Battle of Carthage

| Battle of Carthage

| Began:|

July 5, 1861

|

| Ended:|

Same day

|

| Location:|

Jasper County, Missouri

|

| Theater:|

Trans-Mississippi Theater

|

| Campaign:|

Operations to Control Missouri

|

| Outcome:|

Confederate victory

|

Combatants

Union brigade

Missouri State Guard

Commanders

Franz Sigel
Colonel, USA

Claiborne Jackson
Governor, State of Missouri

Strength

1,000

| |

4,000

|

Casualties

Killed: 13
Wounded: 31

200
Killed: 12
Wounded: 64
Missing: 1

Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon had chased Governor Claiborne Jackson and approximately 4,000 State Militia from the State Capital at Jefferson City and from Boonville, and pursued them. Col. Franz Sigel led another force of about 1,000 into southwest Missouri in search of the governor and his loyal troops. Upon learning that Sigel had encamped at Carthage, on the night of July 4, Jackson took command of the troops with him and formulated a plan to attack the much smaller Union force. The next morning, Jackson closed up to Sigel, established a battle line on a ridge ten miles north of Carthage, and induced Sigel to attack him. Opening with artillery fire, Sigel closed to the attack. Seeing a large Confederate force—actually unarmed recruits—moving into the woods on his left, he feared that they would turn his flank. He withdrew. The Confederates pursued, but Sigel conducted a successful rearguard action. By evening, Sigel was inside Carthage and under cover of darkness; he retreated to Sarcoxie. The battle had little meaning, but the pro-Southern elements in Missouri, anxious for any good news, championed their first victory. (NPS summary)

v • d • e

Operations to Control Missouri, June-October 1861

1st Boonville \-- Carthage \-- Wilson's Creek \-- Dry Wood Creek \-- 1st Lexington \-- Liberty \-- Fredericktown \-- 1st Springfield

v • d • e

Battles of the American Civil War: 1861

Eastern Theater|

Sewell's Point \-- Aquia Creek \-- Philippi \-- Bethel Church \-- Hoke's Run \-- Rich Mountain \-- Corrick's Ford \-- Blackburn's Ford \-- 1st Bull Run \-- Kessler's Cross Lanes \-- Hatteras Inlet Batteries \-- Carnifex Ferry \-- Cheat Mountain \-- Greenbrier River \-- Ball's Bluff \-- Camp Allegheny \-- Dranesville

Western Theater|

Barbourville \-- Camp Wildcat \-- Belmont \-- Ivy Mountain \-- Rowlett's Station

Trans-Mississippi Theater|

1st Boonville \-- Cole's Camp \-- Carthage \-- Mesilla \-- Wilson's Creek \-- Dry Wood Creek \-- 1st Lexington \-- Liberty \-- Fredericktown \-- 1st Springfield \-- Round Mountain \-- Chusto-Talasah \-- Blackwater Creek\-- Chustenahlah \-- Mount Zion Church

Lower Seaboard Theater|

Fort Sumter \-- Santa Rosa Island

Naval|

Cockle Creek