This short-lived military post (1801-1805) supplanted Fort Massac for a few years and the largest military outpost in the fledgling United States with an 800-1000 man garrison. The post consisted of over 20 log barracks, numerous support structures, a headquarters, a stone powder magazine and a log palisade enclosing the compound. About 400 acres were cleared with the site overlooking the Ohio River at the head of the Grand Chain of Rocks, about 14 miles above the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and near the old French Tannery. Little remains today of the post with the exception of about 70 unmarked soldiers' graves including that of Revolutionary War Lt. Colonel David Strong, commander of the post.
The purpose of the Cantonment was to strengthen the U.S. military presence in an area subject to the intrigues of the European powers and succession-minded Westerners unhappy with the policies of the young American Congress. The troop buildup at the post reflected Alexander Hamilton's wish to go to war with France and the build down occurred after President John Adams averted hostilities at a crucial time in American history. The Cantonment had hosted Generals William Henry Harrison and Wilkinson to settle Indian treaties. It is also ascribed to be the meeting place of General Wilkinson and Aaron Burr who conspired to carve a new republic out of the West.
Cantonment Wilkinsonville, near where British, French and Spanish territory intersected, in 1802 housed half the manpower of the fledgling American Armed Forces. Some 500 to as many as 1500 men were stationed here during the period of 1798-1805. General James Wilkinson was head of the US Military for the entire Louisiana District.
Trouble was a' brewing. Aaron burr was Vice-President under Jefferson during Jefferson's first term, in 1800. See more on Burr. Jefferson later wrote that he could not trust Wilkinson.
Then Burr had his famous shootout, and won. Burr came west, to an honorary dinner for himself in Nashville and a warm reception. Burr said he was mustering the necessities to fight a feared Spanish invasion. But the word spread that Burr really was planning to start his own empire, perhaps in what we now know as the western states, and perhaps to include some of Mexico.
Former US Vice-President Aaron Burr and Gen. Wilkinson in spring, 1805, met at Wilkinsonville, and likely discussed a coup that would have split the fledgling country. It would have put those troops and a large amount of what is now the southwestern U.S., into Spanish control. President Jefferson learned of the plan and closed the camp.
Search the internet for burr wilkinson conpiracy. The two had worked together 25 years earlier, in the office of another conspirator, Benedict Arnold.
Cantonment Wilkinsonville, not a fort, near Grand Chain, Illinois, has few published historical references. Illinois' only acknowledgement that Wilkinsonville ever existed is a hard-to-see highway marker along Route 37 just south of Grand Chain.
A bound document containing a photocopy of all of the Cantonment Wilkinsonville research and the related bibliography/source/location information to date is available at the Cairo Library, the Cairo Custom House Museum, the Metropolis Library, and SIU-Carbondale Morris Library Special Collections.
Some historical references seem to confuse Fort Massac and Cantonment Wilkinsonville. Fort Massac is a state park in the west edge of Metropolis, also along the Ohio River. The two are separated by perhaps 15 miles.
In 1803, St. Louis was only 40 years old. Illinois was not to become a state for another 15 years. When Jefferson gave instructions to Lewis & Clark to explore the great Northwest, he referred to "leaving the United States", referring to the territory west of Cairo.
