Since pre-historic times, the Mississippi River has been an important avenue of transportation and commerce. And so it was at the opening of America’s Civil War. The river was coveted by both sides.

The Federal Government needed it for transport and to split the Confederacy in two; a goal set early on in the conflict. For the Confederacy too, it was prized for transportation, but also as a place and means to launch potential attacks on northern cities, such as St. Louis.

Early in the conflict Tennessee was given the responsibility of creating an obstacle on the river which would stop all Federal movement. Near Cape Girardeau, Missouri there is a rather unusual feature on the river, where the waters take two "U" turns which can be imagined as an "S" on its’ side. It was determined that this would be a good location to build fortifications. Both sides of the river were fortified with heavy guns and infantry, and an island amid-stream, Island #10, was equipped with heavy guns, making it somewhat of an unsinkable gunship.

For about 5 weeks in March and April 1862 this was the scene of considerable fighting as approximately 25,000 Federal troops worked to clear the on-shore fortifications, as the Navy fought to capture the island.

On April 7, this was all finally accomplished with the surrender of about 4,000 Confederate troops along with much ordinance, opening the Mississippi at least as far as Memphis, and for all practical purposes, all the way to Vicksburg, Ms. About 1000 of these prisoners were temporarily quartered at Camp Randall, in Madison, Wisconsin. Over the next 3 months of confinement, some 140 or so of these prisoners died. They were buried together in a section of the Forest Hills Cemetery which is now known as "Confederate Rest". The cemetery lies not far from what was Camp Randall at the time, and is now Camp Randall Stadium, home of the University of Wisconsin football team, and carries our cemetery code of CC50.

Below are the names of the soldiers who defended Island #10 as long as they could, and made the ultimate sacrifice while in Federal custody.

Haddon, W.H. – Co. B – CC50

Reeves, Charles – Co. B – CC50

Brooks, Wm. – Co. C – CC50

Browder, Joel – Co. C – CC50

DePeyster, S. – Co. C – CC50

Gilmore, J.W. – Co. C – CC50

Higgins, J.S. – Co. C – CC50

Ingraham, William – Co. C – CC50

Marquis, G.S. – Co. C – CC50

Rives, David – Co. C – CC50

Smart, N. – Co. C – CC50

Wicks, N.J. – Co. C – CC50

Bowers, John – Co. D – CC50

Bracken, John – Co. D – CC50

Coon, Samuel – Co. D – CC50

Faulk, H. – Co. D – CC50

Grentham, M. – Co. D – CC50

Infinger, H. – Co. D – CC50

Lodwick, Joel – Co. D – CC50

Mimms, Thomas – Co. D – CC50

Riley, Robert – Co. D – CC50

Bundrick, David – Co. E – 1824 to 1862 – CC50

Galloway, L.M. – Co. E – CC50

Larron, George – Co. E – CC50

Ostine, Thomas – Co. E – CC50

Register, P. – Co. E – CC50

Smith, Edward – Co. E – CC50

Floyd, W.W. – Co. F – CC50

Garner, J.P. – Co. F - CC50

Gilmore, J.J. – Co. F – CC50

Russell, W.J. – Co. F – CC50

Strickland, J.H. – Co. F – CC50

Bates, Edward – Co. G – CC50

Boykin, F. – Co. G – CC50

Browder, Joshua – Co. G – CC50

Ludham, Thomas – Co. G – CC50

Mansell, B.F. – Co. G – CC50

Paul, James M. – Co. G – CC50

Smith, F.D. – Co. G – CC50

Green, William – Co. H – CC50

Haggins, B. – Co. H – CC50

Brackin, B.W. – Co. I – CC50

Lloyd, Henry – Co. I – CC50

Reardon, N.T. – Co. I – CC50

Wilks, John – Co. I – CC50

Henry, James H. – Co. K – CC50

Mannereif, J.A. – Co. K – CC50

Mettler,Charles – Co. A – CC50

Abney, H.J. – Co. B – CC50

Albritton, H. – Co. B – CC50

Barber, J.H. – Co. B – CC50

Drinkard, W.A. – Co. B – CC50

Drinkhard, Sgt. P.L. – Co. B – CC50

Horton, F.M. – Co. B – CC50

Spears, A.F. – Co. B – CC50

Spears, Corpl. George – Co. B – CC50

Yeager, T.J. – Co. B – CC50

Barber, S.N. – Co. C – CC50

Bard, W.D. – Co. C – CC50

Beasley, J.H. – Co. C – CC50

Farmer, J.J. – Co. C – CC50

Kirbo, L. – Co. C – CC50

Morrison, J.T. – Co. C – CC50

Oliver, S.Y. – Co. C – CC50

Sissorly, E.C. – Co. C – CC50

Skipper, A.J. – Co. C – CC50

Stogner, J. – Co. C – CC50

Chitwood, Wm. C – Co. D – CC50

Crews (Grews?), Isham M. – Co. D – CC50

Gleason, Henry – Co. D – CC50

Peacock, Benjamin S. – Co. D – CC50

Pralock, Wm. L. – Co. D – CC50

Smith, William I. – Co. D – CC50

Andrews, J.W. – Co. E – CC50

Eamed, W.J. – Co. E – CC50

Edwards, J.M. – Co. E – CC50

Hollingsworth, C.H. – Co. E – CC50

Matthews, W.M.C. – Co. E – CC50

Cooper, Corpl. T. – Co. F – CC50

Ham, William – Co. F – CC50

McKibben, Davis – Co. F – CC50

Meader, J.H. – Co. F – CC50

Scott, D.M. – Co. F – CC50

Braning, E. – Co. G – CC50

Clifton, W.R. – Co. G – CC50

Damson, Sgt. T. – Co. G – CC50

Essary, T.P. – Co. G – CC50

Flowers, J.H. – Co. G – CC50

Fulton, L.D. – Co. G – CC50

Brandon, J.B. – Co. H – CC50

Harrell, B.F. – Co. H – CC50

Jones, J.H. – Co. H – CC50

Kanmater, Thomas – Co. H – CC50

Meachum, F.L. – Co. H – CC50

Moore, Wm. J. – Co. H – CC50

Patrick, J.F. – Co. H – CC50

Taylor, Isaac – Co. H – CC50

Wiles, S.H. – Co. H – CC50

Willey, J.M. – Co. H – CC50

Bird, D.D. – Co. I – CC50

Castlebury, R.S. – Co. I – CC50

Damron, Sgt. J.G. – Co. I – CC50

Demmins, T.T. – Co. I – CC50

Hood, F.N. – Co. I – CC50

Kelly, Richard – Co. I – CC50

Ross, J.H. – Co. I – CC50

Upry, J.B. – Co. I – CC50

White, J.R. – Co. I – CC50

Adams, T.C. – Co. K – CC50

Hollister, N. – Co. K – CC50

Smith, J.F. – Co. K – CC50

Lockridge, T.H. – Co. B – CC50

Bridges, A.B. – Co. B – CC50

Hutson, C.M. – Co. C – CC50

Davidson, George D. – Co. D – CC50

Gillereas, Able – Co. D – CC50

Eddings, Capt. J. – Co. K – CC50

Hilbourn, Isom C. – Co. K – CC50

French, Myer – Co. C – CC50

Grant, John – Co. C – CC50

Odam, J.A. – Co. C – CC50

Settery, W. – Co. C – CC50

Smith, S.M. – Co. C – CC50

Styres, J.K.P. – Co. F – CC50

Tucker, G.E. – Co. G – CC50

Tucker, T.T. – Co. G – CC50

Reynolds, W.T. – Co. H – CC50

Sanders, W.B. – Co. H – CC50

Holt, John R. – Co. I – CC50

Mays, J.M. – Co. K – CC50

Williamson, J.H. – Co. C or G – CC50

Parker, L.D. – Co. B – CC50

Buttrey, M.F. – Co. C – CC50

Pinckley, S. – Co. C – CC50

Duffer, John – Co. D – CC50

Pipkin, W.M. – Co. D – CC50

Taylor, Robert – Co. D – CC50

Davis, Zedrick – Co. F – CC50

Warren, J.C. – Co. G – CC50

Gordon, J.H. – Co. H – CC50