Union Troops, Cape Girardeau - "An important position on the Mississippi between Cairo and St. Louis. Cape Girardeau is about 45 miles northwest of Cairo and 160 miles southeast of St. Louis, 1,180 miles from New Orleans and 860 miles from St. Paul, MN. It is also the terminus of a road which leads to Jackson, the capital of the county, and to Fredericktown, and from thence to Pilot Knob, and Ironton. It thus formed the landing point where troops and supplies could be sent from Cairo to Central Missouri."
