Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
1861
The Civil War
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
1. 1861 Marker
Inscription.
1861. The Civil War. This view of the Mississippi River is from Fort A, one of the four forts constructed by Union forces in the summer of 1861. These forts, which encircled Cape Girardeau, provided protection from attack from either land or water. Fort A was on the bluff at the eastern end of Bellevue Street. Fort B encircled the Dittlinger home on the current site of Southeast Missouri State University's Kent Library. Fort C guarded the western and southern approaches to the city and blocked Confederate forces' access to the city via the Old Bloomfield road at the Old Fairgrounds (between Sprigg and Pacific on Good Hope). Fort D, the only surviving Civil War fort, still stands at Fort and Locust streets east of South Sprigg Street., (caption) , Grant vs. Prentiss - 1861 , Cape Girardeau became a fortified and occupied community when the Civil War began in 1861. Newly appointed Brigadier Generals Ulysses S. Grant (left) and Benjamin Prentiss (right) reached Cape Girardeau on the same day with conflicting orders of command. Who was in charge? A shouting match took place in which Grant emerged the winner. Prentiss went back to St. Louis while Grant went on to Vicksburg, Shiloh, Chattanooga and eventually the Presidency.
This view of the Mississippi River is from Fort A, one of the four forts constructed by Union forces in the summer of 1861. These forts, which encircled Cape Girardeau, provided protection from attack from either land or water. Fort A was on the bluff at the eastern end of Bellevue Street. Fort B encircled the Dittlinger home on the current site of Southeast Missouri State University's Kent Library. Fort C guarded the western and southern approaches to the city and blocked Confederate forces' access to the city via the Old Bloomfield road at the Old Fairgrounds (between Sprigg and Pacific on Good Hope). Fort D, the only surviving Civil War fort, still stands at Fort and Locust streets east of South Sprigg Street.
(caption) Grant vs. Prentiss - 1861
Cape Girardeau became a fortified and occupied community when the Civil War began in 1861. Newly appointed Brigadier Generals Ulysses S. Grant (left) and Benjamin Prentiss (right) reached Cape Girardeau on the same day with conflicting orders of command. Who was in charge? A shouting match took place in which Grant emerged the winner. Prentiss went back to St. Louis while Grant went on to Vicksburg, Shiloh, Chattanooga and eventually the Presidency.
Erected by Mississippi River Tales, River Heritage Mural Association
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 37° 18.308′ N, 89° 31.058′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. Marker is on North Water Street south of Broadway Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located along the Mississippi River Tales Mural covering the downtown floodwall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1863 (here, next to this marker); 1838 (a few steps from this marker); 1870 (a few steps from this marker); 1821 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1875 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1804 (within shouting distance of this marker); Justice for the Common Man (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mississippi River (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.