Source: National Cemetery Administration · cem.va.gov · scraped May 2026
History of Camp Butler National Cemetery
Camp Butler National Cemetery is located in Sangamon County near Riverton, IL, and occupies a portion of what was the second-largest military training camp in Illinois during the Civil War.
Soon after the firing on Fort Sumter in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for troops to defend the Union. Each state struggled to fulfill the president's request but found the available men woefully unprepared for the rigors of war. The obvious solution, to federal officials, was to establish facilities for the receipt and training of war recruits. In 1861, the War Department dispatched General William Tecumseh Sherman to Springfield, IL, to select a site for a military training camp. Illinois Governor Richard Yates tasked the state treasurer, William Butler, with assisting the general. The men found an ideal location six miles outside of Springfield with a high ground for camping purposes and a lower, more-level area for drills and training, as well as space for a cemetery. General Sherman was pleased with the site and named it Camp Butler to honor his companion.
The first troops arrived at Camp Butler in August 1861 and by the end of the month, 5,000 men occupied the camp. As the war progressed, additional uses were found for the grounds, including a prisoner of war camp. In February 1862, approximately 2,000 Confederate soldiers captured when Fort Donelson was surrendered, arrived at Camp Butler. As the POWs arrived—from all 11 southern states except Florida—they were put to work constructing a stockade and hospital. The hastily constructed barracks were inadequate and poorly constructed. Sanitation facilities were primitive and the daily ration of food often consisted of little more than hard biscuits and a cup of thin coffee. Almost immediately, the POWs began to die at a rapid rate. The heat of the summer combined with the severe winter cold, as well as diseases such as smallpox, typhus and pneumonia, decimated the prisoner population. Roughly 700 POWs died in the smallpox epidemic of summer 1862.
Along with soldiers who fought for both the Union and Confederate sides during the Civil War, veterans who lost their lives in the Spanish-American War, the two World Wars, the Korea War and the Vietnam War are also buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery. Camp Butler was the final resting place of many remains returned from overseas following World War II. Camp Butler National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Monuments and Memorials The only memorial at Camp Butler is a carillon the American Veterans (AMVETS) donated around 1970 as part of their international living memorial program, which began shortly after World War II.
A monument was erected in December 2005 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans in honor of Confederate soldiers who died at Camp Butler prison camp during the Civil War. The monument is located within the Confederate Section.
A monument honoring the Illinois LST sailors was erected in May 2006.
Blue Star Memorial installed May 19, 2006.
Korean War Veterans Memorial installed May 23, 2006.
Notable interments
Veterans, public figures, and citizens of note buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded by the National Cemetery Administration.
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.
Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the President on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and the eligibility criteria, medal design, and recognition on a recipients' grave marker have all evolved over time. There are 434 Medal of Honor recipients interred at VA national cemeteries including 6 double recipients.
» Medal of Honor recipients interred or memorialized here:
Seaman John H.
Catherwood, (Philippines, 1911). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy, for actions while attached to the U.S.S. Pampanga on the island of Basilan, Philippine Islands, on September 24. Catherwood died in 1930 and is buried in Section F, Site 1.
Other Burials George W.
Ford was a career national cemetery superintendent and civil rights activist whose headstone at Camp Butler National Cemetery, IL, reads "Supt. of this cemetery for 24 years," reveals nothing of his remarkable life. Born a free black in 1847, he became one of the first African Americans appointed as a national cemetery superintendent, a career that spanned over a half century. Ford left his cemetery post once, to fight in the Spanish-American War. Major Ford went to Cuba with the 23rd Kansas Volunteers, commanded by Teddy Roosevelt. As a result he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention of 1899, where Roosevelt was nominated as vice president. In 1905, Ford lobbied for civil rights as a charter member of the Niagara Movement. He died on June 20, 1939, and is buried in Camp Butler National Cemetery .
Section 3, Site 869
Otis Beverly Duncan was born on November 18, 1873, in Springfield, IL.
His grandfather, William Fleurville, was President Abraham Lincoln's barber and honorary pallbearer at his funeral. The false arrest of his grandson, Duncan's cousin, helped spark the Springfield Race Riot of 1908, which in turn led to the establishment of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Duncan worked for the Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction, and he joined the National Guard in 1902. He served with the 8th Illinois during the 1916 Mexican Border conflict and the 370th Infantry (8th IL) during World War I. At the war's end, Lt. Col. Duncan was the American Expeditionary Forces' highest-ranking African-American officer and he received the French Croix de Guerre. Back in Springfield, he became commanding officer of the 8th Illinois National Guard and the American Legion Post is named for him. Duncan died May 17, 1937, and is buried in Camp Butler National Cemetery .
Section 3, Site 835
Seaman 1st Class George Laws (World War II).
George Edward Laws (1926–2011) was born in Springfield, IL, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 1, 1943. He was serving aboard the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) when it was struck by torpedoes fired from a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945. Laws was blown into the air and slammed onto the ship's deck before falling into the ocean. He soon found himself covered in fuel and tried to stay together with other survivors as they awaited rescue. Unaware that the Navy did not know of the torpedoing, Laws and his companions drifted for nearly five days, with many sailors perishing from exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks. When rescued, Laws was one of only 316 men who would survive the sinking, out of an original crew of 1,195. After the war, George got married, started a family, and worked for General Motors. He died five days before his 85th birthday and is interred in Section CREME, Site 293.
Eligibility for burial at Camp Butler National Cemetery
Planning ahead for a Veteran's or loved-one's final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time.
Request eligibility status for:
Veteran or servicemember Spouse Dependent family member Apply online »
Burial in a VA national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Directions
Situated in Sangamon County near Riverton, six miles northeast of Springfield, IL. The cemetery is located 2 ¼ miles east of U.S. Highway 55 (Exit 100 – Clinton exit), on Camp Butler Road (old U.S. 36).
Floral and grounds policy
Cemetery policies are conspicuously posted and readily visible to the public.
Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing.
Weapons policy
VA regulations 38 CFR 1.218 prohibit the carrying of firearms (either openly or concealed), explosives or other dangerous or deadly weapons while on VA property, except for official purposes, such as military funeral honors.
Possession of firearms on any property under the charge and control of VA is prohibited. Offenders may be subject to a fine, removal from the premises, or arrest.
Education and visiting programs
More than half of VA's national cemeteries originated with the Civil War and many are closed to some burials. Other sites were established to serve World War veterans and they continue to expand. Historic themes related with NCA's cemeteries and soldiers' lots vary, but visitors should understand "Why is it here?" NCA began by installing interpretive signs, or waysides, at more than 100 properties to observe the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011–2015). Please follow the links below to see the interpretive signs for Camp Butler National Cemetery.
A National Cemetery System Camp Butler National Cemetery Confederate Burials in the National Cemetery - Camp Butler Prison Camp Visit the Veterans Legacy Program and NCA History Program for additional information. Thank you for your interest.
Nearest cemeteries
The three closest veteran cemeteries to Camp Butler National Cemetery (by straight-line distance):
- North Alton Confederate Cemetery — Alton, IL (72 mi · closed)
- Alton National Cemetery — Alton, IL (73 mi · closed)
- Quincy National Cemetery — Quincy, IL (96 mi · closed)
Nearby veteran-friendly funeral homes
The following funeral homes within a 50-mile radius of Camp Butler National Cemetery have demonstrated a commitment to serving veterans through specialized services, VA benefits coordination, or dedicated honors details.
Staab Funeral Homes is a premier funeral home located at 1109 Sorth 5th St. in Springfield, IL. The property features well-appointed spaces including funeral home. Professional offerings include funerals, memorial services, and cremation, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,960. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $3,750, while direct cremation is available from $2,960. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic.
Bisch & Son Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 505 East Allen St. in Springfield, IL. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. General services start at $1,045. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $3,545.
Wilson Park Funeral Home - Rochester is a premier funeral home located at 200 East Main St. in Rochester, IL. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. The firm's dedication to service is reflected in their 5.0-star Google rating across 3 reviews.
Boardman-Smith Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 800 South Grand Avenue West in Springfield, IL. The property features well-appointed spaces including on_site_chapel, viewing_rooms, and reception_space. Professional offerings include cremation, burial, and direct_cremation, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,695. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $4,455, while direct cremation is available from $3,540. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Asian traditions, and Hispanic traditions.
Fullenwider-Park Funeral Home - Mechanicsburg is a premier funeral home located at 200 South Church St. in Mechanicsburg, IL. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones.
Bisch Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 2931 South Koke Mill Road in Springfield, IL. The property features well-appointed spaces including flexible event space, large-capacity chapel, and celebration of life center. Professional offerings include funeral services, cremation, and burial, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $3,110. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Asian Funeral Traditions, Buddhist Funeral Traditions, Catholic Funeral Traditions, Hispanic Funeral Traditions, Hindu Funeral Traditions, Muslim Funeral Traditions, Christian Funeral Traditions (Protestant), and Jewish Funeral Traditions.
Fullenwider-Park Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 200 South Church Street in Mechanicsburg, IL. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel and columbarium. Professional offerings include traditional funeral services, cremation services, and personalization, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic, Baptist, Christian, Methodist, and Lutheran.
Mott & Henning Funeral Home PC is a premier funeral home located at 206 North Main Street in Athens, IL. The property features well-appointed spaces including large entry room, family room, and private arrangement room. Professional offerings include burial, cremation, and grief support, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,375. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $2,375. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic, Christian (Non-Denominational), and Presbyterian.