Battle of Roan's Tan Yard

Battle of Roan's Tan Yard Battle of Silver Creek
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
Date January 8, 1862 (1862-01-08) Location Randolph County, Missouri 39°19′29″N 92°33′30″W / 39.3246°N 92.5584°W / 39.3246; -92.5584 Result Union victory
Belligerents
Union Army	Missouri State Guard
Commanders and leaders
W. M. G. Torrence	John A. Poindexter
Units involved
1st Missouri Cavalry Regiment 2nd Missouri Cavalry Regiment 4th Ohio Cavalry Regiment 1st Iowa Cavalry Regiment	Missouri State Guard recruits
Strength
c. 450–500	c. 1,000
Casualties and losses
4–27	80–128

The Battle of Roan's Tan Yard, also known as the Battle of Silver Creek,^[1] was a minor battle fought during the American Civil War on January 8, 1862, in Randolph County, Missouri. After back-and-forth operations throughout 1861, the pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard under the command of Sterling Price had been confined to southwestern Missouri. In December 1861, Price authorized recruiting and raiding activities in the central portion of the state, with the North Missouri Railroad being a major target. In January 1862, Major W. M. G. Torrence of the Union Army located a Missouri State Guard base in Randolph County and attacked it on January 8 with elements of four cavalry regiments. The camp, which was commanded by Colonel John A. Poindexter, put up little resistance and was soon overrun. Large quantities of supplies were captured in the abandoned camp, which was destroyed. The action at Roan's Tan Yard, along with a Missouri State Guard defeat at the Battle of Mount Zion Church the preceding December, led to a decrease in pro-Confederate activity in central Missouri.