Camp Roberts Tactical 2010
Prelude To Corinth, MS

By October 1862, the trek that had taken the 3rd Missouri Infantry to the outskirts of Corinth, MS had been a long and hard fought road. The outcome that would emerge from a victory at Corinth would be clearing Federal control of northern Mississippi and allow an entry into middle Tennessee for a new northern directed campaign. However, a defeat could mean loss of the northern portion of Mississippi and with that would be the vital transportation center of Corinth which was so badly needed by the south to continue to transport troops and supplies to the front.

Experiencing shot and shell and the responding to the call of duty to defend their southern rights was nothing new to these Missourians. In the 1850's, Missouri had been locked into a bloody border war with Kansas. For some of the "Border Ruffians", the brewing storm of a pending civil war was another opportunity for them to defend their state, home, and families along with the ideals and beliefs that they held dear to them.

With the Military Bill passed on May 11th, 1861 by the Missouri State Legislature, the creation of the Missouri State Guard (MSG) occurred. This bill allowed pro-southern Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson to disband the old informal Missouri State Militia and reform it as the Missouri State Guard. The MSG would serve as a force that would resist any invasion by a Union Army with the State's boundaries.

The newly passed legislation divided the state into 9 Military Districts. With the creation of the MSG, many Missourians flocked to the guard to defend their state from pending northern aggression. On June 12th, Governor Jackson called for 50,000 volunteers to defend Missouri and the response was eagerly greeted with thousands of Missourians enlisting in their respective districts/divisions.

With the MSG suffering its first loss to Union Forces at Boonville, MO., the Missourians slowly headed to the southwestern portion of the state. With a successful skirmish at Cole Camp, MO and another victory on July 5th at Carthage, allowed appointed Major General Price over the MSG some time to begin training and organizing the newly recruited men of the MSG, many of which had come to the MSG with farm implements or old outdated hunting weapons/military firearms.

With the route of the Union Army at Wilson's Creek, the defeat of the Kansas Senator James Lane and his "Jayhawkers" at Bid Dry Wood, and the capturing of 3,600 federal troops at the Battle of Hemp Bales, nothing seemed to be able to stop the MSG. However, with an advancing Union army on Springfield, MO. led by General Fremont made Gen. Price re-think his strategy and decided to withdraw the MSG troops from the area.

As winter arrived, the Missourians found themselves encamped in the Osceola area of Missouri. Gen. Price utilized this time to begin enrolling many of his MSG men into the regular Confederate Service as their enlistments with the MSG had either expired or was about to. It is during this time that the 2nd Missouri Infantry was formed in December of 1861. By February, Price had returned to Springfield, MO. Only to be surprised by a Federal attacked that ended with the decision of Gen. Price to quickly withdraw across the border in Arkansas.

In January, Confederate General Van Dorn took command of the district and decided to make plans to head north into Missouri, smashing anything that got into his way. With the Union Army led by General Samuel Curtis entering Arkansas in the spring of 1862, a storm of impending conflict was inevitable. With the confederates forces concentrated near Boston Mountains, Ark., Van Dorn on March 3rd ordered his troops north. As the Missourians formed ranks, the prospects of defeating the enemy and entering their homeland once again weighed heavily upon them. As the command to march was given, all within the ranks knew the seriousness of the situation, the future of Missouri and their loved ones laid in the balance.

March 8th would be written in the history books as the day in which Missourian blood would be shed upon the cold Arkansas ground at a little known place called Elk Horn Tavern. Due to the intense fighting that the Missourians were able to force upon the Federals, the Confederate Army of the West was able to retire from the field safely and live to fight another day. Not long after this battle the Missouri Brigade was reorganized and the 2nd Missouri became designated as the 3rd Missouri. By the beginning of April, the Missourians had been given orders to cross the Mississippi River and head east to where a large Confederate force was gathering at Corinth, MS. Utilizing steamboats, the men of the 3rd MO. made way to Memphis, Tennessee and from there marched into northern Mississippi. While stationed in Corinth, the Missourians became under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard and in May enlisted for 3 years. As the Federals descended upon Corinth, the Confederate troops stationed there became subjected to a month long siege that resulted in the Confederate forces withdrawing from the city and heading to Tupelo, MS. While in Tupelo the men of the 3rd had been given the orders to guard the Mobile & Ohio railroad.

With the changing of the weather came a new strategy for the Confederacy- thrust into Kentucky via Tennessee by General Braxton Bragg and have General Price's Army of the West combine with Van Dorn's army and move upon Corinth. The combining of Price's men with Van Dorn's would create an army of 22,000 veteran soldiers and would preoccupy General Rosecrans troops stationed in and near the vicinity of Corinth from moving up north and assisting the Federals in stopping Gen. Bragg from his northern invasion. Following the engagements at Iuka Springs, General Price joined with Van Dorn and pursued their goal..... re-take Corinth back from Federal control and regain the vital railroad there that the south desperately needed. For the 3rd Missouri, they had been bloodied but not defeated and were ready to advance upon the enemy in attempts to clear Federals troops before them.

October 2nd, General Van Dorn orders his combined forces at Chewalla, Tennessee to turn southeast and towards the city of Corinth. For the men in the 3rd Missouri, they know that this Confederate column heading south will result with few ever returning home to their loved ones.

 

Dates:
February 26th, 27th, & 28th, 2010

Location:
From the North or South, take highway 101 to the Camp Roberts National Guard Base. Camp Roberts is approximately nine miles north of Paso Robles on Hwy. 101

Fees:
There is a $50 fee per event ($25.00 for event registration and $25.00 for WCA membership). The fee covers the insurance and full period rations for all participants at each event.

Please do not delay in sending in your registration form and payment.

Click here for Registration page.

Guiding Impressions:

US:
9th Indiana Infantry
For Federal Registration, contact:
Lance Willis
(831) 524-2201 after 6:00 pm
or e-mail: lhpardz@sbcglobal.net

CS:
3rd Missouri Infantry
For Confederate Registration, contact:
Bill Treadway
(805) 338-1627
or e-mail: treadwayhome@gmail.com

CIVILIAN
Civilian Registration, contact:
Barb McCreary
(909) 397-5191
e-mail: stnpride1@msn.com
CLICK HERE FOR CIVILIAN IMPRESSION

Event Website:
http://www.Oaktac.com

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