First Battle of Boonville

First Battle of Boonville Began: June 17, 1861 Ended: Same day Location: Cooper County, Missouri Theater: Trans-Mississippi Theater Campaign: Operations to Control Missouri Outcome: Union victory Combatants Combined force: Missouri state troops U.S. Army regulars Missouri State Guard Commanders Nathaniel Lyon Brigadier General, USA John S. Marmaduke Colonel, CSA Strength 1,700 Casualties 31 50

Claiborne Jackson, the pro-Southern Governor of Missouri, wanted the state to secede and join the Confederacy. Union Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon set out to put down Jackson's Missouri State Guard, commanded by Sterling Price. Reaching Jefferson City, the state capital, Lyon discovered that Jackson and Price had retreated towards Boonville. Lyon reembarked on steamboats, transported his men to below Boonville, marched to the town, and engaged the enemy. In a short fight, Lyon dispersed the Confederates, commanded on the field by Col. John S. Marmaduke, and occupied Boonville. This early victory established Union control of the Missouri River and helped douse attempts to place Missouri in the Confederacy.