Battle of Charleston (1861)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Charleston (also known as the Battle of Bird's Point) was a minor clash in Charleston, Missouri
, United States during the American Civil War
. On August 19, 1861, Union
forces led by Col. Henry Dougherty were able to destroy a Confederate
camp. There had been a number of clashes in the Charleston and Bird's Point
area for the previous week between pro-Union forces and secession
groups.
Charleston, Missouri
Charleston is a city in Mississippi County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,732 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mississippi County and it is a home to a local correctional facility.-History:...
, United States during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. On August 19, 1861, Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
forces led by Col. Henry Dougherty were able to destroy a Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
camp. There had been a number of clashes in the Charleston and Bird's Point
Bird's Point, Missouri
Bird's Point is an unincorporated community in Mississippi County, Missouri. It lies on an island or former island in the Mississippi River, near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and is situated directly across from Cairo, Illinois. This is the point where the U.S...
area for the previous week between pro-Union forces and secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
groups.