Mine Creek Battlefield - Battle of Mine Creek - Pleasanton, Kansas One of the largest cavalry engagements of the Civil War (and the largest west of the Mississippi River) was fought at the Mine Creek Battlefield in Kansas on October 25, 1864 near present day Pleasanton when 2,500 Union soldiers defeated nearly 3 times that number of Confederate soldiers.
Late in the morning, 7,000 Confederates under the command of General John Marmaduke were caught north of Mine Creek. They were protecting the supply train which had difficulty crossing the creek. Due largely to superior firepower, 2,500 Union soldiers under the command of General Alfred Pleasanton (sometimes spelled Pleasonton) defeated the larger force in less than an hour. Several canons and 600-750 Confederate soldiers, including General Marmaduke and General William L. Cabell, were captured, while a smaller number were killed. Pleasanton's men had about 100 casualties. The Confederate force was routed and fled the State of Kansas.
copyright 2006-2023 by Keith Stokes |
The
Confederate forces under the command of General Sterling Price were retreating
from Kansas City and the Battle of Westport which took place two days earlier.
On the morning of October 25th, the Union forces overtook the rebels 5
miles north of Mine Creek near Trading Post. General Price's force continued
to retreat southward while engaging the Union Army.
