Now paddle 6.2 miles down the Patuxent River until you get to Indian Creek in Charles County. Go west on Indian Creek and at the mouth of the creek, you should be able to see a duck blind on your right. About 300 feet from the duck blind, you will find a sandy area where you can put in your canoe. After you get out of the canoe, follow the path to your left and walk up the path, past the fields, onto the ridge, until you see Indian Creek from the land. The area east of you, made up of soybean fields, used to be the back part of Camp Stanton. In August 1863, following President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Camp Stanton was established in Benedict, Maryland, for the purpose of recruiting and training African-American men for the Union Army. The site is now DNR's Indian Creek Natural Resource Management Area. Though black men had served in the American army during the Revolution, by the time the Civil War they were excluded from service, until President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Edwin Stanton, for whom the camp was named, was Lincoln's Secretary of War. Recently liberated Negroes were actively recruited to serve in the Union Army. Army life afforded food, shelter and pay when little was otherwise available. Recuriting was so successful that the 7th, 9th, 19th and 30th Colored Infantries formed and trained at Camp Stanton.

There is little evidence on this field that shows that is used to be a training camp for the Civil War. All that is left at the former site of Camp Stanton is empty fields. If you happen to find any artifacts from the camp, to avoid being accused of stealing, the law requires that you leave the artifact where you find it. In Agnes Kane Callum's book, Colored Volunteers of Maryland Civil War, 7th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops, Callum has a chapter devoted to Camp Stanton. She said that the 7th Regiment built stockades, bunks, officer quarters, kitchens, hospitals and places for their living.

She also said that while hundreds of soldiers were drilling, marching, building huts and roads, St. Mary's County was a couple of miles away with over 6,500 slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation that became law on January 1, 1863 declared slavery to be ended in all states that were in rebellion against the Union. Since Maryland was a state that did not secede from the Union, slavery did not end in Maryland until November 1, 1864. Therefore many of the soldiers at Camp Stanton were recruited from nearby plantations. The winter of 1863 was a hard one for those soldiers at Benedict. Many of the soldiers barely had enough clothing to keep them warm. Although many of the trainees became ill and died during those long months, the units were far from inactive.

Seventh Regiment Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops, Maryland Volunteers:

Organized at Baltimore in September and October 1863, the Seventh Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops, was sent to Camp Stanton, Benedict, Maryland. In March 1864, the unit moved to Virginia where it served in forces defending Portsmouth and Suffolk. Transferred to Jacksonville, Florida, the Seventh served as pickets and scouts, engaged in several skirmishes and assisted in building fortifications. In May it fought two severe skirmishes at Cedar Creek, Florida. Assigned to South Carolina, the unit was part of an expedition operating from Hilton Head north along the Edisto River. Fighting was frequent during the 17-day march. Following participation in other raids in Florida, it returned to the James River area and was assigned to the Colored Brigade of the Third Division, Tenth Army Corps. It saw active service almost daily along the north bank of the James River in late 1864, and took part the next spring in movements leading to the evacuation of Petersburg. After Appomattox, the Seventh performed guard duty in Texas until October 1866. Credited with participation in 11 engagements, the regiment was disbanded in Baltimore on November 15, 1866. Colonel James Shaw, Jr. was commanding officer.

Ninth Regiment Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops, Maryland Volunteers:

Organized at Camp Stanton, Benedict, Maryland in November 1863, the Ninth Regiment Infantry, Colored Troops, remained at that post during the winter, engaged in training. The first battle hymn of black soldiers recorded during the Civil War era was They Look Like Men of War, which originated among the men of this Ninth Regiment. In March 1864, they voyaged to South Carolina, where they saw active service under General William Birney. During June the regiment skirmished frequently in the area of John's Island. Transferred to Virginia, the Ninth took an active part in the Battle of Fussel's Mills and in the Siege of Petersburg. In September it shared in the unsuccessful assault on Fort Gilmer near Richmond. In April 1865, it participated in the Union Army's triumphal march into Richmond, the Confederate capital. Two months later it voyaged to Texas. After garrison duty in the Brownsville area until October 1866, it embarked at New Orleans for Baltimore. Mustered out on November 10, it was credited with participation in seven major engagements. Commanding officers were Colonel Thomas Bagley and Lieutenant Colonels Samuel C. Armstrong and George M. Dennett.

Nineteenth Regiment Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops, Maryland Volunteers:

Organized December 15, 1863 at Benedict, Maryland, the Nineteenth Regiment, Colored Troops was made up largely of men from Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore. After training it moved to Baltimore on March 1, 1864, for provost duty. Later in the month a detached battalion saw service between Harpers Ferry and Winchester, and skirmished heavily with Confederate Cavalry at Berryville. Transferred to the Army of the Potomac, the entire unit entered the Battle of the Wilderness and saw service through Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad, Cemetery Hill, the siege and capture of Petersburg, and the entry into Richmond. On June 6, 1865 the regiment embarked for Texas where it performed garrison service until its enlistment expired. Mustered out on January 15, 1867 the unit received credit for 11 engagements. Colonels Harry G. Thomas and Joseph G. Perkins commanded.

Thirtieth Regiment Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops, Maryland Volunteers:

The Thirtieth Regiment Infantry, Colored Troops recruited almost entirely in Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, was formed at Camp Stanton, Benedict, in early 1864. During the spring and summer it participated in the Wilderness Campaign and in the Siege of Petersburg. After traveling to Wilmington, North Carolina, it participated in the two expeditions against Fort Fisher in December 1864, and January 1865. Following General Joseph Johnston's surrender, the unit performed garrison duty until it was mustered out December 10, 1865. It was credited with participation in four battles. The commander was Colonel Delavan Bates.