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From previous marker continue East, turn right on Brookside Blvd, then left turn on 63rd St to Walnut. This marker is located at the intersection of 63rd Street and Walnut Street.
Hinkle's Grove Historical Marker
Hinkle's Grove Historical Marker Inscription
"At about 1:00 P.M., October 23, 1864 Confederate General Shelby was withdrawing slowly from his position near the Wornall House. He had been ordered to pull back by General Price because of the collapse of Marmaduke's Confederate line at Byram's Ford. Union troops under General Pleasonton arrived here at that time. In the lead was Thurber's Battery of Rodman Guns. They opened fire from the edge of the grove that was here. Philips' Union Brigade arrive. Shelby retreated south and east with Union Generals Blunt and Philips in hot pursuit."
Going into Action by Edwin Forbes
Unfortunately, there is not a lot to see here, but try to use your imagination as I describe certain critical events that took place on October 23, 1864 on this spot.
Remember that while the Union Army of the Border had attacked the Confederate Army of Missouri from Brush Creek at dawn on Sunday morning, Union Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton's Cavalry Division had planned to attack the Confederates at Byram's Ford on the Big Blue River. Byram's Ford is located about 3.5 miles east of where you are standing.
Around midmorning on Sunday, October 23, 1864. Pleasonton's troopers forced a crossing of the Big Blue River at Byram's Ford and made several charges against the strong defensive position held by Confederate Maj. Gen. John S. Marmaduke's Division on the west side of the Big Blue River. Around noon the attacking Federals overwhelmed Marmaduke's forces which withdrew to the west.
The Federal cavalrymen kept up their pressure on the retreating Confederates. Marmaduke's troops kept up steady resistance, but were pushed back out of the timber and onto the prairie by the Federal advance. Once out in the open, Marmaduke's Division was exposed to fire from Battery H of the Second Missouri Light Artillery. As this point, Pleasonton arrived on the scene and strongly encouraged his troops to keep up the pressure. The Confederate defenders turned and quickly withdrew to the west.
Pleasonton rode up and quickly regrouped his men to continue the pursuit. He advanced Battery H up to Hinkle's Grove near where you are standing. Now the battery was in position to hit Shelby's right flank. They fired on the Shelby's Iron Brigade just as Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis launched his general charge by the Army of the Border. The Union forces were on both sides with the Confederates stuck in the middle.
Col. Thomas Moonlight, 11th Kansas Cavalry, 2d Brigade, Army of the Border, remembered when Pleasonton's guns opened up on the Confederate right flank.
With great difficulty I managed to draw off and swing round on their right flank, hidden in my movement by the timber. By this time the militia were thrown forward and as we turned his front & flank, Pleasonton's guns were heard booming in his rear. New life was infused into our ranks, men of low spirits became jubilant and for the first time in four days fighting the shout of history was heard on our side, even the very horses seemed inspired with courage & endurance. We drove the enemy at all points and long ere the setting of the sun the retreat had turned into a rout.
It was around midday on Sunday, October 23 when Capt. George S. Grover led his command of about 100 men detached from Foster’s Cavalry Battalion south from Brush Creek against the Confederates. Grover remembered how excited they were to see Pleasonton’s advance appear to the east on the enemy right flank.
We arrived just in time to take place with the first brigade, and again follow the heroic Jennison, as he rode far in advance of his line, straight at the enemy's long gray columns. They broke as we reached them, reformed, and again we rode them down. Just then, the head of a column of cavalry deployed from the timber, about a mile to the left, and advanced upon the rebel right flank, and as they swung into action, the smoke lifted, and we saw their guidons, and blue uniforms, and with wild shouts, "Pleasonton has come” again we rode upon the rebel line, doubling it up like a jack-knife, while the new comers charged simultaneously, breaking the rebel rear, in their front, in wild disorder, causing the rebels to leave their strong position and scatter through the timber of Indian Creek, with scarcely the semblance of an organization, dropping guns, cartridges and blankets in their reckless flight. The battle had been fought, and the victory won.
Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton
Col. Thomas Moonlight
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