Odon Guitar
Encyclopedia
Odon Guitar was a general in the Union
Missouri State Militia
during the American Civil War
. He was noted for his successful campaign against Joseph C. Porter
and John A. Poindexter
’s recruiting commands in northern Missouri.
, Madison County, Kentucky
, to John Guitar and Emily Gordon. His father had emigrated from Bordeaux, France, and met his mother in Kentucky
. They moved to Boone County, Missouri
, in 1827.
Odon Guitar was an excellent student and enrolled in the initial class of the University of Missouri
in 1842, graduating in 1846 with an A.B. degree. He was unable to give his commencement address because at the time he was off with Alexander Doniphan’s Expedition in the Mexican War. As a result his degree was the first conferred by the University “in absentia.” Having distinguished himself he returned from the war in 1847.
Guitar studied law under his uncle, John B. Gordon, and was admitted to the bar in 1848. He left to participate in the California gold rush
, returning to Columbia, Missouri
, to resume his law practice in October 1851.
Guitar became involved in Whig
politics and was elected to two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives
(1854–1856 and 1858-1860.)
who observed, "Guitar is the truest man you have among you, all honor to him."
In February 1862, provisional Missouri Governor Hamilton Rowan Gamble
granted Guitar authority to recruit a regiment
in central Missouri, and on May 3, Guitar received his commission as colonel
of the Ninth Missouri State Militia Cavalry.
Guitar and his command were soon engaged in a campaign against Confederate guerrillas and recruiters. Guitar had key roles in defeating both Joseph C. Porter
and John A. Poindexter
. Guitar’s command engaged in a desperate fight and victory against Porter at the Battle of Moore's Mill
in Callaway County, Missouri
, in late July but he took ill shortly thereafter and was unable to participate in the key engagement at the Battle of Kirksville
that forced the dispersion of Porter’s command. Guitar then turned to pursuing Poindexter, overrunning Poindexter and completely scattering his command at the Battle of Compton's Ferry
. Wounded, Poindexter could only evade capture for a few weeks and would never again serve the Confederacy.
In recognition of his victories, Colonel Guitar was breveted
to brigadier general
by Major General John Schofield
on August 18, 1862, and he was nominated as brigadier general of Volunteers on January 19, 1863, by Abraham Lincoln
, but the Senate
did not approve the appointment. Although Guitar continued to use and was addressed by the title of brigadier general from August to January, afterward he reverted to colonel until he finally officially achieved the title of brigadier general of the Missouri State Militia on June 27, 1863.
On July 6, 1863, he was given command of the District of Northern Missouri. As a slaveholder himself and attempting to respect the rights of Southerners in his district he received severe criticism by more radical Unionists. He was relieved of that command on March 25, 1864, and assigned command of the Rolla District.
Guitar was relieved of the Rolla District command on August 23, and on August 31, 1864, Guitar resigned his militia commission and returned to practicing law.
Guitar was president of the Boone County Bar Association until 1878 and he achieved a legendary record of success in defending homicide cases. He supported education, becoming curator of the University of Missouri
and as president of the Columbia Board of Education. Guitar was a member of the Republican Party
after the war.
Odon Guitar died at his home in Columbia on March 13, 1908, and is buried in Columbia Cemetery.
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
Missouri State Militia
Missouri State Militia (Union)
The Missouri State Militia was a federally funded state militia organization of Missouri conceived in 1861 and beginning service in 1862 during the American Civil War...
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...
. He was noted for his successful campaign against Joseph C. Porter
Joseph C. Porter
Joseph Chrisman Porter was a Confederate officer in the American Civil War, a key leader in the guerrilla campaigns in northern Missouri, and a figure of controversy. The main source for his history, Joseph A...
and John A. Poindexter
John A. Poindexter
John A. Poindexter was a colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He and Joseph C. Porter were the primary recruiting commanders in northern Missouri during 1862.-Early life and career:...
’s recruiting commands in northern Missouri.
Early life and career
Odon Guitar was born in RichmondRichmond, Kentucky
There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. Of all households, 34.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had...
, Madison County, Kentucky
Madison County, Kentucky
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2008, the population was 82,192. Its county seat is Richmond. The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States. This is also where famous pioneer Daniel...
, to John Guitar and Emily Gordon. His father had emigrated from Bordeaux, France, and met his mother in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. They moved to Boone County, Missouri
Boone County, Missouri
Boone County is a county centrally located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the eighth most populous county in Missouri. In 2010, the population was 162,642. Its county seat, Columbia, is the fifth largest city in Missouri and the anchor city of the Columbia Metropolitan Area.-History:Boone...
, in 1827.
Odon Guitar was an excellent student and enrolled in the initial class of the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1842, graduating in 1846 with an A.B. degree. He was unable to give his commencement address because at the time he was off with Alexander Doniphan’s Expedition in the Mexican War. As a result his degree was the first conferred by the University “in absentia.” Having distinguished himself he returned from the war in 1847.
Guitar studied law under his uncle, John B. Gordon, and was admitted to the bar in 1848. He left to participate in the California gold rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, returning to Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, to resume his law practice in October 1851.
Guitar became involved in Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
politics and was elected to two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
(1854–1856 and 1858-1860.)
Civil War
Although Guitar had been a slaveholder, he declared for the Union in a May 1861 speech in Columbia that caught the notice of George Caleb BinghamGeorge Caleb Bingham
George Caleb Bingham was an American artist whose paintings of American life in the frontier lands along the Missouri River exemplify the Luminist style. Left to languish in obscurity, Bingham's work was rediscovered in the 1930s...
who observed, "Guitar is the truest man you have among you, all honor to him."
In February 1862, provisional Missouri Governor Hamilton Rowan Gamble
Hamilton Rowan Gamble
Hamilton Rowan Gamble was the chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court at the time of the Dred Scott Decision in 1852, when his colleagues voted to overturn the 28-year precedent in Misssouri of "once free always free". He wrote a dissenting opinion...
granted Guitar authority to recruit a regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in central Missouri, and on May 3, Guitar received his commission as colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the Ninth Missouri State Militia Cavalry.
Guitar and his command were soon engaged in a campaign against Confederate guerrillas and recruiters. Guitar had key roles in defeating both Joseph C. Porter
Joseph C. Porter
Joseph Chrisman Porter was a Confederate officer in the American Civil War, a key leader in the guerrilla campaigns in northern Missouri, and a figure of controversy. The main source for his history, Joseph A...
and John A. Poindexter
John A. Poindexter
John A. Poindexter was a colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He and Joseph C. Porter were the primary recruiting commanders in northern Missouri during 1862.-Early life and career:...
. Guitar’s command engaged in a desperate fight and victory against Porter at the Battle of Moore's Mill
Battle of Moore's Mill
The Battle of Moore’s Mill was an American Civil War battle that took place in northeast Missouri on July 28, 1862 along Auxvasse Creek near modern day Calwood...
in Callaway County, Missouri
Callaway County, Missouri
Callaway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 44,332. Its county seat is Fulton. The county was organized in 1820. It was named for Capt. James Callaway, a grandson of...
, in late July but he took ill shortly thereafter and was unable to participate in the key engagement at the Battle of Kirksville
Battle of Kirksville
The Battle of Kirksville was a battle in the American Civil War, fought in the town of Kirksville, Missouri, on August 6, 1862. The Union victory helped consolidate Federal control over northeastern Missouri.-Battle:...
that forced the dispersion of Porter’s command. Guitar then turned to pursuing Poindexter, overrunning Poindexter and completely scattering his command at the Battle of Compton's Ferry
Battle of Compton's Ferry
The Battle of Compton's Ferry was an action during the American Civil War, occurring August 11, 1862, along the Grand River....
. Wounded, Poindexter could only evade capture for a few weeks and would never again serve the Confederacy.
In recognition of his victories, Colonel Guitar was breveted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
by Major General John Schofield
John Schofield
John McAllister Schofield was an American soldier who held major commands during the American Civil War. He later served as U.S. Secretary of War and Commanding General of the United States Army.-Early life:...
on August 18, 1862, and he was nominated as brigadier general of Volunteers on January 19, 1863, by Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, but the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
did not approve the appointment. Although Guitar continued to use and was addressed by the title of brigadier general from August to January, afterward he reverted to colonel until he finally officially achieved the title of brigadier general of the Missouri State Militia on June 27, 1863.
On July 6, 1863, he was given command of the District of Northern Missouri. As a slaveholder himself and attempting to respect the rights of Southerners in his district he received severe criticism by more radical Unionists. He was relieved of that command on March 25, 1864, and assigned command of the Rolla District.
Guitar was relieved of the Rolla District command on August 23, and on August 31, 1864, Guitar resigned his militia commission and returned to practicing law.
Postbellum career
Guitar married Kate Leonard, the daughter of Judge Abiel Leonard on December 26, 1865, and raised seven children.Guitar was president of the Boone County Bar Association until 1878 and he achieved a legendary record of success in defending homicide cases. He supported education, becoming curator of the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
and as president of the Columbia Board of Education. Guitar was a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
after the war.
Odon Guitar died at his home in Columbia on March 13, 1908, and is buried in Columbia Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals