Few People Know A Huge Civil War Camp Could Once Be Found Right Here In Wisconsin
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Wisconsin definitely isn’t the first state people think about when it comes to the Civil War, but the Dairy State had plenty of involvement in the conflict. We’d only been a state for about 15 years, but men from Wisconsin took up the call and served their country. In Madison, there’s an area that played a fairly important role. You’ve probably been there numerous times and never realized how important it truly is. Camp Randall is where the University of Wisconsin football team plays their home games. But 150 years ago, it was a training facility, army hospital, and prisoner-of-war camp.
It's not likely that the tens of thousands of people who pour into the stadium on Fall Saturdays think about why the imposing structure carries that name.
He went above and beyond in support of the Union way effort by raising 18 regiments, 10 artillery batteries, and three cavalry units, exceeding Wisconsin's quota by 3,232 men. Randall was the sixth Governor of Wisconsin from 1858 until 1861.
During the war, the following troops were stationed at Camp Randall while being organized for service: 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 23rd, 29th, 30th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 40th, 49th, 50th. Also Company G. of Berdan's Sharpshooters. Initially President Lincoln called for just one regiment of 10 companies, but Randall felt that the war would require more than that, so he kept training and more than 70,000 troops spent time here.
This area became a spot where war veterans returned and in 1912, a portion of the grounds was turned into Memorial Park, which houses a few of the remaining artifacts from that time. Many will head into Camp Randall Stadium under the Memorial Arch without ever knowing what it stands for.
They weren't there long, as the group who watched over them, the 19th Wisconsin Regiment, were called back to battle and at the end of May, and the prisoners were moved to Chicago. Unfortunately, 140 prisoners died while at Camp Randall. Those men are buried at Confederate Rest, in Forest Hill Cemetery. It is the northernmost Confederate graveyard in the nation.
This plaque honors those buried there.
The Camp Randall Memorial Arch and entrance to the park are located where Dayton Street meets with Randall Street, east of the football stadium and south of Engineering Hall. Camp Randall’s address is 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.