Civil War History

General Nathaniel Lyon was born on this day. He was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, making him the first Union general to fall during the Civil War.

The Battle of Carthage was fought and the Confederates had their first victory.

About ten thousand people gathered for an Independence celebration and to see a balloon ascension in St. Louis. Southern sympathizers in the crowd clashed with Union Soldiers and several people were shot, two died.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed causing slave-holding Missourians to flood into Kansas. This led to the Missouri-Kansas Border War and eventually the Civil War.

The Neosho Times reported that some Washburn, MO boys were working for a farmer when they plowed up about $80 worth of gold and silver which the farmer had buried there at the beginning of the Civil War.

Nathaniel Lyon took command of the St. Louis Arsenal on this day.

Elijah Lovejoy was born on this date. Lovejoy was a crusading newspaper publisher, who got his start in St. Louis, and he was abolitionist who was killed when a mob came to break up his press in Alton, Illinois. 

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.

Artist, George Caleb Bingham painted, Order No. 11. showing what General Ewing was doing with Order No. 11. Ewing destroyed the painting with his sword and Bingham quickly painted another. The result was that Ewing's career was seriously damaged and he became one of the most hated men in the war.