The Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis received its first Confederate prisoners. The prison was housed in what had been the medical school and museum of the grave-robbing Dr. Joseph Nash McDowell.
This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.
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July 5, 1861
The Battle of Carthage was fought and the Confederates had their first victory.
September 23, 1861
Jayhawks crossed the border and sacked Osceola on this day. The town of 3,000 people was plundered and burned to the ground, and nine local citizens were executed.
February 24, 1859
The border war with Kansas was in full swing and the Missouri Legislature appropriated $30,000, almost a million dollars in today's money, to establish a military post on the western border to keep the Jayhawks out.