Frenchman’s Spring Historical Marker

During the War Between the States, this spring served as a natural gathering place for soldiers. The spring was an ideal place for military units to camp and recruit.

In July 1861, 2,000 soldiers from 15 Southeast Missouri counties met to organize as the First Division, Missouri State Guard-the pro-Confederate state militia. The soldiers of the First Division fought throughout Southeast Missouri during 1861 and are remembered in history as the “Swamp Fox Brigade.”