The 24th Missouri Infantry Regiment was organized from recruits across the state of Missouri, October 24 through December 28, 1861, and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Sempronius Hamilton Boyd.
In addition to its Missouri state regimental number, the regiment bore the name "The Lyon Legion" in honor of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, killed in action on August 10, 1861, leading Federal troops in the battle of Battle of Wilson's Creek.
The regiment was attached to 1st Brigade, Army of Southwest Missouri, to February 1862.
District of Eastern Arkansas, Department of the Missouri, to October 1862.
1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Southeast Missouri, to March 1863.
District of Columbus, Kentucky, 6th Division, XVI Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to January 1864.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, XVI Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to March 1864.
Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Mississippi, May 1862 to November 1862.
2nd Brigade, 7th Division, Left Wing, XIII Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to December 1862.
Companies F and K were detached and on duty in District of Southeast Missouri to July 1863.
Reserve Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of Southeast Missouri, to August 1863.
Unattached, Cavalry Division, Arkansas Expedition, to January 1864.
Unattached, 1st Division, VII Corps, Army of Arkansas, to February 1864.
Curtis' Campaign in Missouri and Arkansas against Price, January to March 1862.
March to Patterson November 2–4, to Reeve's Station December 9–10.
Ordered to New Madrid, Mo., June, and duty in District of Columbus, Ky., until January 1864.
Expedition from Union City, Tenn., to Conyersville September 1–10 (detachment).
Pursuit of Price through Arkansas and Missouri September 7 to October 6.
Mineral Point, Mo., September 27. ordered to St. Louis, Mo., October 6.
Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 1862 to January 1863.
Expedition to Yazoo Pass and operations against Fort Pemberton and Greenwood March 13-April 5, 1863.
Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Alabama October 20–29.
Moved to Kingston, Ga., June 15–20, then to Resaca July 2, and duty there until October.