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Search uncovers relics of historic 1861 battle
By Tim O'Neil
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/22/2007
Archaeologists picking through the wooded ridges east of Boonville, Mo., have unearthed enough old bullets and buttons to map out parts of the first battle of the Civil War in Missouri.
The searchers used sophisticated metal detectors to look for evidence of the battle on June 17, 1861, in central Missouri between Union soldiers from St. Louis and state militiamen allied with then-governor Claiborne Jackson, who wanted Missouri to join the Confederacy. The Union soldiers routed the militiamen in what the victors called the "Boonville races."
Boonville leaders and Missouri's Civil War Heritage Foundation want to pinpoint the battle sites for historical reference and to plan activities for the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, coming up in 2011. Douglas Scott, a former National Park Service historian whose work has appeared on the History Channel, led the project which began on Nov. 8.
Steve Dasovich, an archaeologist for an engineering firm in St. Charles who has done similar projects in Missouri, assisted Scott. Advertisement
Dasovich said archaeologists found evidence of the militia's first defensive line and the one it formed after its first retreat. He said most of the findings were bullets, either damaged by discharge or still properly shaped — as in having been dropped by harried soldiers.
"We believe we know where the Confederate lines were, and we can infer where the Union line was," Dasovich said. "The problem with finding the Union line was that it just kept marching."
Dasovich's employer, SCI Engineering, and the Heritage Foundation helped to sponsor the search.
The site is about five miles east of Boonville along the old Rocheport Road. Union soldiers under Gen. Nathanial Lyon had moved up the Missouri River by steamboat from St. Louis and chased Jackson and the militia out of Jefferson City. They clashed near Boonville more than a month before the first Battle of Bull Run near Manassas, Va., regarded as the first major battle of the Civil War.
Dasovich said archaeologists were unable to find evidence of the militia's campsite prior to the fight. That had been the second goal of the search, and he said they may try again.
Sarah Gallagher, Boonville economic development director, said area leaders will use the information to plan events for 2011 and possibly erect signs explaining the battle. All of the land is privately owned.
kenb
By Tim O'Neil
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/22/2007
Archaeologists picking through the wooded ridges east of Boonville, Mo., have unearthed enough old bullets and buttons to map out parts of the first battle of the Civil War in Missouri.
The searchers used sophisticated metal detectors to look for evidence of the battle on June 17, 1861, in central Missouri between Union soldiers from St. Louis and state militiamen allied with then-governor Claiborne Jackson, who wanted Missouri to join the Confederacy. The Union soldiers routed the militiamen in what the victors called the "Boonville races."
Boonville leaders and Missouri's Civil War Heritage Foundation want to pinpoint the battle sites for historical reference and to plan activities for the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, coming up in 2011. Douglas Scott, a former National Park Service historian whose work has appeared on the History Channel, led the project which began on Nov. 8.
Steve Dasovich, an archaeologist for an engineering firm in St. Charles who has done similar projects in Missouri, assisted Scott. Advertisement
Dasovich said archaeologists found evidence of the militia's first defensive line and the one it formed after its first retreat. He said most of the findings were bullets, either damaged by discharge or still properly shaped — as in having been dropped by harried soldiers.
"We believe we know where the Confederate lines were, and we can infer where the Union line was," Dasovich said. "The problem with finding the Union line was that it just kept marching."
Dasovich's employer, SCI Engineering, and the Heritage Foundation helped to sponsor the search.
The site is about five miles east of Boonville along the old Rocheport Road. Union soldiers under Gen. Nathanial Lyon had moved up the Missouri River by steamboat from St. Louis and chased Jackson and the militia out of Jefferson City. They clashed near Boonville more than a month before the first Battle of Bull Run near Manassas, Va., regarded as the first major battle of the Civil War.
Dasovich said archaeologists were unable to find evidence of the militia's campsite prior to the fight. That had been the second goal of the search, and he said they may try again.
Sarah Gallagher, Boonville economic development director, said area leaders will use the information to plan events for 2011 and possibly erect signs explaining the battle. All of the land is privately owned.
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