Beginning on Forest avenue in the west, the boundary line on the north ran east on Thirty-first street as far as South Park avenue and then dropped to the south for a fraction of a block, continuing to the east to the present line of Cottage Grove avenue. Though it is less than forty years ago that Camp Douglas was originally laid out, the growth of the city after the war was so rapid that within less than twenty years the boundaries of the camp had been entirely obscured, and in 1878 it required much careful research before they could be established. It is a comforting thought that he died believing that his dreams were in a fair way to be realized. To this end he signified his willingness to give ten acres of the oak grove along the present line of Cottage Grove avenue as a site for the university whenever assurances should be given that suitable buildings would be erected. It was the dream of Douglas’ life to establish in Chicago a university which should be worthy in every way of the metropolis of the West. And just across Cottage Grove avenue from the Douglas statue is the site of the original Chicago University. In the Fourth Ward, next to the south, is the tomb and monument of the Little Giant, who after unsuccessfully fighting Lincoln for political supremacy in the State, finally, when the crisis came, gave to his administration all the support of his great influence, and so vindicated his title to the name of patriot. It covered all the territory now included between Cottage Grove avenue on the east, Twenty-sixth street on the north, Thirty-first street on the south, and Indiana avenue on the west. In the Third Ward also was located the first racetrack ever built in Chicago. Later confederate prisoners were confined there, and finally, as a fitting climax, Camp Douglas became known as the place where the great Chicago conspiracy was hatched and almost carried to a successful conclusion. So far as the war of the rebellion is concerned this is easily the most historical spot in Chicago, though the site of the camp has long since been covered with handsome residences, and its existence has faded from the memory of most Chicagoans.ĭuring the early part of the war Camp Douglas was the mustering and training grounds for the volunteer regiments of Illinois. Following the logical sequence of events Camp Douglas was located in the Third Ward. The Second Ward contains the massacre monument, where in 1812 the garrison of the fort was killed by the Indians aroused to hostility by the second war with Great Britain. HE earliest beginnings of the present Chicago are marked by the site of old Fort Dearborn in the First Ward.
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