David Moore was born on July 3, 1817, in Ohio; in 1861 he organized the 1st Northeast Missouri Home Guards, acting on orders issued by Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon. As commander of that unit, he defeated Missouri State Guard forces at Athens, Missouri on August 5, 1861. Moore became colonel of the 21st Missouri Infantry, which was organized from the 1st and 2nd Northeast Missouri Home Guard Regiments in early 1862 and consisted of men from Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. Moore led the regiment at the battles of Shiloh (where he was wounded three times and lost a leg), Iuka, and Corinth, through the Red River Campaign, and at the Battle of Nashville.

On May 1, 1865, Moore assumed command of the 51st Missouri Infantry; that unit performed guard and escort duty in St. Louis before being mustered out of service on August 31, 1865.

Moore died in St. Louis on July 19, 1893.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31679