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Camp Merritt, New Jersey

During World War One 

History: Named in honor of Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt, U. S. A., a veteran of Civil War, who commanded first expedition to Philippines, 1898. Established Aug. 1917, in connection with the Port of Embarkation, Hoboken, N. J. Served as embarkation cantonment to Nov. 11, 1918; thereafter for purposes of debarkation. Construction started Aug. 20, 1917, and continued through 1918. Camp headquarters opened Sept. 17, 1917; closed June 30, 1920, when camp was abandoned to be sold.

Description: Temporary camp, located in Bergen County, 15 miles northwest of Jersey City, to receive troops prior to their embarkation on transports or after debarkation. Facilities-Camp Base Hospital: Pending opening of base hospital, use was made of nearby civilian medical facilities. Organized Oct. 1917; formally opened Jan. 9, 1918. Other Facilities: Included 39 warehouses (capacity, 1751 carloads), bakery (capacity, 22,000 loaves per day), delousing plant (handling 260 men per hour). Cantonment of 1,264 buildings. Troop capacity on June 30, 1919-About 44,500, including space for 38,000 transients, 500 inmates of detention camp, and 6,000 members of permanent garrison. Construction costs to June 30, 1919-About $11,000,000. Area-Cantonment site proper-580 acres; entire tract-770 acres. Command Status: Commanding officer reported to commanding general, Port of Embarkation, Hoboken, N. J.

Camp Commaders
 1917-Sept. 17, Lt. Col. John B. Bennet;
Oct. 22, Col. John B. Bennet.
1918-Mar. 19, Col. James A. Irons;
June 29, Lt. Col. Joseph A. Marmon;
Sept. 12, Col. Joseph A. Marmon;
Oct. 25, Maj. Matthew J. Gunner;
Dec. 1, Col. Lewis S. Sorley.
1919-May 19, Maj. Gen. Charles H. Muir;
May 24, Maj. Gen. George B. Duncan through June 20.

Troops

STATION COMPLEMENT

Bkrs. & Cks. Sch. ; Base Hosp. ; Cp. Hq. ; F. Trk. & H. Co. 340 ;

Mtcl. Co. 302; M. Trk. Cos. 406, 408; Or-d. Dep. Co. 133; 5th Prov.

Gd. and F. Bn.; Res. Labor Bn.; Salv. U.; Serv. Park U.; Util. Det.

 

DIVISIONAL UNITS

1st Division:
1st Inf. Brig. (less 2d M. G. Bn.),
26th Inf., 28th Inf., garrison duty.

2d Division:
 12th F. A., 15th F. A., 2d T. M. Btry., 2d Tn. Hq. and M. P.,
2d Am. Tn., 2d Sup. Tn., preparing to embark; 3d Inf. Brig. (less 5th M. G. Bn.) , 2d Tn Hq. and
M. P., 2d Sup. Tn., 2d Engr. Tn., garrison duty.

3d Division:
Div: (less 4th Inf., 6th Engrs., 5th F. Sig. Bn., 6th Engr. Tn.),
preparing to embark; Div. (less 3d T. M. Btry., 7th M. G. Bn., 3dSn. Tn.),
garrison duty. 4th Division: 4th F. A. Brig. (less 16thF. A.),
8th F. Sig. Bn., Tns. (less 4th Hq. Tn. and M. P.),
preparing to embark; DHQ., 39th Inf., 11th M. G. Bn., 8th Inf. Brig.,
4th F. A. Brig. (less 4th T. M. Btry.), 4th Engrs., Hq. Tr., 4th Sup. Tn.,
4th Engr. Tn., garrison duty.

5th Division:
DHQ., 9th Inf. Brig., 11th Inf., 13th M. G. Bn., 15th M. G. Bn.,
7th Engrs., 9th F. Sig. Bn., Hq. Tr., 5th Tn. Hq. and M. P., 7th Engr. Tn.,
preparing to embark; 13th M. G. Bn., 15th M. G. Bn., 5th F. A. Brig.
(less 19th F. A., 5th T. M. B