The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Union Missouri Regiments
In Response To: Re: Union Missouri Regiments ()

Wesley,

The following are the best references I have found (and use) for Missouri unit identification:

For Both Sides:

Broadfoot Publishing Company, "Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," about 100 volumes divided into Part 1, Addendum to Reports, and Part 2 (and, appropriate to your question) Records of Events that contain unit itineraries of both sides organized alphabetically by state. These were published about 1994-2002 by Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, a major Civil War publisher. The Missouri units of both sides are about in volumes 34 through 38. You can find this fine set in the larger libraries.

For the Missouri Confederate units:

James E. McGhee, "Guide to Missouri Confederate Units, 1861-1865," Fayetteville, Arkansas: The University of Arkansas Press, 2008 [Jim assists in this forum, too. This is the best modern reference to the MO southern units.];

Richard C. Peterson, James E. McGhee, Kip A. Lindberg, Keith I. Daleen, "Sterling Price's Lieutenants: A Guide to the Officers and Organization of the Missouri State Guard, 1861-1865," Shawnee Missouri, Kansas: Two Trails Publishing, 1995 [only for the Missouri State Guard (MSG) of 1861 and very early 1862. Those of the authors still living contribute to this forum.];

Stewart Sifakis, "Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, the Confederate Units and the Indian Units," (one volume of a set) Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books of Heritage Books, Inc, 2003, reprinted from New York: Facts on File, 1995;

Joseph H. Crute, Jr., "Units of the Confederate States Army," Midlothian, Viriginia: Derwent Books, 1987;

[Before McGhee's excellent work, the flawed Sifakis and Crute works were mostly all that were available for the southern units of MO. Sifakis and Crute are available in the history part of the reference section of most U.S. libraries. Hopefully, McGhee's new guide will someday be available in those places around the country, and certainly in MO libraries.).

For the Missouri Union Units:

Frederick H. Dyer, "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion," several different publishers over the last fifty years including newer reprints of this three-volume set, which is printed in one giant volume in recent printings. [Dyer is your best bet for fast reference on Missouri Union units, since you should find Dyer in the history section of the reference room of EVERY library. Dyer has short thumbnail histories of each unit, too. Despite folklore to the contrary, there are errors in this landmark work, but not too many.];

State of Missouri, "Annual Report of the Adjutant General of Missouri For the Year 1861" (and for 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865), Jefferson City, Missouri: public printers, published in the year following the subject year [I prefer the 1865 volume since it contains the lion's share of all the previous units except for the local 1861 northern home guard units. These are antique books and difficult to locate outside of certain Missouri libraries. I hope someday a publisher will reprint them.);

William Fannin, "Defenders of the Border: Missouri's Union Military Organizations in the Civil War," "Pioneer Times" vol. 6, no. 3 (July 1982), 187-206 [This periodical article does not list the Union Missouri units, but explains their origins, purpose, and usage in easy-to-understand language.];

Kirby Ross, "Federal Units in Missouri," Internet site: http://www.civilwarstlouis.com/militia/federalmilitia.htm [This is part of the excellent Missouri Civil War site operated by George and Deb Rule. kirby's well-written article covers about the same ground as the old Fannin article cited above. Kirby also contributes to this forum.].

United States Government, "Official Army Register of the Volunteer Force of the United States for the Years 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865" Washington, D. C.: US Government Printing Office, published in the 1880s, vol. 7 covers Missouri northern units [This antique set has been reprinted in recent years by more than one publisher, but is best found in most libraries in the history section.];

Missouri had so many different types of units on either side, the full array is VERY confusing. Add to this, many of the southern units were known by their commander's names and not always by their official number, and etc. This is also partly true for a lesser number of Union Missouri units. Add to this, many Missourians served in more than one of these units, some served in several of them, and a large number of Missouri men served on both sides. As is that wasn't perplexing enough, some MO CW units formed or mustered and were not accepted by superiors or lasted short periods of time and were disbanded. Many of the southern regular units were folded into other units, too.

If you track down the ones you think are correct, check with this forum and somebody can give you assurance or put you on the right track.

I'm sure I am leaving out several good references for Missouri CW units, and I am sure I will think of them in the bathtub or as I lay down to sleep tonight. Such is life. This should get you going, though.

Bruce Nichols

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