This Day in Civil War History October 23rd, 1864 Battle of Westport, Missouri

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-westport-missouri ^

[mainepatsfan]

Oct 23, 1864:

Battle of Westport, Missouri

Confederate General Sterling Price's raid on Missouri nearly turns into disaster when his army is pinned between two Union forces at Westport, near Kansas City. Although outnumbered two to one, Price managed to slip safely away after the Battle of Westport, which was the biggest battle west of the Mississippi River.

Price's six-week raid on Missouri was intended to capture a state that had been firmly in Union hands during much of the war. Price hoped to divert attention from the East, where Confederate armies had not done well in the late summer of 1864. A blow against Northern territory could also hurt the Republicans in the fall elections, and it could raise much-needed supplies.

Price entered Missouri from Arkansas in mid-September. His force moved through the state with little opposition, but Price failed to capture either St. Louis or Jefferson City. In mid-October, Price turned west up the Missouri River and captured several small Federal outposts. At Byram's Ford on October 22, Price's men pushed aside a small Union force attached to General Samuel Curtis's army. The rest of Curtis's men waited at Westport to the northwest. Price also faced a threat to his rear because Yankee cavalry under Alfred Pleasonton were moving in from the southeast. In short, Union troops were converging on Price from two directions.

[PzLdr]

If I remember correctly, George Todd, Quantrill’s one time lieutenant, and the man who kicked Quantrill out of his own guerilla band, was killed in that battle. Todd and his guerillas had joined Price as scouts/cavalry.

[Non-Sequitur]

Bump

[mainepatsfan]

I think Todd was killed just before this battle.

[Non-Sequitur]

The battlefield has long since been overtaken by Kansas City. The original Union defensive line covered part of what is now the Country Club Plaza. Blunt moved his forces forward across the creek and most of the fighting took place in what is now Loose Park and the residential neighborhoods between there and Pembroke Hill, a private school. There are historical markers in the area and anyone who wants to track the course of the battle can do so easily enough, and wind up their tour with barbecue at Jack's Stack on the Plaza.

Two days later Plesanton caught up with what was left of Price's army about 40 miles south of town and decisively beat it at Marais des Cygnes and then later in the day at Mine Creek. The route at Newtonia three days after that basically destroyed what was left of the last organized rebel army in the west.

[badpacifist]

Actually there are battles almost nightly in Westport to this day.

[badpacifist]

I have a confederate major’s sword from the 15th Arkansas infantry and I live 40 miles from Westport or so.

[SunkenCiv]

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