Missouri

February 28, 1861.   Jefferson City:   The state convention meets to consider secession. ^{Long 42}

May 4, 1861.   Kansas City:   U. S. ordnance stores are seized. ^{Long 70}

March 9, 1861.   Jefferson City:   The state convention votes to remain in the Union.   However, the current governor will form a pro-secessionist government and the state will have 2 governments during the war. ^{Long 48}

April 17, 1861.   St. Louis:   The state will not grant Lincoln's request for volunteers. ^{Bowman 51}

April 20, 1861.   Liberty:   State militia seize the U. S. Arsenal. ^{Long 63}

April 25, 1861.   St. Louis:   Capt. James H. Stokes from Chicago, IL, leads men who secretly remove 10,000 muskets from the St. Louis arsenal for use by Illinois troops at Alton, IL. ^{Bowman 53}

May 6, 1861.   St. Louis:   Capt. Nathaniel Lyon refuses the police commissioners' request to remove Federal troops from public buildings.   Meanwhile, pro-secessionist gather at a camp near the city. ^{Long 71}

May 9 - 11, 1861.   St. Louis:   On May 9, Capt. Nathaniel Lyon, in temporary command of the arsenal, learns that 639 pro-secessionist Missouri militia under the command of Brig. Gen. David Marsh Frost are camped at Camp Jackson in Lindell's Grove in the western part of the city intending to seize the St. Louis Arsenal.   On May 10, about 7,000 Union troops from the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Mo. Reserve Corps and the 3rd Mo. volunteers under Capt. Lyon's command in the absence of Brig. Gen. William Selby Harney, commander of the West, capture the militia without a fight.   During the march back to the arsenal with the prisoners, altercations between the troops of the 5th Mo. U. S. Reserves and southern sympathizers leads to riot that results in 4 dead troops and 27 dead citizens.   More rioting and 5 deaths occur the next day as Brig. Gen. Harney returns.   In the following days, peace is restored.   The incident is symptomatic of the divided loyalties in Missouri that will result in 2 state governments and much bloodshed throughout the war, although the state and the city will remain in the Union. ^{Long 72-73}

May 14, 1861.   St. Louis:   Brig. Gen. Harney issues a proclamation that citizens should disregard a state legislature bill raising pro-secessionist militia. ^{Long 74}

May 21, 1861.   St. Louis:   Sterling Price, commander of the Missouri militia, and Brig. Gen. William S. Harney issue a proclamation that Harney will not bring in the U. S. Army if Price directs state officers to maintain order.   This was interpreted in Washington as a surrender of the state to secessionist sympathizers, leading to Harney's later removal. ^{Long 76}

May 27, 1861.   Washington:   Pres. Lincoln wires Gen. Harney to say he must stop the mistreatment of loyal Missourians and ignore the professions of loyalty by state officials. ^{Long 79}

May 31, 1861.   Washington:   Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon supersedes Gen. William S. Harney as commander of the Department of the West because of suspected disloyalty of Harney. ^{Long 80}

June 11, 1861.   St. Louis:   After an unsuccessful meeting between pro-Confederate Gov. Claiborne Jackson, and Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, commander of the Missouri Home Guard, and Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, Jackson and Price return to Jefferson City, the state capital, to burn strategic bridges over Missouri rivers while Lyon prepares for troop movements to secure Missouri for the Union. ^{Long 84}

June 12, 1861.   Jefferson City:   Pro-Confederate Gov. Claiborne Jackson calls for 50,000 state militia to protect Missouri citizens against a Federal attempt to overthrow the present state government. ^{Long 85}

June 14, 1861.   Jefferson City:   Pro-Confederates evacuate the city at the approach of Federal troops under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon.   They move to Boonville as Union troops occupy the city on June 15. ^{Long 85}

June 17, 1861.   Boonville:   The 2nd Mo. and detachments from the 1st Volunteers supported by Totten's Battery of the Mo. Light Artillery led by Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon defeat the pro-Confederate Mo. Militia under Gov. Claiborne Jackson and occupy the city.   Jackson retreats to southwestern Missouri.   Union losses are 3 killed, 8 wounded.   Confederate losses are unknown.   On the following day, Lyon issues another of his several proclamations warning Missourians against "treason". ^{Long 86}

July 5, 1861.   Carthage: (Dry Forks)   About 4,000 pro-Union state militia under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon and about 1,000 of the 3rd and 5th Missouri volunteer regiments and battery of the Mo. Artillery under Col. Franz Sigel continue to pursue the 4,000 partly-armed Missouri State Guard under Claiborne Jackson across the state.   Upon learning that Sigel is encamped at Carthage, Jackson establishes a battle line on a ridge ten miles north of Carthage in southwestern Missouri on July 5 and induces Sigel to attack him with artillery fire.   Although the secessionists are hard-pressed in the battle, their cavalry threatens to flank the loyalists, so Sigel withdraws to Carthage and, later, to Sarcoxie.   This small victory has no strategic value, but it is a morale booster in the South.   Union losses are 13 killed and 31 wounded.   Confederate losses are 30 killed, 125 wounded, 45 prisoners. ^{Floyd n.p.}

July 22, 1861.   Jefferson City:   A state convention affirms Union loyalty and set up a government at St. Louis under Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble, effective July 31.   The pro-Confederate government continues under former Gov. Claiborne Jackson. ^{Long 100}

August 8, 1861.   Ironton:   Newly named Brig. Gen. Ulysses Simpson (Hiram Ulysses) Grant is appointed commander of the District of Ironton. ^{Long 106}

August 10, 1861.   Springfield:   Confederate troops under Brig. Gen. Benjamin McCulloch and Missouri militia under Sterling Price defeat Union troops under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon and Brig. Gen. Franz Sigel at Wilson's Creek, near Springfield.   Union losses are 223 killed, 721 wounded, 291 missing.   Confederate losses are 265 killed, 800 wounded, 30 missing.   This is the second large battle won by the Confederates to the elation of the South and the dismay of the North. ^{Long 107}