News of the surrender at Fort Sumter and the onset of war reached Augusta on April 12, 1861. Governor Washburn quickly approved Horatio Staples' call for Augusta volunteers, who joined others at Capitol Park to form the 3rd Maine Regiment. The soldiers quickly found military life, especially the food, not to their liking. Patriotic Augusta women heard their complaints and, with the Governor, visited Capitol Park to distribute cheese and 40 bushels of doughnuts to the soldiers. The men were dismissed to their quarters to partake of the "doughnation" and to visit the "doughners." On June 14, 1861, the 3rd Maine left for war. Several other Maine regiments encamped at Capitol Park until Camp Keys was established in 1862.