5th Missouri Volunteer Infantry (3 months, 1861)
| 5th Missouri Volunteer Infantry (3 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Active | May 18, 1861 to August 27, 1861 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Engagements | Expedition to SW Missouri Battle of Carthage Expedition towards Fayette, Missouri Battle of Wilson's Creek |
The 5th Missouri Volunteers evolved from a network of several unofficial pro-Unionist militia groups formed semi-secretly in St. Louis in the early months of 1861 by Congressman Francis Preston Blair, Jr. and other Unionist activists. The Fifth Missouri was largely composed of ethnic Germans, who were generally opposed to slavery and strongly supportive of the Unionist cause. Although initially without any official standing, beginning on April 22, 1861 the militia regiments Blair helped organize were sworn into Federal service at the St. Louis Arsenal by Captain John Schofield acting on the authority of President Lincoln.
Upon entry into Federal service the members of the Fifth Missouri elected C. E. Solomon colonel of the regiment.
After the breakdown of negotiations between Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson and General Nathaniel Lyon on June 12, 1861 the Third Missouri was part of a complex movement against the Missouri State Guard. One force, under Brigadier General Lyon moved up the Missouri River by steamer, to capture the State capital at Jefferson City. A second brigade, composed of the 3rd and 5th Missouri and two batteries of artillery moved into southwest Missouri under the overall command of Colonel Sigel, to cut off any Missouri State Guard troops which might move south before Lyon's advance.
Colonel Sigel took his force to Rolla, thence to Springfield, Missouri arriving on June 25. They marched to Neosho (June 26–30) and were forced to retreat to Mt. Vernon in the face of a large force of State Guardsmen.
On July 5, Sigel's force of 1,100 met 4,000 State Guardsmen (and 2,000 unarmed Guard recruits) at the Battle of Carthage. Confronted with the large force of Guardsmen Sigel retreated in good order into Carthage and successfully disengaged and retreated back to Sarcoxie that night.
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