Battle of Marmiton River
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Marmiton River (also known as Shiloh Creek or Charlot's Farm) occurred on October 25, 1864, in Vernon County, Missouri during the American Civil War
.
Following the Battle of Mine Creek
, Confederate
Major General Sterling Price
continued his cartage towards Fort Scott
. In the late afternoon of October 25, Price's supply train had difficulty crossing the Marmiton River
ford and, like at Mine Creek, Price had to make a stand. Brigadier General John McNeil
, commanding two brigades of Alfred Pleasonton
's Union
cavalry division, attacked the Confederate troops that Price and his officers had rallied, which included a sizable number of unarmed men. McNeil observed the sizable Confederate force, not knowing that many of them were unarmed, and refrained from an all out assault. After about two hours of skirmishing, Price continued his retreat and McNeil could not mount an effective pursuit. Price's army was broken by this time, and it was simply a question of how many men he could successfully evacuate to friendly territory.
(Note: Today the name of the river is spelled "Marmaton".)
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Following the Battle of Mine Creek
Battle of Mine Creek
The Battle of Mine Creek, also known as the Battle of the Osage, was a battle that occurred on October 25, 1864 in Kansas as part of Price's Raid during the American Civil War...
, Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Major General Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
continued his cartage towards Fort Scott
Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National...
. In the late afternoon of October 25, Price's supply train had difficulty crossing the Marmiton River
Marmaton River
The Marmaton River is a tributary of the Little Osage River in southeastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States...
ford and, like at Mine Creek, Price had to make a stand. Brigadier General John McNeil
John McNeil
John McNeil was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his role in the Palmyra Massacre and other acts of alleged brutality.-Early life and career:...
, commanding two brigades of Alfred Pleasonton
Alfred Pleasonton
Alfred Pleasonton was a United States Army officer and General of Union cavalry during the American Civil War. He commanded the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac during the Gettysburg Campaign, including the largest predominantly cavalry battle of the war, Brandy Station...
's Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
cavalry division, attacked the Confederate troops that Price and his officers had rallied, which included a sizable number of unarmed men. McNeil observed the sizable Confederate force, not knowing that many of them were unarmed, and refrained from an all out assault. After about two hours of skirmishing, Price continued his retreat and McNeil could not mount an effective pursuit. Price's army was broken by this time, and it was simply a question of how many men he could successfully evacuate to friendly territory.
(Note: Today the name of the river is spelled "Marmaton".)