Cape Girardeau

Other Names: None

Location: Cape Girardeau City

Campaign: Marmaduke?s Second Expedition into Missouri (1863)

Date(s): April 26, 1863

Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. John McNeil [US]; Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke [CS]

Forces Engaged: Garrison plus some reinforcements [US]; cavalry division [CS]

Estimated Casualties: 337 total (US 12; CS 325)

Description: Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke sought to strike Brig. Gen. John McNeil, with his combined force of about 2,000 men, at Bloomfield, Missouri. McNeil retreated and Marmaduke followed. Marmaduke received notification, on April 25, that McNeil was near Cape Girardeau. He sent troops to destroy or capture McNeil?s force, but then he learned that the Federals had placed themselves in the fortifications. Marmaduke ordered one of his brigades to make a demonstration to ascertain the Federals? strength. Col. John S. Shelby?s brigade made the demonstration which escalated into an attack. Those Union forces not already in fortifications retreated into them. Realizing the Federals? strength, Marmaduke withdrew his division to Jackson. After finding the force he had been chasing, Marmaduke was repulsed. Meant to relieve pressure on other Confederate troops and to disrupt Union operations, Marmaduke?s expedition did little to fulfill either objective.

Result(s): Union victory



In April, 1863, Confederate Maj. General John S. Marmaduke initiated one of the most memorable movements of the war which led to the Battle of Cape Girardeau. He invaded Missouri with 5,000 men and ten pieces of artillery from Arkansas. His forces were organized into four brigades striking in two columns. One column, commanded by General Jo Shelby entered the state to the west while the second, commanded by General Carter entered to the east. The two columns met at Patterson on April 20 and took the town but Federal forces, alerted by artillery fire, escaped north in the direction of Pilot Knob.

Carter's column, accompanied Gen. Marmaduke, was to attach and defeat Col. John McNeil and a considerable Union force then holding Bloomfield. Shelby's column captured and occupied Fredericktown on April 22, hoping to defeat McNeil if he tried to escape toward Pilot Knob. While in Fredericktown, Shelby sent a detachment to burn the railroad bridge over Big River, which was accomplished after a severe skirmish. Carter reached Bloomfield on April 21st, and McNeil retreated toward Pilot Knob, as anticipated, with Carter in close pursuit. Upon learning that Shelby occupied Fredericktown, McNeil turned his force and retreated toward Cape Girardeau. Carter followed him to within four miles of the city and sent word to Shelby in Fredericktown for reinforcements. The messengers were captured, however, and it was April 25th before Shelby learned Carter was at Cape Girardeau.

On April 26, Shelby led his troops to Cape Girardeau by way of the Jackson Road and created a demonstration as a diversion while Marmaduke drew off Carter's men by the Bloomfield Road. The demonstration escalated into an artillery duel with Union troops and Marmaduke brought Carter's men around to the Jackson Road to support Shelby. The brunt of the fighting fell on Fort B, the present site of Southeast Missouri State University, which was armed with four twenty-four pound guns. There were four twelve pound guns on a hill to the southwest of Fort B and a line of rifle pits. These were charged by the Confederates. The battle lasted from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. when Marmaduke, finding the town well defended, retreated to Jackson. Accounts of the number killed vary. A marker, located near Broadway and Caruthers Street in Cape Girardeau, reminds visitors of the site of the battle.