The Civil War caused more deaths than any other war in U.S. history. More than three million fought in the war, and two percent of the population, more than 620,000 people, died in it. An estimated 200 Union soldiers are buried at Alton Cemetery, along with a number of civilians and Union soldiers who died of disease in Alton or aboard steamboats traveling up the Mississippi. During the war, several units served as guards at Alton Federal Military Prison, including the 13th U.S. Infantry, 77th Ohio Infantry, 37th Iowa Infantry, 10th Kansas Infantry, and 144th Illinois Infantry. The 144th Illinois Infantry was formed in Alton specifically for prison guard duty and was almost entirely made up of Alton-area residents.
