Missouri

One of the Central States of the Mi i ippi Valley, and the first organized wholly west of the Mi i ippi River. The French were the earliest settlers in the country, having built a fort there in 1719. By the treaty of 1763 it was ceded to Spain, with all the territory west of the Mi i ippi. Spain being at war with England during the American Revolution, her colonies were hara ed by the English and their Indians allies. In 1780, a body of British and Indians attacked and besieged St. Louis, killing 60 of its defenders. The siege was raised by Col. Clark, an American, who came to the relief of the place with 500 men. In 1800 Spain restored the territory to France, and it pa ed to the United States by purchase in 1803. After the admi ion of Louisiana as a State in 1812, the remaining portion of the territory received the name of Mi ouri, from which was separated the State of that name in 1821. Though the State officially declared itself in favor of the Union in 1861, many of its prominent citizens sided with the Confederates. It was the scene of several engagements during the civil war.