Berry Canote
Private
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2017
We are always thinking about the big battles, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Pea Ridge, Antietam. Here in Missouri we talk about the battles of Lexington, Booneville, and Wilson's Creek. But smaller battles sometimes had a major impact in that they affected the Confederate Army's ability to recruit in certain areas, broke supply lines, or merely served as morale boosters for their respective armies.
Here in Central Missouri I can think of two smaller battles that had a big impact despite being small battles. The first is the Battle of Mount Zion Church, fought near Hallsville, Missouri on December 28, 1861. The number of forces involved was not large. There were only 440 Union forces against 900 Confederate forces. The loss of life was not really big either. The Union lost, but three men, while the Confederacy lost 25. The second battle was the Battle of Roan's Tan Yard, better known locally as the Battle of Silver Creek fought near what is now Higbee, Missouri. It took place January 8, 1862, less than two weeks after the Battle of Mount Zion Church, It too was not a large affair. The Union had 450 troops against 800 Confederate troops. Like the Battle of Mount Zion Church the loss of life was not great. The Union forces only lost eight men, while the Confederate forces lost 40 men.
On the surface, these two battles would seem insignificant. However, they had repercussions that would be felt the rest of the war. Both put a stop to recruiting of Confederate regulars in their counties. The Confederate Army's inability to effectively recruit men from Boone and Randolph Counties in Missouri prevented a large force of regulars from being fielded north of the Missouri River. Had the Confederate Army been able to form units in Boone and Randolph Counties it could have impacted the Union occupation of not just those counties, but the surrounding counties as well, not to mention affected the Union control of the North Missouri Railroad. This would have made the Union base at Macon, Missouri useless. Naturally, this would have had implications for General Sterling Price during the 1864 invasion. He could have struck farther north, or in greater numbers Finally, since it was extremely difficult for Southern Sympathizers to join the Confederate Army, many instead joined bushwhacker bands. Had these men been able to join the Confederate Army, perhaps the bands of bushwhacker would not have grown as large or been as active the summer of 1864. I am sure there are other implications I am not thinking of
Can folks think of other small battles that had far reaching implications?
Here in Central Missouri I can think of two smaller battles that had a big impact despite being small battles. The first is the Battle of Mount Zion Church, fought near Hallsville, Missouri on December 28, 1861. The number of forces involved was not large. There were only 440 Union forces against 900 Confederate forces. The loss of life was not really big either. The Union lost, but three men, while the Confederacy lost 25. The second battle was the Battle of Roan's Tan Yard, better known locally as the Battle of Silver Creek fought near what is now Higbee, Missouri. It took place January 8, 1862, less than two weeks after the Battle of Mount Zion Church, It too was not a large affair. The Union had 450 troops against 800 Confederate troops. Like the Battle of Mount Zion Church the loss of life was not great. The Union forces only lost eight men, while the Confederate forces lost 40 men.
On the surface, these two battles would seem insignificant. However, they had repercussions that would be felt the rest of the war. Both put a stop to recruiting of Confederate regulars in their counties. The Confederate Army's inability to effectively recruit men from Boone and Randolph Counties in Missouri prevented a large force of regulars from being fielded north of the Missouri River. Had the Confederate Army been able to form units in Boone and Randolph Counties it could have impacted the Union occupation of not just those counties, but the surrounding counties as well, not to mention affected the Union control of the North Missouri Railroad. This would have made the Union base at Macon, Missouri useless. Naturally, this would have had implications for General Sterling Price during the 1864 invasion. He could have struck farther north, or in greater numbers Finally, since it was extremely difficult for Southern Sympathizers to join the Confederate Army, many instead joined bushwhacker bands. Had these men been able to join the Confederate Army, perhaps the bands of bushwhacker would not have grown as large or been as active the summer of 1864. I am sure there are other implications I am not thinking of
Can folks think of other small battles that had far reaching implications?