Battle of Hartville

Part of the American Civil War

Date	January 9, 1863 (1863-01-09)– January 11, 1863 (1863-01-11)
Location	Wright County, Missouri
Result	Indecisive/disputed

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

Samuel Merrill

John S. Marmaduke

Units involved

Southwestern District of Missouri Troops

4th Division, I Corps, Trans-Mississippi Department

Strength

~750

Casualties and losses

78 total
7 killed
64 wounded
7 missing or captured

111 total
12 killed
96 wounded
3 missing or captured

The Battle of Hartville was fought January 9–11, 1863, in Wright County, Missouri, as part of John S. Marmaduke's first expedition into Missouri, during the American Civil War.

Marmaduke led a Confederate raid into Missouri in early January 1863. This movement was two-pronged. Col. Joseph C. Porter led one column, comprising his Missouri Cavalry Brigade, out of Pocahontas, Arkansas, to assault Union posts around Hartville, Missouri. When he neared Hartville on January 9, he sent a detachment forward to reconnoiter. It succeeded in capturing the small militia garrison. The same day, Porter moved toward Marshfield. On January 10, some of Porter's men raided other Union installations in the area before making contact with Marmaduke's column east of Marshfield. Marmaduke had received reports of Union troops approaching to surround him and prepared for a confrontation.

On January 10, Col. Samuel Merrill commanded an approaching Union relief column from Houston, Missouri. He and his command arrived in Hartville that morning, discovered that the small garrison had already surrendered, and set out toward Springfield. His force went into camp on Wood's Fork of the Gasconade River. Early on the morning of January 11 the approaching Confederates under Porter made contact with Merrill's scouts and skirmishing commenced.

Colonel S. Merrill

Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke

Based on Frederick Goman's order of battle, except where noted.

Marmaduke believed he was being pressed by several forces, so he diverted Porter and Shelby's columns along another road to Hartville. Meanwhile, observing this movement, Merrill marched his force directly to Hartville where it took a strong defensive position on covered, high ground west of the courthouse. Shelby and Porter's brigades attempted to dislodge Merrill's force, but it was too strongly positioned. Over a four-hour period several Confederate assaults were made, each being repulsed in turn. Eventually Merrill withdrew most of his force, although a third of the men under Lt. Col Dunlap never received the order and remained on the field until nightfall.

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Wikipedia