November 29th This Day in Missouri

On November 29, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to explore the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued its westward journey, mapping the Arkansas River region, though no specific Missouri event is documented for this date.
• 1856: During the “Bleeding Kansas” crisis, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri persisted in raiding Kansas, targeting anti-slavery settlers to influence the territory’s slavery status, intensifying violent border conflicts.
• 1861: In the Civil War, Union General Henry W. Halleck solidified St. Louis as a Union stronghold, while Confederate guerrillas, including bushwhackers, conducted raids in rural Missouri, exacerbating the state’s divided loyalties.
• 1864: The Battle of Spring Hill took place in Tennessee, but its prelude involved Missouri-based Confederate forces under General Sterling Price, who had retreated from Missouri after defeats in October, with logistical movements possibly occurring around November 29.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad furthered its expansion in southeast Missouri, connecting rural areas like Cape Girardeau to national markets, driving economic growth and regional integration.
• 1929: The Great Depression severely impacted Missouri, with urban centers like Kansas City and St. Louis facing mass layoffs, bank failures, and shuttered businesses, deepening the state’s economic crisis.
• 1963: Missouri communities, including St. Louis and Kansas City, continued mourning President John F. Kennedy’s assassination with memorial services and vigils, reflecting the nation’s ongoing grief one week later.