 |
 |
 |
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.
Harrisonville Road Historical Marker
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."
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.
Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby described the Confederate retreat in his official report.
About 12 o'clock I sent Jackman's brigade back to the road taken by the train, for it was reported that General Marmaduke had fallen back before the enemy--although he had never notified me of the fact, or I never saw his couriers, which I learned afterward were sent-and thus my whole right flank and rear were exposed. Jackman had scarcely reached the point indicated when he met an order from General Fagan to hasten to his help at a gallop, for the entire prairie in his front was dark with Federals. Jackman dismounted his men in the broad and open plain and formed them in one long, thin line before the huge wave that threatened to engulf them. Collins with one gun hurried forward to help Jackman, and opened furiously upon the advancing enemy.
On and on, their great line overlapping Jackman by one-half, they came to within eighty yards. Down went that line of gray, and a steady stream of bullets struck them fairly in the face, until they reeled, scattered, and fled; but the wing that extended beyond and around Jackman's left rode on to retrieve the disaster of their comrades, and came within thirty paces at full speed. Again a merciless fire swept their front; again Collins poured in double charges of grape and canister, and they, too, were routed and driven back, when General Fagan thanked Colonel Jackman on the “field of his fame, fresh and gory." It was a high and heroic action and one which shines out in our dark days of retreat like a “cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night." There on an open prairie, no help or succor near, no friendly reserves to cover and protect a retreat, Jackman dismounted with almost the forlorn determination of Cortez, who burnt his ships, resolved to conquer or die. Fresh lines of Federals forced Jackman to mount his horses, and he fell back after the train, fighting hard.
After the war, Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell described starting the train moving from Independence.
The next morning our wagon train had been ordered the Fort Scott road—Cabell’s Brigade was guarding the train with [Charles Humphrey] Tyler’s small brigade in front. Fagan, with two of his Arkansas Brigades with Marmaduke and Shelby attacked the enemy near Westport. I moved to the crossing of the Big Blue and started the train.
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.
Soon after my command reached the front line the Second Arkansas Cavalry was dismounted and ordered to advance against the enemy's right. The regiment moved forward and the enemy fell back, whereupon, pursuant to an order from the general commanding, I charged with the rest of my brigade in line and drove the enemy back to the Harrisonville road, a distance of some three miles. The lines were now reformed and soon the order came to charge again. In this instance the order was given directly to regimental commanders in two or three cases, and the points at which the several regiments were to strike the enemy's line were not designated. The result was that, although the troops charged with the greatest gallantry and carried the enemy's position, the charge was made so far to our right that the enemy was allowed to escape with his artillery on the Harrisonville road.
Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell
Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn
|
 |
|