Illinois Forts

American Forts: East

ILLINOIS

Last Update: 18/AUGUST/2024

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2024 American Forts Network

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 Tavern and Ferry on the Rock River. Used as General Henry Atkinson's headquarters for most of the war. The "Old Settlers' Cabin" was moved to the site in 1967, operated by the Lee County Historical Society. Located at President's Park 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 (1930) is the only statue of Lincoln depicting him in military garb.

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

Camp Grant (3)
(1917 - 1946), 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. Buildings dismantled in 1921 and the site transferred to the state in 1924, used for National Guard training and a C.C.C. campsite until 1940. Federalized and rebuilt in 1940 as a Selective Service Reception Center and Army Medical Corps Replacement Center. After WWII most of the site became the Rockford Airport. The former rifle range area became Seth B. Atwood Park. A 1940's fire station was converted to the Command Post Restaurant, which also houses the Camp Grant Museum. Most of the WWII era buildings were demolished, but some still remain. See also Military Yearbook Project by Richard Morgan

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), near Pearl City
A settlers' fortified log cabin located near the present-day intersection of Dublin Road and Rees Road. 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 U.S. Army troops, and then used by the Illinois state militia when a battle occurred there against the Sac Indians (Battle of Bloody Pond) in June 1832. A stone monument (1880's) marks the site about one mile southeast of town, at Kent Road and Blackhawk Road.
(thanks to Scott Dyar for providing information)

Fort Charles
(1832), near Scales Mound
A state militia fort during the Black Hawk War, commanded by Samuel Scales, located on Charles Mound at the state border with Wisconsin, about two miles north of town. Also known as Scales' Fort. Site is private property. At 1235 feet elevation, Charles Mound is the highest point in the state.

Fort Perrot
(1690 - 1692), East Dubuque
A French trading and lead mining post built by Nicolas Perrot.

The Stockade Refuge
(1832 - 1838), Galena
A settlers' fortification in the center of town, built under imposed martial law. A large blockhouse was in the center of the stockade, with another in one of the angles, and three fortified houses were in the other angles. Also known as Fort Galena. A third blockhouse was located outside the stockade on a hill overlooking the town. One of the fort houses, the Amos Farrar House, is still extant, and became a museum in 1941, now called "The Old Stockade on the Cobblestone Street". Located at 208 Perry Street. 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. This was the only fort in the state that was directly attacked by Chief Black Hawk's band in 1832. The abandoned stockade was torn down in 1847 for lumber. Reconstructed on the actual site in 1996, located just east of downtown.

Plum River Blockhouse
(1832), Savanna
A settlers' blockhouse constructed from the settlers' dismantled homes. Attacked by Indians in May 1832, the settlement was then abandoned until the close of hostilities, the settlers relocating to Galena. In 1833 the timber was reclaimed to rebuild the homes. The site of the fort was at the present US 52 bridge abutment. The town was originally named Plum River until 1850.

Thomas Crane's Fort
(1832), Cherry Grove Township, Carroll County
A settlers' fortified house surrounded by a breastwork abatis. Undetermined exact location.

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

Fort Armstrong (2)
(Rock Island Arsenal)
(1809/1816 - 1836/1845), Rock Island
Rock Island Military Reservation was originally designated in 1809. This was the site of the "Battle of Rock Island Rapids" against the Sac Indians in May 1814, before the fort was actually built. The post was built on the lower east end of the island with two two-story stone and timber blockhouses, with barracks and storehouses. The Federal Indian Factory at Fort Edwards was transferred here in 1822 shortly before the system was shut down and closed by Congress. This was the only post in the state garrisoned by the Regular Army during the 1832 Black Hawk War. The Army left in 1836 but the post was still in use by the state militia as an ordnance depot until 1845. The Sac and Fox Indian Agency was located outside the fort's walls from 1825 - 1833. The old fort was destroyed by fire in 1855 and 1859, afterwhich what was left was ordered removed. The grounds were later altered and graded for the relocation of the railroad and the new arsenal complex (see below). A replica blockhouse (1916) is on the site of the original. A D.A.R. plaque marks a second blockhouse. A scale model of the fort is in the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. Public access is controlled on the military base.

The American Fur Company also had a separate trade post on the island from 1836 - 1838, probably on the north end of the island near the second Davenport House (1833).

Rock Island Arsenal (U.S. Military Reservation)
(Rock Island Arsenal Museum)
(1862 - present), Rock Island
The Arsenal was first established in July 1862 (construction actually began in October 1863), it has been in continuous operation since the 1880's. The Clock Tower Building was built in 1867. Quarters One was built in 1871, demolished in the late 1920's or early 1930's. "Arsenal Row" consists of five historic 1870's stone buildings for ordnance production, and "Armory Row" consists of five buildings for small arms production. A Confederate POW camp, Rock Island Camp, was also located here from December 1863 - July 1865, holding about 12,200 prisoners in 84 barracks within a stockade. The last prison camp buildings were torn down in 1909, now the site of a golf course and several Officer's quarters. On the north end of the island is the historic 1833 Col. George Davenport House (admission fee), his second house on the island. Nearby is the Pioneer Cemetery and the Rock Island National Cemetery. The Rock Island Arsenal Museum was established in 1905, located in Building 60. Group tours by advance reservation given by the Rock Island Arsenal Historical Society.

Flagler's Battery (aka Fort Flagler) was an earthwork saluting or ceremonial battery first installed in the mid to late 1870's, adjacent to the Sundial (itself installed in 1877 as a gift from the Frankford Arsenal, PA), and named after Daniel W. Flagler, the Arsenal's commanding officer at the time (1871 - 1886) (various sources give his rank as either Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel). The battery was armed with two 30-lb Parrott rifles. The battery was removed or otherwise destroyed by 1930 or so, around the same time that the nearby Summer Teahouse on the Quarters One grounds was demolished (1927). The Sundial was repaired in 1969 and rededicated in 1970, still in its original location.

Hubbard's Fort
(1818 - unknown, 1832 ?), Marseilles
An American Fur Co. stockade on a bluff overlooking the Illinois River.

This or another fort was also possibly used during the 1832 Black Hawk War. One source mentions an earthen (sod) fort built before 1832 and palisaded later.

Fort Winnebago
(1827), near Ottawa
A settlers' fort built during the 1827 Winnebago War. Located about two miles south (?) of Fort Johnston.

Fort Johnston
(1832), South Ottawa
A state militia stockaded fort/blockhouse located opposite the mouth of the Fox River, on the south bank of the Illinois River, originally named Fort Ottawa. Built and commanded by James Johnston. This was Gen. Henry Atkinson's headquarters for a time during the Black Hawk War. No remains. State marker located just west of the IL 23 / IL 71 intersection in downtown Ottawa.

Fort St. Louis du Rocher
(Starved Rock State Park)
(1682 - 1691), Utica
A palisaded trading post built by Henri de Tonti on the summit of Starved Rock. Across the Illinois River was the Grand Village of the Illinois, or Old Kaskaskia. It was abandoned in 1691 after an Iroquois attack, but sometimes occupied again 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 supposedly here during the War of 1812.

Fort Horn
(1832), La Salle
A militia fort at the mouth of the Little Vermilion River, across from Fort Wilbourn. Reddick Horn was the militia supply master. The town was then known as Illinoistown.

Fort Wilbourn
(1832), Jonesville
A state militia stockaded fort and supply depot where Abraham Lincoln was mustered in as a private for his second term of enlistment. The post was located on a bluff overlooking the Illinois River, on the south bank across from the mouth of the Little Vermilion River. Originally known as Fort Deposit when a military supply ship ran aground and the supplies were offloaded here. Rebuilt and renamed when troops arrived under Capt. John Wilbourn. Also spelled Wilburn. No remains. Site is now part of Illinois Valley Community College. Marker located at Orlando Smith Road and IL 351.

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.

Joel Doolittle's Fort
(1832), Bureau County
A settlers' fortified log cabin. Undetermined location. (Not to be confused with Fort Do-little in Tazewell County.)

Henry Thomas' Fort
(1832), near Wyanet
A settlers' fortified tavern and stage stop on the old Galena Trail, four miles north of town.

John Warnock's Blockhouse
(1832), near Granville
A settlers' blockhouse built on a farm near town.

John Leeper's Fort
(1832), Granville Township, Putnam County
A settlers' stockaded cabin.

Fort Cribs
(1832), near Hennepin
A settlers' crude stockade around a barn, built mostly with corn cribs, hence the name. Also known as James Willis' Fort, the land owner. It sheltered 22 familes and also served as a base for mounted militia patrols. It was never attacked. A modern barn is reportedly located on the original foundation. Located about three and one-half miles east of town, north of Florid.

Hartzell's Fort
(1832), Hennepin
A log blockhouse built on the site of an abandoned trading post, once owned by Thomas Hartzell, by the settlers and local militia during the Black Hawk War. Located on the east side of Front Street, overlooking the Illinois River. It stood for 10 years. Possibly the same as Fort Hennepin (1832), a fortified trader's cabin.

Hannum's Fort
(1832), Magnolia Township, Putnam County
A settlers' stockade with opposing bastions. Also spelled Horram.

Boyle's Fort
(1832), Magnolia Township, Putnam County
A settlers' fort.

Strawn's Fort
(1832), Magnolia Township, Putnam County
A settlers' stockaded log cabin.

Benjamin Darnell's Fort
(1832), Evans Township, Marshall County
A settlers' stockade, located on Darnell's farm on Sandy Creek, enclosing several newly built log cabins large enough for 70 families to take refuge.

Griffith's Fort
(1832), Roberts Township, Marshall County
A settlers' stockade.

Jesse Roberts' Fort
(1832), Roberts Township, Marshall County
A settlers' stockaded log cabin sheltering seven or eight families. Located two miles south of Magnolia.

Beckwith's Fort
(1832), Roberts Township, Marshall County
A settlers' stockaded log cabin.

James Dever's Fort
(1832), Marshall County ?
A settlers' 100 by 80-foot log stockade with two opposing blockhouses, enclosing Dever's cabin. Settlers taking refuge here lived in tents. Located at Round Prairie (?) (La Prairie ?).

Bureau Grove Fort
(1832), Peoria County ?
An Illinois state militia fort commanded by Major Samuel Bogart.

Fort Defiance (1)
(1832), Hallock Township, Peoria County
A settlers' fort at "La Salle Prairie" during the Black Hawk War. Also known as Simon Reed's Fort. Garrisoned by a state militia company under John Gay.

Fort Crčvecoeur (Park)
(1680), 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. Soon after the fort was built (January 1680), Robert Cavelier sieur de La Salle returned to Canada to get needed supplies. Under command of Henri de Tonti, the garrison mutinied and plundered the fort during Tonti's absence at Old Kaskaskia/Starved Rock (April 1680), and Illinois Indians later burned the fort. A monument marks the site. The fort has been reconstructed.

Fort Pimitoui
(1692 - 1730 ?), Peoria
Built by Henri de 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, 1832), Peoria
A state militia fort destroyed by Indians in 1819 after it was abandoned. Rebuilt by the local settlers for defense in the Black Hawk War. No remains, site located at Liberty and Water Streets. Probably built on the site of the earlier French Fort Pimitoui.

Peoria Civil War Camps
(1861), Peoria
Camp Mather (2), a muster-in camp, 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 Do-little
(1832), Pekin
A converted schoolhouse (Snell School) fortified during the Black Hawk War, so-named for the lack of any military action in the area. Site located on Second Street between St. Mary's and Elizabeth Aves.. (Not to be confused with Joel Doolittle's Fort in Bureau County.)

Fort des Renards
(1730), McLean County
The Mesquakie (Fox) Indians were defeated by the French after a 23-day seige of their stronghold.

Kickapoo Fort (date ?) was nearby, a stronghold of the Kickapoo Indians.

John Patton's Fort
(1832 - 1840), near Lexington
A settlers' blockhouse built adjacent to the original 1829 log cabin. They were joined together in 1840 as an enlarged farmhouse. The extant house (relocated in 1969) is maintained by the McLean County Historical Society, restored in 1984. Located at Lexington Park.

George (or John ?) Henline's Fort
(1832), Lawndale Township, McLean County
A settlers' stockaded cabin on Henline Creek, about one-half acre enclosed. No remains.

Mackinaw Timber Fort
(1832), McLean County
An Illinois state militia fort commanded by Capt. Merritt Covell. Located somewhere along the Mackinaw River, possibly in Lawndale Township ?

Bartholomew's Fort
(1832), Money Creek Township, McLean County
A fortified farmhouse used by the militia, about five miles west of Pleasant Hill

Little Vermilion Blockhouse
(1832), Livingston County ?
An unnamed blockhouse at the Little Vermilion Settlement (unknown location).

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

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

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

Fort Holcomb
(1832), Putman Township, Fulton County
A Black Hawk War breastwork.

Wright's Fort
(1832), Canton Township, Fulton County
A Black Hawk War blockhouse and stockade.

Knoxville Fort
(1832), near Knoxville
A settlers' small stockaded fort located about three and one-half miles southeast of town. It was reportedly never actually used for defense. Exact location undetermined.
(thanks to Greg Carter, Old Lead Region Historical Society, for providing info.)

McMurtry's Fort
(1830 - 1832), Sparta Township, Knox County
A settlers' stockade and blockhouse, built on the William and James McMurtry Farm about three miles southeast of Henderson Grove on the south side of Middle Creek, in Township Section 10. This was the first fort built in the county.

John Gum's Fort
(1832), Henderson Grove
A settlers' stockaded double log cabin on South Henderson Creek, sheltering 25 families, also a base for a company of militia. It would later become Knox County's first courthouse and post office. Knoxville became the county seat in 1839. The cabin was later moved and preserved in a Knoxville park until burned by arsonists in 1952.

Fort Lewis
(1832), Henderson Township, Knox County
A 210-foot square stockaded timber fort with two clapboard-covered blockhouses, the principal defense in Knox County, built by the Volunteer Rangers. Site located in Township Section 33, north of Lake Storey.

Fort Aggie
(1832), Rio Township, Knox County
A settlers' stockaded fort located on Joseph (or John ?) Cresswell's property, named in honor of his wife. The structure was torn down in 1836 to use the lumber for a barn. Site located in Township Section 7.

Buffin's Fort
(1832), Sumner Township, Warren County
A settlers' fort located at Denny (location ?).

Martin's Blockhouse
(1832), Sumner Township, Warren County
A settlers' fort.

Peter Butler's Fort
(1832), Monmouth Township, Warren County
A settlers' fort that sheltered 20 families. Also used as a base for mounted militia patrols.

Findley's Blockhouse
(1832), Hale Township, Warren County
A settlers' fort.

John Pence's Fort
(1832), near Oquawka
A settlers' fort north of town.

Fort at Yellow Banks
(1832), near Oquawka
A mounted state militia fort and base camp.

Orr's Blockhouse
(1832), Henderson County
A state militia supply depot on Honey Creek.

Cross Roads Fort
(1832), near Macomb
A settlers' fort located at Old Fort.

Bernard de La Harpe's Fort
(1715 ?), La Harpe
A French fort. Four stone tablets inscribed in French with the date "June 15, 1715" were found here in the late 1890's.

Carthage Fort
(Old Carthage Jail Historic Site)
(1832), Carthage
A fortified settlers' home, dismantled or otherwise gone by 1838.

The stone "Old Carthage Jail" was built on the site in 1839. Mormon leader Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed here by a lynch mob in June 1844. The old jail is preserved as a historic site by the Mormon Church at Courthouse Square.

Hezekan Spillman's Fort
(1832), Hancock County
A settlers' stockaded blockhouse. Undetermined location.

Fort Johnson
(1814), Warsaw
A Federal stockaded fort about 100 feet square, with two timber blockhouses, a stone powder magazine, and several barracks and quarters, located opposite the mouth of the Des Moines River, built by Major Zachary Taylor. It was abandoned and burned after being occupied for less than eight weeks (Sept. - Oct. 1814).

Cantonment Davis was later established here or nearby in October 1815 as a winter encampment for the building of Fort Edwards just to the north. The probable site, located on the west side of town in a residential neighborhood, has been under an ongoing archaeological study since 2003.

Fort Edwards
(1816 - 1824, 1828 - 1832), Warsaw
A Federal stockaded fort located just north of Fort Johnson. Became part of the Federal "Factory system" of Indian trading posts during 1818 - 1822 with the Sauk (Sac) and Fox Indian Agency. Troops were withdrawn in 1819, but were occasionally posted here off and on until 1824. The American Fur Company then leased the fort from 1828 (?) - 1832. Settlers may have used the fort for protection in the 1832 Black Hawk War. The abandoned site was sold off by the government in 1844, and the salvageable timber was used to make houses for the new settlers. No remains. A stone monument is located on a bluff along the Mississippi River, just west of the Great River Road.

Camp Wood (1)
(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). Marker located on grounds of Dubois Elementary School.
Camp Butler (1) (1861 - 1866), located northeast of town on Clear Lake. Became a Confederate POW camp after 1862. Now a National Cemetery at 5063 Camp Butler Road, off of US 36.
Camp Lincoln (1), a recruitment camp. Possibly the precursor to and same site as Camp Lincoln (2) (see below).
Camp Morton, undetermined location.
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. Of interest here on post is the Illinois State Military Museum at 1301 North MacArthur Blvd..

Camp Tanner
(1898), Springfield
A Spanish-American War state muster camp located at the present-day State Fairgrounds, northeast of Camp Lincoln. Later the site was used for Camp Lowden (1917), a state guard mobilization encampment. The 1894 Exposition Building still exists on the grounds.

NEED MORE INFO: Civil War recruitment camp Camp Camden Mills (1862) (location ?).

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