About two and a half miles from where the first attack was made, we saw the Second Colorado Battery of six fine Parrot guns crossing a field on our right as we were retreating. The guns were too heavy for the plowed land and the teams stalled. The rebel advance was within four or 500 yards of the battery. Quick work must be done to save the guns, worth a thousand men to us. Colonel Moonlight, commanding our brigade, came galloping dow3n the line to my company. We were the rear guard. He ordered me to countermarch and charge the enemy with my eighty eight men in a column of eight front. We charged down the road, passing the Little Blue church, straight for the enemy. . I saw ahead of me a brick house and stone fences to the right. The rebel cavalry fell back, but a line of infantry occupied the house and were down behind the fence. About 150 yards south of the house, between us and the enemy, was a hollow that for a moment or two kept us out of sight and range of their guns.
As we reached the brow of the hill, a though flashed through my mind that the first line, in which I was riding, with seven soldiers to my left, would be shot as soon as we came in sight. I clutched the pommel of my saddle and threw myself almost flat on the horse. The volley of bullets came, as I expected. I felt my horse going down, swung my feet clear of the stirrups, and fell on my horse’s neck, unhurt. Geo. G. Edwards, who fired the first shot when we were charging through Lexington the day before, fell on my back, dead. My men saw me fall and thought I was killed. They retreated back into the hollow. I jumped up and ran after them, a perfect hail-storm of bullets buzzing past me. I ordered the men to dismount. Every man left his horse in the road. We then jumped the fence into [page 439 ends] orchard and charged the brick house, and took it, driving the enemy out, then charged the stone fence and took that. Of course, there was no hope of saving my men without aid from our army. At that moment I heard the yells of 400 or 500 men Maj. J. Nelson Smith, with the first and third battalions of the Second Colorado Cavalry, was charging the enemy to save us, and right before us this gallant officer fell dead at the head of his command. I had a chance now to fall back, and found my horses in the hollow where I had left them. The animals showed “horse sense” enough to remain where they were safe from the bullets. This little diversion, costly to my company, saved the Colorado battery. The Second Fcolorado safely fell back in good order, and our army continued their retreat at a walk, passe dthrough Independence, eight miles west of Little Blue, and camped on the Big Blue that night.
Jennison’s Report: On the 21st of October, the enemy having advanced from Lexington, met the Second Brigade at the Little Blue at an early hour in the morning. The First Brigade was, therefore, ordered to the front, and immediately proceeded from Independence to the field, where it arrived at about 11 a. m., taking position on the right, Colonel Ford's brigade forming the center, and Colonel Moonlight's the left. In this engagement the Fifteenth Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Hoyt, and the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, Lieutenant Pond, were dismounted and disposed in advantageous position, which had hardly been accomplished when the lines were fiercely assailed by the enemy at all points and the contest became extremely spirited, though from the nature of the ground and the protection of the timber the casualties were not heavy.
For some hours the engagement was maintained with varying results, our lines alternately falling back and advancing, the howitzer battery being actively and apparently effectively engaged until it became evident that the enemy was numerically superior to such an extent that it would be impossible to hold the ground, and a retrograde movement was commenced in the direction of Independence. In this action, the first general one in which it had been engaged, the First Brigade gave evidence of great proficiency in drill, unhesitating obedience, and displayed throughout a courage and determination worthy of any veteran corps. In this connection I deem it my duty to mention favorably and particularly the conduct of Major J. M. Laing, Fifteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, who, by his coolness and assured courage, did so much toward inspiriting the men of may command, not one of whom wavered for a moment or evinced a disposition to evade the perilous duties of the situation. Other officers, perhaps equally deserving, will be mentioned hereafter, but as Major Laing in this action came immediately under my notice he is first spoken of as a brave, efficient, and deserving officer, one of whom the regiment and the service may be proud. Lieutenant-Colonel Hoyt, as commanding the Fifteenth Regiment, is too [page 583 ends] well known to need especial eulogium in this instance. Let it suffice that he commanded his troops with the cool daring and soldierly ability so characteristic of the man, in no manner disappointing the anticipations of those who know him best. Early in the action Lieutenant W. H. Bisbee, Company E, Fifteenth Kansas Volunteer Calvary, acting adjutant of the Fifteenth Regiment, was struck in the shoulder by a ball, temporarily losing the use of his left arm, but remained upon the field in the discharge of his duties throughout the engagement, although several times requested to retire. Falling back through Independence the First Brigade, with those of Colonels Ford and Moonlight, encamped on the night of the 21st on the west side of the Big Blue, on the Kansas City and Independence road, no further demonstrations being made by the enemy. Report of Col. Charles R. Jennison in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1, pp. 583-584.
William S. Shepherd, 15th Kansas Cavalry:
Two hundred yards east, stood a large two-story brick house, surrounded by sheds, elms and apple trees. They were alive with Confederate soldiers, firing from doors, windows, roofs, and from behind trees. We moved behind the stone fence, surrounding the place, and I piled some fence rails in front of me for a barricade. Then I pointed my long tom rifle across the toprail and began
firing A corporal came along and jerked me down, cursing me for carelessness. He showed me how to reload lying on my back, using my feet to hold the stock of the rifle. The brick house was struck near the roof by a shell and the Confederates came from the doors and windows like
grasshoppers, running into a cornfield filled with Yankees.
Ford’s report: On the morning of the 21st I received orders to march with the Second Colorado Cavalry, Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry, and First Colorado Battery, to the support of Colonel Moonlight, commanding Second Brigade, First Division, who was reported as engaging the enemy at the crossing of the Little Blue on the Lexington road, leaving the Twelfth Kansas State Militia at Independence. The strength of my brigade was as follows: Second Colorado Cavalry, 284 men; Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry, 400 men; Independent Colorado Battery, 116 men; five 3-inch rifled guns, and one mountain howitzer; total, 900 men and six guns. Left Independence at 10 a.m. and reached Colonel Moonlight’s rear, near the Little Blue (distance eight miles), in about one hour. I then received orders to place the Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry on the left of Colonel Moonlight's brigade, the battery near the center of the line, and the Second Colorado Cavalry on the right. We immediately dismounted and advanced into the bluffs and became at once engaged, the enemy having crossed the stream before our arrival. We held our ground, advancing slightly for some time, and at one time drove the enemy in great confusion, but his force being too overwhelmingly large he threw a large body to our right, which compelled the right to give slowly back. The brigade was then ordered to fall back slowly to their horses, the battery receiving orders from division headquarters direct. After mounting I received orders to cover the retreat of the army to Independence with the Second Colorado Cavalry and Sixteenth Kansas, assisted by a portion of the Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, which I did by forming half of my command in line across the road on some favorable spot, and while [page 607 ends] that was engaging the enemy formed the remainder of the force in a similar manner in their rear, and when the first line became too hotly engaged marched it back by companies to the rear of the second line. I thus kept checking the enemy, giving the army time to pass through Independence safely, not reaching there myself until nearly sundown, when I was ordered to march my command across the Big Blue on the Kansas City road (distance six miles) and go into camp for the night; reached camp 9 p.m., the horses getting little or no forage and the men likewise to a great extent without food. The troops of my brigade behaved splendidly throughout the whole day and covered the retreat with the coolness of veterans.
I have to mourn the loss of Major J. Nelson Smith, who was commanding the Second Colorado Cavalry, and Francis S. Gould, esq., volunteer aide upon the brigade staff, the former being killed instantly and the latter mortally wounded. They were brave, gallant men, and could ill be spared
Report of James Ford in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1, pages 607-608
2nd Colorado Cavalry: At the time of his death he was leading the advance line of the 4th Brigade - Colonel Ford commanding; the Second Colorado having been ordered to the support of a battery of howitzers brought from Independence and placed in position by Major R.H. Hunt (15th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry) Chief of Artillery, upon the staff of Major-General Curtis. Major Smith was on the right, and in advance of a farm house two miles from the bridge, in which the howitzer battery had been placed. Before them was an open field skirted by timber, which was occupied by the rebels. It is generally believed that the command immediately in front was the bushwacking force which had recently joined General Price, under the infamous George Todd; the same gang which, under Quantrell, Todd, Yeager, and others, participated in all the atrocities of Lawrence, Gbater’s Springs, the “Sam Gaty” massacre, and other affairs on the border.
Major Smith’s towering form and fine appearance attracted the rebels’ attention, and the fusilade in his direction became marked and dangerous. While the line was in this position (Colonel Moonlight, with the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, having moved to the front again in support of the artillery, forming on the left) Major Smith was pierced to the heart with a rebel bullet. He never spoke, but fell from his saddle dead. Hinton p. 330.
McLain’s battery: About five miles out the advance guard engaged the enemy at the second ford of the Blue. We were ordered up at a trot, came into battery, supported by the 2d, at about 800 yards from the ford, did not fire. Limbered up, and pressed on, coming into battery in an open space, on the edge of a belt of timber, near the Blue. Soon we were well received by thee nemy in a shape of a shower of ball and shell. Lieut. Eayre opened his guns on thier battery, which he soon silenced, ans as we learned afterward from prisoners, drove the men entirely away from the guns. The enemy pressed us pretty hard, and came up within 50 yards of our guns. We fired canister at them at short range, and drove them back. Our flanks were falling back and we limbered to the rear, took a position again, and let them have McLain’s Pills at long range, but he was too strong for us - six to our one! So he would drive us a few hundred yards, when we would form in line and give him another round and check him. He drove us to Independence, and as his advance came up, we left the town, our rear skirmishing in the town, as we left. We left about sundown, and camped at the joint fords of the Blue. We only had one hundred in our company - Fred Daum was shot through the foot, Major Smith of the 2d was killed and Lieut. Spencer wounded. Our loss in the whole command was not more than 100 killed and wounded.
Price’s Report: the morning of the 20th I moved west in the same direction as before to Fire Creek Prairie, a distance of twenty-two miles, where I encamped. Information reached me that the enemy had fallen back to the Little Blue. On the 21st I resumed my line of march to the Little Blue. On the 21st I resumed my line of march to the Little Blue on the Independence road, Major-General Marmaduke's division in the front, whose advance page 633 ends soon came upon the enemy's pickets, who, being driven across the Blue, destroyed the bridge as they crossed. A ford half mile below the bridge was seized by our troops and Marmaduke's division crossed it. His advance (Colonel Lawther's regiment) soon came upon the enemy, who were strongly posted behind a stone fence in superior numbers. Lawther's regiment was driven back and was hotly pursued by the foe, when they were re-enforced by Colonel Greene, with about 150 men. A fierce engagement ensued with varying success, Colonel Greene stubbornly contesting every inch of ground, when Wood's battalions arrived, and the enemy gave way, but being re-enforced again renewed the attack, when, as the ammunition of our troops engaged (who still manfully resisted with success the far superior numbers of the enemy) was about to become exhausted, Colonel Kitchen's regiment arrived to their relief. The enemy again fell back to their former strong position.
Hearing of the critical condition of Major-General Marmaduke's division, I had sent orders to Brigadier-General Shelby to march rapidly to his relief, who accordingly hastened to the scene of action with his division, and arrived there at the time when the enemy had taken refuge in their first position. An immediate attack was made upon them and a furious battle ensued, but the enemy were finally forced from their position and they retreated. Brigadier-General Shelby now taking the lead drove them in a stubborn running fight on foot (his men having been dismounted) for seven miles and beyond Independence. (For full particulars of this fight reference is made to the reports of Brigadier-Generals Shelby and Clark, and to that of Colonel Greene, accompanying the latter.)
In this action Major-General Marmaduke acted with distinguished gallantry, having not less than two horses shot under him. Brigadier-General Clark, of his division, also exhibited great bravery and skill, while Colonel Greene, by the manner in which he handled his regiment against vastly superior forces flushed with previous success, beating them back with his handful of men and stubbornly contesting every inch of ground until assistance came to his relief, as well as the personal courage exhibited by him, justly excited the admiration of his superior officers. Fagan's division under my orders supported Shelby, but were not immediately engaged.
I encamped that night in Independence, having marched twenty-six miles, the troops being engaged with the enemy most of the time and driving them before them. On the evening of the 21st Captain Williams, of Brigadier-General Shelby's division, who had been sent on recruiting by him, rejoined his command with about 600 men, capturing on his route the town of Carrollton with 300 prisoners, and armed his entire command. Report of Sterling Price in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1, pages 634-635.
October 21 (Camp Numbers 49).-At Independence. At [Little] Blue met the enemy who had burned the bridge; Marmaduke in front; fought and drove them back through Independence. Shelby sustained Marmaduke on his left; loss between 40 and 50; twenty-six miles. Itinerary for Price’s Army Page 645.
Shelby’s Division: On the morning of the 21st rapid and continuous firing in my front warned me that Marmaduke, who was in my advance, was hotly engaging the enemy. Closing up my command well and passing a command in front, I arrived in time to receive General Price's order to support General Marmaduke immediately. I dismounted my entire command, except Lieutenant-Colonel Nichols' regiment, of Jackman' brigade, and crossed Little Blue by wading. Finding General Marmaduke hard pressed and greatly outnumbered, I threw forward Thompson's brigade swiftly on the left, Jackman's supporting, and the fight opened fast and furious. The enemy held a strong position behind hastily constructed works of logs and earth, stone fences, and deep hollows and ravines. My division fought splendidly. From stand to stand the Federals were driven, and soon began to waver and retreat. After great difficulty and hard work my artillery got over the stream and opened a heavy fire from a beautiful position. Sending the cavalry regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Nichols upon their left flank, which made a brilliant and desperate charge, and pressing forward immediately in front, the enemy was driven clearly from the field; and now taking the advance, I pushed him in a stubborn running fight beyond Independence, where a large [page 657 ends] hospital was filled with his wounded and dying. That evening Captain Williams, of my advance, who had been sent north of the Missouri River to recruit, returned with 600 men after having captured Carrollton with a garrison of about 300 and arming his entire command. Report of Joseph Shelby in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1, pages 657-658
Iron Brigade: On the 21st we moved in the center of the column, Marmaduke's division in front. On approaching the Little Blue River the enemy was found in position to dispute our passage. We were ordered to the left of Marmaduke's division, and having dismounted we soon forced the crossing in our front, and following the enemy from position to position, several of which were very strong and well defended, we drove him toward the town of Independence. I met General Marmaduke several times during this day's fighting, but his troops were so far to our right that I made no movement in immediate co-operation with them, but steadily drove the enemy with the Shelby brigade until nearly night, and entered the town in line of battle just at dark, having fought dismounted for seven miles. The brigade on this day displayed patience, perseverance, and true courage, for mounted men generally dislike these long fights on foot. The officers all did their duty and the men deserve especial credit. Report of Gen. M. Jeff Thompson in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1, Page 666
Jackman’s Brigade: On the morning of the 21st we were in the saddle at sunrise, and moved to the crossing of Little Blue, at old Camp Holloway, where, by order, my whole command, with the exception of Nichols' regiment, was dismounted and thrown across the creek into line. This part of my command pressed forward eagerly, but did not succeed in reaching the enemy. The regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Nichols made a spirited charge upon the enemy's line, breaking and driving it back in confusion. The conduct of himself and men was highly praised by all who witnessed it. Report of Col. Sidney Jackman in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1, page 675.
Marmaduke’s Brigade: not coming in contact with the enemy again until 21st at the crossing of Little Blue River, in Jackson Country. My brigade being in advance, Captain Stallard's escort (Marmaduke's advance guard), came upon the enemy's pickets one mile from the bridge on Little Blue on the Lexington and Independence road. Stallard soon drove them across the bridge, which they burned to prevent a rapid pursuit. Under instructions from General Marmaduke I sent Burbridge's regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Preston in command) to secure the ford one mile above the bridge, and Colonel Lawther with his regiment to secure the ford one-half mile below, who soon reported the lower crossing clear, the enemy retiring toward Independence. I moved the brigade to the lower ford, but found the crossing very difficult and slow. Hearing quick firing to the front I hastened forward with Greene's regiment, leaving orders for the command to follow as rapidly as possible, and found that Colonel Lawther had indiscreetly attacked a very heavy force of the enemy posted behind some stone fencing which ran at right angles to the road and afforded complete protection against small-arms. He was driven back and in his turn assailed by the enemy, when I arrived with Greene's regiment. General Marmaduke having ordered Captain Stallard to support Lawther's regiment, Colonel Greene formed his regiment in line of battle, flanked by two pieces of artillery from Pratt's battalion, which was soon hotly engaging the enemy, Lawther having fallen to his rear [page 682 ends] in confusion. Owing to the difficulties of crossing at the ford Greene's regiment fought at great odds unsupported, but they contested every inch of ground with stubbornness until the arrival of Wood's battalion, when the enemy gave way, but receiving re-enforcements drove us again to our original position. We were almost out of ammunition and the day seemed lost, but Kitchen's regiment, including Davies' battalion (Davies' absence from his regiment not accounted for), came up at this moment in as gallant style as veteran infantry and turned the tide of success, the enemy breaking and falling back toward his first position. A part of Shelby's division (Gordon's regiment, I believe) joined on the left of Kitchen and pushed hotly after the enemy, who, taking position behind the rock fencing spoken of, stubbornly contested the advance of Marmaduke's and Shelby's divisions for at least an hour, but finally gave way, Shelby in pursuit.
In this action Major Pratt, with one section of his artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Williams, did excellent service, and at a time of great emergency manned the guns themselves. Company B, Greene's regiment (Captain Polk), behaved with distinguished gallantry, resolutely supporting the artillery with only one round of ammunition for close quarters with the enemy. Colonel Greene distinguished himself above any other officer in the engagement. Loss in this action:-killed, -wounded. Report of Gen. John B. Clark Jr. in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1 pages 682-683.
3rd Mo. Cav.: On the morning of the 21st, the brigade being in advance, cannonading announced that the enemy whom General Shelby had driven from Lexington had made a stand, and about midday my regiment was turned from the main road to the right for the purpose of crossing Little Blue River below the bridge which was destroyed. I moved rapidly across the river, and had marched a short distance when it was ascertained that Lawther's regiment was routed. I dismounted about 150 men, formed across the road, and immediately engaged the enemy, who was right upon us. Williams' three-gun battery was unlimbered fifty yards behind my regiment. The enemy, who was in greatly superior force, vigorously pressed his advantage. He was twice repulsed, when he began to flank me both on the right and left. The moment was critical; no supports arrived. Directing my wings to fire by the right and left oblique I took charge of the battery, firing Nos. 1 and 3 on my flanks, and then ordered rapid volleys of blank cartridges to be fired (the position of my men prevented the use of missiles). It produced the desired effect. The enemy fell back and was charged by us. He now rallied and opened with artillery; again advanced and was again repulsed. The fight was thus continued between unequal numbers, my ammunition was exhausted, the fortitude of my men severely tried, when Kitchen's regiment reached the field. I put it into line and directed it to fire by volley. The enemy fled to return no more.
Great credit is due to Captain Charles K. Polk, of Company B, who held the enemy in check on the left. Sergeant Woolsey, Company G, was conspicuous for gallantry during the action, and Private Shepherd, Company F, deserves especial notice for rallying his company and leading a charge against the battery. Report of Colton Greene, 3rd Mo. Cav. In OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1 page 690.
7th Mo. Cav.: 21st - We found the enemy occupying a very strong position behind some stone fences on an eminence at Little Blue Mills. Our brigade was in front of the command and our regiment in rear of the brigade. The Federals had burnt the bridge and we had a desperate road to pass over. We was dismounted as soon as we passed the creek one-half mile from the field of battle and double quicked up the hill to the scene of action, here we met our men retreating, their ammunition having given out. Our battery was coming down the hill as fast as it could, the road was filled with the wounded and the enemy was charging after our battery with a fair prospect of capturing it, everything was in confusion when we was hastily brought into action. We soon checked the enemy and drove them back to their stone fences. More troops was soon brought up and drove them from every position they occupied and pursued them to Independence on foot that night. Distance this day was 27 miles. Diary of Lt. Curtis Ballard 7th Mo. Cav.
10th Mo. Cav. marching on in the direction of Independence, engaging a Federal force under command of General Blunt at the crossing of the Little Blue; drove him back through Independence. My loss was 1 man killed, 1 officer and 12 men wounded, and 6 men Report of Col. Robert Lawther in OR Vol. 41, Pt. 1 page 699.
Wood’s Battalion:. . . after meeting the enemy at Lexington and driving them before us our brigade took the advance, and at Little Blue, eight miles east of Independence, late in the after noon of Friday, October 21st, we met the enemy strongly posted behind stone walls built as fences around farms. We encountered in this strong position the 15th Kansas Cavalry and the 11th Kansas Cavalry and the 2nd Colorado Cavalry and we found them among the most stubborn and hardest fighters that we had ever encountered in our experience in the war.
As we dismounted and ran to our position on the right of the road, and on the right of Clarke’s Brigade, we hadn’t any more than got in line when our skirmishers were thrown out and they hadn’t gone more than thirty yards when they came running back and said: “Boys, they are coming.” The Union troops had dismounted and were fighting on foot and came out from their well concealed position and fought us on the blue grass ridges with but little protection and came within thirty yards of our line where both sides fought like demons. I had a position behind a large linn tree, three or four feet through, with another tree, a foot in diameter, coming up from the root of the old tree, with a space of about twelve inches between the two. From this position I fired with my breech loading gun into four or five Union troops thirty steps from me who stood behind an oak tree two feet in diameter. I remember distinctly that I was under the impression [page 21 ends] after I fired, that they would come on and be right up to us before we could re-load so I jerked out my Remington revolver and shot with a rest from the tree right into the crowd of four or five men seeking shelter behind the oak tree but they soon discovered where my bullets were coming from and I had a personal experience that I will never forget.
A Union trooper with a light complexion and blue eyes with about four weeks growth of beard on his face stood behind that tree alone while both of us were trying to shoot the other. I remember that after my revolver was empty I re-loaded my gun and took deliberate aim from the side of this tree with a rest and tried to hit his elbow which I could see plainly, but whether I succeeded in wounding him or not I do not know as we were ordered to fall back.
I had the occasion to go over the battle ground after the battle and in front of our battalion men lay in piles two or three across each other where they had fallen. Our line was broken in the center to our left and driven back 80 to one 100 yards where they made another stand, and just as we got the order to fall back on our line, I saw the Colonel’s horse jump as he was shot in the right stiffle with a minnie ball and the Colonel dismounted. .We fell back 100 yards or so and left faced and closed up the gap between us and the center and marching through an apple orchard my brother and myself had been at the head of our line, and as we left faced we were in the rear and as the command struck a trot we walked and were practically left alone with a line of dismounted Federal cavalry shooting at us with carbine and shooting with a rest from an old field fence.
As we marched side by side my brother, at my left, received a minnie ball through his hips and my first thought was to go on and protect myself, but I decided in an instant and turned him over on his back and asked him if he was seriously hurt and he said that he was not, so I took him up, as he was younger and smaller than myself, and carried him under my right arm with my gun under my left and marched through a shower of bullets 30 or 40 yards where we got protection from a log house and Gen. Marmaduke was sitting there on his horse and I afterwards understood that he had had two horses killed from under him in that engagement. I succeeded in carrying my brother off of the field and after seeing our doctor dress his wounds we laid him in a feather bed in a log cabin by the side of the road with his feet to the fire and I mounted my horse and rode over the battle field and every wounded and dead man had whiskey in his canteen and I have always thought this accounted for their desperate charge and this desperate fighting that Friday afternoon. Reminiscence of James H. Campbell’s Experiences During the Civil War, pp. 21-23.
10th Mo. Cav.: We dash on down the road, cross the stream at the mill and find the regiment dismounting. They have been repulsed from the ridge in front. The horses are left on the river bank. We form and move up the timbered slope. The enemy greet us with a heavy fusilade of small arms. We can just see their heads. A little further on,the road, running parallel with the enemy’s position, is reached. It is considerably washed. Using this old road as rifle pits, we open a galling fire upon the enemy, which causes him to fall off a few points in his aim. But now the enemy opens up a right and left oblique fire from each flank. Our position is getting uncomfortably warm. Again now the scene changes. The rest of the brigade had crossed the river, and our guns open up on the left flank of the enemy. In two minutes more the Battle of Little Blue Mills is ended, the Federals retreating by way of Independence. Our horses coming up we mount and press on after the retreating enemy. As we gain the top of the timbered ridge on which the battle has been fought we discover that the enemy has been protected by a stone fence. Along this fence, and scattered through the field which it surrounded, we passed dead Federals, victims of our sharpshooter and Pratt’s artillery. Pressing the enemy closely in his rapid retreat, he occasionally turns and gives us a spiteful, spasmodic shower of rifle balls. Passing through Independence we camp three miles out on the Kansas City Road. “Gen Price’s Raid Followed from Glasgow to the Kansas Line” by Henry Luttrell in St. Louis “Missouri Republican,” March 6, 1886, p. 9.
3rd Mo. Cav. 4 killed 27 wounded = 31 Greene’s Report in OR p. 692
7th Mo. Cav. 2 killed 13 wounded = 15 Davies’ Report in OR p. 697
10th Mo. Cav. 1 killed 13 wounded 6 captured = 20 Lawther’s Report in OR p. 699
Total: 7 killed 53 wounded 6 captured = 66