Mine Creek Battlefield

-Positions Along the Fort Scott Road-

Trail Marker 2 is located just south and west of Trail Marker 1. Just follow the trail heading south to the next marker.

You are standing on the Fort Scott Road in between the opposing forces. Take a moment to think about the troops that were just about ready to start fighting. It's about 11:00 a.m. on October 25, 1864. Maj. Gen. John S. Marmaduke had originally planned to set up his rear guard defense on the south side of Mine Creek. But then Marmaduke discovered the Mine Creek crossing was blocked. Recent heavy rains had turned the creek into a raging torrent. The two available fords were backed up with over 100 wagons still trying to get across. To further complicate matters, a wagon had overturned and was now blocking the ford.

Marmaduke realized he would have to set up his defense line on the north side of the creek and deployed the brigades of Brig. Gen. John B. Clark, Jr. and Col. Thomas R. Freeman. The Confederate line extended about 800 yards and contained about 4,825 men. At this point the Federal cavalry came into view on the ridge about 1,000 yards to the north.

Marmaduke quickly sent a request for support to Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan. Fagan deployed his division to extend the Confederate line west. Now Benteen’s Brigade appeared on the ridge to the north. Marmaduke felt he was now confronted by an overwhelming force and sent back a request to Price for reinforcements. Neither Marmaduke nor Fagan deployed any of their troops as a reserve force.

Looking South toward Confederate Line

Look to the south. Off in the distance there are two red markers. The marker directly south of you marks the initial Confederate line of battle across the Fort Scott Road. There is another red marker to the southeast (it may be difficult to pick out from where you are standing) that marks the right flank of the Confederate line. The Confederate line of battle extended about three quarters of a mile to the west from this marker.

Clark's Brigade (about 1,450 men) was on the Confederate right flank. His troops extended from the left red marker to just east of the red marker to your immediate south. Capt. Henry C. Hynson's Texas Battery was deployed on the right flank (near the red marker to your left).

Freeman's Brigade (about 1,000 men) was deployed on Clark's left on the Fort Scott Road. Harris' Battery under the command of Lt. T. J. Williams was deployed at the center of the line near where the center red marker stands.

Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell's Brigade (about 2,100 men) was deployed just left of center and extended to the little hillock about 100 yards north of Mine Creek. Col. William F. Slemmons' Brigade (about 800 men) was deployed to Cabell's left. Col. Archibald S. Dobbin's Brigade (about 500 men) from Fagan's Division was deployed with Slemmons on the Confederate Left flank. Blocher's Arkansas Battery under the command of Lt. J. V. Zimmerman was on the Confederate left flank.

Looking North toward Federal Line

Now turn and look to the north at the Federal position. Up on the hill by the red marker was the Federal line of battle.

Col. John F. Philips' 1st Cavalry Brigade (about 1,400 men) arrived first and formed to the left of the red marker to the north. Philips was soon joined by Lt. Col. Frederick W. Benteen's 4th Brigade (about 1,100 men) who formed to the right of the red marker to the north.

Philips immediately saw that the Federals were outnumbered. They were facing more than 6,000 Confederates along with their artillery. He sent back a request to Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton for reinforcements. Philips' Brigade came under Confederate artillery fire and became pinned down. Philips' artillery returned this fire.

Maj. Gen. John S. Marmaduke

Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan

Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell