The Battle of Mine Creek by Jeffrey D. Stalnaker

Author:Jeffrey D. Stalnaker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Published: 2012-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Trading Post and Marais des Cygnes

October 25 was a fateful day for both armies. Major General Sterling Price was desperate to escape Kansas with his huge wagon train intact to have tangible evidence of a successful foray into Missouri and Kansas. Major General Samuel Curtis was also on his own mission: to destroy the Confederate army and send it out of Kansas for good. Early that morning, General Sanborn had made contact with the enemy but had halted his advance due to his perception that the Rebels were in force opposite him and that it was too dark to make an attack on the mounds that night. He felt that it would be much more sensible to do it in the light. Curtis, however, could smell victory and sent a message to General Sanborn that he was to attack anyway. He instructed him to use artillery support and take control of the position by daylight.

Others suggested alternate means of taking the position and destroying the Rebel army, including a flanking maneuver that would effectively cut the enemy off from escape and destroy them en masse. Curtis was unwavering and carried on with the planned attack led by Sanborn, who was in the process of preparing for it. He placed his two batteries of guns within range of the Rebel positions and prepared to open fire. Sanborn had at his disposal well under one thousand men, whereas the Confederate rear guard exceeded well over two thousand and also had two guns to provide artillery support. Sanborn’s plan called for a dismounted charge, with the two forces split and attacking different mounds. Sanborn used his Fourth Iowa Cavalry, his Second Colorado Cavalry and the Sixth and Eighth Missouri State Militia to lead the attack.

The first stages of the attack began just before the gray skies shed their first light. The Confederate pickets were quickly overwhelmed at the base of the mound and were driven back toward their lines. They continued their attack and began to drive the enemy back in rapid fashion to the edge of the Marais des Cygnes River, which ran just to the south of the two mounds. Initially, the attackers of the Second Colorado had their way with the Rebels, but they were eventually forced back by the Rebel defenders, although they were able to take a number of prisoners. The artillery pieces also began to shake the ground around the mounds as soon as they were positioned and were able to train their guns on the defenders. The Fourth Iowa and the Missouri State Militia were also beginning their push against their intended targets. They moved rapidly to the mound and took the top with little difficulty as they had a great deal of cover to protect their advance. Remember that the mound was covered with large rocks and timber. When they reached the summit of the west mound, they were able to easily make out the Rebel army retreating into the distance.

The artillery, meanwhile, was

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