Battle of Boonville Facts

June 17, 1861

Key facts about the Battle of Boonville

Portrait of Nathaniel Lyon

Union Brigadier-General Lyon’s victory secured central Missouri for the Union and denied the Confederacy the use of the Missouri River during the Civil War. [Wikimedia Commons]

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Date:

  • June 17, 1861

Location:

  • Near Boonville, Missouri

Campaign:

  • Operations to Control Missouri

Principal Union commander(s):

  • Brigadier General Nathaniel Banks

Principal Confederate commander(s):

  • Colonel John S. Marmaduke

Union forces engaged:

  • Combined force of Missouri troops and Regular U.S. Army

Confederate forces engaged:

  • Missouri State Guard

Number of Union soldiers engaged:

  • Roughly 1,700

Number of Confederate soldiers engaged:

  • Roughly 1,500

Estimated Union casualties:

  • 31 (including five killed)

Estimated Confederate casualties:

  • Between 8 to 60 (killed, wounded, and captured)

Result:

  • Union victory

Significance:

  • Secured central Missouri for the Union and deprived the Confederacy use of the Missouri River during the Civil War.
  • Sent the Missouri state government into exile, preventing Missouri Governor Jackson from exerting his influence to bring about Missouri’s secession from the Union.
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Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title Battle of Boonville Facts
  • Date June 17, 1861
  • Author
  • Keywords Battle of Boonville
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date June 3, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update April 27, 2022

Battle of Boonville Facts is Part of the Following on AHC

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