Siege of Lexington, Missouri

E1021821

The Siege of Lexington, Missouri was a key early Civil War engagement in September 1861 in which Confederate forces under Sterling Price captured a strongly fortified Union garrison, boosting Southern control and morale in Missouri.

All labels observed (2)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf American Civil War battle
battle
alsoKnownAs Battle of Lexington
Battle of the Hemp Bales
attackingForceCommander Sterling Price
belligerentRole Missouri State Guard conducting siege operations
Union forces defending a fortified garrison
casualtiesAndLosses Missouri State Guard – comparatively lighter casualties
Union – significant casualties and capture of most of the garrison
combatant Confederate States-aligned Missouri State Guard
Union
commandedSide James A. Mulligan – Union garrison
Sterling Price – Missouri State Guard
linked to: Sterling Price
commander James A. Mulligan
Sterling Price
conflict American Civil War
consequence Boosted Southern morale in Missouri
Increased Confederate and Missouri State Guard control over parts of Missouri
country United States
dateDetail Main assault and surrender occurred on September 18–20, 1861
defensivePosition Entrenched Union lines around the Masonic College
Union fortifications on College Hill
endDate 1861-09-20
followedBy Union counteroffensives in Missouri later in 1861
garrisonCommander James A. Mulligan
historicalEra American Civil War era
linked to: American Civil War
locatedIn Lafayette County, Missouri NERFINISHED
Missouri
Western Theater of the American Civil War
location Lexington, Missouri
notableTactic Use of water-soaked hemp bales as movable breastworks by attackers
objective Capture of Union garrison at Lexington
Control of central Missouri along the Missouri River
outcome Surrender of Union garrison under James A. Mulligan
partOf Missouri campaign of 1861
precededBy Battle of Wilson’s Creek
relatedMilitaryUnit Missouri State Guard
Union volunteer regiments from Illinois and Missouri
result Confederate victory
significance Demonstrated effectiveness of improvised field fortification tactics
Key early-war engagement in the struggle for Missouri
startDate 1861-09-12
stateDuringConflict Slave state remaining in the Union but contested by secessionists
strength Missouri State Guard approximately 10,000–15,000 men
Union garrison approximately 2,500–3,500 men
theater Trans-Mississippi Theater
year 1861

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Battle of Wilson's Creek followedBy Siege of Lexington, Missouri
subject linked to: Battle of Wilson’s Creek
Missouri State Guard notableEngagement Siege of Lexington, Missouri (1861)
linked to: Siege of Lexington, Missouri