Confederate Missouri.

[Benjamin Davis]

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

Their sidearms yes, the defeated confederates also got to keep their horses. Grant had no desire to punish, neither did Lincoln.

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.

Also doesn't help that both states governments were, by the end of 1861 at least questionably legitimate at best. Governor Jackson and the pro-southern parts of the state assembly that passed the secession ordinance did so in clear violation of Missouri state law while the pro-union state convention with its opposing members either exiled or arrested simply started declaring vacancies in key state offices without an election.

 

[Patrick H]

Their sidearms yes, the defeated confederates also got to keep their horses. Grant had no desire to punish, neither did Lincoln.

Also doesn't help that both states governments were, by the end of 1861 at least questionably legitimate at best. Governor Jackson and the pro-southern parts of the state assembly that passed the secession ordinance did so in clear violation of Missouri state law while the pro-union state convention with its opposing members either exiled or arrested simply started declaring vacancies in key state offices without an election.

I'm glad you reiterated this point about Missouri's two state governments during the War. Nearly everyone is aware of bushwhacker violence in Missouri, but few people outside my state understand how crazy things were in terms of law and politics.