, and the location of the grave sites are forever lost.
Investigation of Camp Watts
Investigating Camp Watts has posed difficult, in that 320 acres of farm land populated by sometimes honary cattle makes it
difficult to conduct a thorough investigation of the property. Currently we are looking to pin point where the hospital and camp
would have been. We have found evidence of where the camp and hospital may have been based on artifacts found on the
property. Some of the items we have found are parts of an old well, to include the brick and mortar and an old bucket. The
property itself gives us clues as to where a large scale tent or building may have been. The ground close to the location
where the well was found is built up like a road may have once been there.
The grave markers here are in an obvious place under a large and very old oak tree. However we know this is not the
location of the buried soldiers. Since we know that farmers and slaves moved stones from the fields. We know this location
was chosen by family as a memorial site but not the actual resting place of the soldiers who died here. There is evidence in
The Civil War Archives of Alabama that some of the Union General Lovell H. Rousseau's raiders may be buried here as well.
The Alabama Paranormal Research Team is still investigating the Camp Watts location to hopefully uncover some hard
evidence of where the hospital and grave sites are located. As well as some evidence of the legends of this historic place
being haunted by civil war soldiers. Sounds of cannon fire and the voices of men talking are just a few of the reports from this
location. The city of Notasulga lost there records room to a fire in 1997. Many historic records where lost in that fire to include
information on Camp Watts as well as other locations in Notasulga our team has been asked to investigate. Even if our team
finds no evidence of paranormal activity it's our duty as American's to help preserve our history.
Evidence
None at this time
Non-Paranormal photos and information
Grave Markers under a large Oak
located on the property but this area
does not mark the location of the buried
soldiers.
located on the property but this area
does not mark the location of the buried
soldiers.
More like an archaeological dig then a
paranormal investigation. Our team
uncovered several artifacts on the
property that may have belonged to the
hospital during the time Camp Watts was
here.
paranormal investigation. Our team
uncovered several artifacts on the
property that may have belonged to the
hospital during the time Camp Watts was
here.
Remains of an old well, in the same area
were we think the Hospital may have sat
on the Camp Site.
were we think the Hospital may have sat
on the Camp Site.
