1st Missouri Infantry Regiment (Union)
The 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment evolved from one of several unofficial pro-Unionist Home Guards militia formed in St. Louis in the early months of 1861 by Congressman Francis Preston Blair, Jr. and other Unionist activists. The militia that would become the First Missouri was largely composed of ethnic Germans, although Companies K and I had significant numbers of native born American citizens and Irish-Americans. Although initially without any official standing, beginning on April 22, 1861, the four "underground" militia regiments Blair helped organize were sworn into Federal service at the St. Louis Arsenal by Captain John Schofield acting on the authority of President Lincoln.
| 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | May 1861 – 31 Aug. 1861 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union Missouri |
| Branch | Union Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Engagements | Camp Jackson Affair Battle of Boonville Battle of Dug Springs Battle of Wilson's Creek |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Francis Preston Blair, Jr. |
The 1st Missouri Volunteer Infantry elected Congressman Blair colonel of the regiment. The new Missouri Volunteer regiments, subsequently elected (then) Captain Nathaniel Lyon as the brigadier general of the new brigade of Missouri volunteers. President Lincoln would later confirm Lyon's promotion from captain to brigadier general. The unit was converted to the 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment at the beginning of September 1861.