Near this site during the Civil War, the Union army established two camps on opposite sides of the Olentangy River, both known as Camp Delaware. The first camp, on the west side of the river in the summer of 1862, was where the white recruits of the 96th and 121st regiments of Ohio Volunteer Infantry were mustered into service. A second camp on the east side of the Olentangy was established in the summer of 1863 and became the rendezvous point for most African-American Ohioans joining the army. The 127th Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, later renamed the 5th Regiment United States Colored Troops, the 27th U.S. Colored Troops, and members of other African-American units were mustered into service there.

Photo: William Fischer, Jr.