The Civil War
in Missouri
Part One - The Gathering
Storm
The territory of Missouri was acquired by the
Union as part of the Louisiana purchase of 1820. Missouri had
been settled by French and Spanish settlers who had brought
slavery into the territory and had largely based its economy on
its institution, as settlers from neighbouring southern states
moved to the territory slavery had expanded. At that time both
North and South had argued over whether or not new territories
petitioning for admittance into the Union should be allowed to
permit slavery. The South feared that the addition of free states
would upset the balance of power currently in the Senate thereby
reducing its political influence, however with Maine, a Northern
free state also partitioning for admittance into the Union a deal
was brokered that allowed Missouri in as a slave state and Maine
in as a free state and the balance of power was maintained. Out
of this debate though was born the Missouri Compromise,
legislation which stated that in future slavery would not be
extended beyond the latitude of 36 degree 30" north of the
South Missouri border.
Trouble for Missouri reared its head again in
the 1850's with the issue of the extension of slavery into its
neighbour, Kansas. In 1854 Senator Stephen A Douglas proposed a
trans-continental rail road linking Chicago with the new
territories in the west beyond the Missouri river. Douglas wanted
the route to go via a northern route through Missouri, the South
preferred a route via Texas and New Mexico, as Douglas needed
Southern support for the proposal to go ahead he devised the
Kansas-Nebraska act which called for popular sovereignty to
decide on the issue of slavery in new states petitioning for
admittance into the Union. The South agreed and the Missouri
compromise was repealed.
The Kansas-Nebraska act sparked
a rush of Northern "Free Soil" settlers and pro slavery
Southerners flooding into the neighbouring state of Kansas, both
sides set on bringing the state into their fold by what ever
means necessary. Violence between the two groups erupted across
the territory, elections were rigged, Legislature's formed had a
barley a legal leg to stand on and on the wider front it enflamed
the whole slavery issue across the country. A bitter border was
waged for the remainder of the decade and would continue
throughout the course of the war.
The 1860 Presidential
Election
The 1860 presidential election was essentially
a referendum on the issue of slavery. The Democratic party had
split over the issue and so fielded two candidates, Douglas with
his "Popular Sovereignty" stance and John C Beckinridge
who espoused Slavery. Abraham Lincoln stood on a platform of
Antislavery and John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party who's
views were that of Douglas's. Missouri went with the democratic
view, Douglas finished first with Bell second, between them
sharing 70% of the vote. Beckinridge ran in third with Lincoln
trailing in last with only 12%. Missouri elected as Governor
Claiborne F. Jackson who although an avid Pro-Southern
secessionists publicly displayed the stance of moderation. With
Lincoln's election came the steady stream of State secession
which increased after the fall of Fort Sumpter and Lincoln's call
for 75’000 troops to put down the rebellion. Jackson's
response to Lincoln's request was "Not one man will the
state of Missouri furnish to carry on such an un-holy crusade".
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Clairborne F. Jackson
Charismatic, noted orator and
champion of states rights and for the extension of
slavery into the new territories. Originally hailing from
Kentucky, Jackson moved to Missouri, his adopted home
State at the age of twenty. Heavily involved in Missouri
politics he was elected to the Missouri House of
Representatives and to the State Senate. Although very
much proslavery and for secession from the Union, at the
time of the election he publicly displayed a moderate
stance, and backed Douglas for the presidency. Jackson
was elected Governor of Missouri in August 1860.
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The demographics of Missouri in 1860 was that
of a largely Pro-Southern state with a population with great
kinship to the south, concentrated along
the waterways of the Missouri River where slave holders had
settled during the previous decades. Off setting this were the
huge numbers of immigrants from Germany who had emigrated to the
state, many following the German Revolution of 1848, these were
staunchly committed to the Union and were mainly centred around
the city of St. Louis. Economic prosperity had grown in the
Eastern counties of the State as industrialization and
modernization expanded reducing the reliance on slave labour.
Missouri was rich in mineral wealth, lead, coal, granite and
limestone had increased trade with the industrial states of the
North and would be seriously jeopardized should Missouri secede.
As the economic ties with the North had increased, reliance on
markets with the South had decreased, consequently eroding its
political will to break those ties.
Missouri had not seceded and was adopting a
position of neutrality, however it was obvious to both sides that
the state could go either way. Strategically it was of immense
importance, its population was 1.2 million, for a slave state it
was second only in terms of manpower to Virginia. It contained
excellent riverine communications in the form of the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers, stood in the path of the Unions major routes
West, contained in St. Louis the largest City West of the
Mississippi and flanked the Union state of Illinois. What is more,
if Missouri went South then Kentucky could conceivably follow
Jackson Plans Missouri's
Future
Jackson was convinced that he
could take Missouri out of the Union and set about this task by
ordering a convention of the State Legislature to be held in
Jefferson City the state capital for Feb. 28. The meeting was
adjourned to reconvene at the Mercantile Library Hall in St.
Louis on Mar 4 and on May 9 voted to remain in the Union but to
reconvene in July to reconsider. Jackson's plans was temporarily
thwarted but he continued to strive to obtain his gaol. Paramount
to this would be the seizure of the United States arsenal at St.
Louis. Here was contained 60,000 muskets, 1.5 million rounds of
ammunition, 90,000 pounds of powder, 40 pieces of artillery, a
few siege guns and machinery for the manufacture and repair of
weapons, with its capture Jackson believed he would be able to
provide the military strength for his supporters and bring the
State out of the Union. To help seize the arsenal Jackson
appealed to Jefferson Davis for assistance with a request for
muskets, artillery siege guns and ammunition.
Jackson's Rival
The importance of the arsenal was not lost on
those who were opposed to Jackson. Francis Preston Blair Jr. was
a prominent politician and leader of the St. Louis Republicans,
his father was currently an advisor to the president and his
brother, Montgomery Blair would end up as serving as Post Master
General in Lincoln's administration. Blair was heavily involved
in the forming of the "wide awake" societies, loyal
union men primarily consisting of German Americans who he hoped
would be placed into Federal service if and when required, here
he raised funds and assisted in the purchase of weapons. The
forming of this para military force was as counter balance to the
Pro-Southern "Minute Men" who actively drilled and
trained in the Berthold mansion in St. Louis. Blair was
determined that the arsenal should not fall into the hands of the
state and was uneasy about the resolve of the arsenals commander
Maj. William H. Bell whose loyalty he suspected. Blair sought for
his removal, and using his influence in Washington, Bell was
replaced with the fire brand abolitionist, Captain Nathaniel Lyon.
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Francis Preston Blair Jr.
Governor Jackson's main political
rival in the struggle for Missouri. Prominent St. Louis
Republican from the politically powerful Blair family. He
had served in the ranks during the Mexican war before
returning to St. Louis to practice law where his activity
in politics led him to being elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives in 1856. Blair's drive and determination
helped greatly in keeping Missouri in the Union and in
1862 he joined the Federal Army as a Brig. Gen. serving
primarily under General William Tecumseh Sherman.
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Lyon Arrives in St. Louis
Lyon set about improving the defences of the
arsenal, loop holes were cut and artillery placed in case of
attack, patrols were sent out into the city much to the anger of
the Pro-Southern population adding to the tension that was
building within the city. Lyon also sought to enlist thousands of
volunteers but was refused by the departments overall commander
Brigadier Gen. William Selby Harney who was adopting a policy of
conciliation within the state. Blair saw Harney as an obstacle to
keeping both the arsenal and Missouri within the control of the
Union and again sought help from Washington in having it removed.
Harney was recalled back to Washington and Lyon was temporarily
placed in command.
Lyons fearing that the arsenal would be shortly
attacked took steps to remove as much of the arms as possible
from the arsenal to safety. This would prove to be a tricky
operation as the arsenal by this time was constantly being
watched by the secessionist "Minute-Men" who would
raise the alarm and thwart any attempt to do so. A plan was
hatched to create a diversion that if successful would allow the
weapons to be slipped out of the arsenal to the awaiting steamer
the City of Alton. Using antiquated arms in boxes marked as
Springfield muskets as the bait, a rumour was spread around the
city that a transfer was to be made during the night of April 24.
Soon enough the militia men were alerted and descended onto the
bait while Lyon loaded 20,000 muskets, 5,000 carbines, 500
revolvers and 100,00 rounds unto the steamer which slipped away
to safety at Alton, Illinois.
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Captain Nathaniel Lyon
A New Englander and firebrand
abolitionist, Lyon's appointment to St. Louis would have
a profound effect on the War in Missouri. Veteran of the
Seminole and Mexican war where he was breveted for his
actions and mentioned for bravery. His tough minded
actions were essential to Blair's plans of keeping the
State within the Union.
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With Harney back in Washington Lyon was able to
muster in his volunteers. 2500 were mustered in immediately and
by April 30 Lyon had 3000 men at his
disposal and could acquire an additional 10,000 if needed. He was
also given the authority to place St. Louis under martial if it
was deemed necessary.
Jackson's Preparations
Throughout this period Jackson was beginning to
strengthen his hand militarily. On April 20 the arsenal at
Liberty fell to armed militia men from Clay and Johnson counties
together with 1300 muskets and a few six pounder cannon which
last saw action during the Mexican war. On May 3 the Union stores
at Kansas City was raided and arms and ammunition forcibly taken.
Jefferson Davis had also responded to Jackson's request for
assistance and 2 twelve-pounder howitzers and 2 thirty-two-pound
guns were being dispatched aboard the J. C. Swan from Baton Rouge
and were on their way. And the Militia in accordance with state
law were called into encampment for the first week in May.
Camp Jackson
900 militia men assembled at Lidells Grove on
the outskirts of St. Louis under the command of the state militia
commander Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Frost. The camp was christened
Camp Jackson after the state Governor and streets were laid out
with patriotic names of southern heroes such as Davis after the
president of the Confederacy and Beauregard after the General who
forced the Union surrender of Fort Sumpter. The Union flag flew
over the commanders tent though, maybe as a show of loyalty
whilst others of a more secessionist persuasion flew else where.
Lyon suspicions were immediately aroused, especially following a
request from the militia to be allowed to train on the heights
over looking the arsenal. Harney was also back in the picture,
due to return from Washington any day and to resume command. And
when a spy informed on the arrival of the J. C. Swan on May 9
with siege artillery for the militia Lyon decided that time had
come to seize camp Jackson before any attack was made against his
forces at the arsenal and before Harney was in a position to
intervene. There was one thing that Lyon wanted though before he
felt he was able to act, and that was proof without a shadow of a
doubt that the militia were indeed planning an assault on the
arsenal and to achieve this he set in motion a rather cunning if
potentially risky venture to obtain this information.
During the afternoons camp Jackson was open to
visitors, and family and friends together with those interested
from the local population would descend onto the camp. This would
seem to be the ideal time for Lyon to visit the camp but to do so
a disguise would be required. Franklin Dick, Blair’s brother-in-law
suggested that this could be done by disguising Lyon in the
clothes of his blind mother in law who frequently took coach
rides through the city. Mrs Alexander usually wore a heavy veil,
ideal for concealing Lyon's red hair and whiskers and together
with black bombazine dress, shawl and bonnet would complete the
deception.
At three o'clock, Lyon started out on his
reconnaissance. The camp guards waved the carriage through and
within a short space of time Lyon had obtained all the
information he required for proving the camps impending "treachery".
Lyon convened the Committee for
Public Safety , reported his findings and of his intention to
attack the camp. The committee was in an awkward situation as the
encampment had been legally called and that the militia had made
no threatening move, however reluctantly they eventually agreed
to Lyon's plan.
The St. Louis Massacre
Lyon assembled his troops the next morning. His
plan called for his force to be split into several columns and to
approach the camp from various directions to arrive at the camp
simultaneously. At one o'clock Lyon moved off, this drew the
immediate attention of the citizens of St. Louis who followed the
columns in carnival mood the six miles to the camp which they
reached at 3.15 pm. The camp was quickly surrounded, cannon
placed and an aide dispatched to Frost stating that he had 30
minutes in which to surrender. Frost was in no position to resist,
heavily outnumbered and in no state of preparedness for defence,
he complied.
Lyon had achieved his goal, however rather than
immediately paroling the militia men he decided to parade them as
prisoners through the streets of St. Louis back to the arsenal,
this Lyon thought would be an a example to those of what happens
to the people of Missouri that challenge U.S. authority. The mood
within the crowd suddenly began to change, the site of "their
militia" being humiliated in such a way by the largely
German federal troops was too much for many. Shouts and insults
began to ring out as the procession wound its way back to the
arsenal, this was followed by spittle, clods of earth, bricks and
rocks. A drunk attempting to pass through the crowd was pushed
aside by a federal soldier, he drew a concealed pistol and fired
back in retaliation hitting a soldier in the leg. Panic erupted,
more shots rang out from the crowd, a union officer fell mortally
wounded to which Col. Henry Borenstein of the 2nd Missouri
Volunteers gave the order to open fire. The green troops fired
indiscriminately into the crown which broke for cover in all
directions, when order was finally restored 28 people lay dead
including 2 women and a babe in arms, together with more than 70
wounded, Lyon's "example" had turned into a massacre.
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The St. Louis
Massacre - May 10 1861
The Massacre, which
took place in St. Louis as a result of a shot being fired
at the Federal troops, outraged the local population and
persuaded many who previously were of a moderate
disposition to rally to Jackson call for the State to
repel invasion by the North.
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The atmosphere within St. Louis during the
ensuing night was that of total outrage as mobs roamed the street
seeking revenge for the massacre. Incredibly the police managed
to keep control of the situation and by daybreak trouble had been
reduced to sporadic incidents. Several thousand Pro-Southerners
took the opportunity to leave the city fearing more mistreatment
at the hands of the federal forces. When news reached Jefferson
City of the previous days events the legislature convened and
granted Jackson obsolete power to defend the state. Jackson
reformed the militia into the Missouri State Guard (MSG) and was
given the necessary funding and borrowing authority to assist him
in this task. The MSG was formed into 8 military districts each
with a Brig. Gen. at its head with overall command given to the
former State Governor Sterling Price who was made a Maj. Gen. The
MSG's task was to to defend the state against all hostile action
from the federal government. News of the massacre had spread
rapidly and countless moderate Missourians were persuaded to side
with Jackson and answered his call for support.
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Major General Sterling "pap"
Price Hailing from
Virginia, Sterling Price was a slave holder who espoused
the practice of slavery but was loyal to the values of
the Union. Veteran of the Mexican war he had served as
Brig. Gen. of volunteers. Politically active, he had
served in New Mexico as military governor, served as
state legislator, as a U.S. congressman and as governor
of the state of Missouri. Revered by the men who had
served under him, he was affectionately referred to as
"Old Pap".
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Harney Returns
When Harney returned to command from Washington
he struggled to bring order to the state attempting to redress
the chaos that had resulted due to Lyon's actions. Lyon was
having non of it though, he showed no remorse and sent troops to
quell any secessionist disturbances wherever the occurred. Harney
sought the assistance of Price to ease tension within the state
and an agreement was made on May 21 which re-endorsed the federal
respect of the states neutrality, while Price for his part stood
down the MSG. The well oiled Blair political machine however had
been in motion again in Washington, again seeking Harney's
removal from command and with the assistance from Lincoln, Harney
was removed and Lyon made Brig. Gen.
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Brigadier General William Harney
The first U.S. wartime commander of
the Western department. Harney was a veteran of the army
for 43 years and was sympathetic to Southern concerns
within the state. Viewed with great suspicion by both
Blair and Lyon he was considered a major obstacle in
their plans for ensuring Missouri's retention within the
Union.
On his return to St. Louis following
Lyon's actions at Camp Jackson and the ensuring massacre,
Harney issued a proclamation, which is shown below, in it
he hoped to quell fears and restore public confidence in
the intentions of the Federal government.
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This Means War
With Harney out of the picture the Price-Harney
agreement was now obsolete and lawlessness increased through-out
the state as co-operation between state and federal forces ceased.
Hearing of Harney's removal Price ordered the reenlistment of the
MSG and ordered it to prepare for action. One last attempt was
made to avert open war when a group of prominent St. Louis
citizens persuaded both sides to a meeting on June 11 at the
Planters House Hotel in the city. At 11 o'clock the meeting
convened, in attendance were Lyon, newly appointed congressman
and colonel Blair, Jackson and Price. Jackson opened the meeting
with outlining his position, in it he promised to disband the
militia, protect the citizens irregardless of their sentiment, to
keep law and order to to repel any attempts at invasion and to
maintain a state of neutrality, in essence his statement was the
policy that he and Harney had agreed upon. After several hours of
discussion, Lyon closed the meeting, after telling Jackson and
Price that the Price-Harney agreement was dead he stood and said
"Rather than concede to the State of Missouri for one single
instant the right to dictate to my Government in any manner, I
would (and rising pointing to every person in the room in turn)
see you, you, you, you and you and every man, woman, and child in
the State dead and buried." In the dead silence that
followed this outburst, he turn to Jackson and said "This
means war".
References:
Bloody Hill - The Civil War Battle of Wilson's
Creek - William Riley Brooksher
The Battle of Carthage - David C. Hinze
The Army of Tennessee - Stanley F. Horn
The Civil War - Bruce Catton
The Road to Shiloh - Time Life Books
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