Illinois Forts

American Forts: East

ILLINOIS

Last Update: 13/OCTOBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Early Chicago Settlement Forts

Fort St. Joseph
(1683 ? - 1763)
French Fort Checagou was noted on a French 1683 map, which may or may not be the same fort. It was built by Robert Cavelier sieur de La Salle and Henri Tonti. Later rebuilt and/or renamed, Fort St. Joseph was abandoned after the French and Indian War. Site located within the "Loop" downtown.

Fort des Miamis
(1700 ?)
A French trading post located at the mouth of the Chicago River.

Jean DuSable's Trading Post
(1779 - 1804)
A pioneer settlement that eventually grew into the city we know today. Plaque located at the Wrigley Building on Michigan Ave. Jean DuSable was a free black from Haiti. After his wife and son died, DuSable sold out and relocated to St. Charles, MO.

John Kinzie's Trading Post
(1804 - 1810's)
Located near the Chicago River. This may have been the same as DuSable's Post. John Kinzie, a Québec trader, was the first white settler of what is today Chicago. He was present at the fall of Fort Dearborn.

Fort Dearborn
(1803 - 1812, 1816 - 1837), Chicago
A crude log structure 15-feet high, with a small parade ground, Officers' quarters, barracks, guardhouse, magazines, and two blockhouses. It was burned by Potawatomi Indians in August 1812 just after it was evacuated. The Indians also massacred most of the people who had left the fort. It was rebuilt on site in 1816 and then abandoned in 1837. It still stood until 1856 when it was finally torn down. One small building remained until the Great Fire of 1871. Located on East Wacker Drive between Michigan and Wabash Aves. A replica was built in 1933 for the Chicago World's Fair (at Prairie and 16th Streets ?). It was later dismantled. A more recent reproduction is located on 26th Street near Lake Michigan.

Chicago Civil War Camps
(1860's), Chicago
Camp Douglas (1) (1861 - 1865), a 60-acre training camp, and later a Confederate POW camp after 1862. Located between 31st Street and College Place, and Cottage Grove and Forest Ave. About 30,000 Confederate POW's were interred here during the course of the war.
Camp Blum (1861), a recruiting camp, undetermined location.
Camp Dunne, undetermined location.
Camp Ellsworth, undetermined location.
Camp Fremont, undetermined location.
Camp Fry (1864 - 1865), a training camp, then used as a POW camp. Located at the Broadway, Clark Street, and Diversey Ave. intersection.
Camp Long (1861), undetermined location.
Camp Mather (1) (1861), undetermined location.
Camp Mulligan, undetermined location.
Camp Parole, undetermined location.
Camp Sigel, undetermined location.
Camp Song, undetermined location.
Camp Tyler, undetermined location.
Camp Webb, undetermined location.

Camp Steadman
(1898), Chicago
A Spanish-American War training camp for the Illinois Naval Militia.

Fort Sheridan
(1887 - 1993), Fort Sheridan
Originally called Camp Highwood until 1888, it was established to quell labor riots in Chicago. The Tower was built in 1891 as barracks, originally 227 feet high. It was renovated in 1940 for use as a water tank, and cut down to 167 feet. Camp Geismar was a WWI training camp on post. Became a General Hospital from 1918 - 1920 for the war wounded. Camp Leonard Wood (1920's - 1939) was a temporary tent camp used for field and coastal anti-aircraft artillery training until replaced by Camp Haven (1939 - 1959). About half of the former post is still used for Army and Navy housing. The historical cantonment area is now an upscale residential housing development. A website about environmental issues at Fort Sheridan.

Little Fort
(1766 - unknown), Waukegan
An early settlers' fort or trading post.

Camp Logan
(1893 - 1970's), Winthrop Harbor
A state National Guard summer encampment and training area. Expanded in 1899. Used by the U.S. Navy in WWI and WWII to train recruits from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Also used by the F.B.I. for marksmanship training. Several buildings still remain.

Camp Reinberg
(1917), Palatine
A temporary WWI encampment.

Fort Du Page
(1832), Du Page County
A 100-square foot settlers' fort with two blockhouses, garrisoned by 50 men. (same as Fort Payne ?)

Capt. Joseph Naper's Fort
(1831 - 1832), Naperville
A settlers' fortified trading post.

Fort Payne
(1832), Naperville
A 100-foot square wooden stockade fort with two blockhouses. Also spelled Paine. The site became the Fort Hill Campus of North Central College.

Camp Hammond
(1861), Aurora
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Lyon (1)
(1861), Geneva
A Civil War training camp.

Fort Beggs
(1832), Plainfield
A settlers' (Rev. Stephen Beggs) house and barn converted into a stockaded fort during the Black Hawk War. The settlement was known as Walker's Grove until 1834.

James Higginbotham's Fort
(1832), Joliet
A settlers' blockhouse located east of town.

Fort Nonsense
(1832), Joliet
A temporary settlers' defense built on a bluff on the west-side of the Des Plains River. It was 100 square feet with a blockhouse in the northeast corner. It was so named because there was no access to a water supply, and no provisions or armaments.
(thanks to Greg Carter, Old Lead Mine Region Historical Society, for providing info)

Camp Goodell
(1861), Joliet
A Civil War training camp located near present-day Ingalls Park.

Camp Dement
(1861), Amboy
A Civil War training camp.

Fort Dixon
(Lincoln Monument State Memorial)
(1832), Dixon
A state militia earthwork with two blockhouses located at John Dixon's Ferry. Used as General Atkinson's headquarters. The "Old Settlers' Cabin" was moved to the site in 1967, operated by the Lee County Historical Society. Located on the north-side of the river along North Galena Ave. and Lincoln Statue Drive. Abraham Lincoln served here as a captain during the Black Hawk War. During that conflict Lincoln, Jefferson Davis and Zachary Taylor met each other here for the first time. The Lincoln Monument is the only statue of Lincoln depicting him in military garb.

Camp McClellan
(1861), Dixon
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Grant (3)
(1917 - present ?), Rockford
A National Army cantonment training encampment for the 86th Division, later becoming an infantry replacement and demobilization center. Located four miles south of town. Transferred to the state in 1924, used for National Guard training until 1940. Federalized in 1940 as a Selective Service Reception Center and Army Medical Corps Replacement Center. Became a National Guard training area after 1947.

Camp Scott
(1861 - 1862), Freeport
A Civil War training camp. Site located at the present-day high school.

Camp Cedarville
(1862), Cedarville
A Civil War training camp.

Oliver Kellogg's Fort
(1831), Pearl City
A settlers' blockhouse. Torn down in 1852. Kellogg had moved away from Kellogg's Grove in 1831.

Kellogg's Grove Fort
(1832), near Kent
Abandoned settlers' houses that were fortified by the U.S. Army, and then used by the Illinois state militia when a battle occurred there against the Sac Indians (Battle of Bloody Pond). A stone monument (1880's) marks the site about one mile southeast of town.
(thanks to Scott Dyar for providing information)

Old Stockade Refuge
(1832 - 1838), Galena
A settlers' fortification in the center of town at 208 Perry Street. A blockhouse was in the center of the stockade, with another in one of the angles, along with three fortified houses. Also known as Fort Galena. Sold in 1838 and converted to a private residence. Now a museum. Admission fee.

Apple River Fort (State Historic Site)
(1832), Elizabeth
A settlers' stockade with a two-story blockhouse. Apple River Settlement was renamed to honor Elizabeth Armstrong who rallied the fort's defenders (mostly women because the men were out hunting) against an Indian attack. The abandoned stockade was torn down in 1847 for lumber. Reconstructed on the actual site in 1996. Attack on Apple River Fort
(SHS website courtesy of Susan Gordy of Apple River Fort SHS)

Crane's Fort
(unknown dates), Carroll County
A settlers' fort. Undetermined location.

Camp Albany
(1862), Albany
A Civil War training camp.

Fort Armstrong (2)
(Rock Island Arsenal Military Reservation)
(1816 - 1836/1845, 1862 - present), Rock Island
This was the site of the "Battle of Rock Island Rapids" against the Sac Indians in May 1814. The post was built on the lower end of the island with two two-story stone and timber blockhouses, with barracks and storehouses. The Army left the original fort in 1836 but it was still in use by the state militia until 1845. The Sac and Fox Indian Agency was here 1836 - 1838. This had also been a post for the American Fur Co. The old fort was destroyed by fire in 1855. A replica blockhouse (1916) is on the site. The Rock Island Arsenal was established in 1862, in continuous operation since the 1880's. A Confederate POW camp, Rock Island Camp, was here in 1863 - 1865, holding about 12,200 prisoners. Nearby is the Pioneer Cemetery and the Rock Island National Cemetery. See also Rock Island Arsenal Museum.

Fort Johnson (2)
(1832), Ottawa
A state militia fort/blockhouse, originally named Fort Ottawa. This was Gen. Atkinson's headquarters during the Black Hawk War.

Fort St. Louis du Rocher
(Starved Rock State Park)
(1682 - 1691), Utica
A palisaded trading post built by La Salle on the summit of Starved Rock after the destruction of Fort Crčvecoeur. It was abandoned in 1691, but sometimes used until 1702. French traders occasionally occupied the site until it was finally burned by Indians around 1720. Also known as Fort St. Louis des Illinois.

Starved Rock Fort
(1812), Utica
A defense of some kind was here during the War of 1812.

Fort Wilbourn
(1832), Peru
A Black Hawk War fort and supply depot where Abraham Lincoln enlisted as a private. It was located near the mouth of the Little Vermilion River across from town. Originally known as Fort Deposit or Fort Horn when a military supply ship ran aground and the supplies were offloaded here. Reddick Horn was the supply master. Rebuilt and renamed when troops arrived under Capt. John Wilbourn. Also spelled Wilburn.

Bureau County Civil War Camps
(1861 - 1862), Bureau County
Civil War recruitment and training camps were located at:
Camp Dover (1862), Dover.
Camp Bureau (1861 - 1862), Princeton, at the county fairgrounds.
Camp Neponset (1862), Neponset.
Camp Tiskilwa (1862), Tiskilwa.
Camp Wyanet (1862), Wyanet.

Henry Thomas' Fort
(1832), near Wyanet
A stockaded settlers' log cabin on the old Galena Trail, four miles north of town.

Warnock's Blockhouse
(1832), Granville
A settlers' blockhouse.

Fort Cribs
(1832), Hennepin
A settlers' stockade built mostly with corn cribs. It was never attacked. Located about three and one-half miles north of town.

Hennepin Fort
(1832), Hennepin
A town fort/blockhouse during the Black Hawk War. Located on the east-side of Front Street. It stood for 10 years. This may have also been known as Hartzell's Fort.

Benjamin Darnell's Fort
(1832), Marshall County
A settlers' fort on Sandy Creek in Roberts Township, large enough for 70 families.

NOTE: There were six or seven additional settler blockhouses/stockades located in Marshall and Putnam Counties that were built or used during the Black Hawk War in 1832. Names and locations undetermined.

Fort Crčvecoeur (Park)
(1680 - 1682), Creve Coeur
This was the first French fort in Illinois. The name, meaning "Broken Heart," comes from a fort of the same name in the Netherlands that was captured by the French. Robert Cavelier sieur de La Salle returned to Canada to get needed supplies. The garrison mutinied and plundered the fort during La Salle's absence, and Illinois Indians later burned the settlement. A monument marks the site.

Fort Pimitoui
(1692 - 1730 ?), Peoria
Built by Henri Tonti after Fort St. Louis du Rocher was abandoned. Also known as (Old) Fort Peoria, Fort Illinois, and Fort St. Louis (2). No remains.

Fort Clark (2)
(1813 - 1817), Peoria
A state militia fort destroyed by Indians in 1819 after it was abandoned. No remains, site located at Liberty and Water Streets. Probably built on the site of French Fort Pimitoui.

Peoria Civil War Camps
(1861), Peoria
Camp Mather (2) was located at the fairgrounds. Camp Lyon (2) was also in the area.

Camp Herring
(1917 - 1919), East Peoria
An Army Ordnance camp at the Holt Manufacturing Company, which produced heavy tractors and tanks.

Fort Tazewell
(1811), Pekin
A settlers' fort.

Fort Doolittle
(1832), Pekin
A converted schoolhouse fortified during the Black Hawk War. Site located on Second Street between St. Mary's and Elizabeth Streets.

Fort des Renards
(1730 - unknown), McLean County
The Mesquakie (Fox) Indians were defeated by the French after a 23-day seige. Kickapoo Fort was nearby.

John Patton's Fort
(1832), Lexington
A settlers' blockhouse built adjacent to the original 1829 cabin. They were joined together in 1840. Still exists, now maintained by the McLean County Historical Society. Restored in the 1980's.

Fort Bartholomew
(1832), Pleasant Hill
A state militia fort located five miles outside of town.

Urbana Army Ground School
(1917 - 1919), Urbana
An Army Ground School on the University of Illinois campus.

John Henline's Fort
(1832), Lawndale
A settlers' fort.

Camp Latham
(1861), Lincoln
A Civil War training camp.

Havana Fort
(1812), near Havana
A settlers' fort located northeast of town.

Henderson's Grove Fort
(1830 - 1832), near Knoxville
A settlers' stockade and blockhouse, built on the William and James McMurtry Farm about three miles northeast of town on the south-side of Middle Creek. May have been called McMurtry's Fort.
(thanks to Greg Carter, Old Lead Region Historical Society, for providing info.)

John Gum's Fort
(1832), Knoxville
A settlers' fortified cabin.
(thanks to Greg Carter, Old Lead Region Historical Society, for providing info.)

Fort Aggie
(1832), Knox County
A settlers' fort named in honor of settler Joseph Cresswell's wife. The structure was torn down in 1836 to use the lumber for a barn. Exact location undetermined.

Cross Roads Fort
(unknown dates), McDonough County
A settlers' fort located at Old Fort.

Bernard de La Harpe's Fort ?
(1715 ?), La Harpe
A French settlers' fort. Said to be the oldest pioneer fort in the county. Four stone tablets inscribed in French with the date "June 15 1715" were found in the late 1890's.

Fort Johnson (1)
(1814), Warsaw
A Federal fort located opposite the mouth of the Des Moines River, built by Major Zachary Taylor. It was abandoned and burned after only one month (Sept. - Oct. 1814).

Fort Edwards
(1815 - 1824), Warsaw
A Federal fort, originally called Cantonment Davis until 1816. The American Fur Co. established a post here afterwards until 1832.

Camp Wood
(1861 - 1864), Quincy
A Civil War training camp. Located over one mile from the town square, just west of the present-day Illinois Veterans' Home and All Wars Museum on North 12th Street.

Jacksonville Civil War Camps
(1861 - 1862), Jacksonville
Civil War training camps located here were Camp Duncan (1861 - 1862), Camp Dunlap (1861), and Camp Grant (2).

Camp Ford
(1846), Springfield
A Mexican-American War training camp.

Springfield Civil War Camps
(1861 - 1866), Springfield
Camp Yates (1861), located at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds, west of town. After a few months, the camp was moved to Camp Butler (1).
Camp Butler (1) (1861 - 1866), located northeast of town on Clear Lake. Became a Confederate POW camp after 1862. Now a National Cemetery.
Camp Lincoln (1), a recruitment camp. Possibly the precursor to and same site as Camp Lincoln (2) (see below).
Camp Taylor, undetermined location.

Camp Lincoln (2) (State Military Reservation)
(1886 - present), Springfield
A state National Guard summer training camp and present-day headquarters located on the north-side of town. Site was too small to be the state muster camp in 1898, so Camp Tanner (see below) was established for the overflow. The Illinois State Military Museum is here at 1301 North MacArthur Blvd..

Camp Tanner
(1898), Springfield
A Spanish-American War state muster camp located at the present-day State Fairgrounds. Later the site was used for Camp Lowden (1917), a state guard mobilization encampment.

NEED MORE INFO: There were six or seven additional settler blockhouses/stockades located in Marshall and Putnam Counties that were built or used during the Black Hawk War in 1832. Names and locations undetermined.

Civil War recruitment camp Camp Camden Mills (1862) (location ?).

Southern Illinois - page 2