Carthage, MO
Date:
July 5, 1861
Location:
Please click on link below for map.
Carthage, Missouri, United States
Campaign:
Operations to Control Missouri
(1861)
Battles in
Campaign:
Situation:
Commanders:
-
Union:
Col. Franz Sigel
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Confederate:
Governor Claiborne Jackson
Principal Forces:
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Union:
Brigade [1,100]
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Confederate:
Missouri State Guard divisions [4,000]
Description:
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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.
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Col. Franz Sigel
led another force of about 1,000 into southwest Missouri in search of the
governor and his loyal troops.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Photo Gallery:2
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The Battle of Carthage State Historic Site
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Battle Movements
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Line of Battle Marker #2
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Classification3:
C
Casualties4:
-
Union:
44
-
Confederate:
77
Results:
 Confederate
Victory
Battlefield Website:
Recommended
Resources:
1 National Park
Service summary.
2 Please click on the image to
enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link
with each image: "Courtesy of
civil-war-journeys.org."
3 Classification:
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A
- having a decisive influence on a
campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war
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B -
having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign
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C -
having observable influence on the
outcome of a campaign
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D
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having a limited influence on the
outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important
local objectives
4 Casualties are
someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.
Revised
01/28/2011 |
