In 1933, a local Womans Relief Corps erected a monument on the western bank of the Illinois River at Florence (eastern edge of Pike County), from which the 99th left for the war.
Florence, on the western bank of the river, is backed by high bluffs which begin a few hundred yards west of the river bank. The eastern bank of the Illinois opens to a wide flood plain. The area was hard hit during the flood of 1993, but the monument survived the flooding. Across the bridge in Scott County, is another monument -- this one is "in tribute to the Illinois National Guard and the Citizens who served in support of Scott County during the Great Flood of 1993."
View from the bridge over the Illinois River at Florence looking south. The monument
(not visible) is on the west bank (right side), south (beyond) of the elevator. [Enlarged view; 21Kb,.jpg]
Monument at Florence (looking east toward the river). The Illinois River is in the background.
[Enlarged view; 53Kb,.jpg]
Close-up of plaque on monument at Florence. [Enlarged view; 103Kb,.jpg]
The text is quoted below.
THE NINETY-NINTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY
PIKE COUNTY'S FAMOUS CIVIL WAR
REGIMENT AND FIRST REGIMENT
OUT OF STATE UNDER CALL OF 1862
WAS MUSTERED AT FLORENCE, ILLINOIS
AND EMBARKED AT THIS SPOT FOR
ST. LOUIS, AUGUST 23RD, 1862.
WAS 62 DAYS UNDER FIRE. LOST IN BATTLE AND
FROM WOUNDS AND DISEASE 187 MEN.ERECTED BY THE DICK GILMER WOMANS RELIEF CORPS, NO. 294
PITTSFIELD, ILLINOIS
AUXILIARY TO THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
AUGUST 23, 1933
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