Battle of Moore's Mill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Moore's Mill
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
Date July 28, 1862 Location Callaway County, Missouri Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States of America	Confederate States of America
Commanders and leaders
Odon Guitar	Joseph C. Porter
Strength
733	260–350
Casualties and losses
13 killed 55 wounded	27–202 killed and wounded

The Battle of Moore's Mill was a fight during the American Civil War. It happened in Central Missouri on July 28, 1862. The battle took place near Auxvasse Creek, close to what is now Calwood. This battle, along with the Battle of Kirksville and the Battle of Compton's Ferry, helped stop Southern recruiters in northern Missouri. The Moore's Mill Battlefield was recognized as an important historical site in 2015. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Why the Battle Happened

A United States of America flag and a Confederate States of America flag flank a memorial gravestone that includes a list of names of the soldiers killed at this battle site.

After the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas, Confederate forces left northern Arkansas. They sent recruiters into Missouri to find new soldiers. Southern fighters, known as guerrillas, helped these recruiters. Guerrillas are small groups of fighters who use surprise attacks.

Fighting by guerrillas was a big problem in Missouri from the start of the war. It got worse in early 1862. To stop them, Union General Henry Halleck issued an order. He warned that guerrillas would not be treated as regular prisoners of war. Instead, they would be punished harshly. Confederate President Jefferson Davis tried to make guerrilla fighting official. He allowed "partisan rangers" to form. But the United States government did not accept this.

As guerrilla attacks and recruiting grew, Missouri faced more pressure. Most of the state's soldiers were new volunteer Missouri State Militia Cavalry regiments. Union commanders started to hunt down Confederate recruiters like Joseph C. Porter. They fought smaller battles at Vassar Hill, Florida, and Santa Fe.

Meanwhile, on July 22, General John Schofield ordered all loyal men in Missouri to join the militia. This new group was called the Enrolled Missouri Militia. This order aimed to create a strong defense force. It also forced people to choose sides. Many who supported the South joined guerrilla groups or sought out Confederate recruiters. Joseph C. Porter's group quickly gained many new members.

The Fight at Brown's Spring

On July 27, Colonel Odon Guitar was in Jefferson City. He led the 9th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Guitar was told to send two companies to reinforce Lieutenant-Colonel Shaffer in Columbia. He also learned that Porter and guerrilla leader Alvin Cobb were camped north of Fulton.

Guitar took 100 men from his cavalry and two cannons. They crossed the Missouri River to Fulton. There, 54 men from the 3rd Iowa Cavalry joined them. They then moved towards Brown's Spring. A small fight happened nearby. Guitar found the camp empty. He learned that Lieutenant Colonel Schaeffer's force of 500 men was also nearby. Guitar decided to camp for the night.

Who Fought in the Battle

The Union forces were led by Colonel Odon Guitar and Lieutenant Colonel W.F. Shaffer. They had about 733 men in total. Their forces included:

• Parts of the 9th Missouri State Militia Cavalry
• A section of the 3rd Indiana Battery (with two cannons)
• Parts of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry
• Parts of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (also known as "Merrill's Horse")
• Parts of the 10th Missouri State Militia Cavalry
• An Independent Cavalry Company called "Red Rovers"

The Confederate forces were led by Colonel Joseph C. Porter. They had between 260 and 350 men. Their forces included:

• The 1st Northeast Missouri Cavalry
• The Blackfoot Rangers
• Cobb's Guerrillas

The Battle of Moore's Mill

Colonel Porter's Confederates were waiting for Guitar's force. They planned an ambush along Auxvasse Creek. Porter's men hid in trees and bushes.

On the morning of July 28, Guitar moved along the creek. Shaffer's larger force joined him. Together, they had 733 men. Guitar tried to trap Porter. He sent Shaffer's men (464 of them) to flank the Confederates by crossing the creek to the east. Guitar advanced too quickly on the west side of the creek with 269 men. This meant Shaffer's group couldn't get into position in time.

Porter's hidden men fired two powerful volleys at Guitar's soldiers. Guitar ordered his men to get off their horses and take cover. He brought his cannons forward. Porter's men had no cannons. The Union soldiers hoped their artillery would make Porter's men leave. After an hour, Porter ordered a charge. His men shot down the Union gunners and captured at least one cannon. They pushed the Union soldiers back.

At this point, Shaffer's force arrived. They had heard the gunfire and cannons. A Union company charged forward and took back the cannons. They pushed the Confederates back to their hiding spots. Shaffer's men also dismounted, and the fighting continued.

After several hours, Porter's men started running out of ammunition. They were ordered to retreat. Many Confederates were hit as they left their cover. The Union troops were tired and did not chase them right away. This allowed the Confederates to get away.

Soldiers Lost

The Union army had 13 soldiers killed and 55 wounded. The number of Confederate casualties is harder to know for sure. A newspaper in Fulton listed some Confederate dead, captured, and wounded. Guitar's report claimed 52 Confederates were killed and 125-150 were wounded. However, other reports suggest lower numbers, like 11 killed and 21 severely wounded.

What Happened Next

Guitar's men were too tired to chase Porter's fleeing soldiers. Porter's threat to Northeast Missouri ended on August 6. His forces were defeated at the Battle of Kirksville. Porter told his men to scatter and find their way south to the main Confederate Army. Guitar became sick after Moore's Mill. He could not join the victory at Kirksville, but some of his soldiers were there.

Because of his efforts in this battle and his later pursuit of Poindexter's force, Odon Guitar was promoted. He became a brigadier general in the Missouri State Militia. After this, Confederate recruiting efforts in northern Missouri never fully recovered.