Missouri Events

1811 Dec 16 New Madrid Earthquake of 1812
In the past three centuries, major earthquakes outside of California and Alaska generally occurred in sparsely-settled areas, and damage and fatalities were largely minimal. But some took...
1821 Aug 10 Missouri is the 24th State Admitted to the Union
On August 10, 1821, Missouri entered the Union as the twenty-fourth state. Named after the Native American people who originally inhabited the land, Missouri was acquired by the U.S. as p...
1838 Aug 6
to 1838 Nov 1
 Missouri Mormon War
In August of 1838, Mormons attempting to vote in the town of Gallatin in Daviess County were attacked and kept from the polls. A man named William P. Penniston, who was a local judge, led...
1838 Dec 1
to 1839 Apr 6
 Joseph Smith Jr. Is Imprisoned In Liberty Jail
The Historic Liberty Jail is where Joseph Smith and five other Mormon leaders were held from December 1838 to April 1839. They were helpless while knowing that the Latter-day Saints were ...
1849 May 17 The St. Louis Great Fire
The St. Louis Fire of 1849 was a devastating fire that occurred on May 17, 1849 and destroyed a significant part of St. Louis, Missouri and many of the steamboats using the Mississippi Ri...
1855 Nov 1 Gasconade Bridge Train Disaster
The Gasconade Bridge Train Disaster occurred on November 1st, 1855. With more than 600 passengers aboard the Pacific Railroad excursion train celebrating the railway line's opening, outsi...
1861 Apr James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok Joins the Union Army
When the Civil War broke out in April 1861, Hickok signed on as a teamster for the Union Army in Sedalia, Missouri, and by the end of the year he was a wagonmaster. In September 1862 he w...
1861 Jun 17 First Battle of Boonville - Establishes Union Control of Missouri River
The First Battle of Boonville was a minor skirmish of the American Civil War, occurring on June 17, 1861, near Boonville in Cooper County, Missouri. Although casualties were extremely lig...
1861 Jun 19 Battle of Cole's Camp
The Battle of Cole Camp was a skirmish of the American Civil War, occurring on June 19, 1861, in Benton County, Missouri. The rebel victory assured an open line of march for the fleeing g...
1861 Jul 5 Battle of Carthage
The Battle of Carthage, also known as the Battle of Dry Fork, took place at the beginning of the American Civil War on July 5, 1861, in Jasper County, Missouri. The experienced Colonel Fr...
1861 Aug 5 Battle of Athens - Union and CSA Forces Approach Iowa
The Battle of Athens was an American Civil War skirmish that took place in northeast Missouri in 1861 near present Revere and southeast Iowa along the Des Moines River across from Croton ...
1861 Aug 10 Battle of Wilson's Creek - Union Forces Lose at the First Major Battle West of the Mississippi
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in...
1861 Aug 19 Union Force Destroys Confederate Camp
The Battle of Charleston (also known as the Battle of Bird's Point) was a minor clash in Charleston, Missouri, United States during the American Civil War. On August 19, 1861, Union force...
1861 Sep 2 Battle of Dry Wood Creek
The Battle of Dry Wood Creek (also known as the Battle of Big Dry Wood Creek or the Battle of the Mules) was fought on September 2, 1861 in Vernon County, Missouri during the American Civ...
1861 Sep 13
to 1861 Sep 20
 First Battle of Lexington - Missouri State Guard Takes Stronghold of Missouri Valley
The First Battle of Lexington also known as the Battle of the Hemp Bales, was an engagement of the American Civil War, occurring from September 13 to September 20, 1861, between the Union...
1861 Sep 17 Battle of Liberty
Description: “General” D.R. Atchison left Lexington on September 15, 1861, and proceeded to Liberty where he met the Missouri State Guard. On the night of September 16-17, his force cross...
1861 Oct 21 Battle of Fredericktown - Union Forces Consolidate Control of Southeastern Missouri
The Battle of Fredericktown was an engagement of the American Civil War. It took place on October 21, 1861, in Madison County, Missouri. Union victory consolidated their control of southe...
1861 Oct 25 First Battle of Springfield, MO
The First Battle of Springfield or Zagonyi's Charge was a battle of the American Civil War that occurred on October 25, 1861, in Greene County, Missouri. It was the only Union victory in ...
1861 Nov 7 Battle of Belmont
The Battle of Belmont was fought on November 7, 1861, in Mississippi County, Missouri. It was the first combat test in the American Civil War for Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the future U...
1861 Dec 19 Confederate Recruiting Hampered in Blackwater Creek Skirmish
The Skirmish at Blackwater Creek (actually a river) or Skirmish at Milford was an American Civil War skirmish that took place in central Missouri on December 19, 1861 near present day Val...
1861 Dec 28 Battle of Mount Zion Church - Confederate Forces Defeated in Northeastern Missouri
The Battle of Mount Zion Church was a battle of the American Civil War, which occurred on December 28, 1861, in Boone County, southeast of Hallsville, Missouri. The resulting Union victor...
1862 Jan 8 Battle of Roan's Tan Yard
The Battle of Roan's Tan Yard (also known as Silver Creek) was an action during the American Civil War, occurring on January 8, 1862, in Randolph County, Missouri. Rumors and sightings o...
1862 Mar 7
to 1862 Mar 8
 Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge (also known as Elkhorn Tavern) was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 7 and March 8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Bentonvil...
1862 Jul 28 Battle of Moore's Mill
The Battle of Moore’s Mill was an American Civil War battle that took place in northeast Missouri on July 28, 1862 along Auxvasse Creek near modern day Calwood. This engagement, the Battl...
1862 Aug 6
to 1862 Aug 9
 Battle of Kirksville
The Battle of Kirksville was a battle in the American Civil War, fought near the town of Kirksville, Missouri, on August 6, 1862. The Union victory helped consolidate Federal control over...
1862 Aug 11 Battle of Compton's Ferry - Confederate Recruiting Efforts Suppressed
The Battle of Compton's Ferry (also known as Little Compton Ferry) was an action during the American Civil War, occurring August 11, 1862, along the Grand River. Colonel John A. Poindex...
1862 Aug 11 First Battle of Independence, MO - Confederate Dominance near Kansas City Strengthened
Description: On August 11, 1862, Col. J.T. Hughes’s Confederate force, including William Quantrill, attacked Independence, at dawn, in two columns on different roads. They drove through t...
1862 Aug 15
to 1862 Aug 16
 Battle of Lone Jack
The Battle of Lone Jack was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on August 15 – August 16, 1862 in Jackson County, Missouri. The battle was part of the Confederate guerrilla and ...
1862 Sep 30 First Battle of Newtonia
Description: Following the Battle of Pea Ridge, in March 1862, most Confederate and Union troops left northwestern Arkansas and southwestern Missouri. By late summer, Confederates returne...
1862 Sep 30 First Battle of Newtonia - Confederate Artillery Bombards Union Forces
The First Battle of Newtonia was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on September 30, 1862 in Newton County, Missouri. Following the Battle of Pea Ridge in March, most Confed...
1862 Oct 29 Skirmish at Island Mound
The Skirmish at Island Mound was a skirmish of the American Civil War, occurring from October 27 to October 29, 1862, in Bates County, Missouri. This Union victory was notable as the firs...
1862 Nov 7 Battle of Clark's Mill
Description: Having received reports that Confederate troops were in the area, Capt. Hiram E. Barstow, Union commander at Clark’s Mill, sent a detachment toward Gainesville and he led ano...
1863 Jan 8 Second Battle of Springfield
The Second Battle of Springfield was a battle in the American Civil War fought January 8, 1863, in Springfield, Missouri. It is sometimes known as The Battle of Springfield. (The First Ba...
1863 Jan 9
to 1863 Jan 11
 Battle of Hartville
Description: John S. Marmaduke led a Confederate raid into Missouri in early January 1863. This movement was two-pronged. Col. Joseph C. Porter led one column, comprising his Missouri Cav...
1863 Apr 26 Battle of Cape Girardeau - General Marmaduke's Second Missouri Raid Brought to an End
Description: Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke sought to strike Brig. Gen. John McNeil, with his combined force of about 2,000 men, at Bloomfield, Missouri. McNeil retreated and Marmaduke foll...
1864 Jul 13 Battle of Camden Point - Thornton's Picnicing Force Ambushed
The tragedy of the Battle of Camden is that it should never have taken place when and where it did. The American General Horatio Gates, hero of Saratoga, had taken command of the troops ...
1864 Sep 27 Battle of Fort Davidson
Description: In September 1864, a Confederate army under Maj. Gen. Sterling Price crossed into Missouri with the goal of capturing St. Louis. Union Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing moved with rein...
1864 Oct 15 Battle of Glasgow
Description: While Maj. Gen. Sterling Price led his men westward across Missouri, he decided to send a detachment to Glasgow to liberate weapons and supplies in an arms storehouse, purpo...
1864 Oct 19 The Second Battle of Lexington
Description: Maj. Gen. Sterling Price’s march along the Missouri River was slow, providing the Yankees a chance to concentrate. Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, commanding the Department o...
1864 Oct 21 Battle of Little Blue River
Description: Price’s march along the Missouri River was slow, providing the Yankees a chance to concentrate. Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, commanding the Department of the Missouri, pro...
1864 Oct 21
to 1864 Oct 22
 Second Battle of Independence
Description: Maj. Gen. Sterling Price’s army rode west in the direction of Kansas City. On the night of the 21st, he camped at Independence and resumed his westward march the next morning...
1864 Oct 22
to 1864 Oct 23
 Battle of Byram's Ford
Description: Maj. Gen. Sterling Price’s Army of Missouri was headed west towards Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth. Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis’s Army of the Border, in and around Westport,...
1864 Oct 23 Battle of Westport
Description: Maj. Gen. Sterling Price’s Missouri Expedition had changed course from St. Louis and Jefferson City to Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth. As his army neared Kansas City, Maj. ...
1864 Oct 25 Battle of Marmiton River
Description: Following the Battle of Mine Creek, Maj. Gen. Sterling Price continued his cartage towards Fort Scott. In late afternoon of October 25, Price’s supply train had difficulty cr...
1864 Oct 28 Second Battle of Newtonia
Description: Price’s force was in full retreat following its expedition into Missouri. On October 28, 1864, it stopped to rest about two miles south of Newtonia, Missouri. Soon afterward,...
1865 Jul 21 James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok Kills Davis Tutt, Jr. In First Recorded Quick Draw Gunfight
Hickok's reputation as a gunfighter began when he killed David Tutt in the public square of Springfield on 21st July, 1865. The two men had quarrelled over cards and decided to have a gun...
1888 Sep 26 T. S. Eliot Is Born
Eliot was born into the Eliot family, a bourgeois family, originally from New England, who had moved to St. Louis, Missouri. His father, Henry Ware Eliot (1843–1919), was a successful bus...
1896 May 27
to 1896 May 28
 St. Louis-East St. Louis Tornado of 1896
This tornado, which was to be one of the deadliest in US history, touched down about 6 miles west of the Eads Bridge in St. Louis. From the northwest edge of Tower Grove Park, this comple...
1898
to 1905
T. S. Eliot Attends Smith Academy
From 1898 to 1905, Eliot attended Smith Academy, where he studied Latin, Ancient Greek, French, and German. He began to write poetry when he was 14 under the influence of Edward Fitzgeral...
1925 Mar 18 Tri-State Tornado
In 1927, it was reported that the storm crossed Illinois at the rate of 45 mph and that the width of the destructive path varied from a 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Today, it is estimated that this ...