The First Missouri Brigade was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...

that served in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the Military forces of the Confederate States, military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) duri ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. It was mostly recruited from members of the

Missouri State Guard The Missouri State Guard (MSG) was a military force established by the Missouri General Assembly on May 11, 1861. While not a formation of the Confederate States Army, the Missouri State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at variou ...

– a secessionist force formed from the

Missouri Volunteer Militia The Missouri Volunteer Militia (MVM) was the state militia organization of Missouri, before the formation of the Missouri State Guard in the American Civil War. Prior to the Civil War, Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciatio ...

when the allegiance of the state was disputed. The brigade was first formed during the winter of 1861–62 as the first brigade of the division commanded by

Sterling Price Sterling Price (September 14, 1809 – September 29, 1867) was an American politician and military officer who was a senior General officers in the Confederate States Army, officer of the Confederate States Army, fighting in both the Weste ...

. It was initially led and drilled by

Lewis Henry Little Lewis Henry Little (March 19, 1817 – September 19, 1862) was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate States Army, Confederate History of Confederate States Army Generals#Brigadier general, brigadier general during the American ...

. In September 1862, Little was promoted to command of the division and the brigade was then commanded by Elijah Gates. In March 1863,

Francis Cockrell Francis Marion Cockrell (October 1, 1834December 13, 1915) was a Confederate States Army, Confederate military commander and American politician from the state of Missouri. He served as a United States senator from Missouri for five terms. He ...

took command of the brigade and led it for most of the remaining war. The unit had its last stand under Col.

James McCown James McCown (March 21, 1817, Virginia – July 8, 1867, Warrensburg, Missouri) was a Confederate States Army officer in the American Civil War. Early life James Madison McCown was born and raised in Kanawha County, West Virginia (then part of Vir ...

at the

Battle of Fort Blakeley The Battle of Fort Blakeley took place from April 2 to April 9, 1865, in Baldwin County, Alabama, about north of Spanish Fort, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the American Civil War. At the time, Blakeley, Alabama, had been the count ...

in April 1865.

References

1862 establishments in Missouri 1865 disestablishments in Alabama Units and formations of the Confederate States Army from Missouri Military units and formations established in 1862 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Brigades of the Confederate States Army {{missouri-stub

See also

References