Operation to Control Missouri - Civil War Campaign

AMERICAN HISTORY

Control Missouri Campaign of the Civil War

Missouri, like the three other "border states" of Delaware, Maryland and Kentucky, was deemed critical to the Lincoln Administration due to its geographical position and questionable loyalty to the the North, because it was a "slavery state." Though Missourians had voted overwhelmingly against secession prior to the war, their sympathy lay with the South and opposed Federal military action against the departing States.

Missouri had attempted neutrality after delegates to a secession convention in February, 1861 refused to secede. Afterwards, both pro-Union and pro-Confederate governments were established in the state. However, a Federal invasion in May pushed many Unionists into the Confederate camp. As in Kentucky, pro-Union and pro-Confederate governments were established, the latter run in exile by Governor Claiborne F. Jackson.

Battle of Wilson's Creek by Kurz & Allison, 1893.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Major General John C. Fremont was appointed to lead the Western Department of the Union Army. Based in St. Louis, Fremont spent more energy fortifying the city than he did equipping the troops in the field. As a result, his forces suffered several losses, particularly a major defeat at Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861.

After this defeat, Fremont tried to gain a political advantage by making an unauthorized proclamation on August 30th that the State of Missouri would be under martial law, that secessionists' property be confiscated, and that all slaves owned by Confederates in Missouri were free. Though the action was cheered by antislavery Republicans, Abraham Lincoln was furious as he feared that this action would force slave-owners in border states to join the Confederate forces.

President Lincoln then asked Fremont to revise the order. Refusing, the general sent his wife to plead the case. Lincoln responded by revoking the proclamation and relieving Fremont of command on November 2, 1861.

But it was too late. Lincoln's predictions had proved correct. Throughout most of 1861, the Confederate government had been reluctant to support the Missouri state troops because the state had not officially aligned itself with the Confederacy. However on November 25, 1861 Missouri was officially admitted as the 12th Confederate State.

The Control Missouri Campaign included the following battles:

Booneville (June 17, 1861, Missouri)
Carthage (July 5, 1861, Missouri)
Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861, Missouri)
Dry Wood Creek (September 2, 1861, Missouri)
Lexington (September 13-20, 1861, Missouri)
Liberty or Blue Mills (September 17, 1861, Missouri)
Fredericktown (October 21, 1861, Missouri)
Springfield (October 25, 1861, Missouri)

See Battle Summaries HERE!

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Civil War battle.

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