Southeast Civil War Tour

Day 1
The first stop on this tour is the history-rich town of Ironton. The 21st Illinois Monument is located two blocks south of the courthouse on the grounds of St. Marie du Lac Catholic Church, marking the headquarters of Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Behind the gazebo is where Grant received his commission as Brigadier General, thus beginning his journey to fame. Visitors will see a statue dedicated in 1886, the year after Grant's death, by the soldiers of Grant's original regiment. It stands near the spot where once grew the "Grant Oak," beside which Gen. Grant received his commission. Although the grounds are private property, visitors are welcome.

Ironton is the home of the Fort Davidson State Historic Site. On Sept. 26-27, 1864, the valley was the scene of one of the largest and most hard-fought battles waged in the state--the Battle of Pilot Knob. Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price invaded Missouri from Arkansas, leading an army of 12,000 men. Gen. Thomas Ewing Jr. defended Fort Davidson with a garrison of 1,450 men and successfully diverted the Confederate forces away from St. Louis. The visitor center at the site interprets the battle and features exhibits, a research library, an audio-visual presentation and a fiber-optic diorama of the battle.

Next, travel east to Fredricktown and visit the site of the Battle of Fredericktown. Fredricktown changed hands twice, Oct. 17 and 21, 1861, as Union forces closed in on a State Guard invasion force under Mr. Jeff Thompson. The original battle site is in good condition and can be viewed from the town cemetery. The grave of Col. Adin B. Lowe, the highest-ranking officer to die in the battle, is in the northeast corner of the cemetery behind St. Michael's Catholic Church. The Battle of Fredricktown marker is located on the courthouse square and the Confederate Monument is located on South Main Street just north of the cemetery.

Travel south to Cape Girardeau for a good night's rest and to refuel for tomorrow's activities.

Cape Girardeau is full of Civil War history and sites. At the time of the Civil War, it was considered the most fortified city in the United States. The Battle of Cape Girardeau on April 26, 1863, was meant to be a sure Confederate win, but Union fortifications made it impossible for Confederate soldiers to advance.

Grant used the present-day Port Cape Girardeau restaurant as his temporary headquarters when traveling through southeast Missouri. The building provided the security needed to command Union forces south of St. Louis.

Both sides of the conflict are equally represented in the monuments and memorials located in Cape Girardeau. The Union Monument and Fountain is dedicated to all American veterans and features a Union soldier. The Confederate War Memorial is a solid 14 ½ feet tall gray marble monument engraved with the Confederate Flag.

Stay in Cape Girardeau for the night, visit the antique shops and local restaurants before continuing your Civil War tour of southeast Missouri.

From Cape, head south toward the town of Bloomfield, home of the Stars and Stripes Museum. This museum is dedicated to the "soldier's newspaper," which was first published Nov. 9, 1861, in Bloomfield. During Grant's Belmont campaign, Union soldiers used the abandoned equipment of the local newspaper to produce and publish their camp paper. Also, visit the Stoddard County Civil War Cemetery where the graves of fallen soldiers are found.

Next, move southeast toward New Madrid and the Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site. The 15-room mansion was occupied by Union soldiers during the Battle of Island No. 10 and the Siege of New Madrid. The Battle of Island No. 10 took place on April 8, 1862, and relied on Union ironclads to out-gun Confederate forces. Because of the meandering of the Mississippi, the original site has been destroyed, but an interpretive plaque commemorates the strategic battle. Be sure to stop by the New Madrid Welcome Center to gather information on more tourist attractions and events in the area.

After departing New Madrid, travel north toward Belmont for a visit to the interpretive plaque commemorating the Battle of Belmont. At this battle site, General Grant's forces intercepted Confederate forces on Nov. 7, 1861 resulting in Grant's first battle and his first victory of the Civil War. The actual battle site is in a pristine condition, but is in private ownership and not accessible to the public.