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The Battle of Westport
October 23, 1864

One of the most important Civil War battles to take place west of the Mississippi, the Battle of Westport marked the beginning of the end for the Confederate threat in the West.

Sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West", The Battle of Westport took place in current-day Kansas City, Missouri with over 30,000 troops engaged and cost about 1,500 casualties on each side.

On a mission to break the Union resolve in Missouri, Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price and his outnumbered Army of Missouri faced Union Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis’s Army of the Border blocking his advance at Westport. In addition, Union Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton’s cavalry division was closing on Price’s rear.

Fighting erupted along Brush Creek and at Byram’s Ford on the Big Blue River as Price sought passage for his entourage including nearly 500 wagons. Union Maj. Gen. James Blunt’s division, however, held a defensive position on the Big Blue River’s west bank.

Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan and Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby attacked Blunt’s defensive positions allowing Price’s wagon train and about 5,000 head of cattle to cross the river at Byram’s ford.

Then, with Brig. Gen John S. Marmaduke’s Rebel division holding the west bank of the Big Blue, Pleasonton’s forces were prevented from attacking Price’s rear. Soon after, however, Union troops were converging on Price from two directions.

Renewed Union attacks with superior forces turn the tide of battle in the Union’s favor. Blunt pounds Confederate forces with artillery leaving Price no alternative but to retreat south.

Price’s retreating column would again be viciously attacked just two days later at the Battle of Mine Creek after being relentlessly pursued by Union forces under Pleasonton, Blunt and Curtis,. This final attack nearly destroys Price’s army and marks the end of Confederate activity in the trans-Mississippi.

Today, the Battle of Westport is marked with a self-guided auto tour. Battle of Westport sites are preserved near present-day Loose Park and at Byram's Ford. Extensive battlefield preservation efforts are sponsored by the Monnett Battle of Westport Fund.

A few of the auto tour stops are shown in accompanying photos.

(2008) Enlarge Now within the boundaries of present-day Kansas City, Missouri, Westport marked a gathering place for those who began their westward journey on the Oregon and Santa Fe trails

(2008) Enlarge The Battle of Westport marked the turning point of Confederate General Sterling Price’s Missouri Expedition and was the beginning of the end of the Confederacy in the West. This area is located at one of the crucial areas where fighting occurred

(2008) Enlarge An important defensive position, this strategic point overlooks Byram’s Ford crossing—a center of fighting at the Battle of Westport

(2008) Enlarge With nearly 500 wagons, Confederate Maj. General Sterling Price’s force required a good ford to cross the Big Blue River. Byram’s Ford was the best one for miles

(2008) Enlarge Price’s wagon train and about 5,000 head of cattle crossed the Big Blue River here at Byram’s Ford. The crossing became a strategic point and a center of fighting in the Battle of Westport

(2008) Enlarge Near the Byram’s Ford crossing, this street rises up from the river in a westerly direction