Remembering the Civil War in Missouri Series 2026
- Michael Price
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
This September, Local History & Genealogy is presenting the inaugural Remembering the Civil War in Missouri series. The programs in this series explore the conflict through the eyes of common soldiers who fought in major battles and waged a destructive guerrilla war. In addition to programs by authors and historians hosted in the Library Center's Hatch Auditorium, this series features a walking tour of the Springfield National Cemetery. Join us each Thursday in September as we uncover this important and complex chapter of local history.
Examine life on both sides of the Civil War through the correspondence of Henry and Lucy Fike.
Thursday, September 3, 7 p.m. in the Library Center Hatch Auditorium
Drawing on more than 400 Civil War letters, historian Jeremy Neely will explore the experiences of Henry and Lucy Fike as they navigated war on the battlefield and the home front. Henry served with the 117th Illinois, marching from St. Louis toward the Kansas border in pursuit of Sterling Price's Confederate forces in 1864. Lucy managed life in Mascoutah, Illinois, raising their young child while taking on added responsibilities at home and supporting local Union efforts. Their correspondence offers a personal look at the challenges, sacrifices, and daily realities of Civil War life for soldiers and families alike.
Walk through the Springfield National Cemetery and hear stories from the Civil War era.
Thursday, September 10, 6 p.m., 6:15 p.m., and 6:30 p.m., at the Springfield National Cemetery (1702 E. Seminole Street)
Enjoy a stroll through the Springfield National Cemetery and hear true tales of Civil War soldiers, battles, monuments, and the cemetery's evolving landscape, all drawn from historical records. As the final resting place for many Missouri soldiers who served on both sides, the cemetery reflects the conflict's complex legacy in a crucial border state.
Meet at the cemetery’s front entrance. Tours will begin at 6 p.m., 6:15 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Each tour group is limited to 20 participants.
Registration opens on Thursday, August 27 at 9:00 a.m.
Uncover the story of Arkansas Union soldiers and the 1st Cavalry’s Civil War service.
Thursday, September 17, 7 p.m. in the Library Center Hatch Auditorium
Although Arkansas joined the Confederacy in 1861, about 10,000 men from the state served in the Union Army. The state’s best-known Union regiment, the 1st Arkansas Cavalry, fought guerrilla forces throughout southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas. Springfield-Greene County Library Historian Michael Price will discuss this unique regiment and the challenges it faced.
Explore the 1st Iowa Infantry’s Civil War story and legacy with historian Jeffrey Patrick.
Thursday, September 24, 7 p.m. in the Library Center Hatch Auditorium
Jeffrey Patrick, author and editor of numerous books and articles on 19th- and 20th-century American military history, is completing a book-length history of the 1st Iowa Infantry during the Civil War. Patrick will examine the regiment’s pivotal role in Missouri in 1861 as well as its postwar legacy.
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