Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Battle of Mine Creek Site
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Pleasanton, Kansas |
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| Area | 180 acres (0.73 km2) |
| Built | 1864 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000762 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1973 |
The Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site is a special place in eastern Kansas. It's near Pleasanton and remembers an important event. This site marks the Battle of Mine Creek, a big fight during the American Civil War.
On October 25, 1864, a major battle happened here. About 2,800 Union soldiers fought against 8,000 Confederate soldiers. The Union troops won this battle along the banks of Mine Creek. It was one of the largest cavalry (horseback soldier) battles in the Civil War. It was also the only major battle fought in Kansas.
Union brigades were led by Colonels Frederick W. Benteen and John Finis Philips. After this victory, Union forces chased the Confederates into Missouri. They defeated them again as the Confederates tried to go back to Arkansas, Oklahoma (then Indian Territory), and Texas.
In 1970, Kansas decided to buy part of the battlefield. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. More land was bought in 1974. A visitor center opened on October 24, 1998. This was 134 years after the battle took place.
Contents
The Civil War in Missouri and Kansas
General Price's Plan to Invade Missouri
On September 19, 1864, a Confederate general named Sterling Price led an army into Missouri. He had about 12,000 men. General Price hoped to take control of Missouri for the South. His orders were to gather more soldiers in Missouri. If he had to leave the state, he was told to go through Kansas. He was to take horses, mules, cattle, and supplies from Kansas.
Price's army moved toward St. Louis. On September 27, they won a battle at Pilot Knob, Missouri. However, the Confederates lost many soldiers. St. Louis had also been made stronger with more troops. So, Price decided not to attack St. Louis. Instead, he turned his army west. He moved along the southern side of the Missouri River. As he went, he destroyed parts of the railroad. He also captured several small towns on his way to the Kansas border.
Kansas Prepares for Battle
News of Price's army spread quickly. People in Kansas got ready for an invasion. Governor Thomas Carney called out the state militia on October 8. A militia is a group of citizens who can act as soldiers. General Samuel Ryan Curtis brought his forces together. He formed a new army called the Army of the Border.
Fighting for Kansas troops began on October 19. They had a small fight at Lexington, Missouri. The Confederates won some battles near Kansas City. This included the Battle of the Big Blue on October 22. But on October 23, the Confederates were stopped at Westport. They were forced to retreat south along the state line.
The next day, General Curtis let most of the Kansas militia go home. He reorganized his army. General James G. Blunt led the First Division. General Alfred Pleasonton led the Second Division. The Union army chasing Price had about 10,000 men. All of them were cavalry, meaning they fought on horseback.
The Battle of Mine Creek
The Chase and the Clash
On October 24, Price's army crossed into Linn County, Kansas. They camped near Trading Post. Before sunrise on October 25, the Union army caught up to them. A running battle began and lasted all day.
The most important part of the battle happened late in the morning. Confederate General John S. Marmaduke had to fight to protect Price's wagon train. A wagon train is a long line of wagons carrying supplies. General James Fleming Fagan's division helped him. These two Confederate divisions had about 7,000 men.
The Union attack was led by General Pleasonton. He had fewer than 2,500 soldiers. But the Union cavalry charged with great force. They crushed the Confederate soldiers.
A Fierce Hand-to-Hand Fight
Colonel Charles W. Blair of the 14th Kansas Cavalry described the start of the fight. He said the firing was "incessant and terrific." This means it was constant and very loud. He felt that neither side would give up.
Colonel F. W. Benteen commanded the first Union group to meet the enemy. He said it was a "fierce hand-to-hand fight." He had never seen anything like it for how long it lasted. In less than an hour, the battle was over. General Price said his soldiers were running away in "utter and indescribable confusion." His army barely avoided being completely destroyed.
After the Battle
Price continued his retreat. He had to give up his plan to attack Fort Scott. His troops purposely destroyed most of their wagon train. This train carried their supplies and anything they had taken.
After a short rest, Generals Curtis and Blunt continued to chase Price. On October 28, they defeated Price one last time at Newtonia, Missouri. The Confederate army crossed the Arkansas River on November 8. For most purposes, the Civil War in the West was now over.
