Construction Fort D

detail map of fort d, cape girardeau, missouri

work on fort d began on august 6, 1861 under direction of lieutenant john w. powell of illinois. later, powell recruited company of men cape girardeau serve in union army. since powell illinois, these men mustered in battery f, 2nd illinois light artillery. after training several months, battery sent tennessee river pittsburgh landing, near small chapel known shiloh. during battle of shiloh, on april 6, 1862, powell gave command fire raising hand. bullet shattered wrist, , arm later amputated stop infection. in 1869, one-armed john wesley powell led first successful navigation of colorado river through powell named “ grand canyon.”

the earthwork walls original fort d, constructed in 1861 , restored in 1936. palisade wall, made of upright logs, constituted rear wall , pierced gate. gap in south wall may have been “sally” port, allowing soldiers access rifle pits below parapet. fort armed 3 32-pounder cannons , 2 24-pounder cannons; mounted on movable siege carriages. 32-pounder cannon smoothbore cannon fire 32-pound solid round shot on 1 mile. cannon plus carriage weight more 4 tons.

fort d garrisoned union troops illinois, missouri, , other midwestern states throughout civil war. fort never engaged in real combat; battle of cape girardeau, april 26, 1863, fought west of city.