(Above) A photograph of a Union training camp during the Civil War. (Courtesy image)

By Brother Jon Stacy
Hecker Camp #443

During the course of my time spent at the Gustave Koerner House on Saturday June 20 for the Belleville History Day Abraham Lincoln Walking Tour, I heard a lot of questions in reference to the St. Clair County Fairgrounds and its history related to the U.S. Civil War. To be blunt, its use during the Civil War is, basically, a footnote in the overall history of the conflict. When interviewed over the phone by a reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat, even he thought it was a bigger deal than what it was, so let’s dive into it.

In late April 1861, it was decided by Illinois Governor Richard Yates to raise an additional 10 infantry regiments without waiting for Federal approval. Each regiment would come from one of the ten congressional districts within the state and would be trained in the largest county seat of that district. Belleville was chosen as the place of training their respective regiment, the 22nd Illinois Infantry Regiment, and the St. Clair County Fairground chosen as the site.

Former Illinois Lieutenant Governor Koerner said these regimental rosters were filled faster than those from the original call for troops.

In the inset image below is the plaque recognizing Koerner Camp located at the St. Clair County Fairgrounds. (Courtesy image)

The County Fairground was originally named “Camp Bissell.” However the 12th Illinois stationed in Caseyville, Illinois to deter a Missouri invasion of the state, named their camp “Bissell,” and the new regiment named the fairgrounds “Camp Koerner” instead.

When Capt. Ulysses S. Grant toured the camp and inspected the three companies present (two from Belleville and one from Monroe County) on May 8, 1861, food, drink and other necessities were provided by the Belleville citizens in liberal quantities. Everything else was obtained through a credit line or to be reimbursed by the State of Illinois.

The next day, Koerner received word of an impending operation in St. Louis; he then arranged for a westbound train to be readied at the station near the fairgrounds and the troops under Capt. Henry Dougherty (later colonel) be readied for immediate transport, if the operation failed or spilled into Illinois.

Gustave Koerner. (Courtesy image)

On June 23, 1861, Gustave Koerner presented the regimental colors to the 22nd Illinois Infantry on the steps of the St. Clair County courthouse, thus ending the fairgrounds tenure as Camp Koerner. Despite only being used in this capacity for less than two months, Camp Koerner is remembered with a bronze marker placed there previously to its re-acquisition by the County and subsequent restoration.

However, the story is not done. For the first time on Oct. 22-24, 1879, the fairgrounds was used to host large Veteran reunions in the city of Belleville.

The Belleville Advocate newspaper called the 1879 reunion, “A Monster Boom,” as it had guest speakers such as Generals William T. Sherman, Philip H. Sheridan, John A. Logan, Richard Oglesby and A.J. Smith, a massive parade that included Veterans from the War of 1812 and Mexican War, along with a sham battle between Veterans and the 3rd Brigade Illinois National Guard. It was overheard when a Veteran strolled through the camp of the 3rd Brigade that it, “reminded him so much of old times that he was on the point of stealing a chicken from a neighbors house before he thought of the absurdity of such a proceeding.”

The fairgrounds would be known as “Camp Hugo Wangelin” during the Southern Illinois Soldier and Sailors Reunion, held between Sept. 25-27, 1889. Another reunion was held there for the Southern Illinois Soldier and Sailors Reunion between Oct. 5-7, 1892.

Less than two months of service was needed to train “Belleville’s Own” 22nd Illinois, and it’s fascinating to me, that ordinary folks hold a special place for that tidbit of history. The bronze marker at the fairgrounds has definitely done its job!

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Sources:
*Koerner, Gustave (1910). “Memoirs of Gustave Koerner 1809-1896, Life Sketches Written at the Suggestion of his children”, Volume II, Pages 145-149, “Grant in Belleville, ” “Camp Jackson Taken,” “Equipping Volunteer Troops,” “Presents Colors to the Belleville Regiment.” Edited by: Thomas J. McCormick. Mary K. Engelmann
*Belleville Weekly Advocate: 3 Oct. 1879; 10 Oct. 1879; 24 Oct. 1879; 26 July 1889; 2 Aug. 1889; 27 Sept. 1889; 4 Oct. 1889; 29 July 1892; 9 Sept. 1892; 16 Sept. 1892; 23 Sept. 1892; and 30 Sept. 1892.