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From previous marker return north on Holmes, turn right on Gregory, turn left on Paseo, then right on Meyer Blvd to Wabash. This marker is located at the intersection of Meyer and Wabash. |
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Harrisonville Road Historical Marker |
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Harrisonville Road Historical Marker Inscription "This was the main road to Harrisonville. Fagan's Confederate Division was posted here at noon on October 23, 1864. At daylight that day General Price's huge wagon train moved south on this road. After his defeat at Byram's Ford General Marmaduke retreated south following Price's column. General Fagan was reinforced by Jackman's Brigade. They faced east. Sanborn of Pleasonton's Division attacked them but was driven back, but he and Benteen then drove them to the south and west." |
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The Harrisonville Road generally went from Westport to Harrisonville, crossing the Big Blue River at Russell's Ford. Today's Prospect Avenue approximates the route of the Harrisonville Road. After crossing the Blue River, present day Grandview Road follows the general route. On Friday, October 21, the Confederate wagon train was parked just southwest of Independence on the prairie near Rock Creek. Maj. Gen. Sterling Price was keen on getting his wagon train away from the Federal pursuit and safely back to Arkansas. Price decided to put the Big Blue River between his wagon train and Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton's pursuing cavalry. His wagons would cross at Byram's Ford, turn south on the Harrisonville Road, cross again at Russell's Ford, continue south on the Harrisonville Road, and turn southwest on the Santa Fe Trail. Of course, this meant the Confederates had to get control of those fords, both of which were being defended by Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis's Army of the Border. Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby's division attacked on Saturday, October 22, gained control of both fords, and the wagon train began crossing at Byram's Ford late in the day on October 22. By some accounts more than 500 wagons and 3,000 head of cattle made up the Confederate procession. Escorting the wagon train was the brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell from Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan's division. In addition, there were several thousand unarmed, but mounted, recruits under the command of Col. Charles H. Tyler. On Sunday, October 23 after Pleasonton broke through at Byram's Ford, the men from Maj. Gen. John S. Marmaduke's division retreated down the Harrisonville Road to catch up with the wagon train, which by this time was lumbering through New Santa Fe. The Federal pursued the retreating Confederates across the prairie and down the Harrisonville Road. |
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Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby described the Confederate retreat in his official report.
After the war, Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell described starting the train moving from Independence.
Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn, 3d Cavalry Brigade, Provisional Cavalry Division, Department of Missouri described his attack of the retreating Confederates in his official report.
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Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell |
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Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn |
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