Dee's Battalion Trail clearing completed in Big Blue Battlefield Park

On October 23, 1864, Colonel Edward F. Winslow detached the Third Battalion, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, commanded by Captain Edward W. Dee and sent it down the hill into this ravine to anchor the Federal right. According to their maps, there was a ravine that Dee’s Battalion could follow all the way to the Big Blue River. There the Third Battalion could get across the river and attack the Confederate left flank.

Today that ravine is located in the Big Blue Battlefield Park in Kansas City, Missouri, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I have recently cleared a hiking trail to provide access to the ravine. There was significant disturbance to the ravine with the construction of Hardesty Avenue in the 20th century. Hardesty runs north/south and cuts across the ravine. But the trail provides access to the ravine on the east and west sides of Hardesty Avenue. On the west side of Hardesty, you can reach the approximate location where Dee's Battalion crossed the Big Blue River on October 23, 1864.

View on Dee's Battalion Trail looking down onto Big Blue River flood plain on west side of Hardesty Avenue.

View on Dee's Battalion Trail near point where Dee's Battalion crossed the Big Blue River.

Big Blue River near point where Dee's Battalion crossed showing flood control work.

Dee's Battalion Staging area on east side of Hardesty Avenue.

Start of Dee's Battalion Trail from Historic Byram's Ford Road.

Last changed: Jan 25 2015 at 10:23 AM