April 13th This Day in Missouri

On April 13, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: St. Louis traders, central to Missouri’s fur trade, continued spring expeditions with tribes like the Osage, though no specific event is recorded.
• 1856: During “Bleeding Kansas,” Missouri’s pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” clashed with Kansas anti-slavery settlers, fueling violent territorial disputes in mid-April.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, based in St. Louis, strengthened Missouri’s federal grip, while rural Confederate guerrillas escalated spring raids, deepening Civil War divides.
• 1864: Confederate General Sterling Price’s Missouri units in Arkansas focused on spring logistics, with Missouri under Union control and little Confederate activity noted.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s southeast Missouri network, serving Cape Girardeau, supported trade growth, with mid-April seeing steady freight shipments.
• 1929: The Great Depression deepened Missouri’s economic woes, with Kansas City and St. Louis struggling, while spring relief programs prioritized job creation and aid.
• 1941: Post-Pearl Harbor, Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City intensified wartime production, with mid-April enlistment campaigns targeting skilled defense workers.