Camp Wynkoop.--The Encampment of the troops of the 1st Brigade, 6th Division, U. P. M., broke up on Saturday morning last, having been held from Wednesday morning. We speak but the general opinion, when we state that it was a complete success. Gen. Keim of the 5th Division, who reviewed it on Friday, stated that it was one of the finest Encampments in every respect, he ever beheld in the State of Pennsylvania.--Col. Read, of the General's staff, was of the same opinion. It may be readily imagined by those who were not fortunate enough to be present, how magnificent a display the troops made, when the following large number of companies were in Camp, with well filled ranks:

    In all twenty-two companies. The entire force numbered some eight hundred men, which is considerably stronger than the force which was at the last State Encampment held at Williamsport. This number out of some twenty-seven companies in the County, is very creditable indeed.
    On Thursday and Friday, during the reviews, when all of the troops were in line, there were from ten to fifteen thousand spectators on the lines of sentinels, rendering the scene one of the most animated and brilliant of the kind we ever saw. Being located on the summit of a greatly sloping hill, commanding a beautiful prospect in every direction, with Pottsville at its feet, and within musket shot of the centre of the Camp, the general effect was fine.
    About 160 tents were pitched with the proper divisions of streets, with a flag staff on the front and centre of the camp. In the sunlight the tents flecked the green slope, presenting a symmetrical and animated appearance, while at night they glanced back the softened rays of a full moon, in company with the glittering barrels of the muskets of the guard. When we add to this the animated groups gathered thickly in all of the streets of the camp; the silvery laugh of fair women--the hearty greeting by masculine voices, and the thousand incidents hourly occurring, we can assure our readers it was scene well worth viewing.
    We might allude to many incidents which came under our observation, during our experience in the camp; (for the "Junior" slept on the ground and obtained his coffee morning and night from friend Charles Potts, like many another braver and better soldier) but we will not invade the sanctity of any tent from the Brigadier-General's down, save one--of which we will speak presently.
    We must however, allude to one incident of Friday afternoon. The quarters of the Washington Artillerists, of the 1st Regiment, were invaded by two huge and luscious cakes sent to the corps by its 1st Lieutenant, David A. Smith, at present confined in his residence with a broken leg. During the discussion of these cakes with their "trimmings," in "Chestnut street," we can assure Lieut. Smith that he was duly remembered in three times three and a "tiger," which rang through the camp.
    The tents on "Chestnut street"--the street occupied by the Artillerists, were decorated with various coats of arms, suggested by the tastes of the occupants. Four occupied a tent, and we had the "Bee Hive," "Dixey's Land," "Sign of the Big Radish," "The Bucket," "The Brick," "The Continental," and so on. "Dixey's Land" had a printed bill of fare, which as a speciman of the manner in which things were done up, we present to our readers verbatim et liberatim. It is a curiosity:

    Of course the fun was indulged in by the men when off duty. When on they attended to it as strictly and satisfactorily as if they were in the regular army.
    We might go along the whole line and from the very excellent singing of the Tamaqua Cavalry and Washington Yeagers, pass to the extreme left, and find everywhere something interesting to note; but we have not the space to spare.
    The guards had some difficulties with rowdies who endeavored at times to force the lines, but being generally resolute men like "the Major" of the Artillerists and friend Downey of the Infantry, the enemy was invariably vanquished.
    The stands outside the lines, numbering some fifteen or twenty, reaped a harvest, the receipts of each ranging from fifty to one hundred dollars a day.
    Camp Wynkoop we consider a great success, and we hope there will be a repetition at no distant day, in the hands of the very able officers, Reifsnyder, Nagle, Shortle, Wynkoop and others, to whom much credit is due for the discipline maintained last week.

Source:

Unknown, "Local Affairs, Camp Wynkoop," The Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday, 8 September 1860, page 2.