Battle of Lexington II
Encyclopedia
The Second Battle of Lexington was a minor skirmish during the American Civil War
, taking place on October 19, 1864, in Lexington
, the county seat
of Lafayette County, Missouri. It formed a part of Confederate
Maj. Gen. Sterling Price
's Missouri Expedition
of that year, and led in turn to the Battle of Little Blue River
two days later.
Like the first Battle of Lexington
, fought in September 1861, this engagement resulted in a Confederate victory. Its overall importance, however, was not nearly so marked as the first battle, which had cemented Southern control of the Missouri Valley
and significantly raised Confederate morale in the region.
was dispatched by his superior, Lt. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith
, to attempt to seize Missouri for the Confederacy. Unable to attack his primary objective, St. Louis, Price decided to execute Smith's backup plan for a westward raid through Missouri and into Kansas
and the Indian Territory
. Their ultimate goal was to destroy or capture Union supplies and outposts, which might negatively affect Abraham Lincoln
's chances for reelection in 1864.
After his victory at the Battle of Glasgow
, Price continued his march westward, in the direction of Kansas City
and Fort Leavenworth
, headquarters of the Federal Department of Kansas
. But his progress was slow, giving the Union Army
a chance to concentrate their forces. Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, commanding the Department of the Missouri
, proposed a pincer movement to trap Price and his army, but was unable to communicate with Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, commander of the Department of Kansas, to formalize the plan. Curtis was experiencing difficulty because many of his soldiers were Kansas militia
(under George Dietzler
), and they refused to enter Missouri. However, a force of about 2,000 men under the command of Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt
did set out for Lexington.
Blunt's retreating troops halted on October 20 at the Little Blue River, taking up a strong defensive position on its western bank. On October 21, however, Price's army would continue its successful—if ultimately short-lived—drive in the battles of Little Blue River
and Independence
. These triumphs would all be undone by the Battle of Westport
on October 23, which saw Price's defeat and the end of his campaign, together with all significant Confederate military operations in Missouri.
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...
, taking place on October 19, 1864, in Lexington
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Lafayette County, Missouri. It formed a part of 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...
Maj. Gen. 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...
's Missouri Expedition
Price's Raid
Price's Missouri Expedition, also known as Price's Raid, was an 1864 Confederate cavalry raid through the states of Missouri and Kansas during the American Civil War. While Confederate Major General Sterling Price enjoyed some successes during this campaign, he was decisively beaten at the Battle...
of that year, and led in turn to the Battle of Little Blue River
Battle of Little Blue River
The Battle of Little Blue River was a minor battle of the American Civil War, occurring on October 21, 1864 in Jackson County, Missouri during Price's Missouri Expedition of that year. It became the opening round of the Second Battle of Independence, which began on this same day and was...
two days later.
Like the first Battle of Lexington
Battle of Lexington I
The First Battle of Lexington also known as the Battle of the Hemp Bales, was an engagement of the American Civil War, occurring from September 13 to September 20, 1861, between the Union Army and the pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard, in Lexington, the county seat of Lafayette County, Missouri...
, fought in September 1861, this engagement resulted in a Confederate victory. Its overall importance, however, was not nearly so marked as the first battle, which had cemented Southern control of the Missouri Valley
Missouri Valley
Missouri Valley may refer to some places in the United States:* Missouri Valley, Iowa, a small city* The Missouri River Valley* The Missouri Valley Conference, a college athletic conference...
and significantly raised Confederate morale in the region.
Prelude
In the fall of 1864, Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling PriceSterling 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...
was dispatched by his superior, Lt. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith was a career United States Army officer and educator. He served as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, notable for his command of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy after the fall of Vicksburg.After the conflict ended Smith...
, to attempt to seize Missouri for the Confederacy. Unable to attack his primary objective, St. Louis, Price decided to execute Smith's backup plan for a westward raid through Missouri and into Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. Their ultimate goal was to destroy or capture Union supplies and outposts, which might negatively affect Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's chances for reelection in 1864.
After his victory at the Battle of Glasgow
Battle of Glasgow
The Battle of Glasgow was fought on October 15, 1864, in and near Glasgow, Missouri as part of Price's Missouri Expedition during the American Civil War...
, Price continued his march westward, in the direction of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, headquarters of the Federal Department of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. But his progress was slow, giving the Union Army
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...
a chance to concentrate their forces. Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, commanding the Department of the Missouri
Department of the Missouri
Department of the Missouri was a division of the United States Army that functioned through the American Civil War and the Indian Wars afterwards.-Civil War:...
, proposed a pincer movement to trap Price and his army, but was unable to communicate with Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, commander of the Department of Kansas, to formalize the plan. Curtis was experiencing difficulty because many of his soldiers were Kansas militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
(under George Dietzler
George Dietzler
George Washington Deitzler was a Union Army General during the American Civil War.-Biography:Deitzler was born in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania where he received a common school education and then moved to Kansas, and “grew up with the state.” He was a farmer and realtor...
), and they refused to enter Missouri. However, a force of about 2,000 men under the command of Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt
James G. Blunt
James Gillpatrick Blunt was a physician and abolitionist who rose to Union major general during the American Civil War.-Early life & career:...
did set out for Lexington.
Battle and aftermath
On October 19, Price's army approached Lexington and collided with Union scouts and pickets about 2:00 p.m., driving them back and engaging Blunt's main force. The Federals resisted at first, but Price's army eventually pushed them through the town to its western outskirts, then pursued them along the Independence Road until nightfall. Deprived of Curtis's entire force, still encamped in and near Kansas City, the Union army never stood any real chance of stopping Price's force at Lexington. Blunt did, however, further retard the Confederates' dilatory march, and gained valuable information about the size and disposition of Price's command.Blunt's retreating troops halted on October 20 at the Little Blue River, taking up a strong defensive position on its western bank. On October 21, however, Price's army would continue its successful—if ultimately short-lived—drive in the battles of Little Blue River
Battle of Little Blue River
The Battle of Little Blue River was a minor battle of the American Civil War, occurring on October 21, 1864 in Jackson County, Missouri during Price's Missouri Expedition of that year. It became the opening round of the Second Battle of Independence, which began on this same day and was...
and Independence
Second Battle of Independence
The Second Battle of Independence was a minor engagement of the American Civil War October 21–22, 1864 centered in Independence, Missouri, with some of the fiercest fighting taking place at the present-day United Nations Peace Plaza; the "Harry Truman" Railroad Depot; George Caleb Bingham's...
. These triumphs would all be undone by the Battle of Westport
Battle of Westport
The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West," was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General...
on October 23, which saw Price's defeat and the end of his campaign, together with all significant Confederate military operations in Missouri.