Camp McDonald
Why it's listed
Camp McDonald was a Civil War training ground on about 60 acres in Kennesaw, Cobb County, Georgia. Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown designated it in 1861 as one of three camps for training the state's soldiers, and it operated until 1863. The site was chosen for its spring and creek, its high ground for facilities and maneuvers, and its position beside the state-owned Western and Atlantic Railroad. Thousands of Confederate soldiers trained here, among them the 3,000-man unit known as Phillips Legion, officially the Fourth Brigade of Georgia Volunteers. In 1862 Andrews' Raid, the episode later popularized in a film as the Great Locomotive Chase, was staged at the camp's gates. Union troops destroyed the camp, the nearby depot and a hotel in 1864, and General Sherman had targeted it. Today the land is mostly undeveloped, with a city park, school, cemetery, small houses and two banks on or near its edges.
Significance in brief: It was one of three camps designated by Gov. Joseph E. Brown in 1861 for training Georgia soldiers, and one of four military-training camps established in Georgia during the war. Thousands of Confederate soldiers trained here, including Phillips Legion, and Andrews' Raid was staged at its gates in 1862. The camp was destroyed by Union troops in 1864.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80000996, listed March 20, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off U.S. 41, Kennesaw |
|---|---|
| County | Cobb County |
| Listed | March 20, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000996 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1861-1863 |
| Architect / builder | State of Georgia |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current use is mixed: commercial, residential, educational, religious and park uses, with the rest largely undeveloped. Natural features include a spring and creek. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 34.02110, -84.61742 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80000996.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.