Day by Day Journal, Page 43, First Battle at Lexington, Missouri

"battle at Lexington, Mo."

The First Battle of Lexington occurred between September 12 and 20, 1861. Following conflict within the state, US General Nathaniel Lyon took control of Lexington, taking up defensive positions around the city. The pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard gathered a force about 5 times the size of Union forces succeeding in forcing the surrender of the majority of the Federal forces, resulting in around 3,000 men captured.