Missouri Kelly's State Guard (Confederate)

Carthage

Missouri's loyalties were divided at the outset of the Civil War. In June 1861, Union Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon attacked a secessionist concentration in St. Louis and forced approximately 4,000 belligerents, including governor Claiborne Jackson, to evacuate the city. Union Col. Franz Sigel quickly organized an expedition into southwest Missouri with orders to fully disperse the group, led by Governor Jackson. Sigel camped with approximately 1,000 loyal Missouri infantry and artillerymen in the vicinity of…READ MORE