Mine Creek Battlefield

SITE

20485 K 52,
Pleasanton, KS 66075

Wed-Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 1pm-5pm

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HISTORY

On October 25, 1864, on the banks of Mine Creek, two Union brigades of approximately 2,500 troops defeated approximately 7,000 Confederates from General Sterling Price's Army of Missouri. Federal Colonels Frederick W. Benteen and John H. Philips led the attack in one of the largest cavalry battles of the Civil War and a major battle fought in Kansas. About six miles south of Trading Post, Kansas, where the Marais de Cygnes cavalry engagement had occurred earlier in the day, the Union brigades of Col. Frederick Benteen and Col. John Phillips, of Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton’s Provisional Cavalry Division, overtook a retreating Confederate cavalry column from Maj. Gen Sterling Price's Army of Missouri crossing Mine Creek. The rebels, stalled by their 500-wagon supply train crossing the rain-swollen ford, formed a line of about 7,000 men on the north side of the creek. The Federals, although outnumbered by about 4,000 men, attacked as additional troops from Pleasonton’s command arrived during the fight. The Union troopers soon surrounded the Confederates, resulting in the capture of almost 1,000 men and two brigadier generals, John S. Marmaduke and William L. Cabell. The Confederates retreated, and reengaged the Yankee cavalry a few hours later at the Marimton River, losing that skirmish also and pushing Price's army further south. Having lost many men, Price’s goal of occupying Kansas and Missouri was doomed. Price was forced out of Kansas and his Missouri Campaign ended.  Mine Creek was the largest Civil War battle fought in Kansas and one of the largest cavalry engagements of the Civil War.

ABT