FACTS, FICTION…MY OPINION (Historical Events)
Only American Civil War Battle Fought in the State of Iowa — Croton, Iowa across the river from Athens, Missouri
Civil War Battle Fought in the State of Iowa — Croton, Iowa
Bruce Bisbey
Executive Producer / Partner Dumb Dog Productions — Media Arts International Film Corporation
Civil War Battle in Croton, Iowa
Missouri rebels fought with Iowa Union troops over the Des Moines River in 1861. It was the only Civil War battle on Iowa land.
In Iowa, the southern border was in danger of invasion by small groups of Missouri Rebels. One such unorganized group found out about a shipment of guns to Union troops at Keokuk. They decided to attack the town of Athens, Missouri, where a Union recruiting station had been set up and then cross the Des Moines River into Iowa and capture the guns. Iowa’s Union forces cut of the invasion at the river. The rebel’s aim was high and a few cannon balls crossed the river into Croton, Iowa. A minor battle, but a success for the Union. And it was the only time Civil War battle would fall in Iowa. To prevent further invasions, Governor Kirkwood appointed loyal men in border counties to organize companies of home guards, farmers who were also trying to produce food for the men on the battlefront.
The Battle of Athens was an American Civil War skirmish that took place in northeast Missouri in 1861 near present Revere and southeast Iowa along the Des Moines River across from Croton (3 miles southeast of Farmington). The Union victory has the distinction of being the most northerly of Civil War Battles fought west of the Mississippi, and also of being the only such battle fought across the Iowa border.
On 5 August 1861, Colonel Martin Green’s force of about 2,000 Missouri State Guardsmen with three cannons tried to capture the town from about 500 Missouri Home Guard. Moore’s pickets warned of the secessionists’ advance at 5 AM, and Moore called out the regiment to begin assembling it for battle. Between men still absent on weekend leaves and removing the sick across the river, Moore had only 333 men in line.
Green’s much larger force surrounded the town on three sides, with the river behind the Unionists. Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Callihan commanded the Union left flank. He found himself facing Major Shacklett’s cavalry and James Kniesley’s three-gun battery. The Unionists had no artillery. However, Kniesley’s guns were a motley assortment (a 6-pounder, a 9-pounder, and a hollowed log) supplied with only a few solid shot and improvised canister.
While the artillery spooked a cavalry scout, it had little other impact on the battle. The first shot from the artillery passed over the defenders, across the river and into the Croton railway depot. Another passed through the Benning house and into the river. Predictably, the log cannon flew apart on its first fire and played no further part in the battle.
As the secessionists advanced, firing became general. Other than the lack of artillery, Moore’s small force was much better armed with rifled muskets and bayonets versus shot guns and squirrel rifles. Green’s force contained many poorly equipped, untrained and untested recruits.
Captain Hackney’s Home Guard drove the rebels away from Stallion Branch. However, Callihan was unnerved by the sight of Major Shacklett’s large force advancing. Callihan fled toward the river with one of the Home Guard’s cavalry companies. Other troops held their positions.
The advance faltered as they approached through a cornfield. Shacklett was wounded in the neck and his demoralized men began falling back. Seeing this, Moore commanded his men to fix bayonets. Then he ordered, “Forward! Charge! Bayonets!” This counterattack sent the Missouri State Guardsmen into headlong retreat. Kniesley withdrew his artillery. Most of the Union force was on foot so the pursuit was very short.
Moore’s small force succeeded in driving off a much larger force with few casualties. Moore reported three dead and twenty wounded. The full extent of Missouri State Guard losses is unknown although Moore captured twenty men, most of them wounded. Moore estimated 31 Missouri State Guard killed and wounded. Others claimed large numbers of dead.
What is known is that Moore captured 450 horses with bridles and saddles, hundreds of arms, and a wagon load of long knives. The defeat was demoralizing for the state guard’s efforts in Northeast Missouri. They lost the initiative and were obliged to continue avoiding capture by pursuers. Had they captured Moore’s force they would have obtained a supply of high-quality muskets from their captives, and they would have retained the initiative versus the Missouri Unionists.
Northern Most Battle Monument
The Battle of Athens between Missouri militia units occurred on August 5, 1861. It was across the Des Moines River from Croton in Athens, Missouri. The State Guard (Confederate) Artillery shelled the depot at Croton (they probably overshot Athens and hit Croton by mistake.) There were Iowa militia units with the Home Guards (Union). The Keokuk Rifles, a militia unit headed by Captain William W. Belknap, arrived from Keokuk and fired from the Iowa shore across the River at the Confederates. The Confederate State Guards were driven off and it was a victory for the North. It is the only Civil War battle on Iowa soil and is believed to be the northern most Civil War battle.
The Athens Battlefield is maintained by the Missouri Park Service. There are several homes that pre-date the battle. It is worth visiting this battlefield, one of the early battles of the War.
I hope you’ve found this interesting!
Thank you,
Sources, References & Credit: Civil War Times, “The Civil War,” The Iowa Heritage, Iowa Civil War Monuments, Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, World Book Encyclopedia, Pinterest, Linked In, BBC, Wikimedia, The Free Dictionary by Farlex, Wikisource, Encyclopedia Britannica, Iowa PBS
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“The Civil War,” The Iowa Heritage: Program # 5, Iowa PBS, 1977.
Iowa Civil War Monuments
Lee County: Croton
GPS Coordinates: 40.590716 by -91.691216
Battle of Croton, IA and Athens MO. / Photo Credits: Iowa Civil War Monuments
Following photos are representative of Iowa units.
5th Iowa Infantry / Photo Credit: Novum Scriptorium
3rd Iowa Volunteer Infantry / Photo Credit: Mathew Brady
