Blue, Gray Remain Vivid in Chicago-- Part 1

From the April 9th Chicago Tribune by John Keilman.

CIVIL WAR LEFT ITS MARK ON THE CITY; 150 YEARS LATER SOME HISTORY BUFFS SEEK CAMP MEMORIAL.

James Watson Pennington was a wagoneer for the Union Army, one of thousands who served from the Chicago area. Members of the National Society Daughters of the Union visit Civil War graves each year to remember the sacrifice they made. His headstone at the Plainfield Township Cemetery has all but worn away, leaving little of his service in that war 150 years ago.

The Chicagoland area had a profound effect on with the war, even though no battles were fought here. Some 36,000 Union soldiers came from the area and nearly 4,000 died.

Chicago was home to the infamous Camp Douglas, on the grounds of Senator Stephen Douglas's home. It started as a Union training camp before becoming a prison near the end of the war. Some 6,000 Confederate soldiers died. Thousands of them are buried at Oak Woods Cemetery on the South Side of the city.

Lincoln Park is named after the president and holds the statues of Union generals US Grant and Philip Sheridan. Streets from Logan Boulevard to Mulligan Avenue are named after war heroes.

More to Come. --Old B-Runner