Left image: Map of the 1812 Illinois Militiary Tract
What is the Millitary Tract and who was General Alexander Macomb?
In 1812, Congress set aside bounty land, part of which was in the Illinois Territory, as payment to soldiers who fought in the War of 1812. The land, titled the Military Tract, stretched from the Rock Island County line south to Beardstown, land that today includes fourteen counties plus parts of four others. Each soldier received 160 acres.
General Alexander Macomb: Hero of the War of 1812
Born in Detroit,
General Macomb (b.1782, d.1841) was one of the first graduates of the
new military academy, West Point. In September, 1814, he repulsed the
superior British forces in the Battle of Plattsburg, New York. This
painting by Thomas Sully, was completed in 1829 and hangs in the West
Point museum. The town of Macomb was named for him in December, 1830.
Earlier in 1830 it had been named Washington, Illinois.
Center image: Celebration of the centennial of the battles of Lake Champlain and Plattsburg in the War of 1812 in which General Macomb and Commodore McDonough fought and were heroes. Senator L.Y. Sherman is speaking in Chandler Park during the unveiling of the monument to the right in the foreground.
Right image: General Macomb