My understanding of the Price raid was it was supposed to be per the CSA Trans Missisippi Commander at the time ( I forgot his name) just a large scale recruiting effort since of course the CSA was desperate for manpower by the summer of 1864. Price thought that the people of Mo would rise up and overthrow the Unionist govt and join the CSA. Gen Rosecrans had plenty of advance warning ( Sept 2nd per T.J. Stiles)but he couldn't get enough forces to confront the invasion has the Union forces were engaged in Coin warfare and not able to cope with a large scale invasion. Gen Rosecrans pleaded for milita from Kansas but the Govenor didn't want to send the Milita either a.The Gov didn't care about Mo or
b. there was an upcoming state election and the gov needed his voters present. Price spent to much time fighting and dying at Pilot Knob and his troops spent to much time looting what they didn't need the Campell diaries being a good source on that point. Finally enough better armed Union soldiers arrived to beat price at Westport. I don't have alll the facts but it does apper that Price wasn't the CSA's finest general not that the Union didn't have their fair share of bad generals. I am sure I missing a whole lot.
Thanks
Leonard