The Battle of Mine Creek Page1   Page2   Page3

The Battle of Mine Creek
(also known as Battle of the Osage and Battle of the Marais des Cygnes)
October 25, 1864

In mid-September of 1864 Confederate General Sterling Price hoped to capture Missouri for the South. The Civil War had raged for nearly 31/2 years, and Price, a former Missouri governor, had been actively engaged throughout. Leading pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard troops at the Battles of Lexington, Wilson�s Creek and Pea Ridge, Price was a favorite of his troops. Affectionately known as �Old Pap�, Price had also fought at Iuka and Corinth, MS.

Recruiting troops as he swept through Missouri, Price filled his ranks with fresh volunteers and prepared for his invasion. After a few small engagements, including a victory at the Battle of the Big Blue, Price headed his troops toward Kansas City. There, on October 23, Price was defeated at the Battle of Westport and retreated south down the state line. Pursuing Price, with a force of about 10,000, was Union General Samuel R. Curtis.

After crossing into Kansas, Price and his weary troops camped near Trading Post the night of October 24th. But before dawn on the following day pursuing Federal troops under Generals Pleasonton, Blunt and Curtis overtook Price�s retreating army and began a running battle that would climax around mid-day along the steep sides of rain-swollen Mine Creek. The main ford had become a quagmire from the fleeing wagon train numbering approximately 500. Two of Price�s commanders, General John Marmaduke, and General James Fagan, with approximately 7,000 troops, were forced to make a stand on the north side of the creek and cover the fleeing army�s retreat.

Battle of Mine Creek Visitor Center The photographs here were taken on October 25, 2002-the 138th anniversary of the battle. Although the weather was clear on the day of the battle one might expect that the foliage seen in these photos was similar to that at the time of the engagement. Completed in 1998, the Mine Creek Visitor Center helps preserve for history this often overlooked battle which is actually one of the largest cavalry engagements of the Civil War as well as a battle remembered for it's intense hand to hand combat. The battle claimed 400-500 dead that day, mostly Confederates, and quickly brought about the end of the war on the western front

Visitor Center

Visitor Center Exhibits at the Mine Creek Visitor Center, including maps, arms and other objects help tell the story of what happened that day in the only major Civil War battle on Kansas soil

Visitor Center