First Northeast Missouri Home Guard Defends the Union

First Northeast Missouri Home Guard Defends the Union. American Civil War (1861-1865), The Battle of Athens. , Home Guards were groups of pro-Union men who stayed close to their communities to protect against secessionists. These men seldom had army-issued weapons and served without pay., David Moore recruited and trained the First Northeast Missouri Home Guard unit of over 300 men to defend and build pro-Union support in northeast Missouri., In late July 1861, Moore moved his men to Athens, Mo. The town was strategically located across the Des Moines River from Croton, Iowa, with access to the railroad and supplies. From Athens, he sent skirmishers to attack pro-Southern troops. On July 25, a group of local citizens wishing to avoid bloodshed met with Moore to negotiate a truce. The talks failed when Moore refused to remove his troops from Athens., On Aug. 4, word came that an attack was imminent. Before dawn the next morning, Moore and his Home Guards were prepared to defend themselves.,

"Secessionists and rebel traitors desiring a fight can be accommodated on demand." , --Col. David Moore on his recruiting handbill

, [Captions:] , A contemporary said Col. David Moore "could get madder and swear longer without repeating himself more than any man I ever knew." Courtesy Battle of Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, Cpl. Rufus Ash, a local boy from Clark County, fought under Col. David Moore at Athens Courtesy Sheree Ash, Col. David Moore recruited Home Guard members by using handbills.