The first mention of a camp there came from a report written on September 4, 1861, by Sen. James Lane.
This was during the time Lane had evacuated Fort Scott and moved his forces to areas north of that post.
with an irregular force of about 250 men, stationed in log buildings, and am now strengthening their position with earth entrenchments.
In October 1861 the 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry stayed at Camp Denver near Barnesville.
[2] George E. Flanders, in a letter home in February 1862 wrote that the men lived in tents during the winter and cleared out much timberland to use as firewood.