Friends of Camp McDonald Park
This historic site has a multi-faceted history including being used as a regional meeting point for Indian tribes and later serving as Camp McDonald, a Civil War Confederate Army training camp.
Camp McDonald is where confederate soldiers trained from 1861 to 1864. More than 3,000 men from the famed Phillips Legion commanded by Colonel William Phillips trained there in the summer of 1861. Camp McDonald was named after the 22nd governor of Georgia, Charles J. McDonald, by then Gov. Joseph M. Brown in June 1861. Gov. McDonald was born in Charleston, SC on July 9, 1793. In the early 1800's he moved to Bibb County, Georgia and practiced law and politics. After serving several terms in the Georgia House and Senate, he was elected to two terms as governor in 1839 and 1841. He later served on the Georgia Supreme Court from 1855-1859.
The camp was located at Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) and was important because of the abundance of water and railroad activity (lodging, freight) that provided a means and point to move troops to the war. Big Shanty was also significant as the beginning point of Andrews Raid on April 12, 1862, that was made famous by Walt Disney's film, "The Great Locomotive Chase". Camp McDonald was originally comprised of about 60 acres, but had no permanent structures. The center of the camp was generally that of the current park, where many of the springs and streams were located. Around this area was the arrangement of tents, training areas and parade grounds.
Dr. Philip Secrist submitted an application for Camp McDonald's historical significance in 1980 and the remaining undeveloped land was listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The low laying area around the springs and streams made the area difficult to develop while Kennesaw's downtown grew around this portion of the original camp. The property dodged many attempts to be developed in recent years and in 2009 Cobb County purchased 3.85 acres and another 3.65 acres was donated for green space and use as a passive park.
During 2010, a group of Citizens appealed to today's elected officials in order to name the green space Camp McDonald Park. Our leaders listened and today, Friends of Camp McDonald Park, The City of Kennesaw and Cobb County are committed to preserving the site and its history for the benefit of all citizens and future generations.
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