Jesse James and the Civil War in Missouri

The Last Great Rebel Raid in Missouri

The Last Great Rebel Raid in Missouri General Price he made a raid, made a raid, made a raid General Price he made a raid An' lost many a soldier . . . -A game song, collected by a WPA worker in Doniphan, Missouri General Price's final raid through the state of Missouri began in the fall of 1864 when he marched out of Arkansas with about twelve thousand men. His plan was to attack St. Louis, but along the way he decided to take a small Union army fort known as Fort Davidson near Pilot Knob, Missouri. The attack on Fort Davidson did not go well. The fort was defended by a small force of Union soldiers under General Thomas Ewing. But there was a deep ditch all around the fort, and nearly fifteen hundred of Price's men were killed as they tried to attack. Price then decided to wait until dark; he planned to put his artillery into position on a high hill over, looking the fort and attack from both the front and the rear the next morning, Ewing knew he could not continue to hold the fort, so he slipped his men out in the middle of the night and returned to St. Louis. Because Price lost so much time and so many men trying to capture Fort Davidson, he had to change his plans about attacking St. Louis. He decided to march west toward the state capital, Jeffer, 44 The Last Great Rebel Raid in Missouri 45 The Battle of Pilot Knob was a serious blow to General Price's dream of gaining control of Missouri. (State Historical Society of Missouri) son City, with the idea that he might be able to take over the seat of government in the state. But when he got to Jefferson City he found the city was heavily fortified. He also learned that a large Union force was coming after him from St. Louis. Price kept moving west and made his next stop at Boonville on the Missouri River. There he met with "Bloody Bill" Ander, son's guerrillas and gave them the orders to attack the railroad lines in northern Missouri. Price then continued marching west up the river toward Lexington, Independence, and Kansas City. He had started from Arkansas with nearly twelve thousand men, but he now had only about nine thousand left. Ahead of him at Kansas City was General Curtis with twelve thousand Union troops. Behind him was Union General Alfred Pleas, onton with nearly five thousand troops. Pleasonton had been chasing Price ever since his army left Jefferson City. 46 Jesse James and the Civil War in Missouri General Sterling Price was known as "Pap" Price to his troops. (State Historical Society of Missouri) The Last Great Rebel Raid in Missouri 47 As Price approached Kansas City he pushed across the Little Blue River, and by the evening of October 22 he had reached the hills and prairies just south of Brush Creek near the town of Westport. The next day Price sent part of his men south toward Fort Scott with the supply wagons so they would not be trapped and destroyed. He then ordered part of his remaining army to guard a crossing of the Big Blue River called Byram's Ford. They were supposed to keep Pleasonton's men from crossing the river at this point and attacking Price's rear. The main part ofPrice's army then attacked General Curtis, and a fierce battle took place. At first the Confederates had some success, but then the greater numbers of the Union army troops began to turn the battle against the Confederates. The men trying to keep Pleasonton's army from crossing the Big Blue River at Byram's Ford held the crossing for a while, but Pleasonton finally overpowered them. Price realized he was in great danger of having his whole army destroyed, so he ordered a retreat. His men started moving south along the Kansas,Missouri border. The Battle ofWestport was over. Nearly a thousand men were killed, wounded, or cap, tured on both sides during the battle, and Price's last effort to drive the Union army out ofMissouri had come to a bloody end. ...