Twenty-First Illinois Volunteer Infantry - Jacksonville, IL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 39° 44.272 W 090° 15.474
15S E 734973 N 4402259
Unit refused to march under current commander, so, U.S. Grant was assigned the job.
Waymark Code: WMKD7E
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 03/24/2014
Views: 2
County of monument: Morgan County
Location of site: Lafayette Ave. & Grand Ave., Morgan County Fairgrounds, Jacksonville
Monument erected by: Morgan County Historical Society
Marker erected by: The Morgan County Historical Society and the Jacksonville Committee for the re-enactment of Grant's March
Date marker erected: March, 1977
Stone Monument Text:
Col. U. S. Grant
in command
21st~ILL. Vol. Inf.
Camp Site
July 5, 1861
Shield Marker Text:
U. S. GRANT GRANT CAMP SITE July 5, 1861 the twenty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. U.S. Grant Commanding, camped on this site. This Regiment, recruited mostly in and around Mattoon, refused to go into Federal Service under its elected Colonel so Grant was appointed in his place.
In order to bring the Regiment to a state of discipline, Grant determined to march the men from Springfield to Quincy. On the way the destination was changed to Naples, at which place river boats were to pick up the Regiment. Another change of orders sent it to Quincy.
This marked the beginning of Grant's march to fame as a general and as President of the United States.