During the Civil War (1861-1865), “Camp Blair,” in Jackson, was one of Michigan's vital military headquarters. The camp was planned in 1863 as a draft rendezvous point and as a center for convalescing troops. It was built about 1 1/2 miles west of downtown to house 2,500 soldiers at a time. The 11-acre camp on approximately 22 acres of leased land comprised offices, a hospital, barracks, and store-houses, to name a few structures. The first troops arrived in the spring of 1864, and a military hospital was opened in the camp in May of that year. As many as 7,500 troops passed through the camp during a two-month period early in 1865. The camp was demolished in April 1866. About 22,000 Michigan troops returned home via Camp Blair.