Organization of the 1st and 2d North Missouri Regiments, June and July, 1861.—Campaigning in North Missouri During the Summer of 1861.—Order Consolidating the 1st and 2d North Missouri Regiments, Thereafter Known as the 21st Regiment, Missouri Infantry Vols.
AFTER the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 many political disturbances and difficulties arose and he was inaugurated during a time of overwhelming excitement. The government of Missouri at that time was in the hands of those who were clamoring for secession from the Union of States. Claiborne F. Jackson, who had been trained in the political school of “States Rights,” was elected Governor. Early in the spring of 1861 Camp Jackson was established in St. Louis and troops for State service were mustered at that point.
The Southern states, one after another, withdrew from the Union and on April the 11th, 1861, Fort Sumter was fired on by the Confederates. This was the bugle call to arms, and President Lincoln’s proclamation for 75,000 men to serve for ninety days followed. Frank P. Blair, afterwards Major General, received authority from the general government to organize and muster into service troops for the prosecution of the war for the preservation of the Union.
The muster of troops for the state was very irregular and was the cause afterwards of considerable confusion. Some men were enlisted for the war, some for one year, then for three years; some to serve in the state only, while others were enlisted for service in the northern part of the state and others for the southern part. The army thus organized was one of questionable authority. The Governor maintained that the general government had no right to invade the state, and the latter hesitated in regard to sending troops into a state not in open revolt against the government.
During this period of hesitation and confusion Col. D. Moore was commissioned Colonel and received authority to enlist and organize the 1st North Missouri Volunteers; and Col. H. M. Woodyard was given like authority to organize the 2d North Missouri Volunteers. In the summer and fall of 1861 these troops, acting separately, held North Missouri against the Confederates under Cols. Porter and Green. The anomalous conditions then existing in the state are explained by the position of the Confederates, who claimed that they were resisting armed invasion of the State by the Federal Government.
THE FIRST NOTE OF DEFIANCE.
About May 30, 1861, Col. Moore received authority from Gen. Lyons to raise a regiment for the Federal service, taking the field at the head of ten men. Clear and ringing as a bugle blast he sounded the following challenge, which was posted in hand bills over Northeast Missouri and Southern Iowa:
The undersigned is authorized to raise a company of volunteers in the county, for the Union service. All who are willing to fight for their homes, their country and the flag of the glorious Union, are invited to join him, bringing with them their arms and ammunition. Until the Government can aid us we must take care of ourselves. Secessionists and rebel traitors desiring a fight can be accommodated on demand.
D. Moore.
(The above is a verbatim copy.—T. W. H.)
Cols. Moore and Woodyard, with their commands, were so continuously engaged with the enemy either in skirmishing, scouting or fighting, that no time was left them for looking after recruits. Hence when the time came to be regularly received into service both regiments were short of the requisite number of men. Consequently the two regiments were consolidated into what is known as the 21st Regiment of Missouri Volunteers, by the following order: