Civil War
Living in Missouri when the Civil War, Poindexter was commissioned in June 1861 as captain of Company A, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Division of the Missouri State Guard. He and his men stopped a train in August, seizing federal money. He served at the Siege of Lexington in command of several independent companies. Following the battle he was elected colonel of the 5th Infantry Regiment, Third Division of the Missouri State Guard on September 24, 1861. While recruiting in Howard County, Missouri Poindexter and his regiment were surprised and defeated on January 7, 1862, at the Battle of Roan's Tan Yard, scattering his command.
Poindexter commanded of a consolidated remnant of the 4th and 5th Cavalry regiments of the Missouri State Guard at the Battle of Pea Ridge, where he was slightly wounded. Following the Confederate defeat, Poindexter resumed recruiting in North Missouri, while Porter recruited in Northeastern Missouri. Poindexter gained recruits, but thereafter was not very successful. After Odon Guitar struck a blow against Porter at Moore's Mill, he turned his attention to Poindexter. In August, Guitar's forces overran and completely scattered Poindexter's green recruits at the Battle of Compton's Ferry and a subsequent fight at the Battle of Yellow Creek. Seriously wounded, Poindexter was captured on September 1. He would never again serve the Confederacy.
Read more about this topic: John A. Poindexter
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