Camp Anderson was located where the Fairfield County Fairgrounds are today (157 E Fair Ave, Lancaster, Ohio). When war was declared in April of 1861, a patriotic fervor swept through Fairfield County. Within then days, 185 men mustered to form the second and third Lancaster Guard, who would later become much of the 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They were first quartered in hastily built wooden barracks at Camp Anderson, established on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. After two months of training, the men marched towards Western Virginia under the command of General H.H. Giesey. (see Fairfield County soldiers of the Civil War for more information on General Giesey.)

Source: Ohio History Service AmeriCorps Program