Confederate Memorial

Lincoln Shields Recreation Area
West Alton, Missouri

In April of 2002, a memorial containing the names of the of the Confederate prisoners who died of smallpox was dedicated while in the Alton Federal Prison during the Civil War. The memorial is located across the Mississippi River at the Lincoln Shields Recreation Area, an area of the Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area managed by the Corps of Engineers. The area is named after a famous duel between Abraham Lincoln and a man named James Shields who was offended by what Lincoln and his wife had written in their "Rebecca" letters. The duel was called off after Shields realized Lincoln possessed a clear advantage because of his stature.

Visiting the Confederate Memorial
The Confederate Memorial can be visited at any time
There is no charge to visit the Confederate Memorial.

Alton in the Civil War - Alton Prison
Focus on the Civil War era with records on the Confederate prisoners who died at the prison.

Explore the community of Alton area.

Explore the Meeting of the Great Rivers Region