Welcome to our latest installment of SC6's Civil War Rewind, where we note significant events from the War Between the States in chronological order, 150 years after they happened. Today, we have a neat little tidbit. Though not as important as a battle might be, we found out about one of the stranger events of the War: Missouri's 'Secession' from the Union..
Like many border states, Missouri was very split on which side they would be for. More important than the will of the people, back then, WHO was in charge mattered just as much. In 1861, Claiborne Jackson was Governor of the Show Me State - and an ardent supporter of secession. At the same time, there was one prize that both the North and South wanted in Missouri - The St. Louis Arsenal. No, it wasn't a soccer team, it was one of the largest military caches in the West. Essentially, these two things helped throw Missouri into near chaos...
Literally from Day One, Jackson asked the state legislature to have a council to formally consider Missouri's relationship with the US Government. He was hoping that pro-secession reps would be chosen, but when it occured, none made it. So, Jackson sat and waited... The Arsenal gave him his chance...
Both sides had plans to claim St. Louis' arsenal, by using local militias to take it over, and use it for their side. Capt. Nathaniel Lyon, a Pro-Union member of the arsenal with loose ties to Abraham Lincoln, used his influence, along with a local militia called the Wide Awakes, to have both commanders of St. Louis be replaced or called to DC. Lyon took advantage, gaining control....
Jackson was naturally pissed, and the two sides met to negotiate a truce, but Lyon was in no mood for agreeing to leaving Missouri. Lyon clearly stated for the record that Jackson and his cabinet were insurrectionists to the United States, and that they would no longer be in charge. Lincoln used a similar statute to essentially depose Jackson, and name a new Governor and legislature.. Jackson was kicked out of Jefferson City, but held onto power - sort of - from other cities in the state. In short, Missouri now had two governments, with two governors and legislatures, both of whom were in dispute...
So, which one is in charge? The answer? Whichever one agrees with what you want! In this case, the South sided with Jackson. Jackson held another 'convention', and got his Pro-South sense of the House. And so on November 28, 1861, Missouri was admitted as the 12th state in the Confederacy - despite NEVER having officially left the Union! Interesting indeed.... Of course, it had no effect. Jackson soon ended up 'running' Missouri from Arkansas, where he died, and others later ran it from Marshall, Texas (?). Don't ask us, it doesn't make sense either, but it certainly is one of the stranger stories from the War....and it happened 150 years ago this week!
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