Battle of Camden Point facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Camden Point
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
Date July 13, 1864 Location Camden Point, Missouri 39°27′12″N 94°44′43″W / 39.45333°N 94.74528°W / 39.45333; -94.74528 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States of America	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Colonel James Hobart Ford	Colonel J. C. Thornton
Strength
700-1,000	200-300
Casualties and losses
4 killed, 1 wounded	4 executed, 2 killed, 25 wounded

The Battle of Camden Point was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on July 13, 1864, near Camden Point, Missouri, in the United States. This battle was part of the larger Trans-Mississippi Theater of the war. The Union army won this battle.

What Caused the Battle?

In the middle of 1864, there was a conflict in northwestern Missouri called the Paw Paw Rebellion. During this time, Union soldiers crossed the Missouri River. They moved into Platte County, Missouri.

A group of Confederate soldiers on horseback was forming near Camden Point. This group had about 200 to 300 men. They were led by Colonel J. C. Thornton.

The Ambush at the Picnic

On July 13, Colonel Thornton's Confederate soldiers were having a picnic. They were in an open field near Camden Point. Suddenly, Union troops attacked them.

These Union soldiers were from the 2nd Colorado Cavalry and the 15th Kansas Cavalry. They also had one piece of artillery, which is a type of cannon. Their leader was Colonel Jim Ford. He was from the 2nd Colorado Cavalry.

The Union force was much larger, with 700 to 1,000 soldiers. They surprised the picnicking Confederates.

Who Won and What Happened Next?

The Union attack caused the Confederate soldiers to run away. Two Confederate soldiers were killed during the fight. About 25 more were wounded.

The Union side had one soldier killed and one wounded. Sadly, three of the wounded Union soldiers later died from their injuries. After the battle, four captured Confederate soldiers were killed by Federal soldiers.

The Union troops also took many supplies. They captured ammunition, weapons, and gunpowder. The town of Camden Point was also burned during this time.

After the Battle

The battle flag of the Confederate group was captured by the Union soldiers. This flag is now kept by the Colorado State Historical Society.

In 1871, a special memorial was built. It honors the Confederate soldiers who died in the battle. This memorial is at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Camden Point. The Confederate soldiers who were killed are buried there.

This memorial is the third oldest Confederate memorial west of the Mississippi River. Two older memorials are in Lone Jack, Missouri, and Cowen Cemetery in Wayne County, Missouri. They were built in 1870.