Belle Plain, Virginia (Vicinity). Camp Of Negro Laborers In The Quartermaster's Department (U.S. Civil War) Pint Glass 16oz

Belle Plain, Virginia (Vicinity) - Camp of Negro Laborers in the Quartermaster's Department (U.S. Civil War) During the American Civil War, a camp known as Belle Plain was established near Belle Plain, Virginia. This camp was primarily inhabited by African-American laborers who worked under the Quartermaster's Department of the United States Army. The primary purpose of these laborers was to support the Union war effort by performing various non-combat roles such as cooking, cleaning, and transporting supplies. The camp functioned from approximately 1863 to 1865, playing a significant role in logistical operations during the final years of the Civil War. Belle Plain was one of several similar camps established across the United States to accommodate the large numbers of African-American laborers who contributed significantly to the Union's war effort despite not being officially recognized as soldiers due to the prevailing racial restrictions at the time.