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Veteran Affairs

2012-04-19 14:36:45

Civil War battle summaries by state - series

A: Sure. I found several sites from which to put this information together. One of the best is www.nps.gov. Last issue, we featured some of the battles in Missouri, including Belmont, Boonville, Byram’s Ford and Cape Girardeau. This month we will continue with battles in Missouri of Carthage, Clark’s Mill, Dry Wood Creek and Fort Davidson. Carthage Other Names: None Location: Jasper County Campaign: Operations to Control Missouri (1861) Date(s): July 5, 1861 Principal Commanders: Col. Franz Sigel [US]; Governor Claiborne Jackson [CS] Forces Engaged: Brigade [US]; Missouri State Guard divisions [CS] Estimated Casualties: 244 total (US 44; CS 200) Description: Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon had chased Governor Claiborne Jackson and approximately 4,000 State Militia from the State Capital at Jefferson City and from Boonville, and pursued them. Col. Franz Sigel led another force of about 1,000 into southwest Missouri in search of the governor and his loyal troops. Upon learning that Sigel had encamped at Carthage, on the night of July 4, Jackson took command of the troops with him and formulated a plan to attack the much smaller Union force. The next morning, Jackson closed up to Sigel, established a battle line on a ridge ten miles north of Carthage, and induced Sigel to attack him. Opening with artillery fire, Sigel closed to the attack. Seeing a large Confederate force—actually unarmed recruits—moving into the woods on his left, he feared that they would turn his flank. He withdrew. The Confederates pursued, but Sigel conducted a successful rearguard action. By evening, Sigel was inside Carthage and under cover of darkness; he retreated to Sarcoxie. The battle had little meaning, but the pro-Southern elements in Missouri, anxious for any good news, championed their first victory. Result(s): Confederate victory Clark’s Mill Other Names: Vera Cruz Location: Douglas County Campaign: Operations North of Boston Mountains (1862) Date(s): November 7, 1862 Principal Commanders: Capt. Hiram E. Barstow [US]; Col. John Q. Burbridge and Col. Colton Greene [CS] Forces Engaged: Detachments of 10th Illinois Cavalry and State Militia (approx. 100 men) [US]; cavalry brigade (approx. 1,000 men) [CS] Estimated Casualties: Total unknown (US 113; CS unknown) Description: Having received reports that Confederate troops were in the area, Capt. Hiram E. Barstow, Union commander at Clark’s Mill, sent a detachment toward Gainesville and he led another southeastward. Barstow’s men ran into a Confederate force, skirmished with them and drove them back. His column then fell back to Clark’s Mill where he learned that another Confederate force was coming from the northeast. Unlimbering artillery to command both approach roads, Barstow was soon engaged in a five-hour fight with the enemy. Under a white flag, the Confederates demanded a surrender, and the Union, given their numerical inferiority, accepted. The Confederates paroled the Union troops and departed after burning the blockhouse at Clark’s Mill. Clark’s Mill helped the Confederates to maintain a toehold in southwest Missouri. Result(s): Confederate victory Dry Wood Creek Other Names: Big Dry Wood Creek, Battle of the Mules Location: Vernon County Campaign: Operations to Control Missouri (1861) Date(s): September 2, 1861 Principal Commanders: Col. J.H. Lane [US]; Maj. Gen. Sterling Price and Brig. Gen. James S. Rains [CS] Forces Engaged: Kansas Cavalry Brigade (approx. 600) [US]; column of Missouri State Guard [CS] Estimated Casualties: Total unknown (US 14; CS unknown) Description: Col. J.H. Lane’s cavalry, comprising about 600 men, set out from Fort Scott to learn the whereabouts of a rumored Confederate force. They encountered a Confederate force, about 6,000-strong, near Big Dry Wood Creek. The Union cavalry surprised the Confederates, but their numerical superiority soon determined the encounter’s outcome. They forced the Union cavalry to retire and captured their mules, and the Confederates continued on towards Lexington. The Confederates were forcing the Federals to abandon southwestern Missouri and to concentrate on holding the Missouri Valley. Result(s): Confederate victory Fort Davidson Other Names: Pilot Knob Location: Iron County Campaign: Price’s Missouri Expedition (1864) Date(s): September 27, 1864 Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing, Jr. [US]; Maj. Gen. Sterling Price [CS] Forces Engaged: Garrison [US]; Army of Missouri [CS] Estimated Casualties: 1,684 total (US 184; CS 1,500) Description: In September 1864, a Confederate army under Maj. Gen. Sterling Price crossed into Missouri with the goal of capturing St. Louis. Union Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing moved with reinforcements down the railroad to Ironton to retard Price’s advance. On the morning of September 27, the Confederates attacked, driving the Federals back into their defenses anchored by Fort Davidson. In the late afternoon, Price unsuccessfully assaulted the fort repeatedly, suffering heavy casualties. Price, considering the possible time involved, had dismissed the possibility of mounting guns on the high ground to compel the fort to surrender or to shell the garrison into submission. During the night, the Federals evacuated the fort. Price had paid a high price in lives and gave Union forces the necessary time to concentrate and oppose his raid. Result(s): Union victory