Kirby you are quite correct. Interestingly some of the best records of Missouri weather are available for Harrisonville Cass Co Missouri. A Smithsonian observer, John C. Christian, kept daily logs from June 1859 – December 1870 - exact location unknown but probably near courthouse square.

Another Missouri location with extensive daily observations of the period is Greenfield MO. with records available from June 1859 through August 1862 from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center.

Jefferson Barracks and Warrenton Missouri also have reading for the winter of 1861-1862

More available at http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/research/cdmp/cdmp.html note you will need to find a university or such to get an account to see the actual images.

John R.