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Battle of Mine Creek

Coordinates:38°08′42″N94°43′24″W/ 38.14500°N 94.72333°W/38.14500; -94.72333
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Not to be confused withBattle of Mine Run.

Battle of Mine Creek
Part of theAmerican Civil War

It Went Against UsbySamuel J. Reader
DateOctober 25, 1864(1864-10-25)
Location
Linn County, Kansas
38°08′42″N94°43′24″W/ 38.14500°N 94.72333°W/38.14500; -94.72333
Result Unionvictory
Belligerents
United States(Union) Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
United StatesFrederick W. Benteen
United StatesJohn F. Philips		 Confederate States of AmericaJohn S. Marmaduke(POW)
Confederate States of AmericaJames F. Fagan
Units involved
United StatesArmy of the Border Confederate States of AmericaArmy of Missouri
Strength
2,500–2,600 7,000
Casualties and losses
100–110 1,200
Mine Creek is located in Kansas
Mine Creek
Mine Creek
class=notpageimage|
Location within Kansas

TheBattle of Mine Creek,also known as theBattle of Little Osage,was fought on October 25, 1864, inLinn County, Kansas,as part ofPrice's Missouri Campaignduring theAmerican Civil War.Major-GeneralSterling Pricehad begun an expedition in September 1864 to restoreConfederatecontrol ofMissouri.After being defeated atWestportnearKansas Cityon October 23, Price's army began to retreat south through Kansas. Early on October 25,Price's armywas defeated at theMarais des Cygnes.After Marais des Cygnes, the Confederates fell back, but were stalled at the crossing of Mine Creek while a wagon train attempted to cross.

Unioncavalrycommanded byColonelJohn F. PhilipsandLieutenant ColonelFrederick W. Benteencaught up to Price's army while it was stalled at the creek crossing. Confederate cavalry commanded by Major GeneralJames F. FaganandBrigadier GeneralJohn S. Marmadukeattempted to defend against the Union assault, but were soundly defeated. Many Confederate soldiers were captured, including Marmaduke. Later on the 25th, Price was again defeated at theBattle of Marmiton River.After Marmiton River, Price destroyed many of his wagons. On October 28, the Union defeated Price again at theSecond Battle of Newtonia,and the shattered Confederate army reachedTexasin December. The site of the battle was listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 1973 as theBattle of Mine Creek Site,and theKansas Historical Societycreated the Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site in 1974. Mine Creek is considered to be one of the largest battles between mounted cavalry during the war.

Background

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Main article:Price's Missouri Expedition
Map of Price's Raid
Map of Price's Raid

During theAmerican Civil War,in the fall of 1864,Major GeneralSterling Priceled an expedition intoMissourihoping to capture that state for theConfederacyand affect the1864 United States Presidential Election.Price formed an army consisting of threedivisions(commanded by Major GeneralJames F. FaganandBrigadier GeneralsJohn S. MarmadukeandJoseph O. Shelby) and leftArkansasfor Missouri in September. On September 26, Price's army found and assaulted aUnionforce nearPilot Knob.Price's army was repulsed in the ensuingBattle of Fort Davidson,although the Union garrison retreated after the battle. The Confederates then moved north towards theMissouri Riverand captured a small Union force at theBattle of Glasgowon October 15 and began moving towardsKansas City.

Union columns commanded by Major GeneralsSamuel R. CurtisandAlfred Pleasontonbegan pursuing Price, who won another victory at theSecond Battle of Le xing tonon October 19. A delaying action at theBattle of Little Blue River(October 21) allowed Union forces to catch up with Price. After smaller clashes at the battles ofSecond Independence(October 22) andthe Big Blue River(October 22 and 23), Curtis and Pleasonton decisively defeated Price's army at theBattle of Westporton October 23.

The Confederates began retreating through Kansas, and early on October 25, Price's army was defeated ina small actionnear theMarais des Cygnes River.Price's army was slowed during the retreat by a large supply train, which halted at thefordat Mine Creek. Unioncavalrycaught up to the stalled Confederates during the late morning on the 25th.[1]

Opposing forces

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Union

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Further information:Mine Creek Union order of battle

The Union forces pursuing Price's column were all organized into theArmy of the Border,commanded by Curtis. Curtis' army contained twodivisions.The first was commanded by Major GeneralJames G. Bluntand consisted of fourbrigades,commanded byColonelsCharles R. Jennison,Thomas Moonlight,Charles W. Blair,[a]andJames H. Ford.The division was almost entirelycavalry,and containedmilitiaunits, especially in Blair's brigade. Blunt's men were from Kansas,Wisconsin,and theColorado Territory.Curtis' second division was commanded by Pleasonton, and also contained four brigades. Pleasonton's brigades were commanded by ColonelJohn F. Philips,Brigadier GeneralsJohn McNeilandJohn B. Sanborn,andLieutenant ColonelFrederick W. Benteen.Like Blunt's division, Pleasonton's division was primarily cavalry and contained a substantial militia element. Pleasonton's units were from Missouri, Kansas,Illinois,Iowa,andIndiana.[3]

Confederate

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Further information:Mine Creek Confederate order of battle

Price had divided his force into three divisions, commanded by Marmaduke, Shelby, and Fagan. Fagan's division contained four brigades, commanded by Brigadier GeneralWilliam L. Cabelland ColonelsWilliam F. Slemons,Archibald S. Dobbins,andThomas H. McCray.Several miscellaneous units were assigned to Fagan's division, but not placed in any brigade. Fagan's units were from Arkansas and Missouri. Marmaduke's division consisted of two brigades, commanded by Brigadier GeneralJohn Bullock Clark Jr.and Colonel Thomas R. Freeman. Marmaduke's men were from Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Shelby's division contained three brigades, commanded by militia officerM. Jeff Thompsonand ColonelsSidney D. Jackmanand Charles H. Tyler. The men of Shelby's division were from Arkansas and Missouri. Price's army consisted almost entirely of cavalry.[4]

Battle

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Despite the skirmish near the Marais des Cygnes, Price did not believe his force was in substantial danger, and sent Shelby's division towardsFort Scottto make an attempting at capturing the post. Marmaduke and Fagan remained with some of the wagon train near the crossing of Mine Creek, north of theLittle Osage River.The crossing of Mine Creek was not easily navigated, and a pileup soon formed. The Confederates decided to make a stand north of the creek in an attempt to protect the wagons. Fagan and Marmaduke formed an 800 yards (730 m)-long line, with Fagan on the left and Marmaduke on the right. Fourcannonswere positioned in the center of the line, and two more were posted on eachflank.[5]The Confederate line was defended by an estimated 7,000 men.[6][7]

Some of the leading Union troops caught up with the Confederate column. However, Blunt's division was lagging, and would not arrive in time for the battle.[8]Philips' brigade reached the field first, and a long-range fight began. The Confederates used their artillery; Philips' force lacked artillery, and was forced to be contented with long-range fire fromrepeating rifles.Cabell entertained the thought of attacking Philips with his brigade of Confederates, but decided against a charge due to the disorganization of the Confederate line and the arrival of Benteen's Union brigade.[9]Combined, Philips' and Benteen's brigades numbered about 2,500[10]to 2,600 men.[6]Despite being outnumbered, the Union commanders decided to attack the Confederate line. One of the driving factors behind the decision to attack was Benteen's belief that the Confederates had made an error in the emplacement of their artillery.[11]The Confederate cannons were placed close to the front line, and would only have the chance to fire one or two rounds before a cavalry charge could reach them.[12]

The Union charge was made while the cavalrymen were still mounted;[12]the Confederate forces were also on horseback.[10]The Union attack faltered during the middle of the charge, when both the10th Missouri Cavalryof Benteen's brigade and Philips' brigade stopped the attack before reaching the Confederate line. The 10th Missouri had met heavysmall armsfire from the Confederate lines stopped under the fire, and Philips halted his brigade to keep in line with Benteen. This left the Union cavalrymen stationary and vulnerable to a potential Confederatecounterattack.The Confederates were too disorganized to attempt a counterattack and the4th Iowa Cavalryof Benteen's brigade broke the impasse by renewing the attack. The3rd Iowa Cavalryfollowed the 4th Iowa, and eventually the whole of Benteen's brigade rejoined the charge.[13]Benteen's force aimed for the center of Marmaduke's side of the Confederate line, and Philips' brigade headed towards Fagan's left flank once the unit resumed forward progress.[6]

Once Benteen and Philips reached the main Confederate line, the position did not hold long. The Union troopers' repeating rifles gave them a firepower advantage over the Confederates, who were mostly armed with single-shot weapons. Clark's Confederate brigade became engaged in amelee,and quickly fell back. Marmaduke's other brigade, Freeman's, contained mainly newly recruited men and fell back before the Union charge completely reached their line. After Clark and Freeman fell back, the position of Cabell's Confederate brigade became exposed, and it too retreated. Soon, almost the entire Confederate line was in retreat towards the crossing of Mine Creek.[14]Unable to cross the creek, many of the Confederates soldiers were captured.[11]One of the prisoners was Marmaduke himself. The Confederate general was captured byPrivateJames Dunlavyof the 3rd Iowa. As a reward for capturing Marmaduke, Dunlavy was givenmilitary leavefor the remainder of his time of service.[15]Dunlavy later received theMedal of Honorfor "[g]allantry in capturing Gen. Marmaduke".[16]Cabell was also made a prisoner, and the Union troops captured either eight[11]or ten cannons.[15]

Philips' and Benteen's brigades crossed the ford and continuing pursuing the Confederates. Confusion began to overtake the field, partially because many of the Confederates were wearing captured Union uniforms. Fagan attempted to rally his forces into a line capable of halting the Union pursuit, but the attempt failed. Pleasonton and Curtis arrived on the field late in the fighting, and the battle ended when Pleasonton ordered Benteen and Philips to stop the pursuit.[17]

Aftermath

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Confederate casualties are estimated to have numbered around 1,200.[18][7]Union losses were around 100[7]to 110.[18]Shelby's division returned in time to provide arear guardfor the defeated Confederates. Price's surviving wagons would again be delayed late on the 25th, this time at the crossing of theMarmaton River.After a short fight at theBattle of Marmiton River,Price decided to destroy all of the wagons that did not contain essential military supplies. The retreating Confederates were again defeated at theSecond Battle of Newtoniaon October 28. After the defeat at Newtonia, Price's army began to fall to pieces, and was pursued by Curtis' army all the way to the Arkansas River. By December, the shattered remainder of Price's army reached Texas, with the campaign having ended in a decisive defeat. The defeat of Price's expedition marked the last major Confederate operation in theTrans-Mississippi Theater.Mine Creek gained the distinction of being one the largest battles between mounted cavalry in the war.[19]

Legacy

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The site of the battle was listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 1973 as theBattle of Mine Creek Site.At the time of the listing, the site was considered to be in "good" condition, although the prairie has been converted into cultivated agricultural land, a pond has been constructed, and the number of trees on the site has increased.[20]TheKansas Historical Societyhas also preserved the site as Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site; the site was officially founded in 1974. Marked trails are present at the site, allowing visitors to view the significant features of the battlefield. A visitor's center has also been constructed.[21]

As of 2019, theAmerican Battlefield Trustand its partners have acquired and preserved 326 acres (132 ha) of the battlefield.[22]

On November 15, 2004, theHistory Channelreleased a documentary about the battle titled "Mine Creek: The Lost Battle of the Civil War".[23]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^William Fishback, a militia officer, accompanied Blair's brigade in an unofficial role.[2]

References

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  1. ^Kennedy 1998,pp. 380–384.
  2. ^Buresh 1977,p. 47.
  3. ^Buresh 1977,pp. 207–206.
  4. ^Buresh 1977,pp. 204–207.
  5. ^Castel 1993,pp. 239–240.
  6. ^abcKennedy 1998,p. 384.
  7. ^abc"Mine Creek (Battle of the Osage)".battlefields.org.American Battlefield Trust.RetrievedMay 12,2020.
  8. ^Monaghan 1984,p. 338.
  9. ^Collins 2016,p. 143.
  10. ^abCastel 1993,p. 240.
  11. ^abcCastel 1993,p. 241.
  12. ^abCollins 2016,p. 144.
  13. ^Collins 2016,p. 147.
  14. ^Collins 2016,p. 149.
  15. ^abMonaghan 1984,p. 339.
  16. ^"Dunlavy, James".National Medal of Honor Museum.RetrievedMay 13,2020.
  17. ^Collins 2016,p. 153.
  18. ^abKennedy 1998,p. 385.
  19. ^Kennedy 1998,pp. 384–386.
  20. ^"National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form".United States Department of the Interior.RetrievedMay 13,2020.
  21. ^"Mine Creek Battlefield–Plan Your Visit".Kansas Historical Society.RetrievedMay 13,2020.
  22. ^"Mine Creek Battlefield".American Battlefield Trust.RetrievedJune 20,2023.
  23. ^Wade, Lynn A. (November 11, 2004)."History Channel Movie About Local Event to Premier in Fort Scott".Nevada Daily Mail.RetrievedMay 12,2020.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • Castel, Albert,A Frontier State at War: Kansas, 1861–1865.Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1958.
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