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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Price's Raid & Battle of Mine Creek (Sep-Oct 1864) - Oct. 28th, 2004
webs.wichita.edu ^

Posted on 10/27/2004 10:36:40 PM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

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The Western Theater and Price's Raid


The Civil War's Western Theater experienced several forays by Confederates into sparsely-populated territories of the Union-held American West. One such region was the Kansas-Missouri border. Missouri was officially Union but was a slave state that contained significant numbers of Southern sympathizers. Some residents raided neighboring Kansas. Missouri was the base for William Quantrill, who had launched his infamous raid of Lawrence in 1863.



Southern military leaders also acknowledged this strong element of Southern sympathizers in Missouri. In 1864, Major General Kirby Smith, commander of the South's Trans-Mississippi Department met with Major General Sterling Price, commander of the District of Arkansas to plan an invasion of Missouri. The hope was that such actions would be enough to rally pro-Southern elements in that state. Even if that part did not succeed, the raid would hopefully disrupt the 1864 presidential elections and obtain needed animals, supplies, and soldiers for the Confederate cause. A Missourian himself, Price would lead the raid. Should Price fail to take Missouri, he was to retreat along the Kansas-Missouri border, striking a glancing blow to the symbol of Free-soil sentiments in the region: Kansas.


General James Fagan


In September of 1864, Price's Army of the Missouri set out with 12,000 cavalry troops and supporting artillery. The Army was organized into three divisions, commanded by Generals John Marmaduke (like Price a Missourian), Joseph Shelby, and James Fagan. Fagan's division consisted of troops from Arkansas organized into four brigades. Marmaduke and Shelby had divisions with two brigades each that consisted mostly of pro-Southern Missourians. Each brigade consisted of a number of state-based regiments, the primary unit during the Civil War.


General Sterling Price


The speed, mobility, and power of mounted units made cavalry a valuable tool in a number of situations. Cavalry units were useful in pursuing a fleeing enemy. Mounted troops were utilized in anti-guerrilla campaigns, such as those of Ewing's Order Number 11 policy. During the Civil War military leaders on both sides also used cavalry to outflank and surprise enemy positions as well as for scouting and reconnaissance patrols. In addition, cavalry troops were effective in conducting quick raids on specific targets. Price's forces were mostly cavalry units, suggesting a need for a lightning fast action. These units were designed to capture and surround, not invade or lay siege. Price and Smith wagered that there would not be enough resistance among the locals to require large numbers of infantry.


General Alfred Pleasonton


Price crossed into Missouri near Doniphan on September 19. He moved towards St. Louis, hoping to take the city. However a defeat at Pilot Knob on September 27 allowed Union forces enough time to group and secure the city's position. Price redirected his forces to take the Missouri capital of Jefferson City. By the time Price reached the outskirts of Jefferson City, he found that Federal troops were well entrenched there as well. Turning to the northwest again, Price headed toward Kansas City capturing supplies and rallying some soldiers along the way. By now, Price oversaw more than a group of cavalry units. There was an immense baggage train filled with supplies and arms headed for the Confederacy. In pursuit were 7,000 Union Cavalry from the Department of Missouri under the command of General Alfred Pleasonton. Pleasonton had commanded cavalry forces for the Army of the Potomac and had engaged General J.E.B Stuart at Brandy Station, the largest cavalry engagement of the war. By 1864, however, Pleasonton had fallen out of favor with the leaders back east and was transferred to the Department of Missouri just in time to face Price's raid.


Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis


Meanwhile, Major General Samuel Curtis, commander of the Department of Kansas, started to rally his forces to meet Price. At the time, the Department of Kansas covered a vast territory from Nebraska in the north to Colorado in the west and Indian Territory to the south. The Department contained 4,000 troops, many of whom were engaged in pacifying the Cheyenne and Arapaho. Curtis hastily formed the "Army of the Border" consisting of cavalry units from Colorado, Kansas, and Wisconsin. Curtis also mobilized the 10,000 troops of the Kansas State Militia into the effort as well as units of African American troops. Curtis organized his forces into two divisions, one consisting of the state units under General James G. Blunt. The other division, under Major General George Deitzler, oversaw the militia. Even so, Curtis was not sure he would be able to defend Kansas from Price. He had reason to be worried. By late October, Price was advancing fast on Kansas City. Price forced back Blunt's forces at the battles of the Little Blue, Independence, and the Big Blue.



A turning point took place on October 23. Price directed General Shelby's division to attack Curtis outside of Kansas City. At this engagement, now called the Battle of Westport, the Kansas Militia checked Shelby's advance. Meanwhile, Pleasonton's forces were catching up to Price's army. Failing to capture a third major city or penetrate deep into Kansas, Price retreated along the Kansas Missouri border. By now, nearly 9,000 Union men were in pursuit. Northern and Southern forces tried to outflank each other along the border. Each time, Price escaped but left in his wake a trail of burned homes and looted farms. Union troops hurriedly raced to reinforce Mound City, Price's next objective. When Price received news of the city's defense, he decided to avoid that community and instead continue down the Old Military Road towards Fort Scott.

Thanks to FReeper Lee Heggy for suggesting this thread




TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: cavalry; civilwar; freeperfoxhole; kansas; minecreek; pricesraid; veterans; warbetweenstates
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To: colorado tanker
But I'm gonna hold my breath till election night. If it's close, it'll be the mother of all legal and pr battles.

That's were I am too, holding my breath, it's gonna be a long night Nov. 2nd. It's scary to think how close this race is and that Kerry has a chance.

41 posted on 10/28/2004 1:20:14 PM PDT by SAMWolf (MEETINGS - A practical alternative to work.)
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To: SAMWolf
Hugh Hewitt is convinced that 9-11 changed the electorate, as shown in the 2002 midterms, and that the polling companies are way underestimating Dubya's support. The size of the crowds Dubya's attracting support that. I hope he's right.
42 posted on 10/28/2004 1:24:25 PM PDT by colorado tanker ("medals, ribbons, we threw away the symbols of what our country gave us and I'm proud of that")
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To: colorado tanker
I wonder what last minute hit the MSM and Dims have saved up for this weekend.

Whatever it is will be fabricated but the Dims don't give a hoot about lying. Grrrr.

43 posted on 10/28/2004 3:32:00 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: colorado tanker
and that the polling companies are way underestimating Dubya's support.

I hope so. Plus, you can't expect the MSM to report bad news for kerry.

44 posted on 10/28/2004 3:33:31 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; PhilDragoo; All
Howdy all!


45 posted on 10/28/2004 4:30:07 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul (Kerry's total disregard for the troops' safety is of no consequence to him - Vietnam, and now Iraq)
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To: Victoria Delsoul

LOL. Good evening Victoria.


46 posted on 10/28/2004 5:07:00 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: SAMWolf
Didn't Benteen command one of Custer's Squadrons at the Little Big Horn? Sure he did.

Commanded a battalion (Companies D, H and K) on scout and Company H in the hilltop fight where he was wounded in the right thumb.

United States Army Brevet Brigadier General. Born in Petersburg, Virginia, the son of Theodore Charles Benteen and Caroline Hargrove. 

He entered military service as a First Lieutenant in Company C, 10th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, on September 1, 1861, on the Union side. He married Catherine Louise Norman on 7 January 7, 1862 in St. Louis, Missouri. 

He participated in a number of Civil War battles, including Wilson's Creek, Bolivar, Milliken's Bend, Pea Ridge, and Vicksburg, receiving accolades from his superior officers. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on February 27, 1864, and Colonel, 138th United States Colored Infantry, on July 1, 1865. 

In the reorganization of the US Army following the Civil War, he was appointed Captain, 7th United States Cavalry, on July 28, 1866, and carried that rank into the Battle of the Little Big Horn, June 25,1876. During that celebrated battle, where Lt. Col. George Custer's forces met its famous disaster, he led a battalion that initially was to join Custer's forces, but was met by overwhelming enemy numbers, and was turned back to join Major Marcus Reno's portion of the regiment. Since the end of the battle he has been mired in historical controversy due to his alleged slow response to Colonel Custer's orders for him to join Custer's forces, which had been engaged with the Indians. Some claim that he did all he could, and his leadership actually saved the survivors of the regiment. Other claim, both during his lifetime and today, that he was slow in responding due to the fact he despised Custer thoroughly. However, most of the contemporary blame for the disaster was placed on the head of Major Reno. 

In 1878 he commanded a battalion against hostile Indians.

Testified at the Reno Court of Inquiry in 1879 in Chicago.

Frederick Benteen was promoted to Major of the 9th United States Cavalry, in December 1882, and was given command of Fort Duchesne, Utah, where in 1887 he was court-martialled for drunkenness and "conduct unbecoming of an officer". He was convicted and faced dismissal from the Army, but his sentence was reduced by President Grover Cleveland to a year's suspension.

After his return he retired for disability on July 7, 1888 and resided in Atlanta, Georgia until his death from paralysis resulting from rheumatism and heart disease. Initially given the brevet of Colonel (a standard promotion for retiring officers), he was again brevetted to Brigadier General on February 27, 1890, mostly because of the recommendations of numerous Army officers who wanted him to be recognized for his gallant service at the Little Big Horn. Many officers admired him, for his pleasant humor and self-sacrifice for duty, and in battle, he was considered absolutely without fear. Major Reno, his immediate superior in 1876, called him "the bravest man I ever knew."

Originally buried in Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia, he was reinterred in November 1902 into Arlington National Cemetery. 

 

47 posted on 10/28/2004 5:07:28 PM PDT by CholeraJoe (I'm just three lost teeth and a neck tattoo away from being a Soccer Hooligan. Go Gunners!)
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To: Victoria Delsoul

Whassup, Victoria?


48 posted on 10/28/2004 5:09:47 PM PDT by CholeraJoe (I'm just three lost teeth and a neck tattoo away from being a Soccer Hooligan. Go Gunners!)
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To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; E.G.C.; alfa6; The Mayor; Professional Engineer; Colonel_Flagg; ...
1985 The leader of the "Walker family spy ring," John Walker, pleaded guilty to giving U-S Navy secrets to the Soviet Union

Hank Holzer finished his manuscript on treason and bestowed upon me several tomes on various kerries including the Walker-Whitworth gang.

I read these and found each contributed to a holograph from hell; the take-away is, of course, let me take these traitors down into the basement and show them the basics of shop safety.

Robert W. Hunter, Spy Hunter: Inside the FBI Investigation of the Walker Espionage Case, Naval Institute Press, 1999.

John Barron, Breaking the Ring: The Bizarre Case of the Walker Family Spy Ring, Houghton Mifflin, 1987.

Pete Earley, Family of Spies: Inside the Walker Spy Ring, Bantam, 1988.

Jack Kneece, Family Treason: The Walker Spy Case, Stein and Day, 1986.

John Kerry's father Richard writes in his Star Spangled Mirror "Americans are inclined to see the world and foreign affairs in black and white."

John Kerry's earliest pronunciamentos include his stipulation US military only be applied under UN jurisdiction, we can't fight communism all over the world, and the Communists in Vietnam occupy the moral high ground.

John Kerry has fulfilled the requirements for the Lenin Award for agent-in-place, the Marx medal for lifetime achievement in the subversion of democratic capitalism, and Satan's sash for voting 100% against life.

Traitors need the full Mussolini, the complete Ceaucescu.

Credit where credit's due.


49 posted on 10/28/2004 5:19:41 PM PDT by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: colorado tanker
I hope he's right.

< You and I both. I'm hoping that the polling is way off and Bush wins big.

50 posted on 10/28/2004 7:27:26 PM PDT by SAMWolf (MEETINGS - A practical alternative to work.)
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To: Victoria Delsoul

Evening Victoria.

I'm surprised the Navy even claims him.


51 posted on 10/28/2004 7:28:11 PM PDT by SAMWolf (MEETINGS - A practical alternative to work.)
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To: CholeraJoe

Evening CholeraJoe.

When I first researched the article, I thought the name was familiar. I had to check just to make sure. Thanks for providing the info on Benteen.


52 posted on 10/28/2004 7:29:29 PM PDT by SAMWolf (MEETINGS - A practical alternative to work.)
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To: PhilDragoo
Evening Phil Dragoo

John Kerry has fulfilled the requirements for the Lenin Award for agent-in-place, the Marx medal for lifetime achievement in the subversion of democratic capitalism, and Satan's sash for voting 100% against life.

Kerry's history proves he likes to suck up to Communists. He's been doing it publicly since at least the 1970's.

53 posted on 10/28/2004 7:32:08 PM PDT by SAMWolf (MEETINGS - A practical alternative to work.)
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To: PhilDragoo

Kerry even has that commie hand gesture and bow. Ugh.


54 posted on 10/28/2004 10:44:05 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: PhilDragoo

BTT!!!!!!!


55 posted on 10/29/2004 3:04:14 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: SAMWolf

Sam, the 'ghost tour' at Ft. Scott is two evenings where groups of people are led by costumed guides carrying candle lanterns to various places on the grounds such as the barracks, arsenal and the other facilities and we perform events/scenes that actually occured using the names and actual words of soldiers and civilians. Last year I was a private named Tom Greene who had previously deserted and was in the stockade awaiting court martial and eventual firing squad. It was a pitiful scene with my distraught wife and children and the guards keeping them from giving me anything. This year I will be a land owner or saloon keeper who has a beef with the government about stolen livestock or broken furnishings and money owed by soldiers. It's a lot of fun and the men, women and even some children really get into playing the role of someone who was at the fort in the 1830's/40s. It's surprising how much is known from the meticulous records, diaries and letters that are preserved. It's one of my favorite events that I participate in. The comraderie and friendships that are formed doing this has brought a great deal of happiness into my life. The National Park Service takes real good care of us too. They supply us with everything possible. They have what they call 'the magic room'. This is where they have everything right down to hats, shoes, pistols, rifles and bayonets to make us look exactly like the soldiers did in the Mexican War. Some of the gear is the real thing from those days. It's pretty amazing.


56 posted on 10/29/2004 9:01:41 AM PDT by Lee Heggy (Never tell a lie--except for practice. Mark Twain)
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To: Lee Heggy

That's what I thought it was. Sounds like a interesting and fun time. Stepping into someone else's shoes must really bring home the feelings of the time.


57 posted on 10/29/2004 9:06:34 AM PDT by SAMWolf (MEETINGS - A practical alternative to work.)
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To: SAMWolf

BTW Sam, The real Pvt. Greene of 1836 wasn't executed. Trained and experienced dragoons were in somewhat short supply . He was given the chance to redeem himself by going to Texas with the rest of his outfit and fight the Mexicans. I believe he aquitted himself quite well but there was some disciplinary action taken in regards of some sort of daliance he had with a laundress.


58 posted on 10/29/2004 9:13:08 AM PDT by Lee Heggy (Never tell a lie--except for practice. Mark Twain)
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; bentfeather

Greetings everyone!

Just wanted to "pop in" to say HI and to let everyone know that I'm still alive & kicking. ROFL

I'm still unemployed (not a "real" bad thing) and the house is still unsold (a BIG bad thing)

God is good, and we're standing on faith that he's gonna work everything out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But it's still a test. :|

Thanks for all your prayers, and I ask that you continue to do so! I'll try and pop in again in the next few days.

Take care!

Dave


59 posted on 10/29/2004 8:35:39 PM PDT by Johnny Gage (Oxymoron = Democrat who drives an SUV (or a "gas guzzler"))
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To: Johnny Gage

Hi Johnny,

Good to hear from you! Prayers still up for you and the family.


60 posted on 10/29/2004 8:54:40 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
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