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After the Confederate defeat at Mine Creek, Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby set up another rear guard action on the Military Road on the high ground just south of the Little Osage River.
From the Mine Creek State Historic Site get back heading south on US Highway 69. After traveling south on US Highway 69 for about 7.5 miles you will cross the Linn / Bourbon County Line. Remember that Price's Army was continuing its retreat down the Military Road, which followed a route west of the present day US Highway 69. But near the county line, its path crossed present day US Highway 69 and continued east of the present day highway on the way down to Fort Scott, Kansas. Continue down US Highway 69 and take the exit for Wagon Road. Turn right (west) and travel for 0.4 miles until you reach Kansas Highway 31. Turn right (north) and travel for about one mile, turning right (east) on Xavier Road. Follow this road about 0.75 miles and stop a few hundred yards after passing under US Highway 69. Xavier Road crosses over the Little Osage about 0.25 ahead, but from this point you can look south and see the ridge where Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby made deployed his men to hold off the Federal pursuit.
Looking South toward Ridge where Shelby Held Off Federal Pursuit
You actually crossed this ridge shortly after turning onto Kansas Highway 31, but it's private property and besides, you get a better view of the topography from this location.
Maj. Gen. Sterling Price was riding at the heading of the wagon train on his way to Fort Scott when he became aware of the catastrophe of Mine Creek. Price quickly sent word recalling Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby and headed north to rally his men. Shelby returned with his division of about 2,000 cavalrymen and set up his main defense line on that ridge to the south. Shelby ordered Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson to deploy a skirmish line at the ford just a bit north of where you are standing.
You actually crossed this ridge shortly after turning onto Kansas Highway 31, but it's private property and besides, you get a better view of the topography from this location.
Maj. Gen. Sterling Price was riding at the heading of the wagon train on his way to Fort Scott when he became aware of the catastrophe of Mine Creek. Price quickly sent word recalling Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby and headed north to rally his men. Shelby returned with his division of about 2,000 cavalrymen and set up his main defense line on that ridge to the south. Shelby ordered Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson to deploy a skirmish line at the ford just a bit north of where you are standing.
Although victorious at Mine Creek, the Federal cavalry in Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton's Division took a while to get organized and continue the pursuit. It wasn’t until 1:00 p.m. that the brigades of Col. John F. Philips, Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn, and Brig. Gen. John McNeill reached the top of the ridge south of Mine Creek around 1:00 P.M. and saw Shelby's forces forming on the ridge to the south. A half an hour later, the Federals were formed into line of battle.
Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis described the scene in his official report.
Being mostly a prairie country the troops of both armies were in full view, and the rapid onward movement of the whole force presented the most extensive, beautiful, and animated view of hostile armies I have ever witnessed. Spread over vast prairies, some moving at full speed in column, some in double lines, and others as skirmishers, groups striving in utmost efforts, and shifting as occasion required, while the great clouds of living masses moved steadily southward, presented a picture of prairie scenery such as neither man nor pencil can delineate.
Around 2:00 p.m. Pleasonton ordered McNeil to charge with Sanborn supporting on his right. Philips had run into the river and had to stop a mile or so above the ford. The waiting Confederates let loose a volley when the charging Federals were about 100 yards from their first defense line. Then they quickly withdrew past the second defensive line which let loose a volley against the charging Federals. The second line quickly withdrew from the charging Federals. Thompson was able to get the fleeing Confederates reformed behind a deep creek just south of the ford. McNeil charged the Confederate position and after 15 to 20 minutes was able to drive them back to a hill about a half mile away.
By now Philips' and Lt. Col. Frederick W. Benteen's Brigades had gotten across the Little Osage River and were coming up to support the attack. McNeil and Sanborn attacked again. Confederate General Thompson had his men fire another volley before withdrawing. The Confederates were stubbornly resisting as they withdrew south to the Marmaton River. The Federals' horses had become exhausted and could not make a satisfactory charge. By 3:00 p.m. the fighting had pretty much stopped. Casualties were light.
Shelby described the events in his official report.
Day and night the retreat was continued until the evening of the 25th, when my division, marching leisurely in front of the train, was ordered hastily to the rear to protect it … I hastened forward with Thompson's brigade and Slayback's regiment to the scene of action. I soon met beyond the Osage River the advancing Federals, flushed with success and clamorous for more victims. I knew from the beginning that I could do nothing but resist their advance, delay them as much as possible, and depend on energy and night for the rest.
The first stand was made one mile north of the Osage River, where the enemy was worsted; again upon the river-bank, and again I got away in good condition. Then taking position on a high hill one mile south of the river, I halted for a desperate struggle. The enemy advanced in overwhelming numbers and with renewed confidence at the sight of the small force in front of them … The fight lasted nearly an hour, but I was at last forced to fall back.
Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby
Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson
Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn
Brig. Gen. John McNeil
The next tour stop is about a 10 mile drive down US Highway 69 to Fort Scott.
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