What's in a name?
The camp took its name from James Henry Carleton (December 27, 1814 – January 7, 1873) who was a general in the Union army during the American Civil War. Carleton is most well known as an Indian
fighter in the southwestern United States.
fighter in the southwestern United States.
the 1st Regiment
California Volunteer Cavalry
Camp Carleton was the largest of several military camps to be maintained at various times in the vicinity of San Bernardino, California. It was established in the fall of 1861 by Captain William A. McCleave and a detachment of the 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry to check any secessionist activities in San Bernardino County.
Location, location, location...
Camp Carleton was built on the north bank of the Santa Ana River, south of San Bernardino, in the vicinity of present Waterman Avenue. The camp was moved to "Emergency Camp" on a slight hill north of San Bernardino for short time during the Great Flood in February, 1862. This site is northeast of the Tippecanoe Avenue bridge over the Santa Ana River, next to the former Norton Air Force Base. After the Great Flood of 1862, the camp's garrison was moved to El Monte, California where they established a New Camp Carleton. The post was abandoned in 1865.
