Many times (too many
times), well meaning but unknowledgeable folks in other parts of the country
have insisted that “not much” happened in the trans-Mississippi during the
Civil War. These claims make me wince. Perhaps they would change their minds if
they would study page 582 in volume one of Frederick H. Dyer’s A Compendium Of The War Of The Rebellion (1909).
Dyer attempted to count every campaign, battle, engagement, combat, action,
assault, skirmish, operation, siege, raid, expedition, reconnaissance, scout,
affair, occupation, and capture that took place during the War. His task was
monumental! I’ve taken his “tabular statement,” reordered it, and highlighted
trans-Mississippi states and territories. Rather than breaking down his
information into engagements, battles, etc., I have just included the total
number of military events in each state and territory.
Virginia: 2,154
Tennessee: 1,462
Missouri: 1,162
Mississippi: 772
Arkansas: 771
West Virginia: 632
Louisiana: 566
Georgia: 549
Kentucky: 453
Alabama: 336
North Carolina: 313
South Carolina: 239
Maryland: 203
Florida: 168
Texas: 90
Indian Territory: 89
California: 88
New Mexico Territory: 75
Kansas: 66
Dakota Territory: 45
Pennsylvania: 32
Colorado Territory: 31
Nebraska Territory: 27
Arizona Territory: 24
Ohio: 19
Nevada Territory: 16
Utah Territory: 14
Minnesota: 13
Idaho Territory: 11
Indiana: 10
Oregon Territory: 9
Washington Territory: 4
District of Columbia: 3
Illinois: 3
New York: 1
The next time someone
tries to tell you that “nothing” or “hardly anything” happened in the trans-Mississippi
just mention that at least 3,101 documented military activities occurred there
during the War.
