The “Illinois Arc Monument Trail” is the first substantial interpretive enhancement project at the Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield in nearly two decades.
Excerpt of “The Battle of Brice’s Crossroads” Map provided by the American Battlefield Trust
Illinois Regiment Locations Overlayed on the Modern Battlefield.
As the Confederate forces continued to push towards the Crossroads area on the afternoon of June 10, 1864 the Federal defense line opposing them constricted under the intense pressure. Just a couple of hundred yards from the Crossroads the center of the Federal line, from the Baldwyn Road to the Guntown Road, was held exclusively by infantry regiments from the State of Illinois.
As the fighting intensified and the Federal flanks became threatened by the victorious Confederates, the units from Illinois who had held fast as long as possible retreated through the Crossroads. The six Illinois infantry regiments suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads.
The “Illinois Arc Monument Trail” will memorialize the Illinois infantry at or near the exact positions they held on the battlefield that fateful day in June 1864. Monuments, Interpretive Tablets, and informative visual panels will be connected by a walkable trail to help the visitor to the battlefield better understand the fighting and sacrifice at the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads. Four monuments have already been placed where the finished “Illinois Arc” will stand.
Help make this one of the premier Interpretive trails in the country!
Every contribution helps bring this vision to life, and we are deeply grateful for your support.
Learn how to get your own piece of history!
If you have any questions please email us at 1864@bricescrossroadsfoundation.com prior to donating!
Honor Guard Donors
Those that gave $500 or more toward the project
Stan Buckles – Mt. Pulaski, IL
Jim Horn – Scottsdale, AZ
Shawn McLane – Decatur, IL
Jonathan Reyman – Springfield, IL
Richard Schachtsiek – Springfield, IL
