Civil War Union Camp Latham
(1861-1862)
The First California Infantry, under Col. James H. Carleton, and First California Calvary, under Lt. Col. Benjamin F. Davis, marched from the port of San Pedro, 18 miles, a day's journey, to lay out Camp Latham. Named for U.S. Sen. Milton S. Latham, who also served as California's 6th governor, the purpose of the camp was to curb Southern sentiment. This Civil War tent encampment, California's initial southern staging area for the war, was located on the south side of Ballona Creek, in this area, (now Jefferson and Overland), on a portion of Rancho La Ballona that became Culver City. Union Camp Kellogg existed nearby, north of Ballona Creek.
Marker is at the intersection of Overland Avenue and Virginia Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Overland Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
