Provisional Government of Missouri

The Provisional Government of Missouri was established on August 1, 1861 by the members of the

Hamilton Gamble

Governor. Even opponents of Federal action in Missouri generally respected Gamble.

Political

As the secession crisis deepened, Missouri attempted to follow a policy of armed neutrality, in which the state would not support either side in the war but remain in the Union. A special election in February established a

Missouri Constitutional Convention to determine the relationship between Missouri and the United States. The convention voted against secession

and affirmed the state's neutrality.

The outbreak of hostilities at

Price-Harney Truce

.

Lincoln appointed Lyon to replace Harney as commander of the Department of the West. During negotiations among the governor, Lyon, and Price, Lyon would not accept the governor's proposed limitations on Federal troops and volunteers. The meeting ended abruptly with Lyon declaring, "Rather than concede to the State of Missouri for one single instant the right to dictate to my government in any matter however important, I would see you, and you, and you, and you, and every man, woman, and child in the State, dead and buried! This means war. In an hour one of my officers will call on you and conduct you out of my lines."^[1] As the Missouri government fled into exile Lyon moved rapidly capturing the capitol at Jefferson City, Missouri a few days later in mid-June 1861.

The Missouri Constitutional Convention reconvened to consider the status of the state in July. The convention declared the governor's office and state legislative offices to be vacant and appointed Gamble as governor of a

John C. Fremont

from command.

Military

The Provisional Government of Missouri, faced a difficult task, dealing with Missouri

secessionists who considered Union men traitors, and Federal troops from outside the state who tended to view all Missourians as potential rebels

.

Governor Gamble convinced President Lincoln that local units composed of Missourian, controlled by the (Provisional) State Government, would be the least disruptive way to deal with Missouri Guerrillas and would free out-state Federal regiments for other combat roles. This lead Lincoln to authorized the creation of the

Major General Henry W. Halleck

, the Federal commander of the Department of the Mississippi as the Major General of the Missouri State Militia.

The Missouri State Militia, and the later

Trans-Mississippi Theater

Trans-Mississippi Theater.

Due to its internecine nature, the Civil War in Missouri would be longer and more brutal than anywhere else in the U.S. However, the Provisional Government managed to keep the majority of Missourians from embracing secessionism, and played a vital role in holding the state for the Union.

References

^ Albert Castel, General Sterling Price and the Civil War in the West, p.24
^ "Ordinances of Secession". www.constitution.org. Archived from the original on 2008-07-04.

[1] Albert Castel, General Sterling Price and the Civil War in the West, p.24

[2] "Ordinances of Secession". www.constitution.org. Archived from the original on 2008-07-04.

[1]