1st Division Missouri State Guard

(Missouri Division, SCV Photo)

The Missouri State Guard was the state authorized organization created for the defense of Missouri. It was divided into eight divisions, the First Division encompassed Southeast Missouri. The uniforms of the Missouri State Guard were as colorful as the characters that were in it. There were at least 293 Stoddard Countians that joined Missouri State Guard Service.

General Nathaniel Watkins

Gen. Nathaniel Watkins (Missouri State Guard)

General Nathaniel W. Watkins was appointed by Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson to lead the 1st Division Missouri State Guard (his home in Jackson was burned by federal troops because of his position). Watkins realized at 65 years old he was not fit for field command and resigned his position in July 1861. After the war he moved to Scott County. Before the Civil War he fought in the War of 1812 and Mexican War. He is most well known as the half-brother to Henry Clay.

Other accomplishments include being elected to the Missouri State Senate, Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, and vice president of the Missouri Constitutional Convention in 1875. He is also credited as the founder of Morley, Missouri.

Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson

Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson took command of the 1st Division, Missouri State Guard, ten miles south of Bloomfield, Missouri at Frenchman's Springs (south of present day Dexter) on July 26, 1861. A few days later Thompson traveled to New Madrid where it was suggested that he join Confederate General William J. Hardee's column of 3,000 men marching from Pocahontas, Arkansas to Greenville, Missouri.

July and August - 1861

Upon arriving in Greenville, Thompson met with Hardee who wanted Thompson to take his men and burn some bridges on the Iron Mountain Railroad. On August 7, 1861, Thompson received orders from Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson then at New Madrid, to proceed with his men east to report to General Gideon Pillow, who was also at New Madrid.

Thompson and his men moved east and linked up with the rest of the 1,800 troops of his division near the St. Francis River in Stoddard County. They reached Mingo swamp at dark and feared that rain would prevent them from successfully crossing the dense swamp so they made torches from hickory bark and burned logs at each turn in the road so that the men would see the way. At midnight, six hours after their march across the three mile stretch of swamp, they camped on higher ground at Strong's Mill on Castor River.

The next day the men marched to Spring Hill on the Cape Road in Stoddard County. From there they turned southeast and entered what locals called Negro Wool Swamp and camped on the other side at Jones' Ferry.

M. Jeff Thompson

By August 10, 1861, Thompson had his 1st Division, Missouri State Guard forces camped near New Madrid. His force numbered around 1300 men, many of whom were without arms and needed equipment. Not one to sit still fro long, he ordered Captain Solomon G. Kitchen to his company, known as the Stoddard Rangers, to the hamlet of Hamburg in Scott County.

Stoddard County Soldiers in 1st Division,

Missouri State Guard Units

Division Staff

Nathaniel Watkins, General
M. Jeff Thompson, Brig. Gen.
Robert P. Paramore, Lt. Col., Division Paymaster and Chaplain
Richard Twells Seckles, Lt. Col., Division Engineer
John D. Smith, Lt. Col. Division Surgeon
Daniel B. Miller, Captain, Post QM at Bloomfield
Henry Miller, Post Commissary at Bloomfield
John Lavinder Buck, Lt. Assistant-Commissary Officer

Richardson Artillery

John Hall, Company B. NFR
Woods D. Hanna, (later 2nd Mo Cavalry)
William Hays, Company B
William Pulley, Company B
Bird Riddle, Company B
James Riddle, Company B
Alexander Smith, Company B

Harris' Battery

John Abbott, Battery A, Harris’ Battery, 1st DIV MSG
Robert Cook, Battery A
J. J. Fobbs, NFR later joined Preston’s Cavalry.
Frank Ford, Battery A
E. G. Fullington, Battery A (transferred from 2nd Inf, Co. D)
John Furney, Battery A
Charles Strawmat, Battery A
E. G. Talkington, Artificer, Battery A
Jerry Taylor, Battery A (later 1st Mo Light Artillery)
A. W. Williams, Battery A
Robert Wright, Battery A

McDonald's Battery

Robert McDonald's Company C, Artillery

Columbus Bailey, Battery C
William Bess, Battery C
James Christian, Battery C
Quentilius Coffman, Battery C (later served in Union Army)
Jackson Culbertson, Battery C (later 7th Mo Cav)
Jesse A. Curd, 3rd Lt,. Battery C. Deserted December 6, 1861, returned Dec 13. (later 2nd Mo Cav).
Samuel P. Curd, Battery C., Reduced in ranks Dec 7, 1861. NFR.
Hiram Driskell, Battery C.
William S. Kelton, Battery C
Solomon G. Kitchen, Battery C (not to be confused with the commander S. G. Kitchen, because this Kitchen was only 18 yrs old)

1st Cavalry Regiment

William Bartlett, Co. E. Later enlisted in 8th Mo.

John Lovesay, Battery C
Daniel McQueen, NFR
John Newcomer, Battery C. NFR.
William Ragsdale, Battery C. (later 2nd Mo Cav, Co. C)
William F. Rucker, Battery C (later 2nd Mo and 15th Mo Cav).
John Smith, Battery C
Martin V. B. Smith (later Co. K 5th Missouri)
Lawson Stroup, Battery C (later 4th Mo Cav)
Creed Taylor, 2nd Lt. Battery C
William J. Thornton, Battery C
John W. Wilson, Battery C
John J. Wright, Battery C (later 2nd Mo Cav)

1st Infantry Regiment

Pettus Ragsdale Priddy, Company B (later 5th Mo Co. K)
John Alfred Priddy, Company B. (later 5th Mo Co. K).

2nd Cavalry Battalion (Stoddard County

Rangers - Company C)

Company A
Wilson A. Johnson Sr., Company A (later 2nd Mo and 8th Cav)

Company B
William E. Allen, Co. B. 2 Mos Service.
William Haney (or Hanie), Company B. NFR.
Hardy Harper, Company B. NFR.
Dennis Harty, Company B
James H. Jackson, Company B
William A. Johnson, Company B (later 5th Mo Inf)
Benjamin F. Kelton, Company B.
Martin Wilfong, Company B (later 2nd Mo Cav)

Company D
William Mitchell, Company D
Daniel Musser, Company D

Company C
Officers:
Solomon G. Kitchen, organized Company C, mustered in as Captain June 15, 1861. Elected Major of Mounted Rangers Btn., July 1861. Elected Major then Lt. Col. of 2mo Cav MSG. (later served 2nd Mo Cav and 7th Mo Cav)

Henry H. Bedford, Co. C. Later elected Major, left service September 17, 1862 due to sickness.

Reuben Harper, 1st Lt. Company C (later 4th Mo Cav)
Van W. Hale, 1st Lt. Company C. Later served as Confederate recruiter in 1862.

Joseph J. Miller, 2nd Lt. Company C. (later 4th Mo Cav).

James Ledford Hale, 3rd Lt. Was state rep for Stoddard County when war began.

Company C Enlisted:
Charles Baldridge, Co. C. (maybe went to Fristoe’s Cav later)
Samuel J. Bartlett, Co. C.
William Henderson, Company C.
David Hicks, Company C. (later 4th Mo Cav)
James R. Jackson, Company C (4th Mo Cav Later)
John M. Johnson, Company C.
Isaac Jones, Company C (may have later died as POW in St. Louis)
Jacob Kinder, Company C
John W. Leach, Company C (later 2nd Mo Cav and 7th Mo Cav)
Francis F. Lee, Company C
Alexander McClane, Company C (later 4th Mo Cav)
Napoleon B. McClane, Company C (later 2nd Mo Cav)
Benton McClard, Company C
Carroll McClard, Company C (later 7th Mo Co. B)
William C. McDoniel, Company C (later 2nd Mo Cav)
Dermis McLeod, Company C
David Miers, Company C
George W. Miller, Company C. Later 8th Missouri Company I.

William W. Miller, Company C (later joined 4th Mo Cav).
T. W. Mitchell, Company C
T. J. Myers, Company C
A. J. Phelan, Company C. Accidentally killed when kicked in head by horse on Castor River near present day Leora in 1861.
Daniel Renner, Company C.
William Ringer, Company C.
W. F. Settles, Company C.
Elisha Taylor, Company C (later 4th Mo Cav)
R. W. Wammock, Company C
Meshach Ward, Company C
J. Y. Welborn, Company C (later 4th Mo Cav)
William C. Welborn, Company C
Thomas G. Welch, Company C
Robert Whitehead, Company C (later Haislip’s Co)
Moses B. Wilborn, Company C
M. D. Wright, Company C
Thomas A. Wright, Company C (later 2nd Mo Cav)

2nd Missouri Infantry Regiment

177 Officers and Enlisted Men

Allen Alsup, Co. A.
James Alsup, Co. A.
Joseph Alsup, Co. A.
Edward Anderson, No Company Listed
John W. Askew, Co. A.
Jacob Baker, Co. A.
William H. Baldridge, Co. B. Elected 1st Lt. September 1, 1861.
Mustered out January 1862. NFR
Charles H. Barham, Co. C. Later 7th Mo Cav.
Jonathan M. Barton. Appointed 1st Asst. Surgeon, July 10, 1861
Dollison W. Beard, Cpt, Co. D. July 6, 1861 to January 1, 1862.
Adam Beck, POW, NFR
Christopher Beck, Same as above (Adam was his father).
Benjamin Berry, Co. A.
Christopher Bess, Co. A.
Ephraim Bess, Co. A.
John W. Bess, Co. A.
Alfred J. Bizzle, 2nd Lt. Co. H. Sept 18, 1861. Later 4th Mo Cav.
John Fugate Bolin, Co. G.
William Bollinger, Co. A. Later joined 4th Mo Cav.
James W. Boone, Co. A. NFR
John Boreland, 1st Lt. Co. G. Sept 10, 1861, mustered out Jan 1,
  1862. Later joined 7th Mo. Cav.
Felix Boreland, Co. A. NFR
John Brannon, Co. B. NFR
John W. Bright, Co. A. NFR
Allen Brown, Co. F. Sept 3, 1861. Transferred to Haislip’s Co., 7th
  Mo Cav, August 1862, NFR.
H. P. Brown, 2nd Lt., Co. F. Mustered out of Service January 1,
  1862.
John W. Brown, Co. B. later joined 7th Mo Cav.
John Lavinder Buck, Lt. Assistant-Commissary officer, Division
  Staff, MSG. POW in Stoddard County, January 28, 1862. Paroled
  at Cape Girardeau.
James Burress, Co. B. Later served in 5th Missouri Infantry.
James E. Carter, NFR.
John Cawthorne, Co. H., elected captain. September 14, 1861.
  Mustered out Jan 1, 1862. Died as POW on Johnson’s Island, OH,
November 18, 1862.
Newton J. Clark, Qtr Master Sgt., September 30, 1861, Mustered
  out January 1, 1862. Later served 4th Mo Cav.
Oliver Clubb, elected 3rd Lt. Co. C. June 17, 1861. Resigned August
  5, 1861.

Elihu W. Cole, elected captain, Co. A. July 16, 1861. Mustered out
  January 1, 1862. POW Bloomfield January 28, 1862. NFR.
Jerome Company, Co.A.
William Conyer, Co.C.
Benjamin J. Cook, elected Company C captain, June 17, 1861,
  Mustered out January 1, 1862.
James A. Cooper, Co. C. (later 2nd Mo Cav and 7th Mo Cav).
James E. Cravens, POW in Stoddard Co., August 3, 1862. NFR.
William Cravey, NFR.
Johnson M. Cruse, 2nd Lt. Co. D. July 6, 1861. M/O Jan 1, 1862. (later
  4th Mo Cav).
Alexander Cunningham, Co. A. Discharged June 1862.
John B. Davis, only mentioned in Goodspeed’s book as MSG then
  serving with Thompson. No record found.
Jesse Dennington, Co. A. NFR.
Henry Dennis. POW in Stoddard County August 3, 1862, died of
  disease at Alton, November 1862.
John H. Denny, elected 1st Lt. Co. B, September 12, 1861,
  Discharged Jan 1, 1862. Later 7th Mo and 8th Mo Cav.
Zachariah Denny, Co. B., POW near Bloomfield, August 2, 1862.
  NFR.
Jonas Eaker, 1st Lt. Co. B. June 15, 1861. Elected Lt. Col. July 10,
  1861. Resigned Sept. 1861. Was taken prisoner June 1862.
J. M. Eatchest, Co. A.
H. Erwin, 1st Lt. Co. H. Discharged January 1, 1862.
Benjamin James Farmer, Cpt. Co. A. Elected Major, July 10, 1861,
  and Lt. Col. September 10, 1861. Commanded Regiment at Fredericktown, October 21, 1861. POW at Bloomfield January 28,
  1862. Paroled as Cpt recruiting officer. His post war letters can
  be found in Williams Skaggs Collection, Arkansas History
  Commission.
Jeremiah J. Ferguson, Cpt. Company E. Discharged January 1,
  1862. POW at Bloomfield, May 14, 1862. (Later joined 7th Mo
  Cav).
James Fields, became Partisan ranger in southeast Missouri and
  Northeast Arkansas.
Alexander Finley, POW Bloomfield, Nov 8, 1862. Sent to Alton, IL.
  Exchanged and joined 6th Missouri Company, D outside
  Vicksburg. NFR.
Jacob Foster, Co. D. (later 15th Mo Cav)
John Garen, Company A. NFR
Archibald Gibson, Company A
George Gibson, Company A
Henry H. Goode, Company A
Elam Gordon, 1st Lt. Company C.
Enos Gray, 1st Lt. Company C
James Gregory, 3rd Lt. September 12, 1861. (Later 4th Mo Cav).
John H. Harper. Co. A. (later 4th Mo Cav).
R. S. Harper, Company A.
William A. Harper, Company A. (later 4th Mo Cav)
Giles Harvey, Regimental QM, July 10, 1861, resigned August 5,
  1861. (later 4th Mo Cav)
John W. Hasler, 3rd Lt. Company G. September 10, 1861.
Charles G. Hawkins, Regt. QM, July 10, 1861. Resigned September
  30, 1861.
Thomas J. Hawkins. POW August 3, 1862. Exchanged, NFR.
George Hays, Company A. (later joined 7th Mo Cav)
Henry Hendley, Sgt. Mjr. (later 4th Mo Cav)
A. J. Henson, 1st Lt. Company H.
William Jenkins, Company D, transferred to artillery unit. NFR.
James C. Jennings, Company G. NFR
Larkin J. Johnson, Company B, Elected Captain, September 12,
  1861. (Later 2nd Mo Cav)
Richard F. Jones, Company A.
Robert Jones, Company A.
Silas F. Jones, Company A. Later 8th Mo Cav
Wiley Jones, Company A (later 8th Mo Cav)
David Kirkland, Company D
William Kistner, Company A
John W. Lawrence, Company A (later 7th Mo Cav)
Calvin J. Lester, NFR
Joseph Like, Company D. (later joined 4th Mo Cav)
David Long, Company A
John J. McCollom, POW Stoddard County, May 15, 1862. Released
  on oath and bond January 23, 1863.

Robert C. McCollom, 1st Lt. Company D.
William L. McCray, Company G. (later 8th Mo Cav)
Nathan G. McDade, Company A
John E. McFall, 1st Lt. Company F.
Alexander McKinney, Company D
G. B. McKinney, Company D
James McKinney, Company D, Died of illness at Bloomfield,
  October 15, 1861.
J. B. Mabery (Mayberry), Company D
Isaac Magee, Company C
Wiley Mangram, Company C, 2nd Lt. (later 7th Mo Co. B Cav)
James Masters, Company D
Peter Matthews, Cpt. Company F, Resigned September 1, 1861.
John W. Mayo, Elected 1st Lt. Company F. Discharged August 12,
1861.
Issac Miller, 2nd Lt. Company E, (later Phelan’s 6th Cav and 7th
  Mo Cav)
J. M. Miller, Company A
William H. Mitchell, Company A
Isaac Mouser, Company D
David Newkirk, Company D, Died September 25, 1861
Thomas C. Neville, Cpt. Company G. Killed in Action at
  Fredericktown, October 21, 1861.
Archibald Offut, Company A. later 5th Missouri Company K
Billington Offut, 2nd Lt. Company A, Died November 1861
  unknown causes.
Alfred Owns, Company A. (later 8th Missouri Cavalry)
Peter F. Owens, Company A
Squire Owens, 1st Lt. Company E. Discharged, list as POW May 12,
  1862 in Stoddard County. Died of disease at Alton, IL, August 1,
  1862.
William Gerald Phelan, Adjutant, Elected Lt. Col. September 10,
  1861. After he mustered out of MSG service he began organizing
  a regiment of cavalry for service (6th Missouri Cavalry), but
  before it was organized he was captured south of Bloomfield by
  the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, May 14, 1862. Sent to Cape, then
  Gratiot Prison, then Alton, exchanged and went back to
  Stoddard County, captured again on November 27, 1862 in
  Stoddard County. Sent to prison again, exchanged at City Point,
  Virginia April 2, 1863. November 27, 1863 reported to be in
  command of two companies of troops, in either AR or Mo.
  NFR.
John Phillips, POW at Bloomfield, January 28, 1862, died of
  disease at Alton, IL, March 1, 1863.
Elijah Poe, Company D.
Green S. Poplin, Surgeon. Resigned, Nov 6, 1861. (Later in 15th Mo
  Cav).
F. E. Porche, Regt QM, October 10, 1861.

Thomas Powers, Cpt. Company B. Elected Major, September 1,
  1861.
James M. Pratt, Company A. (later recruit of 6th Mo Cav)
Andy Reed, Company D. Transferred to unknown unit, believed
  to be Andrew Reed who transferred to Company C, Clardy’s Mo
  Cav Btn.
James Reed, Company A, later 7th Missouri Cavalry
Robert Reed, Company A (later 7th Mo Cav)
Chester B. Reeves, Company C, 3rd Lt., Died either late October,
  or early November of cause and place unknown.
Elias Rhodes, Company D
William Rhodes, Company D (later in 4th Mo Cav)
John Sanders, Company D
Joseph Sanders, Company D. Later 4th Mo Cav
Henry H. Sanford, Company A
Henry Shook, Company D
James M. Short, 2nd Assistant Surgeon
Frederick Shrum, Company D
A. J. Sifford, Company A (later Haislip’s Co. 7th Mo Cav)
Francis Marion Singleton, Company A. (later 7th Mo Cav)
James F. Singleton, Company A (later Haislip’s Co., 7th Mo Cav)
John Singleton, Company A. (later Haislip’s Co., 7th Mo Cav)
William R. Slack, Company A, discharged due to physical
  problems.
Anderson M. Smith, Company A
Andrew J. Smith, Company A
Daniel Smith, Company A (later 6th Mo Infantry)
Francis M. Smith, 3rd Lt. Company E. (later Company K, 5th Mo,
  and later switched sides)
James M. Snead, Company A
John A. Snider, Company A. NFR.
John Song, Company A
A. D. Sparrow, Company A
A. H. Stafford, Company A
Henry H. Stafford, Company A
Nathaniel Stafford, Company A (later Co. B 4th Mo Cav)
Abraham Staggs, Company D. (later 2nd Mo Cav Co. B)
William Staggs, Company D (later 2nd Mo Cav)
Elijah Stewart, Company A. (later 4th Mo Cav)
John Strawn, McGhee notes that he also served in a Confederate
  Home Guard unit. POW in Stoddard County, April 1, 1863.
  Paroled on Oath at Sandusky, OH May 8, 1865.
Charles Strawmat, Company D, transferred to Harris’ Battery
  MSG.
William L. Street, Company A.
John W. Stricklin, Company B (later 4th Missouri Cav)
William H. Tankersley, Company A (later 4th Mo Cav)
Clay Taylor, 3rd Lt., Company B. POW at Bloomfield, January 28,
  1862. Enlisted by Col. Henry Clark for Confederate service while
  imprisoned in Alton, IL in November 1862. Exchanged at
  Vicksburg, December 8, 1862. NFR.
J. M. Taylor, Company D
John H. Taylor, 2nd Lt. Company A (later Haislip’s Co. Cav, 7th Mo)
T. D. Thompson, 3rd Lt. Company F
Eli J. Tidwell, NFR
William Tippon, Colonel (commander), Resigned September 2,
  1861, accepted September 10, 1861.
Martin Trapp, Company D (later 4th MO Cav)
Charles Travelstead, Company D
James Vaughn, Company A (later 7th Mo Cav)
Ephraim Walker, Company B. (later Preston’s 4th Mo Cav).
George Walker (later Co K 5th Mo)
Malcolm Walker, 2nd Lt., Company G
G. B. Wammock, Company A
Michael Ward, Company Unknown
Woodson Webb, Company D
Charles White, Company Unknown
William V. White, Company B. Drummer
James Williams, Sgt. Mjr. Appt. Rgt QM, August 5, 1861, resigned
  October 10, 1861.
Jacob Williamson, Company A (later 4th Mo Cav).
Joseph Williamson, Company A
Andrew Wilson, Company A
William C. Wilson, Company A
Isom Woods, Company D. Wounded in action near Belmont Sept
  1861.
C. C. Wright, Company A

4th Missouri Infantry Regiment

Unknown Unit

John Dunnivan, Co. B.
William J. Smith, Company B

Henry Rich, No unit given, just MSG (later Co. K 5th Mo).
James R. Shelby, only listed as MSG
Peter Stephenson, no unit given (later 2nd Mo Cav).
James G. Stevenson, no unit given, later Co. K 5th Mo.
Harrison Whitson, no unit given, later Co. K. 5th Mo.

Article from the Poplar Bluff Republican newspaper (July 28, 1921) about Andrew Jackson Sifford. It's interesting to find this article because in Sifford's pension application on file with the Missouri State Archives, it states that he was denied his pension due to lack of documentation. He was originally in Company A, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Division Missouri State Guard. He then joined Haislip's Cavalry company (McGhee and Mayo).