Time was tight for getting the Camp Davis site and the men mustered in and trained. On Feb. 10, 1862, Gov. Joseph Brown sent a letter to the Secretary of War, Confederate States of America, J.P. Benjamin in Richmond, Va., addressing the difficulties in mustering in troops, providing equipment and training for service in the Confederate Army.

His letter reads in part: "you request me to select camps of instruction where the men are to redezous, and if possible that I have them ready to service by 15th of March. You also say that troops when mustered into service will be clothed, equipped and armed at the expense of the Confederate States. I will do all in my power to fill this requisition but greatly fear it will be impossible to do so within the time mentioned by you. It is a very difficult matter to get a company of volunteers for the war. If I should be under the necessity of resorting to a draft, I cannot possible get the orders to every part of the State, have drafts made, and get the troops in camp by the 15th of March. No effort shall be wanting however, on my part…..

"As the troops will need tents and provisions as soon as the first companies arrive, I must request that you send supplies to each of these three points (camps of instruction) immediately, and that you order to these places quartermasters, commissaries and surgeons, who take charge of the troops as they arrive….

"(p)lease inform me by telegraph who is your agent or officer at each point with whom I can advise, and who will superintend the purchasing of the necessary supplies, ect. As the time within which the troops are required is very short, I must beg you to act promptly and provide for the supplies at once."

On Feb. 11, 1862, Benjamin sent a telegram to Gov. Brown stating, "I will accept Cavalry as well as Infantry in fair proportion. I will order staff officers to the camps you selected immediately with tents, supplies and funds for paying bounty. Let me know where you fix your camps, s/J.P. Benjamin, Secretary of War." (There were three camps of instruction established in Georgia, Camp Davis near Guyton, Camp McDonald near Marietta, and Camp Stephens near Griffin.)

On Feb. 24, 1862, Gov. Brown send the following telegram to the Secretary of War: "Please hasten forward your staff officers to the three camps with tents, cooking utensils, and all necessary supplies. I cannot order the troops till these things are prepared."

The shortness of time and the available means of communication were difficulties in preparing an army for armed conflict. The Confederacy faced many difficulties in bring their forces together, providing the necessary supplies and training.

On March 13, 1862, the Daily Morning News (Savannah) published an article that described the conditions of Camp Davis and the number of personnel arriving: "It has rained all day here, and there are about one thousand men at this place, a large portion of them without tents, camp equipage or cooking utensils. Today we expect one thousand more will arrive, and if there are no tents to give them, and no better supplies of Quartermaster stores, the present discontentment will be greatly increased. From present appearances we will have nearing 5,000 men at this camp."

(Information for Camp Davis comes from a document by Chief Warrant Officer (Ret.) Norman V. Turner. His sources list local, state, and national archives as well as other books and publications.)