What was the Missouri State Guard?

The state was divided into nine Military Districts, each of which were to raise a Division of troops. Overall command of the Guard was given to Sterling "Pap" Price. Price was a former Missouri Governor, and was considered to be one of the most popular men in the state. A biography of Sterling Price, from the home page of the Sons of Confederate Veterans: Sterling Price Camp #145, can be found by clicking here.

Pap Price

After organization of the MSG was complete, Governor Jackson issued a proclamation calling for 50,000 volunteers to defend the state from the federal army. Many thousands would respond, but others were prevented from immediately joining Price by the rapid progression of events.

The Guard suffered an initial setback in a small skirmish at Booneville (June 17, 1861), and retreated to the southwest corner of the state, pursued by federal forces. The Guard decisively defeated these federal forces at Cole Camp (June 19, 1861) and Carthage (July 5, 1861).

These successes allowed Price precious time to train and equip his army. The Guard encamped on Cowskin Prairie located in the far southwest corner of the state. Those who had responded to the call of the governor had joined the army with only the clothing and weapon they had brought from home. Of the men who had a weapon, a majority had a Kentucky-style hunting rifle, a fouling piece, or a shotgun. Many men joined the army with nothing more than a pitchfork or scythe for a weapon.

By all accounts, the army was a haggard looking group. There was an almost complete lack of uniforms. A few uniformed companies had enlisted, but these uniforms wore out quickly in the field. In addition to purchasing civilian clothing, the men were issued needles, cloth, and thread with which to make their own clothes. Accoutrements were very scarce. Despite the lack of military materiel, Price whipped the men into shape in a matter of weeks.

While Price was training his men, Union general Nathaniel Lyon was travelling south with about 7,000 met to intercept the Guard. At the conclusion of Price's training camp on Cowskin Prairie, the Guard, which numbered about 9,000 men (only 5,000 of which were armed with a weapon), was joined by a 3,200-man brigade composed of Confederate Volunteers led by Brigadier General Ben McCulloch and the First Division of the Arkansas State Guard, which was commanded by Brigadier General Nathan Bart Pierce.

This allied army was attacked by Lyon's forces at Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861). The Missouri State Guard met Lyon's main column on Bloody Hill, where the hottest fighting took place. The death of General Lyon, as well as their shortage of ammunition, led to the defeat of the Union army.

After the Battle of Oak Hills (Wilson's Creek), McCulloch and Pierce took their troops back to Arkansas. Price started north with 10,000 troops. He defeated Senator James Lane and his Kansas jayhawkers at Big Dry Wood Creek (September 1-2, 1861), and succeeded in capturing 3,600 Federal troops in the Battle of the Hemp Bales (Lexington, September 12-20, 1861).

This State Guard victory was achieved through the ingenious use of hemp bales as a rolling breastwork. Some men rolled large water-soaked bales of hemp while others fired from behind the moving barricade. Unable to believe their eyes, the surrounded Union troops lost morale and surrendered.

Union Major General John Fremont's force of 40,000 soon began pursuing Price's army. Price conducted a leisurely march south to Neosho, Mo. Fremont was removed from command and the Federal army went into winter quarters on the Missouri River. Price then moved north to camp in Osceola, Mo.

At Osceola Price began the process of converting his State forces into Confederate Volunteers. Many of the Guardsmen were initially reluctant to join the Confederate Army, but Price reported a 2,500-man brigade of Confederate Volunteers by the time he went into winter quarters in Springfield, Mo. Enlistments continued while the troops were in Springfield.

Fremont's replacement, Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis, moved against Price while he was in winter quarters in Springfield. The MSG and Missouri Confederate forces withdrew into the Boston Mountains of Arkansas where they united with McCulloch's army. Newly appointed Major General Earl Van Dorn commanded the southern forces. Van Dorn attacked Curtis in the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge, March 6-8, 1862). Though the MSG and Missouri Confederate forces enjoyed success, defeat in the other sector of the battle led to the retreat of the southern forces.

Many more Guardsmen volunteered for Confederate service after the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern. Price later led an 8,000-man Division of Missourians east of the Mississippi. About 1,000 Guardsmen, commanded by General Mosby Monroe Parson, accompanied Price east. Another 5,000 stayed west of the river. A majority of those Guardsmen who stayed west of the river became part of Major General Thomas Hindman's army of Confederate troops, later serving under Mosby Parsons. However, Brigadier General James Rains was commanding a body of 200-300 Missouri State Guard troops as late as 1864, and some Guardsmen took part in the general surrender at Shreveport, Louisiana on June 3, 1865.

M.M. Parsons

The Guard existed throughout the war, but its zenith occurred in the first year of the war. It was a powerful fighting force composed of individualistic men who had joined Price to defend their state from invasion. They alone were responsible for procuring or making what they needed to wage war. These men were citizen soldiers in the truest sense.

We would like to acknowledge SCV, Sterling Price Camp #145 for their fine home page, as well as the SCV, Missouri Division home page. Both pages are great sources for more information on the Missouri State Guard.