Columbia, Missouri

This peaceful church was once the center of a brutal Civil War battle. On December 28, 1861, Union forces under General Benjamin M. Prentiss clashed with Confederate Missouri State Guard troops led by Colonel Caleb Dorsey right here at Mount Zion. The fighting was fierce but lopsided: Dorsey's State Guard lost roughly 25 dead, 150 wounded, and 60 captured, while Union forces suffered only 3 killed and 11 wounded. The battle resulted in a Union victory, scattering the Confederate forces and impacting their ability to recruit in the area. It was a stark reminder of the war's reach, even to quiet communities like this one. Today, you can see the 1903 Gothic Revival church, a testament to the community's resilience. The cemetery holds the graves of many Civil War soldiers, both Union and Confederate, and there's a memorial to the Missouri State Guard. Take a moment to reflect on the history etched into these grounds.