Fort D

Fort D, one of the four forts erected in Cape Girardeau by Union forces in 1861, is the only one preserved. Its site southeast of the town was chosen to command the entire bend of the river southward, and also the river road from downstream. Inclined embankments were built with ditches on the outside. A rectangular gun emplacement projected diagonally at each corner. These earthworks may still be seen. The soldiers made a bowling alley on the terreplein of the fort using huge sticks of wood for pins and 32 pound cannon balls to bowl them over. During extremely cold weather some of the soldiers dug caves into the steep hillside north of the fort and became temporarily troglodytes; but most of them decided the extra comfort did not warrant the extra work.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri · United States