Confederate Missouri.

[Sons of Liberty]

On November 28th, 1861 the Confederate Congress admitted Missouri as the 12th state of the Confederacy after Missouri's disputed secession from the Union.

 

[Patrick H]

Yes, I knew this had happened, but I never bothered to think about the date. One of the many odd things surrounding this event was that Gen. Stirling Price (who had also been Missouri's governor) was not in favor of secession. Price was, famously, in command of the Missouri State Guard in 1861. The pro-secession governor at the war's outbreak was Claiborne Fox Jackson. There are interesting stories about Jackson, too. He married, in succession, all three of the daughters of Dr. Sappington of Arrow Rock, Missouri. The first two died and the third outlived him. When he came to Dr. Sappington to ask for the third daughter's hand in marriage, Sappington is said to have agreed, but with the stipulation "Don't come back and ask for my wife's hand."

 

[Benjamin Davis]

And thus started Missouri's own little civil war, guerrilla warfare, towns burned for choosing the wrong side, neighbor to neighbor fighting...messy business.

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

Certainly a messy business. My ancestor was a member of the Union 12th Missouri, and it must have been a difficult time. After the war he moved to Nebraska.

 

[leftyhunter]

View attachment 52720

On November 28th, 1861 the Confederate Congress admitted Missouri as the 12th state of the Confederacy after Missouri's disputed secession from the Union.

While the CSA congress considered Mo and Ky for that matter CSA states in reality they where Union states. I would think the acid test if a state is CSA vs Union is simply how many of its white men fought on one side vs the other. In that test Mo is very much a Union state. Yes many Mo men fought for the CSA but on a per-capita basis one could argue more men in Tn fought for the Union the Mo men fought for the CSA but Tn is still a CSA state because roughly 2/3/rds of its men fought for the CSA with maybe less due to desertion by 1864. The basic quote on Mo is 30k white men fought for the CSA vs 110k fought for the Union then throw in a few thousand more has CSA guerrillas but by the same token we can do the same for Tn.
Leftyhunter

 

[Patrick H]

Hey, Lefty,
I don't know the numbers or percentages, but I have a hunch you are absolutely correct. I know that the majority of Missourians had no desire to secede. The odd wrinkle in that is that a number of the loyalists were constitutional unionists. They thought the union would protect their right to continue to own slaves. If that was going to be true, then why secede? Then there were those other pioneer types who moved out here just to get away from other people. I think a lot of those people simply didn't want any political types presuming to know what was good for them. Very many of those folks didn't own slaves, but they still didn't want anyone telling them what was right or wrong or what was good for them. Mix them all up together, add in some border ruffians and Jayhawkers stirring up trouble. Then add in some occupying Federal troops from out of state who tended to look down on Missouri's citizens (if any Missourians owned slaves they must all be immoral and degenerate people). Add in a bunch of immigrants who had come here to escape civil wars in their own country (present day Germany). Throw in a pro-secession governor and a bogus, non-elected, appointed state government that could be depended upon to support the union cause. With that mix, you had a tinder box just waiting to be kindled. For certain, it was kindled!

 

[Benjamin Davis]

When I think of Missouri I sometimes think of how much worse the war would have been if the entire Confederacy had gone the guerrilla war route instead of a set of clear surrenders such as Lee at Appomattox.
Also Confederate Kentucky is going to be up soon, on December the tenth. I know Kentucky never left the union, they always maintained representation in Washington and had a solidly unionist legislature but for some reason I kind of always thought of that state as being "more" confederate than Missouri for some reason.

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

I think fans of the Confederacy might take issue with your comment on "a set of clear surrenders".

 

[Benjamin Davis]

I think fans of the Confederacy might take issue with your comment on "a set of clear surrenders".

How else should I word it?

 

[kevikens]

I once read that Kentucky retro seceded and joined the Confederacy after the Civil War.

 

[Specster]

If the south went the guerilla route after Appomatix I think the biggest losers would have been the Southern populace.

 

[Patrick H]

If the south went the guerilla route after Appomatix I think the biggest losers would have been the Southern populace.

I agree completely.

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought "set of clear surrenders" referred to the battle effort by the Confederacy, which WON battles and only surrendered when they had no other option or were starving to death.
Apologies if this is not what you were speaking about.

 

[Benjamin Davis]

Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought "set of clear surrenders" referred to the battle effort by the Confederacy, which WON battles and only surrendered when they had no other option or were starving to death.
Apologies if this is not what you were speaking about.

No I was just trying to describe the situation as it was at the end, Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virgina, Johnson surrendered his army/department, other generals followed, ect.

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

I read that the men did not have to give up their personal firearms and pistols.

 

[Sons of Liberty]

Missouri's Ordinance of Secession

The following act was passed by the duly elected State Legislature. A quorum can be proven for the Senate and reasonable evidence suggests a quorum in the House. History books, generally, call this elected, governing body a "rump" legislature. The Southern view is the government installed by Federal occupation viz martial law was an illegal "rump" legislature.

AN ACT declaring the political ties heretofore existing between the State of Missouri and the United States of America dissolved.

WHEREAS, the Government of the United States, in the possession and under the control of a sectional party, has wantonly violated the compact originally made between said government and the State of Missouri, by invading with hostile armies the soil of the State, attacking and making prisoners the militia whilst legally assembled under the State laws, forcibly occupying the State capital, and attempting, through the instrumentality of domestic traitors, to usurp the State government, seizing and destroying private property, and murdering with fiendish malignity peaceable citizens, men, women, and children, together with other acts of atrocity, indicating a deep settled hostility toward the people of Missouri and their institutions; and,

WHEREAS, the present administration of the government of the United States has utterly ignored the Constitution, subverted the government as constructed and intended by its makers, and established a despotic and arbitrary power instead thereof; Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

That all political ties of every character now existing between the government of the United States of America and the people and government of the State of Missouri, are hereby dissolved, and the State of Missouri, resuming the sovereignty granted by compact to the said United States upon admission of said State into the Federal Union, does again take its place as a free and independent republic amongst the nations of the earth.

This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Read first and second time and amended. Read third time and passed, October 28, 1861.

John T. Crisp, Secretary of State


(As provided by the Sons of Confederate Veterans website, www.missouridivision-scv.org )

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

I wonder what the Western Turners thought about that document.

 

[4th-MSM]

Missouri's Ordinance of Secession

The following act was passed by the duly elected State Legislature. A quorum can be proven for the Senate and reasonable evidence suggests a quorum in the House. History books, generally, call this elected, governing body a "rump" legislature. The Southern view is the government installed by Federal occupation viz martial law was an illegal "rump" legislature.

AN ACT declaring the political ties heretofore existing between the State of Missouri and the United States of America dissolved.

WHEREAS, the Government of the United States, in the possession and under the control of a sectional party, has wantonly violated the compact originally made between said government and the State of Missouri, by invading with hostile armies the soil of the State, attacking and making prisoners the militia whilst legally assembled under the State laws, forcibly occupying the State capital, and attempting, through the instrumentality of domestic traitors, to usurp the State government, seizing and destroying private property, and murdering with fiendish malignity peaceable citizens, men, women, and children, together with other acts of atrocity, indicating a deep settled hostility toward the people of Missouri and their institutions; and,

WHEREAS, the present administration of the government of the United States has utterly ignored the Constitution, subverted the government as constructed and intended by its makers, and established a despotic and arbitrary power instead thereof; Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

That all political ties of every character now existing between the government of the United States of America and the people and government of the State of Missouri, are hereby dissolved, and the State of Missouri, resuming the sovereignty granted by compact to the said United States upon admission of said State into the Federal Union, does again take its place as a free and independent republic amongst the nations of the earth.

This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Read first and second time and amended. Read third time and passed, October 28, 1861.

John T. Crisp, Secretary of State


(As provided by the Sons of Confederate Veterans website, www.missouridivision-scv.org )

The original declaration of secession can also be found in the ORs, Series I, Vol. LIII, p. 752

A few other interesting tidbits in regards to the declaration:

From the Official Records, Series I, Vol. LIII, pp. 752-753:
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"[Enclosed declaration of secession as listed above] I hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a full, true, and perfect copy of the original roll. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and the great seal of the State of Missouri this 2d day of November, 1861. B. F. MASSEY, Secretary of State."

"AN ACT ratifying the Constitution of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America. Whereas the Congress of the Confederate States of America have, by an act entitled "An act to aid the State of Missouri in repelling invasion by the United States, and to authorize the admission of said State as a member of the Confederate States of America, and for other purposes," enacted that "the State of Missouri shall be admitted a member of the Confederate States of America, upon an equal footing with the other States under the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the same, upon condition that the said Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States shall be adopted and ratified by the properly and legally constituted authorities of said State" Now, therefore. be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri as follows : The General Assembly of the State of Missouri for and in behalf of the people thereof do hereby accept the provisions of an act of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, as set forth in the preamble to this act, the State of Missouri hereby adopting and ratifying the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America as a member of said Confederacy upon an equal footing with the other States under said Constitution. SEC. 2. His Excellency C. F. Jackson, Governor of this State, is hereby directed and authorized to transmit to the President of said Confederate States of America an authentic copy of this act, in pursuance of section 2 of the act of said Congress above referred to, and to perform all other acts which may hereafter become necessary to secure the admission of the State of Missouri as a member of the said Confederacy. This act shall be in force from and after its passage. Approved October 31, 1861.

I hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a full, true, and per fect copy of the original roll. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and the great seal of the State of Missouri this 2d day of November, 1861. B. F. MASSEY, Secretary of State."
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From the Official Records, Series I, Vol. LIII, pp.754-758

A letter from the Missouri Governor Claiborne Jackson to C.S.A. President Jefferson Davis:

"CASSVILLE, BARRY COUNTY, Mo., November 5, 1861.

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, President Confederate States of America:

SIR: I have the honor and the pleasure of transmitting herewith "An act declaring the political ties heretofore existing between the State of Missouri and the United States of America dissolved" also "An act ratifying the Constitution of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America" These two acts were passed with almost perfect unanimity by the (General Assembly and approved by me on the 3d instant, and are believed to be all that is necessary on the part of the State to secure her admission into the Confederate States of America as a member of that Government. If, in the opinion of the Confederate Government, anything further is required on the part of Missouri to complete and perfect her admission, it will be seen by reference to the second section of the act ratifying the Constitution of the Provisional Government that the Executive of the State is directed and authorized to perform all other acts which may hereafter become necessary to secure the admission of the State. This clause of the act was inserted, not because the General Assembly deemed it at all necessary to secure the admission of the State, but in the abundance of their caution it was considered safest to provide against any and all contingencies that might arise. By some of the members it was thought the Confederate Government might require the act to be ratified by a vote of the people before the admission of the State, and hence the clause was inserted clothing me with power to have it done in that event. On this point it is proper that I should state that the act would at once have been submitted to a vote of the people but for the reason that the State is now invaded by the Federal army to such an extent as to preclude the possibility of holding an election at the present time. That the people would ratify the act, if permitted, admits of no doubt. I am sure that more than four-fifths of the people desire an immediate and unconditional connection with the Southern Government, and I pray that soon it may be consummated. As soon as this may be done I desire that the Missouri forces shall be reorganized at the earliest practicable moment under the Confederate Government, and a general appointed at once to command all the forces that may be ordered to Missouri. Who the man shall be is of no consequence to me. I have full confidence in your good judgment, and doubt not you will give us the best man you can. General Bragg would be very acceptable, but we will all be satisfied with anyone you may select. You know better than I that an army to be successful can have but one head, and that should be a good one. It may possibly be known to you that heretofore there has not been that degree of harmony and concert of action between Generals Price and McCulloch that should exist between officers laboring in a common cause. While this has been the case hitherto to some extent, I am rejoiced now to be able to say that a restoration of the most amicable relations has been effected, and that they and their armies are now co operating together in the most harmonious manner, and I trust it will not be many days before they will be able to rout Fremont from this part of Missouri. Their joint force I cannot give with exactness, but it is somewhere between 20,000 and 25,000 quite sufficient to meet any force Fremont can bring against them. As soon as I can with propriety absent myself from the army I shall endeavor to go to Richmond, where I can more fully communicate with you in reference to the reorganization of the Missouri forces and the future operations of the army in the State. For further particulars in relation to the movements of the army here, its general conditions, arms, &c., I refer you to Captain Myersou, the bearer of this letter. He is a reliable gentleman and a good officer. I have the honor, &c.. C. F. JACKSON."
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Letter from Jefferson Davis to the Confederate Congress:

"RICHMOND, November 5, 1861.

To the Congress of the Confederate States: I transmit to you for your consideration two acts passed by the General Assembly of Missouri on the 31st of last October, the one entitled "An act declaring the political ties heretofore existing between the State of Missouri and the United States of America dissolved" the other entitled "An act ratifying the Constitution of the Pro visional Government of the Confederate States of America" Together with these I send a letter from Governor C. F. Jackson, of Missouri, addressed to myself and dated November 5, 1861. An act of the Confederate Congress, approved August 20, 1861, in reference to Missouri, provided that when the "Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States shall be adopted and ratified by the properly and legally constituted authorities of said State, and the Governor of said State shall transmit to the President of the Confederate States an authentic copy of the proceedings touching said adoption and ratification by said State of said Provisional Constitution, upon the receipt thereof the President, by proclamation, shall announce the fact." It was also declared by this act that upon a proclamation thus made the admission of the said State into this Confederacy shall be complete "without any further proceedings on the part of Congress" I am thus empowered to judge as to the authorities in the State of Missouri which are properly and legally constituted to adopt and ratify the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States. I am also authorized without further consultation with Congress to proclaim the admission of the State. Had the case been thus presented to me during the recess of Congress, I should have deemed it my duty to issue the proclamation under this power; but as these acts are transmitted during the session of Congress, I feel it to be due to you, in a matter of so much importance as the admission of a new State into the Confederacy, to lay before you the acts to which I have referred that you may take such action upon them as in your judgment may be necessary and proper. I also submit to you, for your consideration and action in relation thereto, a copy of a convention between the Confederate States and the State of Missouri which was concluded and signed by the commissioners of both parties at the city of Richmond, on the 31st day of October, 1861. JEFF N DAVIS."
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The act admitting Missouri into the Confederacy:


"AN ACT to admit the State of Missouri into the Confederacy as a member of the Confederate States of America.

The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the State of Missouri be, and is hereby, admitted as a member of the Confederate States of America, upon an equal footing with the other States of the Confederacy, under the Constitution of the Provisional Government of the same. Approved November 28, 1861."
__________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts from the diary of John Fisher:

From pages 25-26: "Neosho Tuesday Oct 22/ [1861] Well we did not move today as I thought we would, and I do not know when we will, the Legislature met today but did not have a quorum, so adjourned till tomorrow"

Pages 29-30: "We are still encamped near Neosho waiting on the Legislatures which is in session, I was misinformed in regard to their meeting on Wednesday, they did not have a quorum until Friday Oct. 25.1861 we will be passed into the C.S.A. as soon as the necessary legislation can be gone through with"

Page 31: "The legislature passed the Ordinance of Secession today about 10 oclock without a dissenting voice, to night there was a general firing of Cannon and rejoicing and getting drunk generally"

Source: The Diary of John Fisher
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The 8th verse of the popular Southern song "Bonnie Blue Flag" speaks of Missouri's admission into the Confederacy.

8th Verse:
"And now to Missouri we extend both heart and hand,
And welcome her a sister of our Confederate band;
Tho' surrounded by oppression no tyrant dare deter
Her adding to our Bonnie Blue Flag her bright and twelfth star.

Hurrah! Hurrah! For Southern Rights! Hurrah!
Hurrah! For the Bonnie Blue Flag has gained its twelfth star."

Original Sheet Music:

http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/scriptorium/sheetmusic/conf/conf01/conf0114/conf0114-1-72dpi.html

 

[4th-MSM]

While the CSA congress considered Mo and Ky for that matter CSA states in reality they where Union states. I would think the acid test if a state is CSA vs Union is simply how many of its white men fought on one side vs the other. In that test Mo is very much a Union state. Yes many Mo men fought for the CSA but on a per-capita basis one could argue more men in Tn fought for the Union the Mo men fought for the CSA but Tn is still a CSA state because roughly 2/3/rds of its men fought for the CSA with maybe less due to desertion by 1864. The basic quote on Mo is 30k white men fought for the CSA vs 110k fought for the Union then throw in a few thousand more has CSA guerrillas but by the same token we can do the same for Tn.
Leftyhunter

With respect Leftyhunter, The U.S.A. considered Missouri a Union State, the C.S.A. considered it a Confederate State, but I personally consider it far too divided to list it for either side. It definitely was one state that earned the "border state" title.

A few things to keep in mind in regards to the numbers of men Missouri sent to each side, along with the guerrillas you mention the numbers of the M.S.G. should also be considered, whose strength taken at one specific time is estimated to have peaked at 28,000 - with 40,000 Missourians estimated to have served in it by the wars end. Even considering recruiting parties sent behind Union lines throughout the war, the Confederate source of recruits from the "Little Dixie" region was cut off from easy access quickly by Lyon. There was also the conscript law requiring all citizens eligible for military service to enroll in the Union E.M.M. It is hard to say how many were conscripted that would not have joined otherwise, but it is something to keep in mind.

All that considered, is it enough to bring the Southern numbers up to match the Union numbers? Probably not, but I think it all has to be kept in mind to help get an understanding of the status of Missouri.

 

[leftyhunter]

With respect Leftyhunter, The U.S.A. considered Missouri a Union State, the C.S.A. considered it a Confederate State, but I personally consider it far too divided to list it for either side. It definitely was one state that earned the "border state" title.

A few things to keep in mind in regards to the numbers of men Missouri sent to each side, along with the guerrillas you mention the numbers of the M.S.G. should also be considered, whose strength taken at one specific time is estimated to have peaked at 28,000 - with 40,000 Missourians estimated to have served in it by the wars end. Even considering recruiting parties sent behind Union lines throughout the war, the Confederate source of recruits from the "Little Dixie" region was cut off from easy access quickly by Lyon. There was also the conscript law requiring all citizens eligible for military service to enroll in the Union E.M.M. It is hard to say how many were conscripted that would not have joined otherwise, but it is something to keep in mind.

All that considered, is it enough to bring the Southern numbers up to match the Union numbers? Probably not, but I think it all has to be kept in mind to help get an understanding of the status of Missouri.

You bring up some good complex points. The CW in Mo was not a simple black and white conflict. In terms of conventional troops per civilwar.net/search state Mo supplied 100,616 white troops plus over 8k USCT troops to the Union vs per familysearch.org 40k white men to the CSA. The last figure does not include the MSM which has you know had approx 10k full time enlisted white men. That's better then two to one in favor of the Union.
The MSG gets a bit more complex. Some did join the CSA some like Frank James being the most famous example joined the bushwackers/guerrillas some joined the Union "paw-paw militias and some tried to stay neutral. Maybe someone with more knowledge then myself knows just what did the men of the MSG do after the battle of Wilsons Creek.
How many Mo men joined the CSA guerrillas vs how many joined the militias or various para military groups sanctioned or not well that's a tough one since not everyone kept records. The authors Kirby Ross and Bruce Nickols might have rough round numbers.
All white men where liable for service in either the Union Army or a local militia and yes some pro CSA men did join various local militias and during Prices invasion defected to the CSA. Those that where caught doing so left this veil of tears.
In addition to the white militias there where black militias that where formed during the Price invasion and the disbanded.
So in raw numbers I would argue more Missourians supported the Union but yes MO had a fair amount of CSA supporters and they where difficult to deal with and a real thorn in the side of the Union. On the other hand byoctober of 1864 after price fled back to Ar the CSA guerrillas where in a bad way and never recovered.
Leftyhunter