This marked the beginning of the military campaign that captured all of Missouri's high-speed transportation networks (rail and Missouri River), ensuring no conventional Southern Army could maintain a permanent foothold within the State. (As Ben McCulloch would point out to Sterling Price, more Federal troops could be brought within the State within 24 hours than anything comparable by the Missouri State Guard or by the Confederacy). This date also began the most bloodiest and devastating full-scale war ever fought on Missouri soil.
And as far as I am aware, this is the only time in U.S. history where the Federal government declared war on a State that was still part of the Union. So why is this date not remembered? Stupidity, negligence, or intentional oversight? BTW what was the total casualties from combat inside Missouri? Union, Mo State Guard, Confederate, Guerilla, Civilian?