Our destination today is the Rock Island Arsenal. Fort Armstrong was built here in 1816 and was headquarters during the Black Hawk War of 1832. George Davenport, quartermaster of the Illinois militia and US troops, built a mansion overlooking the river in 1832-33. The city of Davenport, IA (directly across the river) was mapped out and named in his honor. He was murdered in his home July 4, 1845 by the "Banditti of the Prairie."
From the Autobiography of Black Hawk.
Black Hawk in downtown Rock Island."We did not, however, try to prevent their building the fort on the island, but we were very sorry, as this was the best island on the Mississippi, and had long been the resort of our young people during the summer. It was our garden, which supplied us with strawberries, blackberries, plums, apples and nuts of various kinds; and its waters supplied us with pure fish, being situated in the rapids of the river. In my early life I spent many happy days on the island."
The island is three and a half miles long and a half mile wide. It is an active army base and a national cemetery. It is also world's largest government manufacturer of munitions and small arms. The arsenal was commissioned by congress in 1862 after Harper's Ferry was constantly overran. I haven't been to the arsenal since pre 9/11. The security is tougher than it used to be. On my first attempt to enter, I was denied access!
What a bummer. My whole plan is ruined. Now what to do? I took a rest along the Moline river walk and had a cigarette to think about it.
my new friend the goose.
I got the nerve up and tried again, on the east side of the island. I told the guard that I would like to take some pictures of the cemetery for Memorial Day. He gave me a very stern warning about where and what (and what not!) I would be allowed to take pictures. He told me to move over to the side of the roadway and he will get me a permit. score!
my permit
I was still a little tense from being denied entrance. So, the first thing I did was take a shot at this RV coming over the bridge. This is for Chi Town. Here I am lining up the shot, with a 15 inch Rodman gun.
I missed. Maybe I should have used this one.
here's the description
They brought back this trinket from the first gulf war.
Now for a bit more history. The Island was also the location for the first bridge across the Mississippi.
On April 22, 1856, the Railroad Bridge Company completed the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River. This was a wooden bridge with five spans and a swing span at mid-channel. Fifteen days after it was opened, the steamboat Effie Afton struck the bridge. The Effie Afton was destroyed, and part of the bridge was burned. This incident led to a famous court case that pitted steamboat interests against railroad interests. Abraham Lincoln, then a Springfield lawyer, defended the railroad. The trial ended in a hung jury. The US Supreme Court eventually decided a subsequent suit in December 1862, and the bridge remained operational. The first Government Bridge of 1872 replaced it.
Many years later the bell from the Effie Afton was dredged from the channel. Below is a picture of the bell. It was broken into pieces by the dredge workers so they each could take a souvenir. Now most of the pieces are assembled back together.
Today, the Government Bridge is oldest operational steam powered draw bridge in the world. It operates above lock and dam 16. Below is a picture of my favorite bridge, still in use, busy as ever.
When I was leaving, the span was open, which allowed the barge (below) to pass to the other side. Then it swung shut allowing the cars and train to pass. I was in a line of cars while it was open and couldn't get a good picture. 
On to the cemeteries, our main business for the day. This is the National Cemetery. Fallen soldiers and family members from all US wars since the Civil war are buried here. There were graves being dug today.
I like this inscription at the bottom.
The island was used as a POW prison for confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Over 12,000 southern troops were held here during the war. Nearly 1,200 died here. The first sent to the island were captured from the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge in Tennessee.
Someday I will take a long tour of Civil War battlefields and sites...someday...
Happy Memorial Day folks. I Hope my gratitude is known to all the fallen, and all of their families.
I really like the 'Atomic Annie' cannon. 
That thing is HUGE!
