Featured Articles
Below are featured articles concerning the Civil War in Missouri.
"The First to Fall"
Jerry R. Fry’s “The First to Fall” explores the remarkable parallels between Union General Nathaniel Lyon and Confederate General Robert S. Garnett, the first general officers killed in battle on their respective sides during the American Civil War. Drawing on their shared backgrounds as West Point classmates, veterans of Florida, Mexico, and the western frontier, Fry examines how both men commanded badly outnumbered forces in mountainous terrain and died while attempting to save their armies during retreats. The article also contrasts how history remembered the two officers—Lyon as a celebrated defender of Missouri’s loyalty to the Union, and Garnett as a largely forgotten Confederate commander—while arguing that both deserve greater recognition for their courage, leadership, and sacrifice in the war’s opening months.
"The Capture of Liberty Arsenal"
Jerry R. Fry’s “The Capture of the Liberty Arsenal and the Service of Secessionist Col. Henry Louis Routt” examines one of the earliest acts of organized secessionist resistance in Missouri during the opening days of the American Civil War. The article traces how Henry Louis Routt organized pro-Southern militia forces that seized the undefended Liberty Arsenal on April 20, 1861, capturing weapons intended for federal use and helping ignite Missouri’s internal conflict. Fry also explores the broader political and military consequences of the raid, including its influence on Union officer Nathaniel Lyon and the defense of the St. Louis Arsenal, while following Routt’s later service with pro-Confederate forces, arrest for treason, and eventual pardon by Abraham Lincoln. Through the story of Routt and the Liberty Arsenal raid, the article highlights the deep divisions within Missouri and the rapid escalation of the state’s Civil War struggle in 1861.
"A Salute to General Lyon"
“A Salute to General Lyon” is a commemorative collection of historical writings, newspaper accounts, soldier reminiscences, and memorial tributes honoring Nathaniel Lyon and the Union volunteers who fought under him during the opening months of the American Civil War. The work recounts Lyon’s leadership in securing Missouri for the Union through the Camp Jackson Affair, the Battles of Boonville and Wilson’s Creek, and his death while leading outnumbered troops against Confederate forces in August 1861. Drawing from contemporary newspapers, funeral accounts, veterans’ recollections, and later memorials, the article demonstrates how Lyon became one of the North’s earliest war heroes, widely mourned across the nation and remembered for his courage, sacrifice, and role in preserving Missouri for the Union. It also traces the monuments, ceremonies, and public honors dedicated to Lyon in Missouri, New York, and Connecticut, illustrating the lasting impact of his legacy in Civil War memory.