Cantonment Wilkinson Site facts for kids
Cantonment Wilkinson was an important, but short-lived, United States Army camp. It was built on the banks of the Ohio River in what is now Pulaski County, southern Illinois. This camp opened on New Year's Day in 1801.
It was home to over 1,000 soldiers and their families for about 18 months, from 1801 to 1802. At its busiest, Cantonment Wilkinson was one of the biggest military bases in the country, with more than 1,500 soldiers living there. The army left the camp in 1802. After that, the empty buildings were used by Cherokee people and early American settlers.
Archaeologists from SIUC studied Cantonment Wilkinson from 2003 to 2005. They found many interesting items from the early U.S. Army. These included military uniform buttons, pottery, and glass items. These discoveries helped us learn a lot about the U.S. Army during the time between the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
Today, a historical marker is located about 3 miles north of the site in Grand Chain, Illinois.
Why Was Cantonment Wilkinson Built?
The United States government ordered the creation of Cantonment Wilkinson in September 1800. This was a safety step because there was a chance of new conflicts with France. A difficult situation between France and the United States had started in 1797. This event, called the XYZ Affair, showed that French officials had asked for bribes from American diplomats.
This led to a tense relationship between the two countries. The American government wanted to be ready for a possible war. They decided to build a large camp where soldiers could train together before going into battle. Cantonment Wilkinson was created to serve this important purpose.
What Did Archaeologists Find at the Camp?
A team from SIU first found the site in Pulaski County in 2003. They plowed the field where the camp once stood. This revealed an area of about 37,000 square meters with signs of brick buildings. They also found pieces of pottery, glass, metal, and other items.
When they carefully dug into the ground, they discovered military uniform buttons from the early 1800s. They also found more pottery, glassware, and other artifacts. In 2004, more money was provided for the project. This allowed the team to dig 27 more test areas.
Further digging and investigation uncovered items like burnt wood, broken pieces of ceramic dishes and bowls, glass bottles, and other military objects. They also found interesting features, such as:
- A possible pit cellar, which was like a small basement under a hut.
- Two large and deep cellars.
- A small fireplace, called a hearth.
- Pits where trash was buried.
Archaeologists dug 21 more test areas before finishing their work in 2005. The items found in these later digs were similar to what they had already discovered. They did not provide much new historical information.
