John A. Logan Stops in West Frankfort!

Stephanie, Ray, and John A. Logan made a dangerous trek through heavy rain and light sleet late on Monday evening. Only having General Logan with her for a short time, Stephanie had to show him the West Frankfort Veterans Military Museum and could not wait for better weather!

Ray got them there safely, however, as he slowed numerous times to avoid hydroplaning. But regardless of how long it was going to take, Stephanie was going to show John A. Logan and Ray the memorial statues dedicated to soldiers from the West Frankfort area.

Upon arrival, the three of them braved the fierce winds and rain as Stephanie showed them around the location. To either side of the large main wall, there are two smaller walls containing the names of several United States soldiers underneath the wars in which they served. On the far left panel of the left wall lists several from the Civil War.

There is also one name listed on the far right panel of the right wall.

In front of these walls of names is a statue of a soldier with the inscription "Lest We Forget." John A. Logan, Ray, and I were all very moved by this piece.

After our photo shoot, the wind was starting to pick up, but I could not leave without taking John A. Logan to peek in the windows of the museum. I told him all about how inside the museum were several memorabilia items from various wars. They were all donated by citizens of the West Frankfort area and told history from an incredible perspective, that of a soldier's.

At this time the rain came down even harder, and we could hardly stand the weather. We decided it was best to head back to Carbondale and hope for another visit on hopefully a day that was warm and sunny.

General Logan was fast asleep by the time we arrived back in Carbondale. His journey for the day was only 55.6 miles round-trip, but over the course of the past few months he has been on the road a whopping 3,260.92 miles total.

Robert E. and Laura visit some old friends.

Laura and Robert E. left Wham Thursday after class and traveled two hours to Laura's hometown of Arnold, MO. While in Arnold, Laura and Robert E. got to spend time with Laura's family before heading to Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, MO. Jefferson Barracks was established in 1826 and is the oldest active military installation west of the Mississippi River.

Over 220 Civil War generals served duty at Jefferson Barracks at some point during their career including Robert E. himself. Due to it's strategic location next to railroads and the Mississippi River, Jefferson Barracks at times cared for more soldiers during the Civil War than any hospital in both the North or South. The high mortality rate at Jefferson Barracks is what ultimately led to the establishment of the National Cemetery. The National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks is the final resting place for more than 16,000 Union and Confederate soldiers, making it the largest burial site of Civil War soldiers in Missouri.

While Robert E. and Laura had a good time exploring Jefferson Barracks and all it had to offer, it was time to return to Carbondale. After our adventure was all said and done Robert E. and Laura traveled 212.3 miles. Robert E. has traveled a grand total of 3057.38 miles.

Rory, Stefanie, and John A. Logan Visit Antioch, IL

Rory, Stefanie, and John A. Logan left the Wham building late on a Thursday afternoon for a six hour car ride to Antioch Illinois. Once they got to Antioch, IL they were all very tired from the long car ride, so they decided to spend the night at Stefanie's parents house in Antioch. The following morning, they all drove to the Hiram Buttrick Sawmill. The sawmill that is currently standing is an exact replica of the original and was built in 1976. The original sawmill was built in 1839 by Hiram Buttrick. The original was one of the only structures to remain standing through the fires that occurred in in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The original sawmill was built along a creek in the center of Antioch to make it the center of commerce.

After a wonderful day in the small town of Antioch, they eventually made the long journey back to Carbondale. John A. Logan, Stefanie, and Rory traveled a total of 774 miles. All together, John A. Logan has traveled a total of 3,205.32 miles.

Sumer, Justin, Collin, and Robert E. Lee visit Cairo, IL

Sumer, Justin, Collin, and Robert E. Lee took a trip to Cairo, IL. They visited several places while they were there. Robert told them all about the time he was in a steamboat race and landed in Cairo. He told us it should have been a for sure win, but Natchez cheated. (We looked it up later and discovered Lee had been drinking a bit when he landed in Cairo and ran aground not long after leaving Cairo)
Once we were in Cairo, IL., we first visited the Magnolia Manor. The Manor was built in 1869. It is one of the few standing houses left in Cairo. The Manor was visited by Ulysses S. Grant when he was in command of the civil war fort, Fort Defiance. The Manor is open for tours.

Next, they visited the Riverlore. Riverlore was built in 1865. It is an 11 bedroom mansion that is also known as, Millionaire's Row. It was built for Captain William Parker Halliday. He was a bank owner.

The next stop was the Cairo public Library. Mrs. Alford B. Safford had the Safford Memorial Building turned into the library as a memorial to her husband. The library contains many artifacts from older building in Cairo, such as the chandelier from the Opera House.

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Their next stop was the Custom House. The United States Custom House was started in 1867 and has housed the U.S. Post Office, Customs, the Weather Bureau, the Federal Court Room, and the Cairo Police Department. Today the building is just a Museum. It holds, Civil War and local historical items, desk used by Gen. U.S. Grant, an 1865 Cairo fire wagon, a scale model of the gunboat U.S.S. Cairo, the historic hamburger/popcorn wagon. The house is open for tours.

Our last stop was to the Post Office which was built in 1942. The same post office is still used today.
Whew, what a trip! By the end, as you can tell from the pictures, baby Collin and Robert E. Lee were getting cranky! We traveled 121.36 miles. So far, Robert has traveled 2845.08 miles!!

Karli and John A. Logan travel to Peoria, IL

Karli and John A. Logan took the long way to Peoria, having to pick up others joining their journey in Olney and Springfield. When they finally reached Peoria, they had a long, wet and cold journey down to the Riverfront to the Military Services Memorial Plaza. The plaza was built to honor and recognize the veterans who have served in the military. The center plaque on the marker in the picture states "In Honor of the men and women who have served their country in the armed forces of the United States." The surrounding plaques recognize those who helped in the construction of the plaza in 1998. In front of this marker, not shown in the picture, is a flag surrounded by five services markers, one for each branch of the armed forces. After visiting the memorial, Karli and John A. Logan eventually headed home, traveling at total of 695 miles. This brings John A. Logan's total mileage to 2,431.32 miles.

Allison and Robert E. Lee Tour the Jefferson County Historical Museum

Allison and Robert E. Lee left 625 Wham Drive and went to Allison's house for the weekend. Allison, Robert E. Lee, and Allison's mom went to Mt. Vernon to the Jefferson County Historical Museum. Robert E. Lee loved the museum and got to see a surgical kit from the Civil War. The museum had artifacts from many times in history. It had a dentist chair and many artifacts from even before Robert E. Lee's time. The museum contained ballots for governor elections from the 1930s and dental tools. The nice man at the museum took out the surgical kit and took a picture with us. One of the facts that the man mentioned was that the kit did not include anesthesia. Robert E. Lee found this interesting, because this is something that was implemented after the Civil War. The injured people had to endure a great amount of pain when having wounds treated. Allison and Robert E. Lee traveled 193.4 miles for a grand total traveled of 2,723.72 miles. Allison hopes to return to the museum to learn more about history and the types of products used.

Robert E. Lee and Chelsea took a trip to the Historical Jail Museum in Benton, IL

Robert E. Lee and Chelsea took a trip to the Historical Jail Museum in Benton, IL. They traveled 100.9 miles round trip. There is an entire room dedicated to John A. Logan, Robert was not too fond of this part of the tour. There are occasionally re-enactments held at this location which are open to the public. There is also a lot of memorabilia from the Civil War including many things from the Benton area. A monument is located here that is dedicated to Logan and the 209 soldiers from Franklin County who lost their lives during the Civil War. Although, most of the Civil War history found at the jail museum was in honor of General John A. Logan, Robert and I had a great time. General Robert E. Lee has now traveled 1837.22 miles total!!

Danielle and John A. Logan go to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield!

Danielle and Major General John A. Logan took a long trip to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Republic, Missouri. The Battle of Wilson’s Creek, named for the stream that flows through the area, was fought on August 10, 1861, and marked the first battle west of the Mississippi during the Civil War. During the five-hour struggle between the Union and Confederate forces, there were more than 17,000 troops involved and 2,539 killed and wounded.

Danielle and Major General John A. Logan traveled 637 miles together. Major General John A. Logan has traveled 1,736.32 miles in total!

Denise and Robert E. Lee Visit Marquette Park

Denise and Robert E. Lee visited Marquette Park in Chicago, Illinois that is down the street from Denise’s home. They traveled from Carbondale, Illionis (625 Wham Drive Carbondale Il. 62901) all the way to Chicago, Illinois (6734 S. Kedzie Ave., Chicago Il. 6062) in Denise’s car. Denise and Robert traveled a total of 325.49 miles together to and from the site making a total of 650.98 miles. Marquette Park is the largest park on the south west side of Chicago. This park that they visited is also know for being one of the places in Chicago that Martin Luther King protested in and marched in 1966. During this time this area was still and all-white hausing area. The protest held was part of the Chicago Freedom Movment. It was during this movement that Martin Luther King was struck with a rock.

During the 1930s this area of Chicago was primarily composed of Luthuanina culture. Therfore, there is a monument, that Denise and Robert visited, that was built to honor Luthuanian-American aviators Lithuanian-American aviators Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas who perished during the transatlantic flight of the Lituniaca.

Jessica and Robert E. Lee go the Biograph Theatre!

Jessica Benser and Robert E. went from Wham to Jessica’s townhouse in Aspen Court to Jessica’s Home In Grayslake Illinois to the Biograph theater in Chicago, Illinois where John Dillinger was killed back to Jessica’s Home, to Jessica’s townhouse in Aspen Court and lastly to Wham. Total miles traveled in Jessica’s car were 833.86 miles.

One of the most famous haunted theaters in the history of Chicago is the Biograph Theater. It is located on North Lincoln Avenue in downtown Chicago. The Biograph theater has many characteristics including a storefront-width lobby, recessed entrance, free-standing ticket booth, and canopy marquee. The building is finished with a red brick and white-glazed terra cotta. It was originally a theater but now presents live productions. The theater is on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a Chicago Landmark on March 28, 2011.

It was in 1934, that John Dillinger the bank robber was killed in front of the Biograph Theater. On the evening of July 22, Dillinger was seen leaving for the theater with Anna Sage along with another girlfriend Poly Hamilton to see the film Manhattan Melodrama. He had been hiding out for months in her North Halstead Street apartment. He was being pursued by Melvin Purvis, the head of the Chicago branch of the FBI. He missed catching him several times, but it was then he put an end to Dillinger.

When Dillinger walked into the theater that night, he was set up by Anna Sage, who had taken him there at the request of the FBI. She promised she’d be wearing a red dress for identification purposes. Sixteen cops and FBI agents waited outside of the theater for over two hours waiting for Dillinger to walk out. Finally, Dillinger left the theater and ran into Melvin Purvis outside. He stepped down from the curb, just passing the alley entrance and tried to run. He also reached for his gun, but it was too late. Four shots were fired at him, but only three hit. He fell and when he hit the ground he was already dead.

The scene at the Biograph Theater was chaotic. Tradition tells that people who passed ran to the scene and dipped their handkerchiefs in the blood of John Dillinger, getting a souvenir of this event.

At this theater people reported cold spots, icy chills, explainable cool breezes, and odd feelings of fear. Local business noticed people stopped using the alley for a shortcut on to Halstead Street. It seemed haunted to some.

During the 70s, the balcony was converted into two small additional screens. The original décor mostly lost, the Biograph continued to show movies until 2001. The theater reopened in 2002 under the Village Theatres Chain, who operated it until 2004. The interior was entirely rebuilt, which originally seated over 900 to now 299 today. The theater was repaired and cleaned to resemble its original appearance. Then the theater closed again. In 2006, the Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph reopened with the drama “Denmark”.

Michelle and John. A travel to Maple Hill Cemetery

John A. Logan, Michelle, and her furry companion Beavis took a drive to visit the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser, Illinois. They traveled 76 miles round trip. While at the cemetery Michelle, Beavis and John A. viewed a wide variety of memorial head stones for those who have passed, including war veterans from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, Korean War, Vietnam, and the World Wars. They made a special stop at the grave site of the Civil War veteran Reason L. Minor and his wife Margaret. Mr. Minor not only served as a young teen in the Civil War but he also served as a Mason during his life along with other organizations as shown by the symbols engraved on the head stone. Family members of Reason L. and Margaret Minor still reside in Sesser. Every summer Mr. Minor along with many other passed veterans are memorialized by the placing of American flags next to their burial sites. The flags wave proudly with support for those who fought for our freedom and country throughout the years. John A. has traveled a total of 1,099.32 miles.

Robert E. Lee Visit Posey County Civil War Monument in Mount Vernon

Robert E. Lee and Jennifer took a trip to the Posey County Courthouse in Mount Vernon, Indiana. They traveled 261.76 miles round trip. The courthouse lawn is where a statue dedicated to the Civil War heroes is located. The statue was built in 1908 and includes a replica of Lady Liberty at the top of the statue. At the base of the statue are soldiers. Robert E. Lee and Jennifer went on to visit the local cemetery where 3 union generals from the Civil War are buried. Robert E. Lee and Jennifer had an fun time in Mount Vernon, Indians. Robert E. Lee has now traveled 2530.32 miles.

John A. Logan Visits the Old Courthouse

John A. Logan and Kim went on a road trip to St. Louis, MO. They departed from 625 Wham Drive, Carbondale, IL, and drove to Kim's house in Chesterfield, MO. Once Kim picked up her dad, they traveled to 11 North 4th Street, St. Louis, MO, which is the location of the old courthouse. The old courthouse in St. Louis was the site of the Dred Scott Trial in 1857. Scott attempted to gain his, and his family's freedom by claiming that they were used at slaves in states in which slavery was illegal. The Supreme Court ruled against Scott seven to two. John A. Logan and Kim stood in the courtroom where Dred Scott tried to fight for his freedom. They also explored the first two levels of the courthouse. A lot of the original items from the old courthouse still remain. John A. Logan and Kim traveled a total of 308 miles round trip. John A. Logan has traveled a total of 1023.32 miles.

Robert E. Lee Visits the ALLM

Robert E. Lee and Whitney went on a road trip to Springfield, Illinois. Their first stop was Knight's Action Park, where they spent the day having fun. After this they went to the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum that is also located in Springfield. The ALLM contains many Abraham Lincoln artifacts which are on display. There is also a room that contains an exact replica of the log cabin that Lincoln grew up in. There are several performances about Lincoln and his wife, Mary. The ALLM also boasts a war gallery, where you can see a multitude of photos of soldiers from the Civil War and discover what happened to each of them. Finally, the ALLM offers a room called Mrs. Lincoln's Attic, where children can dress up and play in an old log cabin. Robert E. Lee traveled 346.8 miles roundtrip, which brings his grand total to 2268.56 miles.

Robert E. Lee Visits Union Station

Robert E. Lee and Natalie visited the Union Station in St. Louis, Missouri. The total round trip from Wham to Natalie's house and to St. Louis was 362 miles. The Union Station first opened in 1894 as the train station in St. Louis. The Union Station was the busiest and biggest train station of its time throughout the world. This is where many soldiers left their families to go to war in the years to come. One interesting part of the Union Station that Robert E. Lee and Natalie visited was the whispering arch, which is where two people stand on opposite walls and talk to the wall. The other person will be able to hear what the other person has said on the opposite side of the room, the sound travels through an arch that goes across the room. Robert E. Lee and Natalie also saw some old trains and equipment from the time when the station was actually functioning. Robert E. Lee and Natalie had an awesome time visiting the Union Station. Now Robert E. Lee has traveled a total of 1921.76 miles. Wow Robert E. Lee!

John A. Logan Visits Ulysses S. Grant Historical Site

John A. Logan and Kelli took a trip to Ulysses S. Grant National Historical Site in St. Louis, Missouri. They traveled 244.40 miles round-trip. This site is where Grant had met his wife, Julia, in 1843 and then in 1848 the two got married and had a family. The Grant family then farmed the land from 1854-1859. The farm is now called Grant Farm and is an attraction to families to explore different wildlife. The cabin in which the Grants lived is still standing in Grant Farms. Ulysses S. Grant played a critical role during the Civil War as a commander for the Union Army and through his leadership the Union was able to stop the Confederate Army. Ulysses S. Grant then went on to become the 18th President of the United States of America. He served from 1869-1877. John A. Logan has traveled a total of 715.32 miles.

Robert E. Lee Visits the Historical Veterans Museum in Madison

Robert E. Lee and Breanna went on a long adventure all the way up north to Madison, WI on a beautiful weekend to see the historical museum for veterans. Madison became the capital in 1838 and is the second largest city in the state of Wisconsin. The city was named for President James Madison because he had passed away that summer. This museum has exhibts that range from Discover Wisconsin Innovations, People of the Woodlands, Frontier Wisconsin, The Immigrant State, Making a living, and a sense of community. Robert E. Lee and Breanna traveled 926.66 miles round trip. Brining his grand total of miles traveled to 1559.76 miles.

John A. Logan Visits Fort Kaskaskia

On a rainy and dreary day, John A. Logan and Karla weathered the storm to visit Fort Kaskaskia in Ellis Grove, IL. Altogether, they traveled 97.2 miles round-trip to make for an adventurous day. Fort Kaskaskia is a historical site that can be found on a bluff which overlooks the well-known Mississippi River. While standing on this bluff, one can see where the original town of Kaskaskia was once located, historically known for being the first state capital of Illinois. With several historical connections, one of the most prominent facts about Kaskaskia would be its role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In 1797, William Clark visited Kaskaskia while looking into a lawsuit filed by Spanish civilians. During this visit, he ended up meeting several dominant and influential men, who would help him out in the future. Years later, in 1803, these men provided Clark with useful information regarding knowledge of the Illinois Country. Also, one of the main reasons for Lewis and Clark to visit Kaskaskia again, was to recruit more men for their expedition. By the end of their visit, they ended up recruiting around 11 men from Fort Kaskaskia, who thus added an immense amount of help to their journey. In present day, Fort Kaskaskia is a beautiful place to visit, with great historical elements and a beautiful view (when it is not raining of course). After completing this journey, John A. Logan traveled a total of 470.92 miles.

John A. Logan Visits New Athens

John A. Logan and Jamie made an adventurous trip to the war memorial site in New Athens, IL. They traveled 137.56 miles round-trip. At this memorial site, there is a monument that was originally honoring the those who served for our country during the Mexican American War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, and World War I. Eventually, an addition to the monument was included to honor those who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. This memorial was established by the citizens of New Athens as a way to commemorate those involved in the wars. Another interesting feature at this site is time capsule. The capsule includes items from the mid 1900's and will be opened at the 100 year mark. The total miles that John A. Logan has traveled so far is 373.72 miles.

Robert E. Lee and Ashton Culver traveled all the way to Oxford, Mississippi which was a total of 596 miles round trip from Carbondale, Illinois. They visited the Lyceum which is a building on campus at the University of Mississippi. During the Civil War it served as a hospital for the Union and Confederate soldiers. In 1962 it was the scene of a major event in the Civil Rights Movement. So far Robert E. Lee has traveled a total of 633.1 miles.

Diana & John A. Logan take a trip to Perry County Courthouse

Diana and John A. Logan took a trip to Perry County Courthouse in Pinckneyville, IL. They went a total of 63.36 miles to reach their destination and back. The courthouse has a veterans memorial on one side and this proto type liberty bell on the other where you see John A. Logan visiting. The bell was given as a loan and the chamber of commerce erected the bell on July 4, 1975 as a bicentennial memorial to "remind us that liberty and justice have made this nation greatest in the world." The bell was taken from Immanuel Lutheran Church of Lost Prairie, Illinois that was destroyed by a tornado in 1967. As for the courthouse, it looks modern outside but some of the courtrooms inside are the look back in the civil war era when trials were being tried on slaves. There is information posted in the courthouse and you may go to the Perry County Jail Museum to get more information about the Civil War time in Perry County and other historical facts. John A. Logan had a good time learning about this site and visiting it. He has traveled a total of 236.16 miles so far. Great job John and good luck.

Robert E. Lee travels to Marion Carnegie Library

Kathy Bloodworth and Robert E. Lee traveled to the Marion Carnegie Library in Marion Illinois. Marion Carnegie Library was built in 1916 with funds that were donated by Andrew Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie is known as the second-richest man in history and donated enough money to build 1,689 libraries in the United States and many more all over the world. In the spring of 1861 Carnegie was put in charge of military transportation as the Superintendent of Military railways and the Union Government's telegraph lines in the east. Carnegie helped open the railway lines into Washington D.C. after rebel troops had cut them, he rode the locomotive that pulled the first brigade of Union troops to reach Washington D.C. Carnegie personally supervised the transportation of the defeated troops out after the Union defeat at Bull Run. Under his supervision, the efficiency of the telegraph services to the Union cause, significantly assisted in their eventual victory. Carnegie joked that he was "the first casualty of war" because he gained a scar on his cheek from freeing a trapped telegraph wire. This is why the Marion Carnegie Library has such great historical significance. Not only did a great man donate a large portion of his wealth to help the public have access to literature, he also was a key figure in the success of the Union military, which changed the direction of a nation. Robert E. Lee and I traveled round trip 83.82 miles for our trip to the Marion Carnegie Library and he has traveled a total of 85.02 miles.

John A. Logan goes to the Silkwood Inn

Susan Polbinski and John A. Logan visited the Silkwood Inn in Mulkeytown, IL on Labor Day. It was 51.2 miles round trip. The Silkwood Inn was built in 1827 and is historically important because it is the only remaining original structure along the Old Shawneetown-Kaskaskia Trail in Southern Illinois. The inn was a popular stop along one stagecoach line. Silkwood traveled to Georgia in the 1830s where he became acquainted with several slaves. One in particular, Priscilla, while on the trail of tears, ran into Silkwood in Jonesboro in 1838. Silkwood remembered her and bought her for $1000 in gold. Priscilla brought hollyhock seeds from Pennsylvania, planted them, and they continue to thrive.

John A. Logan Total Miles: 172.8 miles

John A. Logan Travels to the Pauper House

Markie Rhodes and John A. Logan traveled 78.6 miles round trip to Harrisburg, Illinois. While in Harrisburg, Markie and John A. Logan visited the Pauper House. The Pauper House is one of several original buildings from the 1800s that are part of the Saline County Museum. The Pauper House was built in 1877 as part of an initiative to care for the poor. Originally, the intent of the Pauper house was to have the tenants serve as caretakers and workers in exchange for their residencies. Although the Pauper House began with honorable intentions, it soon began to serve the purpose of a jail, orphanage, and insane asylum for the socially outcast people of the time. According to the Saline County Museum, the Poor Farm represents the manner with which social issues were dealt during this time period. In the late 1800s, little consideration or effort was given to improve social welfare in the Harrisburg area. Reflecting upon the struggles of people living during this time period truly makes one appreciate the luxuries we are afforded in the present day. After this journey, John A. Logan has traveled 121.6 total miles.

John A. Logan meets Honest Abe!

Morgan Collard and John A. Logan traveled forty three miles round trip to the DuQuoin State Fair. While at the fair, they discovered an Abraham Lincoln tent that had information about the past president, as well as different engaging activities to do concerning him. This picture is taken with one of the exciting attractions in the tent. Abraham Lincoln was elected as our sixteenth president during a time when our nation was divided in a battle to help preserve our civil rights. Lincoln was able to free slaves and abolish slavery in 1865 with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Although Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, his hard work in helping to preserve our civil rights will never be forgotten.

Robert E. Lee Goes to the Library

Jayci Dean and Robert E. Lee traveled 1.2 miles round trip to Morris Library in Carbondale, IL to see the statue of Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He was president for only six weeks before the onset of the Civil War. Lincoln had his work cut out for him as he worked to preserve the Union and end slavery. Lincoln also issued the Emancipation Proclamation which ordered the freedom of slaves as Union soldiers moved south. Total abolition of slavery was guaranteed by the thirteenth amendment in 1865.

The road to Appomattox

Welcome to CI 424 Fall 424. Join us as we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.