Missouri Volunteer Militia facts for kids
The Missouri Volunteer Militia (MVM) was a group of citizen-soldiers in Missouri. They were like a state army before the American Civil War began. Later, a new group called the Missouri State Guard was formed.
Before the Civil War, Missouri had an informal state militia. The governor could call them up for emergencies. They also had annual training. Larger parts of the militia, like brigades, were made of independent volunteer companies. These included groups like the St. Louis Grays and the Washington Blues. Each company had its own special uniform. They often competed in drills, which made them feel proud and strong.
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Missouri and the Secession Crisis
During the time when states were deciding whether to leave the United States in 1861, some people in Missouri wanted to use the state militia to help them leave.
New Companies and Early Actions
On February 13, 1861, General Daniel M. Frost created five new MVM companies. These groups were made up of "Minutemen" who supported leaving the Union.
On March 21, 1861, the Missouri Constitutional Convention voted against leaving the United States. This meant Missouri would not secede through political action.
The Camp Jackson Affair
Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson secretly supported secession. He called up part of the MVM under General Frost. He placed them near St. Louis. The governor's goal was to take control of the city by force.
However, this plan was stopped on May 10, 1861. A group of Union supporters called the Saint Louis Home Guard surprised and captured the MVM force. This group was organized by Francis Preston Blair, Jr.. U.S. Army officers, including Nathaniel Lyon, led them. This event became known as the Camp Jackson Affair.
Reorganizing the Militia
The capture of the MVM shocked those who wanted to secede. Because of this, the Missouri legislature passed the "Military Bill." This bill gave Governor Jackson almost complete control over the state militia. It also reorganized the militia into the Missouri State Guard.
On June 11, Governor Jackson met with Francis Preston Blair, Jr. and Nathaniel Lyon. Lyon had been made Commander of the Western Department of the U.S. Army. They met at the Planter's House Hotel in St. Louis to try and find a solution. But they could not agree. Both sides blamed each other for the failure.
On June 12, 1861, Governor Jackson made an official announcement to the state. He called for 50,000 militia members to join the state's service. He said this was to protect citizens and their homes from invasion.
The failure to find a peaceful solution made tensions much worse. Even though Missouri officially stayed in the Union, the state became a place of intense fighting. This included many battles and guerrilla warfare during the Civil War.
