Odon Guitar Odon Guitar ( August 31 , 1825 – March 13 , 1908 ) was a general in the Union Missouri State Militia during the American Civil War . He was noted for his successful campaign against Joseph C . Porter and John A . Poindexter ’ s recruiting commands in northern Missouri . Early life and career . Odon Guitar was born in Richmond , Madison County , Kentucky , to John Guitar and Emily Gordon . His father had emigrated from Bordeaux , France , and met his mother in Kentucky . They moved to Boone County , Missouri , in 1827 . Odon Guitar was an excellent student and enrolled in the initial class of the University of Missouri in 1842 , graduating in 1846 with an A . B . degree . He was unable to give his commencement address because at the time he was off with Alexander Doniphan ’ s Expedition in the Mexican War . As a result his degree was the first conferred by the University “ in absentia . ” Having distinguished himself he returned from the war in 1847 . Guitar studied law under his uncle , John B . Gordon , and was admitted to the bar in 1848 . He left to participate in the California gold rush , returning to Columbia , Missouri , to resume his law practice in October 1851 . Guitar became involved in Whig politics and was elected to two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives ( 1854 – 1856 and 1858 - 1860 . ) Civil War . Although Guitar had been a slaveholder , he declared for the Union in a May 1861 speech in Columbia that caught the notice of George Caleb Bingham who observed , " Guitar is the truest man you have among you , all honor to him . " In February 1862 , provisional Missouri Governor Hamilton Rowan Gamble granted Guitar authority to recruit a regiment in central Missouri , and on May 3 , Guitar received his commission as colonel of the Ninth Missouri State Militia Cavalry . Guitar and his command were soon engaged in a campaign against Confederate guerrillas and recruiters . Guitar had key roles in defeating both Joseph C . Porter and John A . Poindexter . Guitar ’ s command engaged in a desperate fight and victory against Porter at the Battle of Moore ' s Mill in Callaway County , Missouri , in late July but he took ill shortly thereafter and was unable to participate in the key engagement at the Battle of Kirksville that forced the dispersion of Porter ’ s command . Guitar then turned to pursuing Poindexter , overrunning Poindexter and completely scattering his command at the Battle of Compton ' s Ferry and the subsequent fight at Yellow Creek . Wounded , Poindexter could only evade capture for a few weeks and would never again serve the Confederacy . In recognition of his victories , Colonel Guitar was breveted to brigadier general by Major General John Schofield on August 18 , 1862 , and he was nominated as brigadier general of Volunteers on January 19 , 1863 , by Abraham Lincoln , but the Senate did not approve the appointment . Although Guitar continued to use and was addressed by the title of brigadier general from August to January , afterward he reverted to colonel until he finally officially achieved the title of brigadier general of the Missouri State Militia on June 27 , 1863 . On July 6 , 1863 , he was given command of the District of Northern Missouri . As a slaveholder himself and attempting to respect the rights of Southerners in his district he received severe criticism by more radical Unionists . He was relieved of that command on March 25 , 1864 , and assigned command of the Rolla District . Guitar was relieved of the Rolla District command on August 23 , and on August 31 , 1864 , Guitar resigned his militia commission and returned to practicing law . Postbellum career . Guitar married Kate Leonard , the daughter of Judge Abiel Leonard on December 26 , 1865 , and raised seven children . Guitar was president of the Boone County Bar Association until 1878 and he achieved a legendary record of success in defending homicide cases . He supported education , becoming curator of the University of Missouri and as president of the Columbia Board of Education . Guitar was a member of the Republican Party after the war . Odon Guitar died at his home in Columbia on March 13 , 1908 , and is buried in Columbia Cemetery .