So, I would like to start with what I find to be one of the most interesting topics. That would be the Civil War activity in the Ozark's, and how the war was sparked years before the first shot at Fort Sumter.
The Mason Dixon Line
I really cant speak to all of the specific facts as they are very conflicting concerning Missouri's status before, and during the war. Some maps show the state being south of the Mason Dixon Line and some show it being north of the line.As you can see according to this map, Missouri is north of the Mason Dixon Line and apparently, any territory north of the line could not receive statehood as a slave state. The map below totally contradicts this.
Union states Union territories not permitting slavery Union territories permitting slavery Bleeding Kansas, entered Union Confederate states
And this is the reason for my confusion. And, add to this that the actual Mason Dixon Line did not extend more that 40 miles west of Pennsylvania, is cause for me not to even try to pretend to know the facts. What I can say, is apparently the settlers of Missouri and Kansas were just as confused as I, as the pro slavery state of Missouri made it a mission to insure that Kansas would receive statehood as a pro slavery state as well. But it seems that Kansas was not overall in favor of this and thus began the pre-Civil War Kansas/Missouri border wars. Not an actual declaration of war, but more of a guerrilla combat warfare.
During the war, Missouri was one of the main states that pitted brother against brother. More confusion on where the state stood? I don't know.
I'm sure that some of you reading this are more educated on these matters, and again, I must say that I will not pretend to know all of the facts. So, forgive me. My main goal is to supply information of the historic places then what actually happened.
Battlefields, hidden cemeteries, still visible entrenchments dug out by the soldiers.....That kind of information.
I wont even try to discuss the areas in chronological order of the events as they happened. Just interesting areas and some "Tidbits" of facts.
I think I will start my next post with the battle of Lexington Missouri which although is not technically in the Ozark's, it is close and plays an important role in other events in the Ozark's.
Until then, Thank you for reading.
And this is the reason for my confusion. And, add to this that the actual Mason Dixon Line did not extend more that 40 miles west of Pennsylvania, is cause for me not to even try to pretend to know the facts. What I can say, is apparently the settlers of Missouri and Kansas were just as confused as I, as the pro slavery state of Missouri made it a mission to insure that Kansas would receive statehood as a pro slavery state as well. But it seems that Kansas was not overall in favor of this and thus began the pre-Civil War Kansas/Missouri border wars. Not an actual declaration of war, but more of a guerrilla combat warfare.
During the war, Missouri was one of the main states that pitted brother against brother. More confusion on where the state stood? I don't know.
I'm sure that some of you reading this are more educated on these matters, and again, I must say that I will not pretend to know all of the facts. So, forgive me. My main goal is to supply information of the historic places then what actually happened.
I wont even try to discuss the areas in chronological order of the events as they happened. Just interesting areas and some "Tidbits" of facts.
I think I will start my next post with the battle of Lexington Missouri which although is not technically in the Ozark's, it is close and plays an important role in other events in the Ozark's.
Until then, Thank you for reading.
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