Opinion

A weary Civil War veteran

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The Battle of Westport, Mo,, on Oct. 23, 1864, has been called the "Gettysburg of the West" because like the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863, in south central Pennsylvania, the Union victory stopped a major Confederate campaign very deep in "Northern" territory. The Union victory at Westport prevented the Confederate capture of Kansas City and probably an attack on Fort Leavenworth and caused Confederate Major General Sterling to turn his army south into Kansas to raise as much havoc and devastation in Kansas on its' return to friendly territory in southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. The following are abbreviated selections from Union after action reports that describe different aspects of the Battle of Westport and are located in Series I, Vol. 41, Part I Reports of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion on Pages 484-491.

Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis:

"Night closing the Battle of the Big Blue on the 22nd, I ordered my troops under cover of darkness to concentrate within the lines of field works that enclosed Kansas City, Mo., only a small force remaining in front of Westport near the long line of camp fires that marked the position and vastly superior numbers of Rebel forces. I replenished exhausted stores and secured my weary soldiers a few hours repose, which after so many days of marching, watching and fighting, we all very much needed.

Our regular volunteers, with the artillery, moved early in the morning of the 23rd and were deployed inline of battle two miles south of Westport on Brush Creek. McLain's Battery was on the brow of the north bank of Brush Creek and near the road. We also had about twenty other pieces of artillery, mostly mountain howitzers, with cavalry, taking position as their supporting squadrons came into line. Meantime continued firing was kept up by skirmishers and artillery on both sides, with but little damage to either.

I tried to get through the timber with dodge's Battery and two little howitzers of my escort, but the roads were not favorable. I was directed by an old man, a MISSOURI PATRIOT of seventy five years, through a narrow defile to Brush Creek with Dodge's Battery and other forces. With trembling, sinking steps the old man directed us to a position where we immediately began to demonstrate against the enemy that occupied the inclined plain and wooded heights on the south of Brush Creek. The WEARY VETERAN refused to ride, but sunk down with delight and exhaustion when he saw the success of our guns. Like many other brave Missourians of that day he saw the rebellion vanishing before him and his home and country free.

The enemy was soon overpowered and after a violent and desperate struggle fell back to another elevation on the broad prairie and operated their artillery and cavalry to their utmost ability in a vain attempt to check our general movement."

Major General Deitzler, Kansas State Militia Reports:

"The personal presence of Major General Curtis inspired the men with confidence and the whole command moved forward trough the dense underbrush and as they emerged from the south side of the creek they encountered the enemy in strong force and after a severe struggle in which our troops showed great bravery drove him from his chosen position. Taking advantage of the confusion which occurred in the enemy's line our victorious troops advanced rapidly into the open field firing volley after volley into the flying rebels killing and wounding large numbers who were left in our hands. Both armies were now in full view of each other on the open prairie presenting one of the most magnificent spectacles in nature. The enemy made several attempts to stand, but such was the dashing bravery of our troops that they never succeeded in rallying and forming their men to offer any considerable resistance. A running fight was then kept up for about four miles, the enemy slowly retreating in a southerly direction, parallel with and about a mile from the State line in Missouri. At this point became a perfect rout and the enemy, running in great confusion southward, were soon out of sight. Their course was indicated by dense volumes of smoke, emanating from their burning of the prairie, hay and grain stacks."

Colonel Jennison Reports:

"The enemy having fallen back, or lines were reformed and again advanced through the fields on the right of the road, driving the Rebels at all points. Directly in the road at the summit of a slight slope a body of the enemy seemed determined to make a stand. Then I was ordered by General Blunt to charge the enemy with his body guard and one Squadron of the Second Colorado Cavalry, all the troops available at that instant. DRAWING SABERS and FORMING COLUMNS OF FOURS the squadron dashed with reckless courage upon the hill in the midst of the Rebels, who not waiting to ascertain our strength and hardly making a show of fighting broke and fled into some timber on the left, but the majority went down the road."

Brig. General W. H. M. Fishback, Kansas State Militia:

"Our batteries are now hurried through the corn field, followed by the militia who are supporting them. Here we have punished them severely; their dead are numerous and lie on the field unburied. Our loss compared to theirs is trifling. By 12 o'clock we have reached the open prairie four miles south of Westport, when we see on our left as far as the eye can reach a long column advancing towards us. We are inspired with the new and intense interest; we look and listen; we hear the artillery of Generals Pleasonton and McNeil, they have at last reached us and given the enemy's right a taste of their powder. We now have them: the retreat became a perfect rout; we cannot keep pace with them. The battle is over and the victory won, nobly won!"

Now, the Battle of Westport was indeed a "Union" victory, but the result was not a rout as described. Eventually the Confederates retired south into Kansas in good order and Major General Joe Shelby and his Iron Brigade were placed as a rear guard, which successfully defended the rear of the Confederate column as it advanced south into the Jayhawk State! Before the Battle of Westport was over General Price ordered his 500 wagon supply train to move south and it stretched more than 11 miles long as it rolled into Kansas and, of course, the war went on.