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Camp Merritt, California was a U.S. military camp for American troops destined for the Philippines during the Spanish–American War. Formerly a racetrack, the camp, named for General Wesley Merritt commanding officer of the Philippine expeditionary forces and the Eighth Corps at the time, was located between Point Lobos Avenue (Geary) and Fulton Street between First (Arguello) and Sixth in San Francisco, California.
Contents
Commissioning
The camp became Camp Merritt on May 29, 1898 based on General Order 7 of the U.S. Expeditionary Forces. General Elwell Stephen Otis, commander of the U.S. Volunteers, established the headquarters for the Philippine Islands Expeditionary Forces at the southwest corner of the camp on slightly elevated ground at Fulton Street and 4th Avenue.
Units processed through Camp Merritt
Confirmed Units processed through Camp Merritt:
Decommissioning
The camp was abandoned about August 27, 1898 when the remaining troops were moved to Camps Merriam and Miller a bit north at Presidio of San Francisco. Camp Merritt existed only long enough for the fleet to be assembled for the 18,000 troops disembarking for the Philippines to be sent off. Problems with disease, mostly measles and typhoid, also accelerated its closing.