Southern Missouri

Last Update: 20/OCTOBER/2007

Fort Don Carlos
(1767 - 1780), Spanish Lake
A Spanish fort built on the south-side of the mouth of the Missouri River. It was officially known as Fort Don Carlos el Señor Príncipe de Asturias, and it was an 80-foot square palisade with four bastions. Located on the north-side of the river was Spanish Fort San Carlos el Rey, Don Carlos Tercero, also known as Fort San Carlos del Misuri. It was a log blockhouse 18-feet square and 7-feet high, with a five-man garrison. Both forts were abandoned and destroyed by the Spanish in May 1780 as the British were preparing to attack St. Louis.

Fort Belle Fontaine (Historic Park)
(1805 - 1834), Spanish Lake
Located north of St. Louis about four miles from the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, on Coldwater Creek, near the site of Spanish Fort Don Carlos. This was the first American military fort and government Indian Factory west of the Mississippi River. It was also called Cantonment Belle Fontaine and Belle Fontaine Barracks. The Indian Agency was relocated to Fort Osage in 1808. Originally built along the river bank, the fort was relocated to higher ground (Belle Mont) in 1810. The post transferred to newly built Jefferson Barracks in 1826, and a small garrison was left to guard the magazines until 1828, when the St. Louis Arsenal was in operation. The other buildings remained as military warehouses until 1834. The original site has long since eroded away.

St. Louis Trading Post
(1764 - 1768), St. Louis
A French settlers' palisaded complex of log cabins, located on the hill at present-day Fourth and Walnut Streets. This was the first white settlement of the city.
The French had earlier built a crude fort (1700 - 1703) at an Illini Indian village at the mouth of the River Des Peres.

Fort San Carlos
(1778 - 1805), St. Louis
A Spanish stone tower with five-guns, with entrenchments added in 1780. Three similar towers were planned but were never built. Attacked by the British in May 1780, but repulsed with the help of Patriot forces under Clark. Known to the British and Americans as Fort St. Charles. Additional earthworks and a stockade, consisting of four demilunes and two bastions, were built around the town from present-day Lombard Street to Delmar Blvd. and west to 4th Street, as the British prepared to again attack the town later that same year. The north demilune (four guns), at the foot of present-day Franklin Street, was built of stone, and survived to about 1820. The tower itself was stockaded and an eight-gun banquette added in 1792. It was then renamed Fort San Luis de Ylinoa. Barracks were built later. The Americans briefly occupied the fort in 1804 until Fort Belle Fontaine was constructed in 1805. The site is at the Old Courthouse. The stone Officers' Quarters survived to at least 1820. St. Louis was governed by the Spanish from 1768 to 1804. At the transfer ceremony on 9 March 1804, the new French Tricolor flag was flown for only four hours, between the lowering of the Spanish flag and the raising of the American flag, the first and only time that the French Tricolor flag was ever raised in Upper Louisiana Territory.

St. Louis Arsenal
(1827 - 1904/present), St. Louis
A Federal arsenal located at Second and Arsenal Streets. Construction of the stone and slate buildings was finished in 1840. This was the main supplier of ammunition to Union forces in the west during the Civil War. The main buildings are now in use by the Department of Defense National Imagery and Mapping Agency.

Camp Gamble
(1849), St. Louis
A temporary Federal encampment.

Civil War Defenses of St. Louis
(1861 - 1865), St. Louis
A system of several Union earthen forts around the city. Fort Number Three was a cruciform-shaped redoubt located north of Salena and Lynch Streets in the Benton Park area. It still existed into the 1870's. (other forts unknown at this time)
Also located in the area were Union Benton Barracks (1861 - 1865) west of the St. Louis Fairgrounds, Camp Cavender (1861), and Schofield Barracks (1863 - 1865), originally named Alexander Barracks until 1865.
CSA Camp Jackson (1861) was nearby in Lindell's Grove, at present-day Grand Ave. and Pine Street, now part of St. Louis University. It was attacked by the Union in May 1861 after the Confederates failed to take the St. Louis Arsenal. Site is not marked.

Camp Gaillard
(1917), St. Louis
A temporary state guard mobilzation center for engineer units. In operation only one month. Located at the Chain of Rocks Water Works.

Jefferson Barracks (Historic Park)
(1826 - 1871, 1894 - 1946), Mehlville
Originally named Camp Adams in 1826. Camp (Cantonment) Miller was established six months later on an adjacent site. Renamed one month later. At various times this post served as a training center, supply depot, Civil War hospital, and an induction center. A Spanish-American War encampment on post was named Camp Stephens (1898), used as a mustering site for all state troops. The post was abandoned after WWII and became privately owned. Only the northern half of the reservation is part of the current park (1960). A museum is in a restored powder magazine.

Fort Ste. Genevieve
(1735 - unknown, 1785 - 1804), Ste. Genevieve
A French fort. This was the first permanent settlement in the state.
Local traders also built a fort here in 1785, called Fort St. Joachim. It was rebuilt at least twice before 1804.

Cape Girardot Forts
(1733, 1793 - 1804 ?), Cape Girardeau
A French trading post was originally here in 1733, built by Jean Girardot, the site of which is at Cape Rock Park. Next came a Spanish military post in 1793, built by Louis Lorimier, called Lorimont Post, but the settlement became known as Cape Girardeau.

Civil War Defenses of Cape Girardeau
(1861 - 1865), Cape Girardeau
During the Civil War the Union built Forts A, B, C and D, along with Battery A and Battery B, collectively known as Fort Girardeau. Fort A incorporated a grist mill, and was located on Windmill Hill at the east-end of Bellevue Street (no remains, developed). Fort B was built around the Dittlinger House (no remains) on Academic Hill, located on the grounds of present-day Southeast Missouri State University (stone monument on median at Normal and Pacific Streets). Fort C was located at the end of Ellis Street at Good Hope and Sprigg Streets (stone monument). The only surviving work is Fort D. Now a city park (1937) at Locust and Fort Streets, it was built to prevent Confederate gunboats from steaming upriver. A replica stone "powder house" was built in 1937, and was used for various civic functions until the 1980's. Park restored in 2005. Battery A (two guns) was located north of Fort B, at Henderson and New Madrid Streets. Battery B (four guns) was located where "Longview" is now located on Thilenius Hill. Hospital Hill (present-day Southeast Missouri Hospital) had several rifle pits. Also in town was Union Camp Frémont (1) (1861), probably at the old fairgrounds south of Bloomfield Road which was the general encampment area of Union troops during the war. The April 1863 "Battle of Cape Girardeau" monument is located at Broadway and Cordelia Street near the Confederate lines.
(thanks to Scott House for providing additional information)

Bird's Point Fort
(1861 - 1865), Bird's Point
A Union earthwork protecting the terminus of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad near the old townsite of Ohio City. During the war much of the site eroded away by the Mississippi River, and the works were moved and enlarged several times. Much of the original site has since eroded away again.
Union Camp Lyon (1861) was nearby.

Towosahgy (State Historic Site)
(1000 - 1400), Dorena
A fortified village of the Mississippian Indian culture.

New Madrid Forts
(1783 - unknown, 1789 - 1804, 1804 - 1808, 1862), New Madrid
A settlers' trading post was first located here. The Spanish built Fort Celeste (1789 - 1804, rebuilt 1796), an eight-gun, moated, square palisade with four blockhouses. The original work was built too close to the river, and eroded during a flood. The fort was burned in 1801, but rebuilt. The Americans briefly occupied the Spanish fort in 1804, but then built Post at New Madrid (1804 - 1808).

Confederate earthworks Fort Bankhead (seven guns) and Fort Thompson (14 guns) protected the land approach to the city, and 19 guns were located on Island Number 10. The city was captured by the Union, with the Confederates retreating across the river to Watson's Point, setting up several new shore batteries and a floating battery (see TENNESSEE page). When Island Number 10 was captured by the Union, the Rebels abandoned the other batteries. Island Number 10 no longer exists today.

La Petite Prairie Trading Post
(1794 - unknown), Caruthersville
A French settlers' trading post built by François Le Sieur. Possibly the same site as Fort San Fernando below.

Fort San Fernando
(1790's ?), near Caruthersville
A Spanish fort located in Little Prairie along the Mississippi River. The site has long been washed away. Possibly the same site as La Petite Prairie Post above.

Fort Davidson (State Historic Site)
(1863 - 1864), Pilot Knob
A Union seven-gun hexagonal earthwork fort built to protect the railroad and nearby mineral deposits. Evacuated and burned during the Confederate attack (September 1864). The earthworks are preserved, with a visitor center and museum.

Fort Hovey
(1863 - 1865), Ironton
A Union fort built on Fort Hill. Also known as Fort Curtis.

Fort Benton
(1861 - 1864), Patterson
A Union fort built on Fort Hill. Captured by the Confederates in April 1861, and again in September 1864, when it was finally destroyed.

Civil War Defenses of Rolla
(1861 - 1865), Rolla
Fort Wyman (1861 - 1865), one of two Union forts, in addition to a one-mile radius of earthworks and trenches that surrounded the town. The fort was 400 square feet, rectangular with a moat, composed of slanted timbers on the outer walls, located one mile south of town on a hill along US 63. Some remains. Over 20,000 troops were garrisoned in the town.
Fort Dette (1863 - 1865), a Union cross-shaped fort on the north-side of town. Also spelled Detty. Located on the campus of the University of Missouri-Rolla. No remains.
Camp Carey Gratz (1861 - 1865), a Union camp located near town. It became the Headquarters, Army of the West.

Waynesville Fort
(1862), Waynesville
A Union fort on the hill overlooking the town square, used as a supply base on the road between Rolla and Lebanon. The Old Stagecoach Stop tavern (1850's) on 105 Lynn Street has a Civil War exhibit.

Camp Union (2)
(1861), Brumley
A Union camp located one mile east of town.

Hartville Fort
(1861 - 1863), Hartville
A Union fort attacked and burned by Confederates in 1863.

Camp Sand Springs
(1862 - 1863), Sand Springs
A temporary Union camp. Captured and burned by Confederates in 1863.

Civil War Defenses of Springfield
(1862 - 1865), Springfield
Five numbered Union forts were built to protect the town:
Fort No. 1 was located near present-day Chestnut Expressway and West Bower Street near the Kansas Expressway and North Nettleton Ave..
Fort No. 2 was located along present-day West Walnut Street near Fort Ave..
Fort No. 3 undetermined location.
Fort No. 4 was located along present-day South Street at Mt. Vernon Street.
Fort No. 5 was located at present-day St. Louis Street and Dollison Ave..
Union rifle pits are located on the grounds of Drury College. The town was attacked by Confederates in January 1863.
Camp Frémont (2) (1861), a Union camp located on the south-side of town, before the Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 1861).

Camp Ben McCulloch (1863), a temporary CSA camp located near town.

Wilson's Creek (National Battlefield Park)
(1861), Republic
Civil War batteries located near Springfield. Confederate batteries include Pulaski Arkansas Battery and Guibor's Battery. Union batteries include Totten's Battery and DuBois' Battery. Scene of battle in August 1861.

Camp Ozark
(1862 - 1863), Ozark
A Union camp and fortified town. captured by the Confederates in 1863.

Fort Lawrence
(1861 - 1863), Taney County
A Union fort located on Beaver Creek. Originally known as Beaver Station Fort and Lawrence Mill Fort. Attacked and destroyed by Confederates in January 1863.

Camp Defiance
(1862 - 1865), Cassville
Union breastworks once located on the hill where the present-day city water tower now stands.

Fort Crowder
(1863 - 1865), Neosho
A Union fort built after the Confederate troops and politicians left town.
Neosho was once the Confederate capital of the state in 1861 - 1862. The 12th star on the Confederate flag was for Missouri.

Fort Carondelet
(1791 - 1804), Vernon County
A Spanish fort built by St. Louis fur traders Auguste and Pierre Choteau in Osage Nation. A fur trading post was here from 1784 - 1791, built by Pierre Choteau. The fort was sold to fur trader Manuel Lisa in 1802.

Camp Clark (State Military Reservation)
(1908 - present), near Nevada
A state National Guard mobilization center during the Mexican Border Crisis (1916) and WWI. Became a German and Italian POW camp in 1942. Located east of town on Highway K. Still in use by the state guard.

Fort Lyon
(1862), near Windsor
A Union fort located south of town, probably in Benton County.

NEED MORE INFO: Civil War era forts Fort Hamer and Fort Insley (USA or CSA ?) (undetermined locations). CSA Camp Crittenden (1861) at Elliott's Mills (location ?).

Northern Missouri - page 1