by Paul Clay

Camp Chase at the beginning of the Civil War

Clay will explore the local families connected with the Civil War Camp and Prison which was located 4 miles from Columbus but now sits inside the city. Five days after the firing on Fort Sumtner, William Starke Rosecrans had turned his Cincinnati factory over to his partners, donned his old Lieutenant’s uniform, and reported to Columbus to Gov. Dennison to do his duty. He set up Camp Dennison then reorganized Camp Jackson and named it Camp Chase.

Many men from Delaware County had ties to the camp: Longwell, Slack, Eaton, Hubbell, Coyner, Bushong, Scott and Benedict.

A native of the Hilltop area of Columbus, Clay graduated from West High. His paternal family has its roots in Delaware County dating back to 1806, this includes direct connections to the Longwell, Slack, Thurston, Sheets, Lake and Benedict families.

Paul is a Charter member of the Delaware County Pioneers, Hilltop Historical Society and has filled the rolls of President and Trustee of the Delaware County Genealogical Society. Paul has also served as President of the Camp Chase Memorial Association.

He has researched Camp Chase and the Families of the Alum Creek area of Delaware and Morrow Counties. He has written and assisted in writing books and articles on Camp Chase and Columbus during the Civil War.

John and Nicy (Clay) Doty
88th Regiment
Taken Oct 1864 by M.M. Griswold
  in Columbus, Ohio

He has spoken to a number of Historical and Genealogical Societies as well as Civil War Round tables on these subjects.

Today Clay enjoys retirement on his old family farm, with his wife Robin a teacher at Buckeye Valley East. Paul and Robin have two sons, Danny and Lucas.

Robin and Paul Clay at Camp Chase to honor Dr. and Mrs. Albert Longwell  in 2011.

(08/21/2015)