
Battle of Athens - Athens, MO
Posted by:
gparkes
N 40° 35.086 W 091° 41.773
15T E 610336 N 4493481
Quick Description: The Battle of Athens was the most northern fight fought west of the Mississippi.
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 3/29/2009 6:20:44 PM
Waymark Code: WM6411
Views: 3
Long Description:On August 5, 1861, aproximately 2000 Missouri State's Guardsmen
commanded by Colonel Martin Green, marched to take the town of
Athens which was protected by 500 Missouri Home Guard. Green's much
larger force surrounded the town on three sides, with the river
behind the Unionists. Although the forces were much larger, the
union troops successfully defended the river port town.
The battle resulted in only 3 union fatalities, and it is
speculated that 31 confederate fatalities. The real results of the
battle was dispursion of forces in the area and no other battles
occurred this far north, west of the Mississippi River.
Today, the site is the location of a State Historic Site. The
site preserves ruins and remaining buildings of the town. Primative
camping is avalable on-site.