Camp Latham was located on the south bank of Ballona Creek, approximately .75 mi (1.21 km) southwest of what is now called Culver City station.

[13] By October 2, the local pro-Union newspaper[14] Semi-Weekly Southern News reported that "three lines of stages now run regularly between the city and Camp Latham.

"[15] On October 19, 1861 the Nevada Democrat newspaper reported, "Camp Latham is the name given to the encampment of volunteers near Los Angeles, where there are now stationed 769 infantry and 454 cavalry, making 1,223 troops in all.

The Alta California also reported that the rains had turned Ballona from a rill to a river, seemingly swamping Camp Kellogg, resulting in its closure.

Yet there was a celebration there on the Fourth.On the Fourth of July 1862, there was a "dress parade and grand review" before Col. Ferris Foreman, Washington's Farewell Address and the Declaration of Independence were read aloud, there was a 100-gun salute to the Union,[26] and finally soldiers from Camp Latham and their guests "visited the Willows, a beautiful grove on the right bank of Ballona Creek, for a promenade to enchanting music.

[28] The University of Iowa Library holds the 1862 diary of an unknown soldier stationed at Camp Latham who was assigned in August 1862 to escort a "specie train" to New Mexico Territory.

[30] As James Miller Guinn told it in 1915: "The soldiers at Camp Latham at the September election took possession of the polls and cast over 200 votes for the Union candidates for the legislature, defeating the Confederate sympathizers on the Democratic ticket.

"[10] In early October 1862 several newspapers reported that "The troops stationed at Camp Latham have been removed to San Pedro for Winter quarters.

[5] The oven was a relic of Louis Mesmer's bakery operation on the site, built when the Alsatian immigrant won the contract to supply Camp Latham with bread.

[32] In October 1861 a Camp Latham soldier wrote the Daily Alta California expressing a desire for newspapers, and for good horses from Los Angeles (they currently had none), and provided this description of the site:[33] The camp is situated about nine miles eastward of Los Angeles, near a stream of good water and on level ground, but to the south and north at a distance of a half mile, or less, is a range of low hills, from which a hostile battery could sweep the whole command.Sgt.

Owen of the San Jose Volunteers wrote his mother, "Camp Latham is a fine spot, seven miles from Los Angeles, bounded by high, rough old mountains on the North—hills, and a perfect love of a brook to the South—sea on the West, and on the East, hills and forests.

The writer described the conditions of the camp:[35] For the past week it has rained nearly the whole time, and our parade ground is nearly floating, as we are encamped in a low valley.

_____________ Soldier.In May 1862 the Trinity Journal published this account from "Charley," Company H, 4th California Infantry Regiment:[36] The next afternoon we sailed into the harbor of San Pedro, and were taken to the landing by a light draught steamer.

San Pedro is a one-horse town, with a store, blacksmith shop and two or three third-class boarding houses, for the accommodation of those who are so unfortunate as to arrive hungry.