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Many people believe that Camp Butler is just another ordinary national cemetery. But actually Camp Butler holds a lot of information behind its gates. Its original purpose was a training ground and a POW camp with a small cemetery for the deceased prisoner and soldiers. And now it has evolved into a symbol and the biggest national cemetery in the State of Illinois. In 1861, after the Civil War had begun, William T. Sherman was sent to Springfield, Illinois by the United States War Department to select a camping ground for the Union army. Governor Richard Yates, current Governor of Springfield at the time, asked William Butler, State Treasure, with help from Ozias M. Hatch, Secretary of State, to assist Sherman in selecting a camp ground (Huelsman, SJR). Sherman, Butler, and Hatch rode 6 miles NE of Springfield by carriage to an area of 6 acres. Sherman was pleased at what he saw. There was high ground for camping, lower and more lever ground for drilling and training, and a space for a cemetery. Thanking him for his help, Sherman named the area Camp Butler, in honor of William Butler. The camp is located on what is currently Sangamon Ave. and U.S. 36, about six miles northeast of Springfield, close to the Sangamon River and the Wabash Railroad (Teleford, SJR) Originally, Camp Butler was to be the main center of concentration and training for the Union recruits in Illinois, replacing Camp Yates (Parrotte, SVC). But it seemed that the camp was going to have a much bigger purpose. Governor Yates appointed Captain Thomas G. Pitchers commandant of Camp Butler with the Rank of Colonel (Parrotte, SVC). The first shipment of troops arrived August 5, 1861, including infantry and a troop of cavalry from Mason City; Calvary troops from Madison, Macon, Piatt, and Pike counties; and a battery of artillery, which were all transferred from Camp Yates (Teleford, SJR). The camp began to grow in great numbers at a very rapid pace. By August 9, the camp already contained 1,500 men and twelve days later contained over 5,000 men (Teleford, SJR). Troops earned $15.00 a month, a bounty of $100.00, and a quarter section of land at the end of the war (Miller, SJR). The first casualty at the camp was a Private Willard of Mason City on August 21. He was diagnosed to have died of lung fever. The camp lacked in both supplies and uniform. Due to the supply shortage, Colonel Pitcher had to put the men through training using stick in stead of muskets (Parrotte, SVC). Time in the camp was brief for an ordinary soldier due to the need of active men (Parrotte, SVC). The average time for a Union soldier was 30 to 40 days (Parrotte, SVC). Pitcher would muster the men into combat ready, and within a few days, the soldier would receive their orders (Parrotte, SVC). In October of 1861, Colonel Pitcher turned over the camp to Lieutenant Charles B.
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