Sterling Price attacks Missouri: Wants it back! 

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What would cause an ex-governor of Missouri to invade his home state with thousands of men? 

Sterling Price was a dedicated man: ex-congressman, governor, Mexican War hero, Confederate general, successful businessman and slave owner. 

In 1861, Missouri was fractured when it came to the question of slavery. Elements of pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions had their own divisions. Price was a “conditional unionist,” meaning he approved of the institution of slavery but opposed states seceding. 

After his governorship, Price was appointed commander of the Missouri State Guard. The Guard leaned to the South but was acting on behalf of the state, not the Confederacy. 

There was no doubt where the governor of Missouri, Claiborne Fox Jackson, stood. Following the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, President Lincoln issued a Proclamation to each state requesting troops. 

Governor Jackson’s response was classic, “your request, in my opinion, is illegal, unconstitutional, and revolutionary in its object, inhuman, and diabolical and cannot be complied with. Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry on any unholy crusade.” 

I take it with this written response Lincoln knew the Missouri governor probably had a Southern accent. 

Price, although born in Virginia, wasn’t so cut and dry. 

After the bombardment of Ft. Sumter, events happened quickly. 

One week following the shelling, Southern raiders from St. Joseph and Clay County, Missouri, attacked the lightly-guarded arsenal in Liberty, Missouri, absconding with over 1,000 rifles and ammunition. 

All eyes quickly turned to the large federal arsenal in St. Louis with 40,000 rifles, 50 cannons and enough powder to start a war. Jackson thought it should be under State Guard control and quickly moved 650 members into position near a grove of trees, dubbing the camp, Ft. Jackson, to “peacefully” move on the depot.

The arsenal was commanded by ardent Capt. Nathaniel Lyon, a pro-Union regular army officer. Lyon sensed Jackson would order the State Guard to “protect,” the Arsenal. He, days earlier, secretly moved 30,000 rifles across the Missouri River into Illinois letting his superiors know his fear. 

Roughly 6,500 Union troops moved into position upon Lyon’s request, encircling Camp Jackson. It was Lyon’s orders and intent to escort these Guard members to the Arsenal and parole them, sending all home. 

Instead of walking directly, the egotistical Lyon decided to parade everyone through the streets of downtown St. Louis first … big mistake. 

Most of the Union troops were German immigrants, very green. Crowds gathered to watch as thousands marched through the cluttered streets. German immigrants were looked down upon, racial slurs filled the air along with dirt clogs then rocks. Tensions were running high when a drunk stumbled into the parade with a pistol and fired. 

The undertrained troops no doubt panicked, but unloaded on the crowd. Within minutes 28 civilians were dead and 100 wounded, including women and children. Thousands witnessed the slaughter, enraging all with disbelief and creating no doubt, new recruits for the Confederate cause. 

Unbelievably in the mob were future Civil War heavyweights waiting for their next commission notices, future Generals William T. Sherman with his two sons and Ulysses S. Grant. 

Lyon knew his aggressive tactics had worked in Washington. Within 10 days he had gone from captain to a Brigadier-General. 

A hastily-called meeting between the parties took place at the Planters Hotel in St. Louis with Governor Jackson, Price and Lyon along with Union politician Frank Blair. They had the fate of Missouri in their hands. 

Jackson proposed partitioning the State, giving Lyon St. Louis, but nothing doing. Lyon had Lincoln’s backing, he vehemently turned down any proposal and ended the meeting with, “gentlemen, this means war!” 

Jackson and Price hurried back to Jefferson City while Lyon gathered his troops and pursued, fleeing the state capital and disbanding the legislature before Lyon’s forces arrived. Jackson and Price’s Guard fled to Boonville where Lyon’s men caught them. 

A small skirmish ensued, forcing Jackson and Price to relocate to friendlier southwestern Missouri. Still, Lyon chased.

In their new location near Springfield, Price was able to get help from General Ben McCulloch’s troops, the Confederate regular army based in Arkansas. 

The South, now with 12,000 strong, turned and faced 5,600 Lyon-led mostly German soldiers. It was the first major battle of the Civil War west of the Mississippi River. 

The South won a decisive victory. 

I have walked the battlefield and stood where General Lyon led a charge up a gradual grade, there he was fatally shot. Nathanial Lyon became the first general to be killed in action during the Civil War. 

After the victory, Price was jubilant and wanted to press on into Missouri, collecting recruits and regaining face, but General McCulloch orders were to protect Arkansas. Besides, he didn’t like Price or the unstructured way he commanded the Missouri Guard. 

Price and McCulloch feuded throughout the war as General Price pressed on without “regular” support into his home state. 

The State of Missouri was completely split with St. Louis and the Germans on the Union side and much of the developed Missouri River towns and farmers having southern roots opposing. 

What a conflicting time, Missouri was the only state to have a star on the Confederate Stars and Bars and a star on the United States flag. 

Price would press on, the war was just beginning. 

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Bob Ford’s History will run in each edition of the Weekender, Midweek and Corner Post. You can find more of Bob’s work on his website bobfordshistory.com and videos on YouTube, TikTok and Clapper.