Battle of Carthage State Historic Site, Civil War battlefield in Carthage, Missouri.
The Battle of Carthage State Historic Site is a preserved battlefield in Missouri where Union and Confederate forces faced each other in combat. The grounds cover about 7.4 acres and feature marked paths with interpretive signs that show where troops moved and fought.
The battle took place on July 5, 1861, when Missouri State Guard forces led by Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson clashed with Union troops under Colonel Franz Sigel. It was one of the first major land engagements of the Civil War, happening before larger battles would follow.
Carter Spring on the grounds served as a gathering point where soldiers from both sides came for water and shelter, showing how this place mattered to people caught in the conflict. You can still see this spring when you walk the site today.
The site is open to the public with marked walking paths that let you explore different areas of the battlefield at your own pace. Interpretive signs placed throughout help you understand what happened and where soldiers positioned themselves.
This battle was one of the first organized land engagements of the Civil War and happened eleven days before the better-known Battle of Bull Run. It marked an important early moment when the conflict first took full shape on the ground.
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