Thousands of spectators are expected in Boonville, Mo. this weekend for
The Battle of Boonville took place June 17, 1861 as Confederate-leaning Missouri Guard members met Union troops.
Boonville, a town of about 6,400 is expecting 700 re-enactors and 10,000 to 20,000 visitors.
Deborah Marshall is with the Boonville Civil War Commission.
鈥淔or us to have an event like this in a town of our size is just amazing, and we鈥檙e just thrilled and hope that people can come and learn a lot about their own history and really the impact of what Boonville was to the whole Civil War,鈥� Marshall said.
The brief skirmish left only a few dead but was of great strategic importance as the Missouri River remained in Union hands.
The re-enacted battles will take place at 1:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
