Not to be confused with the Camp Winfield Scott located in Virginia or somewhere back east, or Fort Winfield Scott located in San Francisco. An overview from the wonderful FortWiki website:
Established 12 Dec 1866 by Captain Murray Davis and Company A, 8th U.S. Cavalry. The camp was built of adobe, rock, and lumber along Cottonwood Creek at the north end of Paradise Valley, Nevada. Established to control hostile Indians who were attacking settlers and miners. As of July 1870, an inspection report indicated that the post had Adobe Quarters for 100 men, two adobe officer's quarters almost completed, two sod quartermaster's storage buildings, a rough stone hospital, an insecure guardhouse, and stables described as "... liable to take fire at any time." The 1870 plan shown above would seem to indicate the future goal for building out the camp. On 19 Feb 1871, 2nd Lieutenant Otto L. Hein, (Cullum 2358), 1st U.S. Cavalry, commanding the detachment at Camp Winfield Scott, departed the camp with all but 6 men left to guard the remaining government property. The camp was closed as of that date.
-http://www.fortwiki.com/Camp_Winfield_Scott_%281%29
A quarter century after it had closed, the Nevada State Journal printed this:
In 1866 Camp Winfield Scott was established and First Lieutenant John Lafftery placed in command and in three vigorous skirmishes he inspired the Indians with a wholesome fear of the U. S. Calvary and practically put an end to the Indian troubles. Amongst the noted Indian fighters of Nevada is the name of Captain C. C. Warner of the Nevada Calvary.
-Weekly Nevada State Journal, November 14, 1896
INTERESTING NOTE: on the plat map of the area is a reference to the location of the murder of the Hon. J. A. Banks. I've never seen a note like that on any of the plat maps. But it must have caused quite a stir, as the story was reported as far away as Australia, where it appeared in the The Sydney Morning Herald on October 5, 1867
UNIONVILLE, Aug. 4th-- Hon. James A. Banks, ex-Speaker of the Nevada Assembly, was murdered by the Indians last Thursday evening. Mr. Banks and two others were fishing about a mile from Camp Winfield Scott, Paradise Valley. Mr. Banks started up the creek, and as he did not return, search was made for him, when he was found about three hundred yards above the fishing ground, with a bullet hole through his breast and his bowels cut out.
Wilmington Journal, August 10, 1867
Needless to say, this was probably not a good time to be an Indian wandering around the Paradise Valley area.
The commanders at Camp McDermet [sic] and Camp Scott are preparing to commence hostilities against the savages.
-Louisville Daily Courier, September 27, 1867
Condemned mules for sale at the Camp. That averages out to $6610.64 2022 dollars for two "condemned" mules. EquineNow says I can get a pair of mules for $5,000 and they're not even condemned, Seems like a lot to pay for mules, but it's been a long time since I've purchased one, so....
MISCELLANEOUS. Among matters of interest in this vicinity was the sale of Government condemned mules at Camp Winfield Scott today-- the prices of which ranged higher than ever before known for condemned animals of the class of those sold. They were small and old, and sold from one hundred and sixty to two hundred and fifty per pair, in gold coin. There was some very spirited bidding, as a number of the farmers very much needed animals to harvest their crops. The inhabitants of Paradise think that "Uncle Sam" could not do better than bring all his old mules out for auction at this place and replenish his supply at some place in the Golden state far more to his advantage. Mr. F. P. Brougham, of Camp McDermit, was the successful bidder.
-San Francisco Examiner, September 1, 1868
A curious newspaper article.
Quantrell [sic]
Our people are not aware, generally, that they have had in their midst the notorious bushwhacker and assassin, the leader of the Lawrence massacre, Quantrell. This massacre has no parallel in civilized or savage warfare, for hellish atrocity. Eight thousand dollars have been offered by, the Government for Quantrell's arrest. Detectives have been on his track for a long time. They followed him through Texas, Mexico, Arizona and to San Francisco. A few weeks ago they had positive information of his presence in San Francisco, but were unable to find him. In order to elude his pursuer's he enlisted in the U. S. service, and joined the company which was sent out to Camp Scott, in this county. The military authorities learned this fact in some way. Last week an order was sent to Camp Scott for his arrest, but the day before the order came, Quantrell and three others deserted, taking with them the best outfits in camp. They were at Carlin last Monday night. From that place no trace has been had of them, in fact no attempts has been made to follow them further. The Sergeant, who was sent out in pursuit, was arrested himself at Carlin, for desertion, and brought back. It is to be hoped that Quantrell will be arrested, and caused to suffer the severest penalty known to the law for this horrible crime. About one hundred and fifty defenseless and helpless citizens of Lawrence, Kansas, were murdered in cold blood, their houses sacked and burnt, and with them some eighty of his victims were also burnt and so mutilated that their bodies could not be recognized by their friends. The loathsome and miserable carcass of this wretch would chill the stygian waves of damnation. -[Winnemucca Register.]
-Shasta Courier, November 11, 1869
Given the fact (or is it?) that ..."On May 10, 1865, William Quantrill and his band were caught in a Union ambush in Kentucky, and unable to escape on account of a skittish horse, he was shot in the back and paralyzed from the chest down and was taken to the military prison hospital, and died from his wounds on June 6, 1865, at the age of 27," [Albert Castel, William Clarke Quantrill His Life and Times] it seems unlikely that he was at Camp Winfield Scott in 1869. But everyone loves a good conspiracy, and that was no different back in those days than it is now.
All good things must come to an end.
It has been reported that General Ord has ordered the discontinuance of
Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. (at least so far as a troop is concerned.) Thirty thousand dollars is about the best remedy which ordinary people apply to contingencies.
-Weekly Arizonian, March 5, 1870
Nevada Post Offices lists a "Scottsville" location unknown, as having a post office in Humboldt county from February 3, 1868 to November 19, 1869. On the application, someone scribbled, "At Camp Winfield Scott?" in the margin, so it's possible there was a post office here. On the other hand, I have seen references to Paradise Valley, 3 miles to the SE, being referred to as "Scottsville." Their post office came into being in 1871 and remains today.
Presently, the site of the camp appears to be behind a locked gate on private land.