Price’s Missouri Expedition (Price’s Raid), 1864

Operational Narrative

In late August 1864, Maj. Gen. Sterling Price launched the Army of Missouri on the final major Confederate offensive in the Trans-Mississippi theater. Price commanded three cavalry divisions led by Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan, Maj. Gen. John S. Marmaduke, and Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby, totaling approximately 12,000 men, though many were poorly armed and unmounted.

Failing to capture Fort Davidson at Pilot Knob without unacceptable losses, Price abandoned operations against St. Louis and shifted westward toward Jefferson City. Finding the state capital heavily fortified, Confederate forces moved up the Missouri River valley, raiding Federal outposts and seizing vast supplies while accumulating an unwieldy wagon train. As Price advanced toward Kansas City, two Federal armies mobilized against him: Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis formed the Army of the Border in Kansas, while Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton led a provisional cavalry division pursuing Price from central Missouri.

The campaign culminated in four days of continuous combat in Jackson County: the delaying action at the Little Blue River on October 21, the street battle through Independence on October 22, the fight for Byram’s Ford across the Big Blue River on October 22–23, and the decisive general engagement at Westport on October 23. Defeated at Westport, Price retreated southward along the Missouri–Kansas border. On October 25, at Mine Creek in Linn County, Kansas, pursuing Federal cavalry shattered Price’s rear guard, capturing two general officers and concluding Confederate offensive capability in Missouri for the remainder of the war.