Camp Carleton was the largest of several military camps to be maintained at various times in the vicinity of
San Bernardino. It was established in the fall of 1861 by Captain
William A. McCleave and a detachment of the
1st California Cavalry
The 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was first formed of five companies as 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry between August and October 31, ...
to check any successionest activities in
San Bernardino County. After the camp was flooded in the
Great Flood of 1862
The Great Flood of 1862 was the largest flood in the recorded history of Oregon, Nevada, and California, occurring from December 1861 to January 1862. It was preceded by weeks of continuous rains and snows in the very high elevations that began in ...
, the camp's garrison was moved to
El Monte, where they established New Camp Carleton.
The California State Military Museum, Historic California Posts: Camp Carleton (Camp Banning, Camp Prentiss, New Camp Carleton)
/ref>
References
Camp Carleton
El Monte, California
1861 establishments in California
{{AmericanCivilWar-stub