It was inevitable that the central Missouri region would become deeply enmeshed in the Civil War and the events contributing to that cataclysmic explosion. Running through the heart of the region was the strategically vital Missouri River. On either bank were some of the state’s most fertile agricultural lands. A plantation slave-based economy thrived in counties along the river. Many of the state’s political leaders and economic elites hailed from this region. The Pacific Railroad passed along the southern margins of the region while the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad clipped the northern edge and the North Missouri Railroad cut south and then east across the region. Control of these transportation networks would be vital to any war effort. Although there were pockets of German settlement in the region, most residents traced their ancestry to the states of the Upper South. The state capital was situated here. For all these reasons, military control of the central Missouri region was an essential part of the struggle for domination of the trans-Mississippi West.
In central Missouri, as elsewhere in the state, the struggle was largely between pro-Union, pro-slavery southerners pitted against other equally pro-slavery southerners, often their neighbors, who were bent on carrying Missouri into the Confederacy. The small German communities were unfailingly loyal to the Union. It did not take long for violence to flare up. The capital, Jefferson City, fell to Union forces on June 15, 1861, and two days later the Battle of Boonville was fought. Bull Run, the so-called first battle of the Civil War, was still five weeks off. The Federals won the battle and quickly occupied key Missouri River towns, including several in the central Missouri area. For the rest of the war they controlled the machinery of government and the heartland of Missouri.
The smoke of battle, once unleashed at Boonville, never really cleared for the rest of the war. Although southern armies were driven south, they returned often. Lexington, Marshall, Sedalia, Glasgow, Centralia, Monroe Station, Moore’s Mill, Mt. Zion Church, Roan’s Tanyard, and many other places in central Missouri were sites of significant Civil War clashes. On a yearly basis, Confederate leaders such as Sterling Price or Joseph Shelby, both residents of the region, would reenter central Missouri at the head of large armies, only to be driven away again. But not before they fought battles, destroyed railroads, and captured Union garrisons.
Ever present were guerrillas who were sustained by a “disloyal” population. Much of the region was under the rule of martial law. Punishments ranged from imprisonment and banishment to the posting of bonds and swearing of loyalty oaths. But even the harshest of these measures could not quell the civil insurrection. Stories abound throughout the region of looting, burning, and displacement along with accounts of unarmed victims shot by some enemy who could be from either side. There were constant skirmishes everywhere in the region between Union patrols and guerrilla bands. In the fall of 1864, while Sterling Price conducted his celebrated raid through Missouri, guerrilla bands led by “Bloody Bill” Anderson, George Todd, and others elevated the guerrilla war in central Missouri to horrific levels. Few incidents in the entire Civil War can match the Centralia Massacre, September 27, 1864, for murder, horror, merciless brutality, and mutilation.
Although the Civil War officially ended in 1865, lingering tensions in Missouri lasted throughout the next decade, and the last of the guerrillas—the James-Younger gang— committed a notorious train robbery in central Missouri at Rocky Cut, near Otterville, in 1876. However, most people of the central region were ready to get on with building railroads, businesses, schools, and colleges as well as meeting all the other challenges that confronted post-Civil War Missouri.
| Counties of the Central Region | |
|---|---|
| Audrain County | Maries County |
| Boone County | Miller County |
| Callaway County | Moniteau County |
| Carroll County | Monroe County |
| Chariton County | Morgan County |
| Cole County | Osage County |
| Cooper County | Pettis County |
| Howard County | Randolph County |
| Lafayette County | Saline County |
| Macon County | |
Use the menu below to explore resources for each county.
Date of Organization: December 17, 1836
County Population in 1850: 3,049
County Slave Population in 1850: 457
County Population in 1860: 6,909
County Slave Population in 1860: 1,166
County Population in 1870: 12,307
Audrain County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
- Audrain County Manuscripts and Photographs
- Brownlee, Richard S., Speech, 1975
- Lee, Robert E. (1807-1870), Letter, 1866 (C1580)
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- July 15, 1861 – Skirmish at Mexico involving Missouri’s 2nd Infantry (3 months).
- July 17, 1861 – Skirmish at Martinsburg involving Missouri’s 1st Reserve Corps.
- July 18, 1861 – Skirmish at Martinsburg involving Missouri’s Reserve Corps (Company A).
Date of Organization: November 16, 1820
County Population in 1850: 11,313
County Slave Population in 1850: 3,666
County Population in 1860: 14,452
County Slave Population in 1860: 5,034
County Population in 1870: 20,765
Boone County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
- Lonsdale, Meron G. Mayhew, Papers, 1847-1927 (C0130)
- Watson-Westlake Papers, 1813-1947 (C0186)
- Branson, William W., Diary, 1861-1862 (C0218)
- Gore, William T., Letters, 1861 (C0468)
- Guitar, Odon (1825-1908), Papers, 1832-1865 (C0882)
- Payne-Broadwell Family, Papers, 1803-1903 (C0983)
- Barth Family, Papers, 1852-1907 (C0997)
- Guitar, Odon (1825-1908), Collection, 1836-1906 (C1007)
- Thurmond, Nic[holas], Letter, 1865 (C2143)
- Missouri. Militia, Boone County, General Order No. 1, 1862 (C2879)
- Carter, R.C., A Short Sketch of My Experiences during the First Stages of the Civil War (C2911)
- Rogers, Ferdinand Arthur, Letters, 1862 (C2934)
- Matthews Family, Papers, 1862-1863 (C3816)
- Dorsey-Fuqua Family Collection, 1851-1939 (C3830)
- Stewart, Townsend (1814-1860) and Sarah Carter (1820-1902), Family, Papers, 1836-1875 (C3930)
Books
- A Thrilling Record, Founded on Facts and Observations Obtained During Ten Days' Experience with Colonel William T. Anderson
by Thomas M. Goodman
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- December 27, 1861 – Skirmish near Hallsville involving Missouri’s 3rd Cavalry.
- December 28, 1861 – Action at Mount Zion Church involving Missouri’s 3rd Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 14th Infantry (Birge’s S. S.).
- September 22, 1862 – Skirmish at Sturgeon involving Major Hunt’s Command of the Missouri State Militia.
- September 30, 1862 – Skirmish in Boone County involving a detachment of Missouri’s 2nd Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 9th State Cavalry.
- October 2, 1862 – Skirmish near Columbia involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- November 1-10, 1862 – Operations in Boone County involving Missouri’s 9th Cavalry.
- January 21, 1863 – Skirmish near Columbia involving a detachment of Missouri’s 61st Enrolled Militia.
- June 1, 1863 – Skirmish at Rocheport involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry (Companies A & G) alongside Missouri’s 1st State Militia Infantry.
- June 18, 1863 – Skirmish at Rocheport involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry (Companies A & B).
- June 17, 1864 – Skirmish near Columbia involving a detachment of Enrolled Missouri Militia.
- August 16, 1864 – Skirmish at Columbia involving Illinois’ 17th Cavalry (Company F).
- August 20, 1864 – Skirmish at Rocheport involving Illionis’ 17th Cavalry (Company F).
- August 28, 1864 – Skirmish near Rocheport involving a detachment of Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- September 3, 1864 – Skirmish near Rocheport involving a detachment of Missouri’s 3rd State Militia Cavalry.
- September 7 & 8, 1864 – Skirmishes in Boone County involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry alongside Missouri’s Enrolled Militia.
- September 7 & 8, 1864 – Affair at Centralia involving a guerilla attack on a railroad train.
- September 16, 1864 – Skirmish at Columbia involving a detachment of Iowa’s 1st Cavalry alongside a detachment of Missouri’s 3rd State Militia Cavalry.
- September 22, 1864 – Skirmish at Centralia involving Illinois’ 17th Cavalry.
- September 23, 1864 – Skirmish near Rocheport involving a detachment of Missouri’s 3rd State Militia Cavalry.
- September 27, 1864 – Massacre at Centralia involving a detachment of Iowa’s 1st Cavalry alongside 3 companies of Missouri’s 39th Infantry.
- September 28, 1864 – Skirmish near Centralia involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- February 12, 1865 – Skirmish at Columbia involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry (Company F).
- February 27, 1865 – Skirmish at Sturgeon involving a detachment of Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- May 5, 1865 – Skirmish at Perche Hills involving a detachment of Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- May 24, 1865 – Skirmish at Rocheport involving Missouri’s Howard County Militia.
Date of Organization: November 25, 1820
County Population in 1850: 9,920
County Slave Population in 1850: 3,907
County Population in 1860: 12,926
County Slave Population in 1860: 4,523
County Population in 1870: 19,202
Callaway County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
- Nancy Nash Holeman Diary, 1869-1877 (C0117)
- Tucker, D.M. and J.H., Papers, 1833-1902 (C0178)
- Everhart, Jesse, Letter, 1864, 1913 (C0467)
- Gillespie, William R., Papers, 1851-1886 (C0679)
- Civil War Claims, 1865-1874 (C1493)
- Bell, Ovid (1875-1953), Collection, 1824-1950 (C3805)
- History of Westminster College
- Owen, William L., Letters
- Townsend, George E., Letters, 1858-1864
- Westminster College Bulletins
- William Van Doren Diary
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- July 17, 1861 – Skirmish at Fulton involving Missouri’s 3rd Reserve Corps.
- July 24, 1862 – Skirmish at Moore’s Mills near Fulton involving Missouri’s 3rd State Militia Cavalry.
- July 28, 1862 – Action at Moore’s Mills near Fulton involving Indiana’s 3rd Independent Battery Light Artillery, Iowa’s 3rd Cavalry (Companies E, F, G & H), and Missouri’s 2nd Cavalry, 9th State Militia Cavalry (Companies A, B, E, F, G & H) and 10th State Militia Cavalry (Companies B & D), and Rice’s Independent Company Cavalry.
- July 29, 1862 – Skirmish at Moore’s Mills involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 16, 1862 – Skirmish at Auxvasse Creek involving Missouri’s 10th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 16, 1862 – Affair at Portland involving Missouri’s 1st Battalion State Militia Cavalry.
- November 21-30, 1864 – Operations near Fulton involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- November 28, 1864 – Skirmish near Fulton involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- May 8, 1865 – Skirmish at Readsville involving the Missouri Militia.
Date of Organization: January 2, 1833
County Population in 1850: 4,820
County Slave Population in 1850: 621
County Population in 1860: 8,695
County Slave Population in 1860: 1,068
County Population in 1870: 17,446
Carroll County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
- Courts, J.B., et al., Letter, 1862 (C1749)
- Audsley, Francis F. (1835-1922) and Harriet Elizabeth (1840-1924), Papers, 1862-1912 (C2374)
- Perry, Elias, Civil War Diary, 1864-1865 (C2470)
- Winfrey Family Papers, 1860-1868 (CA6111)
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- August 1, 1862 – Skirmish at Carrollton.
- January 10, 1863 – Skirmish at Carrollton.
- April 1863 – Skirmish in Carroll County involving Arkansas’ 1st Cavalry (Companies H & L).
- August 12-16, 1864 – Operation in Carroll County involving Missouri’s 6th State Militia Cavalry, Missouri’s 44th Infantry and Missouri’s 51st Enrolled Militia.
- October 17, 1864 – Surrender of Carrollton involving a detachment of Missouri’s 65th Enrolled Militia.
Date of Organization: November 16, 1820
County Population in 1850: 5,736
County Slave Population in 1850:1,778
County Population in 1860: 9,723
County Slave Population in 1860: 2,839
County Population in 1870: 19,136
Chariton County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
- Overland Diary, 1857 (C0413)
- Schrader, William Henry (1844-1921), Reminiscences, n.d. (C1519)
- Benecke Family, Papers, 1816-1989 (C3825)
- Hill, William E. and Bettie Redding, Letters, 1851, 1865-1866 (C3831)
- Chariton County Historical Society Photographs
- Sterling Price Museum Photographs
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- September 19, 1861 – Skirmish at Glasgow involving Indiana’s 18th and 22nd Infantries.
- February 17, 1862 – Skirmish at Keytesville involving Missouri’s Bowen’s Battalion Cavalry.
- February 25, 1862 – Skirmish at Keytesville involving Missouri’s 6th Cavalry.
- August 10, 1862 – Skirmish at Switzler’s Mill involving Missouri’s 2nd Cavalry.
- August 13, 1862 – Skirmish at Yellow Creek.
- July 12, 1863 – Skirmish at Switzler’s Mill involving a detachment of Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- April 11, 1864 – Affair in Chariton County involving a detachment of Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- July 30, 1864 – Skirmish at Chariton Road near Keytesville involving a detachment of Missouri’s 35th Enrolled Militia.
- September 6, 1864 – Affair at Brunswick involving Missouri’s 35th Enrolled Militia.
- September 20, 1864 – Surrender at Keytesville involving Missouri’s 35th Enrolled Militia (Detachment of Company I).
- October 11, 1864 – Skirmish at Brunswick involving Missouri’s 43rd Infantry.
- October 14, 1864 – Skirmish near Glasgow involving Misosuri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 15, 1864 – Action at Glasgow involving Illinois’ 17th Cavalry with Missouri’s 13th Cavalry, Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry, and Missouri’s 43rd Infantry alongside the United States 62nd Colored Infantry.
- October 26, 1864 – Action at Glasgow.
- January 10, 1865 – Skirmish at Glasgow involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry (Company G) alongside Missouri’s 43rd Enrolled Militia (Company F).
- February 24, 1865 – Affair at Switzler’s Mill.
- May 27, 1865 – Skirmish in Chariton County involving Missouri’s Keytesville Militia.
- May 27, 1865 – Skirmish at Switzler’s Mill involving Missouri’s Roanoke Militia.
Date of Organization: November 16, 1820
County Population in 1850: 5,717
County Slave Population in 1850: 979
County Population in 1860: 8,710
County Slave Population in 1860: 987
County Population in 1870: 10,292
Cole County Institutions
Newspaper Collections
Manuscript Collections
- Sumner, H.M., Letter, 1862 (C0510)
- Bolton, Joel M., Memoir, 1930 (C1801)
- Napton, W.B., Letter, 1857 (C1879)
- Mahan, Garland Jefferson, Diaries, 1864-1873, 1961 (C2586)
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- June 14, 1861 – Capture of Jefferson City involving Missouri’s 1st and 2nd Infantries alongside United States’ Battery “F”, 2nd Artillery and United States’ 2nd Infantry (Company B).
- April 25, 1862 – Skirmish on Osage River involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry (Companies D & K).
- October 6, 1864 – Skirmish at Cole County involving Missouri’s 1st, 7th, and 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 7, 1864 – Skirmish near Jefferson City involving Arkansas’ 2nd Cavalry, Illinois’ 17th Cavalry, Missouri’s 15th Cavalry, Batteries “B”, “C” and “L” of Missouri’s 2nd Light Artillery, Missouri’s 46th and 49th Infantries, Missouri’s 5th State Militia Infantry, Missouri’s Gasconade Regiment Militia, and Missouri’s Enrolled Militia Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry.
- October 8, 1864 – Skirmish at Jefferson City involving Missouri’s 1st, 6th, and 7th State Militia Cavalries.
- October 9, 1864 – Skirmish at Russellville involving a detachment of Missouri’s 6th State Militia Cavalry alongside Missouri’s Battery H, 2nd Light Artillery.
- November 26, 1864 – Skirmish at Osage.
Date of Organization: December 17, 1820
County Population in 1850: 9,859
County Slave Population in 1850: 3,091
County Population in 1860: 13,556
County Slave Population in 1860: 3,800
County Population in 1870: 20,692
Cooper County Institutions
Newspaper Collections
Manuscript Collections
- The Pauline H. Stratton Diary (C0842)
- Lizzie Thompson Letter, 1864 (C2208)
- O’Bryan, Jordan, Letter, 1854 (C3286)
- Nancy Chapman Jones, Letters
- William Morgan Diary
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- June 17, 1861 – Engagement at Boonville involving Missouri’s 1st and 2nd Infantries alongside United States’ Battery “F”, 1st Artillery, United States’ 2nd Infantry (Company B), and 2 companies of U.S. Army recruits.
- September 13, 1861 – Action at Boonville involving Missouri’s Home Guard.
- December 18, 1861 – Action at Blackwater Creek involving Indiana’s 8th, 18th, 22nd, and 24th Infantries, Iowa’s 1st Cavalry and 8th Infantry, Kansas’ 1st Infantry, Missouri’s 1st, 2nd, and 7th Cavalries and Battery “F” of the 1st through 4th Missouri Cavalries (Companies B, C, & D).
- December 18, 1861 – Skirmish at Blackwater involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry.
- April 16, 1862 – Skirmish near Blackwater involving a detachment of Iowa’s 1st Cavalry.
- August 19, 1862 – Skirmish at Clear Creek involving Illinois’ 2nd Cavalry.
- October 10, 1863 – Affair at La Mine Bridge involving a detachment of Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 11 & 12, 1863 – Skirmishes at Boonville involving Missouri’s 1st, 4th (Companies A, B, E, & F), and 7th State Militia Cavalries alongside Missouri’s 5th (Companies D & E) and 9th Enrolled Militia.
- October 12, 1863 – Skirmish at Merrill’s Crossing involving Missouri’s 1st, 4th (Companies A, B, E, & F) and 7th State Militia Cavalries alongside Missouri’s 5th (Companies D & E) and 9th Enrolled Militia and Missouri’s 1st State Militia Battery Light Artillery.
- October 13, 1863 – Affair at Blackwater involving Missouri’s 1st, 4th (Companies A, B, E, & F), and 7th State Militia Cavalries alongside Missouri’s 5th (Companies D & E) and 9th Enrolled Militia.
- July 27, 1864 – Skirmish on the Blackwater River involving Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry (Company G).
- September 10, 1864 – Skirmish at Pisgah involving a detachment of Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 9, 1864 – Skirmish at Boonville involving Missouri’s 15th Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 11 & 12, 1864 – Skirmishes at Boonville involving Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- May 3, 1865 – Skirmish near Boonville involving a detachment of Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry alongside a detachment of Wisconsin’s 50th Infantry.
Date of Organization: January 23, 1816
County Population in 1850: 9,079
County Slave Population in 1850: 4,890
County Population in 1860: 10,060
County Slave Population in 1860: 5,886
County Population in 1870: 17,233
Howard County Institutions
- Central Methodist University
- Lewis Library of Glasgow
- South Howard County Historical Society
- Glasgow Area Historical and Preservation Society, Inc.
100 Market Street, Glasgow, MO 65254
Newspaper Collections
Manuscript Collections
- David Ross Correspondence, 1855
- Shackelford, Thomas (1822-1908), Papers, 1820-1908 (C0163)
- Perkins, Archie, Letters, 1863-1864 (C0380)
- Missouri, Howard County, Freed Negroes Register, 1836-1861 (C1123)
- Pritchett Family, Papers, 1753-1984 (C4013)
- Lynch Family, Papers, 1765-1929, (C4117)
Books
- Babe of the Company, An Unfolded Leaf from the Forest of Never-to-be-forgotten Years
by Hamp B. Watts
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- September 19, 1861 – Skirmish at Glasgow involving Indiana’s 18th and 22nd Infantries.
- August 28, 1862 – Skirmish in Howard County involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- September 6, 1862 – Skirmish at Roanoke involving a detachment of Missouri’s 2nd (Merrill Horse) Cavalry and a detachment of Missouri’s Enrolled Militia.
- October 7, 1862 – Skirmish near New Franklin involving Missouri’s Enrolled Militia.
- July 1, 1864 – Skirmish near Fayette involving a detachment of Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- August 3, 1864 – Skirmish near Fayette involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- August 28, 1864 – Skirmish in Howard County involving a detachment of Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- September 10, 1864 – Skirmish near Roanoke involving a detachment of Missouri’s 6th State Militia Cavalry.
- September 24, 1864 – Skirmish at Fayette involving a detachment of Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 1, 1864 – Skirmish at Franklin involving Illinois’ 49th and 117th Infantries alongside Indiana’s 52nd Infantry.
- October 14, 1864 – Skirmish near Glasgow involving Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 15, 1864 – Action at Glasgow involving Illinois’ 17th Cavalry, Missouri’s 13th Cavalry, Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry, and Missouri’s 43rd Infantry alongside United States’ 62nd Colored Infantry.
- October 26, 1864 – Action at Glasgow.
- October 30, 1864 – Skirmish at Franklin involving Illinois’ 49th Infantry.
- November 18, 1864 – Skirmish at Fayette.
- December 7, 1864 – Affair near Franklin involving Kansas’ 7th Cavalry (Company E).
- January 10, 1865 – Skirmish at Glasgow involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry (Company G) and Missouri’s 43rd Enrolled Militia (Company F).
Date of Organization: November 16, 1820
County Population in 1850: 9,075
County Slave Population in 1850: 4,615
County Population in 1860: 13,556
County Slave Population in 1860: 6,374
County Population in 1870: 22,623
Lafayette County Institutions
Newspaper Collections
Manuscript Collections
- Brannock, Lizzie E., Letter, 1864 (C0224)
- Civil War Letter, 1862 (C0511)
- Hockaday, Isaac, Letters, 1861 (C2728)
- Washburne Family, Papers, 1825-1900 (C4047)
Books
- My Experiences in the War 1861 to 1865 : or, A Little Autobiography
by Ai Edgar Asbury - The Battle of Lexington : the Official Records of Both Parties to the Conflict
by Printed for the Lexington Historical Society
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- August 28, 1861 – Skirmish at Lexington involving Missouri’s Home Guard.
- September 11, 1861 – Defence of Lexington involving Illinois’s 1st Cavalry and Illinois’ 23rd Infantry.
- September 13-20, 1861 – Siege of Lexington involving Illinois’ 1st Cavalry and 23rd Infantry alongside Missouri’s Berry’s and Van Horn’s Cavalry Battalions, Missouri’s 8th, 25th and 27th Infantries and Missouri’s 13th and 14th Home Guard Cavalries.
- September 20, 1861 – Surrender of Lexington involving Illinois’ 1st Cavalry and 23rd Infantry alongside Missouri’s Berry’s and Van Horn’s Cavalry Battalions, Missouri’s 8th, 25th and 27th Infantries and Missouri’s 13th and 14th Home Guard Cavalries.
- October 16, 1861 – Action at Lexington involving Illinois’ Irish Dragoons and 23rd Infantry alongside Missouri’s 1st Cavalry (Companies C & L).
- January 2-12, 1862 – Operations in Lafayette County involving Kansas’ 1st Cavalry.
- March 10, 1862 – Skirmish at Lexington involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry (detachments of Companies B & D).
- April 1, 1862 – Skirmish at Little Sni involving detachments of Missouri’s 1st Cavalry and Boonville Battalion State Militia Cavalry.
- May 25-28, 1862 – Operations about Waverly involving Missouri’s 7th Cavalry.
- October 17, 1862 – Skirmish at Lexington involving Missouri’s 6th State Militia Cavalry.
- November 26-29, 1862 – Affairs in Lafayette County involving a detachment of Missouri’s State Militia Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 1nd Battalion State Militia Cavalry, Missouri’s 5th Enrolled Militia, and Lafayette and Ray Enrolled Militia.
- May 4, 1863 – Operations about Lexington involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- June 1, 1863 – Affair at Waverly involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry (Companies B & C).
- June 17, 1863 – Skirmish near Wellington involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- July 30, 1863 – Skirmish near Lexington involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry (Companies C, I, & K).
- August 14, 1863 – Skirmish near Wellington involving a detachment of Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- November 4, 1863 – Skirmish near Lexington involving a detachment of Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- February 22, 1864 – Skirmish at Lexington involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- June 14, 1864 – Skirmish at Lexington involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry (Companies F & I).
- June 14, 1864 – Skirmish in Lafayette County involving a detachment of Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- July 8, 1864 – Skirmish at Wellington involving Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- July 9-13, 1864 – Operations near Wellington involving a detachment of Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- July 20-30, 1864 – Operations in Lafayette County involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry (Company E).
- July 30, 1864 – Skirmish at Chapel Hill involving Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry (Company K).
- August 13-22, 1864 – Operations in Lafayette County involving Colorado’s 2nd Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 1st and 4th State Militia Cavalries.
- August 19, 1864 – Skirmish near Lexington involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry (Company A).
- August 22, 1864 – Skirmish at The Tabo involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- August 22-30, 1864 – Operations in Lafayette County involving Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- September 10, 1864 – Skirmish at Dover.
- September 18, 1864 – Skirmish near Lexington involving a detachment of Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- October 17, 1864 – Skirmish near Lexington involving Colorado’s 2nd Cavalry (Companies C, E, G, K, & L) and Kansas’ 16th Cavalry (Companies H, K & L).
- October 19, 1864 – Action at Lexington involving Colorado’s 2nd Cavalry, Kansas’ 5th, 11th, and 15th Cavalries, Missouri’s 5th State Militia Cavalry, and Wisconsin’s 3rd Cavalry.
- October 20, 1864 – Skirmish at Dover involving Arkansas’ 2nd Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 6th State Militia Cavalry.
- January 11, 1865 – Skirmish at Lexington involving a detachment of Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- January 30, 1865 – Skirmish in Lafayette County.
- May 4, 1865 – Skirmish at Lexington involving a detachment of Missouri’s 43rd Infantry.
Date of Organization: January 6, 1837
County Population in 1850: 6,262
County Slave Population in 1850: 303
County Population in 1860: 13,686
County Slave Population in 1860: 660
County Population in 1870: 23,230
Macon County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- August 8, 1862 – Skirmish near Stockton involving Indiana’s 2rd Independent Battery Light Artillery and Missouri’s Red Rovers Enrolled Militia alongside detachments of Iowa’s 3rd Cavalry, Missouri’s 2nd Cavalry and Missouri’s 1st, 2nd, 9th and 11th State Militia Cavalry.
- August 8, 1862 – Skirmish at Walnut Creek involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- August 12, 1862 – Skirmish at Stockton involving Missouri’s 6th Cavalry and 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- July 11, 1863 – Skirmish at Stockton involving a detachment of Missouri’s 26th Enrolled Militia.
- October 5, 1863 – Skirmish at Stockton involving a detachment of Missouri’s 7th Provisional Enrolled Militia.
- February 12, 1864 – Skirmish at Macon involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- February 12, 1865 – Skirmish at Macon.
Date of Organization: March 2, 1855
County Population in 1850: -
County Slave Population in 1850: -
County Population in 1860: 4,837
County Slave Population in 1860: 64
County Population in 1870: 5,916
Maries County Institutions
Newspaper Collections
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- May 26, 1864 – Skirmish at Lane’s Prairie involving two companies of Wisconsin’s 3rd Cavalry.
Date of Organization: February 6, 1837
County Population in 1850: 3,645
County Slave Population in 1850: 189
County Population in 1860: 6,574
County Slave Population in 1860: 238
County Population in 1870: 6,616
Miller County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- September 1, 1861 – Skirmish at Bennight’s Mill involving Missouri’s Home Guard.
- August 29, 1862 – Skirmish near Iberia involving Missouri’s Enrolled Militia.
- April 24, 1863 – Skirmish at Mill Creek Bridge involving a detachment of Missouri’s 24th Infantry and Missouri’s 1st Militia.
- May 30-31, 1864 – Skirmishes at Mill Creek involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry.
- August 8, 1862 – Skirmish at Panther Creek involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry and 2 sections of Missouri Artillery.
- December 8, 1864 – Affair at Tuscumbia involving Missouri’s Brown’s Company Enrolled Militia.
Date of Organization: February 14, 1845
County Population in 1850: 5,438
County Slave Population in 1850: 566
County Population in 1860: 9,379
County Slave Population in 1860: 745
County Population in 1870: 11,375
Moniteau County Institutions
Newspaper Collections
- California Weekly News and Central Missourian
- California Loyal Missourian/Loyal Journal/Moniteau Journal
- California Democrat
Books
- Robert P. Goodman's Book
by Robert P. Goodman
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- October 10, 1863 – Affair at Tipton involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry (Companies A, B, E, & F) alongside Missouri’s 5th Enrolled Militia (Companies D & E).
- September 1, 1864 – Attack on Tipton involving Missouri citizens.
- October 9, 1864 – Skirmish at California involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry, Missouri’s 1st, 4th, and 7th State Militia Cavalries and Missouri’s Batteries “H” and “L” 2nd Light Artillery.
Date of Organization: January 6, 1831
County Population in 1850: 8,493
County Slave Population in 1850: 2,048
County Population in 1860: 11,764
County Slave Population in 1860: 3,021
County Population in 1870: 17,149
Monroe County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
- Conyers, Thomas W. (1795-1879), Papers, 1817-1903 (C0755)
- Missouri, Monroe County. Provost Marshal’s Papers, 1862-1865 (C3161)
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- July 23, 1862 – Skirmish at Bole’s Farm involving Iowa’s 3rd Cavalry.
- May 22, 1862 – Skirmish at Florida involving a detachment of Iowa’s 3rd Cavalry.
- May 31, 1862 – Skirmish near Florida involving Iowa’s 3rd Cavalry.
- July 22, 1862 – Skirmish at Florida involving two companies of Iowa’s 3rd Cavalry.
- July 9, 1861 – Skirmish at Monroe Station involving Illinois’ 16th Infantry alongside Iowa’s 3rd Infantry.
- July 11, 1861 – Skirmish at Monroe Station involving Illinois 16th Infantry (Companies A, F, H & K) alongside Missouri’s Hannibal Home Guard (Company A).
- September 16, 1862 – Skirmish in Monroe County involving Missouri’s 3rd State Militia Cavalry.
- October 4, 1862 – Skirmish in Monroe County involving Missouri’s 3rd State Militia Cavalry.
- September 11-16, 1864 – Operations in Monroe County involving a detachment of Missouri’s 39th Infantry.
- October 15, 1864 – Surrender of Paris involving detachments of Missouri’s 46th and 70th Enrolled Militia.
- July 24 & 25, 1862 – Skirmishes at Santa Fe involving Iowa’s 3rd Cavalry.
Date of Organization: January 5, 1833
County Population in 1850: 4,197
County Slave Population in 1850: 453
County Population in 1860: 7,553
County Slave Population in 1860: 649
County Population in 1870: 8,434
Morgan County Institutions
Books
- Robert P. Goodman's Book
by Robert P. Goodman
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- August 29, 1862 – Skirmish at California House involving Missouri’s 13th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 18, 1862 – Skirmish at California House involving Missouri’s 5th and 13th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 10, 1863 – Affair at Tipton involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry (Companies A, B, E, & F) alongside Missouri’s 5th Enrolled Militia (Companies D & E).
- February 12, 1864 – Affair near California House involving a detachment of Missouri’s 8th State Militia Cavalry.
- September 1, 1864 – Attack on Tipton involving Missouri citizens.
- October 9, 1864 – Skirmish at California involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry, Missouri’s 1st, 4th, and 7th State Militia Cavalries and Missouri’s Batteries “H” and “L” 2nd Light Artillery.
Date of Organization: January 29, 1841
County Population in 1850: 6,434
County Slave Population in 1850: 270
County Population in 1860: 7,623
County Slave Population in 1860: 256
County Population in 1870: 10,793
Osage County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
- Burnett, James A., Letters
- Curley, William, Photographs and Letters
- Frey, Joseph, Photograph
- Grand Army of the Republic Photographs, Post No. 97
- Grand Army of the Republic Songbook
- Reminiscences from the Osage County Republican
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- April 25, 1862 – Skirmish on the Osage River involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry (Companies D & K).
Date of Organization: January 26, 1833
County Population in 1850: 4,266
County Slave Population in 1850: 884
County Population in 1860: 7,510
County Slave Population in 1860: 1,882
County Population in 1870: 18,706
Pettis County Institutions
Newspaper Collections
Manuscript Collections
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- November 29, 1861 – Skirmish at Black Walnut Creek in Sedalia involving a detachment of Missouri’s 4th Cavalry.
- June 5, 1862 – Skirmish near Sedalia involving Missouri’s 1st Cavalry (Companies A, C & E).
- April 9, 1863 – Skirmish at Sedalia involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- September 13, 1864 – Skirmish at Longwood involving Missouri’s Citizen Guard.
- September 22, 1864 – Skirmish near Longwood involving a detachment of Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- October 15, 1864 – Affair at Sedalia involving Missouri’s 1st and 7th State Militia Cavalries.
- May 20, 1865 – Skirmish on the Blackwater River near Longwood involving Pettis County Enrolled Militia.
Date of Organization: January 22, 1829
County Population in 1850: 7,283
County Slave Population in 1850: 2,156
County Population in 1860: 8,788
County Slave Population in 1860: 2,619
County Population in 1870: 15,908
Randolph County Institutions
Manuscript Collections
Books
- Reminiscences of One Who Suffered in the Lost Cause
by C. H. Hance
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- January 8, 1862 – Action at Roan’s Tan Yard involving Iowa’s 1st Cavalry, Missouri’s 1st and 2nd Cavalries, a detachment of Ohio’s 4th Cavalry, and Ohio’s 4th Independent Company Cavalry.
- November 9, 1862 – Skirmish at Huntsville involving Missouri’s 6th State Militia Cavalry.
- May 8, 1864 – Skirmish in Randolph County involving Missouri’s 3rd State Militia Cavalry.
- July 15, 1864 – Attack at Huntsville involving Missouri’s Enrolled Militia.
- July 16, 1864 – Skirmish on Fayette Road near Huntsville involving Colorado’s 2nd Cavalry alongside a detachment of Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- July 23 & 24, 1864 – Operations in Randolph County involving Missouri’s 6th State Militia Cavalry and a detachment of Illinoi’s 17th Cavalry.
- July 24, 1864 – Skirmish at Huntsville involving Illinois’ 17th Cavalry (Company G).
- August 7, 1864 – Skirmish at Huntsville involving detachments of Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry and 46th Enrolled Militia.
- September 25, 1864 – Affair at Huntsville involving Missouri’s Enrolled Militia.
Date of Organization: November 25, 1820
County Population in 1850: 6,124
County Slave Population in 1850: 2,719
County Population in 1860: 9,823
County Slave Population in 1860: 4,876
County Population in 1870: 21,672
Saline County Institutions
Newspaper Collections
Manuscript Collections
- McRoberts, A.J., Papers, 1859-1876 (C0375)
- Elvira Ascenith Weir Scott, Diary 1860-1887 (C1053)
- McKown, John D., Papers, 1851-1897 (C2335)
- Audsley, Francis F. (1835-1922) and Harriet Elizabeth (1840-1924), Papers, 1862-1912 (C2374)
- Spengler Family, Papers, 1850-1870 (C4034)
- Washburne Family, Papers, 1825-1900 (C4047)
Actions, Skirmishes, and Battles
- March 7-10, 1862 – Operations in Saline County involving Boonville Battalion State Militia Cavalry (Company A).
- March 15, 1862 – Skirmish near Marshall involving a detachment of recruits.
- March 16, 1862 – Skirmish near Marshall involving the Boonville Battalion State Militia Cavalry (Company A).
- May 25-28, 1862 – Operations about Miami involving Missouri’s 7th Cavalry.
- July 29, 1862 – Skirmish at Arrow Rock involving Missouri’s 6th State Militia Cavalry (Companies B, D, & E).
- July 29-August 2, 1862 – Operations in Saline County involving a detachment of Missouri’s 6th State Militia.
- September 26, 1862 – Skirmish at Cambridge involving Missouri’s 9th State Militia Cavalry (Company E).
- October 12, 1862 – Skirmish at Arrow Rock
- October 13, 1862 – Action at Arrow Rock involving Missouri’s 1st, 4th (Companies A, B, E, & F), and 7th State Militia Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 5th (Companies D & E) and 9th Enrolled Militia.
- July 28, 1863 – Skirmish at Marshall involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- July 30, 1863 – Skirmish near Marshall.
- July 30, 1863 – Skirmish in Saline County involving Missouri’s 1st and 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- October 13, 1863 – Action at Marshall involving Missouri’s 1st, 4th (Companies A, B, E, & F) and 7th State Militia Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 5th (Companies D & E) and 9th Enrolled Militia and 1st State Militia Battery Light Artillery.
- June 7, 1864 – Raid at New Frankfort involving Missouri citizens.
- June 26, 1864 – Affair at Marshall Road involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry (Company E).
- July 20, 1864 – Attack at Arrow Rock involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry alongside Citizen Guard.
- August 7, 1864 – Skirmish at Arrow Rock involving a detachment of Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry.
- August 13, 1864 – Skirmish in Saline County involving Missouri’s 1st State Militia Cavalry (Company H).
- August 13-22, 1864 – Operations in Saline County involving Colorado’s 2nd Cavalry alongside Missouri’s 1st and 4th State Militia Cavalry.
- August 15, 1864 – Skirmish in Saline County involving Missouri’s 4th State Militia Cavalry (Company C).
- September 23, 1864 – Skirmish on the Arrow Rock Road involving Missouri’s 7th State Militia Cavalry.
- April 24, 1865 – Skirmish at Miami involving Wisconsin’s 48th Infantry (Company A).