US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Jackson, SC)

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HISTORY OF FORT JACKSON VICTORY STARTS HERE Although Fort Jackson was estab- lished to answer America's need for trained soldiers in the gathering storm of World War I, the very first fighting men to walk through these gates could point with a certain pride to a rich heritage and trace their military lineage to one of the earliest battles of the American Revolution. In June 1917, Company E, 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry became the first unit to arrive at the fledgling Camp Jackson. This unit was derived from the Second Regi- ment, South Carolina Line, Conti- nental Establishment which defeat- ed a British fleet in the battle of Fort Moultrie six days prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Although named for Major Gener- al Andrew Jackson, a native son of the Palmetto State and seventh president of the United States, the fort is actually situated on the for- mer estate of General Wade Hamp- ton, who served as an early governor of the state and as U.S. Senator. The initial site for the cantonment consisted of almost 1200 acres and was purchased by the citizens of Co- lumbia and donated to the federal government initiating a long tradi- tion of mutual respect and concern between the city and the fort. With an ideal climate for year- round training, the site designated Camp Jackson was chosen as one of 16 national cantonments constructed to supply the war effort. The pressures of war brought swift changes. Within 11 days of signing a contract to construct the post, the 100-man camp guard arrived. By the end of the first month, the labor force had grown to more than 1,200 and the first two barracks were com- pleted. Two months later this force had grown to almost 10,000 men. Virtual- ly overnight the post had grown from a sandy pine and scrub oak forest to a thriving training center complete with trolley line and hundreds of buildings. In the third month following the beginning of construction, some 8,000 draftees arrived and began training. Under the post's first acting commander, Brigadier General Charles H. Barth, its first military unit - the 81st Wildcat Division - was formed. Members of the origi- nal camp guard who had been the first to occupy the fort were moved to Camp Sevier in Greenville, South Carolina and were incorporated into the 30th Old Hickory Division. More than 45,000 troops of these two divisions trained at Camp Jack- son and saw action in France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. In less than eight months this vast military installation was completed. Where before there were sandhill forests and swamps, a new city stood. It boasted theaters, stores, kitchens, barracks, officers' quarters, training facilities, stables, warehouses, ga- rages, an airfield, roads, bridges, rail- roads, water and sewer lines and was distinguished by having the largest government-operated laundry in the country. The hospital consisted of more than 80 buildings covering some 15 acres at the highest point on post.