The Mississippi River around St. Louis looked quite different 100 or so years ago. Back then, numerous large sandbars—often referred to as islands—stretched from just north of downtown St. Louis to areas as far south as Carondelet. As the river’s currents shifted, these sandbars formed naturally, collecting silt and debris over the years. Some grew to be quite substantial in size. Today, river dredging by barges helps prevent such formations. But one such sandbar once rose to infamy—it was known as Bloody Island.


The Origins of Bloody Island

Bloody Island was a sandbar located in the Mississippi River between St. Louis (on the Missouri side) and East St. Louis (on the Illinois side). It began forming in the 1790s as the Mississippi’s current moved closer to the Illinois banks. By 1800, the sandbar had grown to nearly a mile long and 500 yards wide. It soon gained notoriety as a hotbed for illegal activities—notably dueling, as well as boxing matches and cockfighting. The name “Bloody Island” was earned from decades of violence that occurred there.

Dueling: An Aristocratic Tradition

Dueling was imported from Europe to the New World as a form of private justice. In elite society, practically all men owned a pair of dueling pistols. However, dueling wasn’t the chaotic spectacle depicted in movies, it followed a strict code of etiquette. The most comprehensive of these was the Irish Code Duello, established in 1777. Comprising 26 articles, it detailed everything from the timing of a challenge (never at night) to weapon choice (the challenged party’s right) and participant roles (each dueler could appoint a “second” of equal rank to substitute if needed). The challenger chose the distance, and firing began on signal. If both duelers survived the first round, formal apologies were expected. If none were offered, the duel continued—often to the point of injury or death. In America, dueling became a means to settle political disputes and discredit rivals. It was an integral part of 19th-century society.

Why Bloody Island?

Dueling was outlawed in Missouri in 1822, and Illinois never permitted it. Bloody Island, not officially part of either state, became a legal gray zone—outside the reach of the law. Thick vegetation on the island provided cover for participants and spectators alike. Attendees included duelers, their seconds, witnesses, and sometimes doctors. Up to a thousand spectators might line the riverbanks. Even Charles Dickens witnessed a duel there during his visit to St. Louis. He wrote: “…passing on the way a spot called Bloody Island, the dueling ground of St. Louis… so designated to honor the last fatal combat fought there… Both combatants fell dead upon the ground… some rational people may think… they were no great loss to the community.”

Notable Duels

1810 – James Graham vs. Dr. Bennett Farrer Graham accused a friend of Farrer’s of cheating at cards. Farrer, defending his friend’s honor, challenged Graham to a duel. Graham was severely wounded and later died. 1817 – Thomas Hart Benton vs. Charles Lucas These two enemies clashed on Bloody Island on August 12th, 1817. At 30 paces, both were wounded—Lucas in the throat, Benton in the knee. Benton insisted on a rematch, accusing Lucas of dishonesty. On September 27th, they dueled again. Lucas was shot in the chest and killed. 1856 – Benjamin Gratz Brown vs. Thomas Reynolds Known as the “Duel of the Governors,” this duel stemmed from a political and personal feud. Brown, editor of the Daily Missouri Democrat, used his platform to criticize Reynolds, a U.S. Attorney. Reynolds demanded satisfaction. Brown chose rifles at 80 feet. Reynolds, being nearsighted, declined. A year later, they arranged a second duel—this time with muzzle-loaded pistols at 12 yards. Brown was shot in the leg, and Reynolds ended the duel, satisfied. Reynolds became Lieutenant Governor in 1860, and Brown became Governor of Missouri in 1870.

Bloody Island’s Disappearance

Aside from its violent legacy, Bloody Island also posed a serious threat to the St. Louis waterfront. As it grew, it inched closer to the levee, threatening to cut the city off from the river—jeopardizing its livelihood. In 1833, the city hired John Goodfellow to destroy the island by plowing it with oxen. This $3,000 effort failed. The river kept moving eastward. Mayor John Johnston then appealed to the federal government. General Charles Gratiot, head of the Army Corps of Engineers, proposed a plan to divert the river’s flow using two dams. The work began in 1838 under Lt. Robert E. Lee (yes, that Robert E. Lee). A 2,500-foot dam on the island’s southern end eroded over 700 feet of the island within months. However, the second dam was never built. A landowner filed an injunction, and federal funds dried up. Still, Lee’s single dam caused the river to shift course, merging Bloody Island with the Illinois shoreline. By 1865, the island was fully connected to the mainland, with homes built for nearly 800 residents. By the early 1900s, the land housed rail yards and formed the base of Eads Bridge.

Bloody Island Today

Though mostly gone, a remnant of Bloody Island remains. It’s now part of East St. Louis—barely visible, covered in vegetation and railroad tracks. If you look closely on Google Maps, you’ll see a small bump north of Front Street, a ghost of the once-infamous island.

 

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Until next time, I’ll see you in the Lou.