Kirksville

BATTLE OF KIRKSVILLE – AUGUST 6, 1862

Forces Engaged: Union 1,000 vs. CSA Cavalry Col. Joseph C. Porter with 2,500 recently gathered untrained recruits. Col. Porter was later killed in the Battle of Hartville.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Stamp Locations: Kirksville Tourism Office and Days Inn, when staff available.
Website: visitkirksville.com/history-heritage/
Address:  Tourism Office, 211 South Elson Street, Kirksville, Mo. 63501; Days Inn, 3805 S. Baltimore
Phone Number: Tourism, 660-665-3766; Days Inn, 660-665-8244
Staff Available: Tourism Office: Mon-Fri: 9 am-5 pm
Days Inn: Weekdays after 5 pm and all day Sat and Sun
Visit Fee: None.
More Information: Adair County Museum, 211 S. Elson St., Kirksville, open Wednesday-Friday, 1 pm to 4 pm. See www.adairchs.org for more information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Here’s a short video from the people at Things You Should Know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP8xwInDYnc

INTERIOR DEPT. SUMMARY:  Col. John McNeil and his troops, numbering about 1,000, had been pursuing Col. Joseph C. Porter and his Confederate Missouri Brigade of 2,500 men for more than a week. Before noon on August 6, McNeil attacked Porter in the town of Kirksville, where his men had hidden themselves in homes and stores and among the crops in the nearby fields. After almost three hours of fighting, the Yankees secured the town, captured numerous prisoners, and chased the others away. Three days later, another Union force met and finished the work begun at Kirksville, destroying Porter’s command. Kirksville helped consolidate Union dominance in northeastern Missouri.

Principal Commanders: Col. John McNeil [US]; Col. Joseph C. Porter [CS]
Estimated Casualties: 456 total (US 88; CS 368)
Result: Union victory