Ep. 2. 29: The Civil War Comes to St. Louis

This episode captures the mounting tension in St. Louis as the Civil War erupts, contrasting the calm leadership of General Harney and Archbishop Kenrick with the growing militancy on both sides. Monsignor and Teresa discuss Kenrick’s pastoral letter urging peace and obedience, Lincoln’s controversial troop requisition, and Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson’s fiery rejection of federal demands. They trace the rise of paramilitary groups—the Unionist White Awakes and pro-Confederate Minutemen—and the strategic importance of the St. Louis Arsenal. The episode ends on the eve of the Camp Jackson Affair, as Captain Nathaniel Lyon prepares for a bold and bloody move that will change Missouri’s fate.