| Camp Merritt | |
| Partof: | Department of California |
| Location: | San Francisco |
| Pushpin Map: | California |
| Pushpin Label: | Camp Merritt |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
| Coordinates: | 37.7765°N -122.4619°W |
| Used: | May 1898 – August 1898 |
Camp Merritt, California was a U.S. military camp used for the quartering and preparation of American troops destined for the Philippines during the Spanish–American War. Formerly a racetrack, it was named for General Wesley Merritt, the commanding general of the U.S. Voluntary Army forces and the Eighth Army Corps. The camp was located in San Francisco, California in an area approximately bounded by what is now Point Lobos Avenue (Geary), Fulton Street, First (Arguello) Avenue and Sixth Avenue.[1]
Camp Merritt was established on May 29, 1898, pursuant to General Order 7 of the U.S. Expeditionary Forces. General Elwell Stephen Otis, commanding general of the U.S. Volunteer Army, 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.
Confirmed Units processed through Camp Merritt:
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 destined for the Philippines to be sent off. Problems with disease, mostly measles and typhoid, also accelerated its closing.[3]