Historical Battle and Its Aftermath
The Missouri State Guard's victory over the Union at the Battle of the Hemp Bales in Lexington, Missouri, brought a sense of normalcy back to the town.
General Sterling Price, after the battle,
paroled all captured Yankee soldiers, returned most of the confiscated money to the banks and renewed faith in the State to be able to protect its citizens against a perceived foe.
- Price's campaign was highly successful, allowing him to potentially target other Union-held areas.
- Instead, he chose to return to Arkansas through Missouri, gathering recruits and supplies for a future attempt to reclaim his state.
As Price moved south from his triumph, he encountered the harsh realities of war, including the devastating impact on towns like Osceola, Missouri, a thriving trading town on the Osage River.
Author's summary: General Sterling Price's successful campaign.