Fort Scott Tribune: Op/Ed Column: Battlefield Dispatches No. 187 Price the Dangerous Foe (11/06/09)

By the beginning of October 1864, it was apparent to Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis, Commanding the Department of Kansas at Fort Leavenworth, that "Confederate" Major General Sterling Price and his "Army of Missouri" was heading west and was going to invade Kansas. The following telegrams clearly indicate General Curtis's concern and his initial reaction to this threat to the Jayhawk state. All of the telegrams are located on Pages 570, 571, 674 & 694 in Series I, Part III Correspondence, Vol. 41 in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

"Fort Leavenworth, October 2, 1864.

Colonel Ford,

Independence, Mo.:

I am informed Price has reached Franklin and Washington on the Pacific Railroad. Try to get scouts to get intelligence & keep me posted. Also, keep constant intercourse with General Brown & inform me of what he hears. I want to know every move of Price now from this on. The enemy has crossed the Arkansas (River) & "PRICE" is now THE DANGEROUS FOE!

S. R. CURTIS

Major General."

"Fort Leavenworth, Oct. 2, 1864.

General George Sykes,

Lawrence:

Price has moved westward and has intersected river & railroad at Washington & Franklin. All movements in Missouri & Arkansas tend to drive him farther west. What position is the militia? We better collect forces at Olathe. I think General Deitzler (Commanding the Kansas Militia) better call out all troops available for that point. Let me know so I can have provisions made for them.

S. R. CURTIS

Major General."

"Fort Leavenworth, Oct. 4, 1864.

"Colonel Ford,

Kansas City:

Dispatch received. Be prepared to move without leaving stores, except at Kansas City. THAT PLACE MUST BE HELD IF POSSIBLE. You are my advance picket (guard) as to "Price". I am not disposed to move you back or south at present, but may support you if "Price" approaches. (Telegraph) operator at Sedalia reports "Price" at Rolla. This is doubtful. If true, he is moving south. Keep me posted.

S. R. CURTIS

Major General."

"Fort Leavenworth, October 4, 1864.

"Colonel Ford,

Kansas City,

Dispatches received. BUWSWHACKERS & "PRICE" are now our MOST FORMIDABLE FOES! I must have information from below (south of) you. You must send out scouts & spies. Also try to get telegraph news through General Brown's headquarters. If raining, as it does here, you had better not move today.

S. R. CURTIS

Major General."

"Headquarters Department of Kansas,

Fort Leavenworth, October 5, 1864.

His Excellency, Governor Thomas Carney:

The rebel forces under General Price have made a farther advance westward, crossing the Gasconade & are now at the railroad bridge on the Osage (River), about 15 miles below (& east of) Jefferson City. Large Federal forces about Saint Louis and below tend to drive TOWARD KANSAS! Other motives also will induce his FIENDISH FOLLOWERS (BUSHWHACKERS) to seek SPOILS & VENGEANCE in this STATE! To prevent this & join in efforts to expel these invaders from the country I desire that you will call out the entire militia force, with their best arms & ammunition for a period of 30 days. Each man should be provided with 2 blankets or a buffalo robe for comfort and a haversack for carrying provisions. No change of clothing will be necessary. I want this force assembled on the BORDER, mainly at Olathe, as soon as possible. For that purpose let farmers' teams with provisions & forage be employed to hurry them forward. I will do all in my power to provide provisions & public transportation, but (I) hope every man will be self-sustaining as possible & ready to join me in privations, hardships & dangers to aid our comrades in Missouri in destroying these rebel forces before they again desolate the fair fields of Kansas. If it is necessary to suspend business and labor until we are assured our property & earnings are not within the grasp of UNSCRUPULOUS MARAUDERS & MURDERERS!

Confidently believing, governor, that your Excellency & all loyal citizens will concur with me in the propriety of this very important demand & give me your hearty co-operation & assistance.

I have the honor to be, your very obedient servant,

S. R. CURTIS

Major General."

"Fort Leavenworth, October 5, 1864.

Col. C. R. Jennison,

Mound City:

Price is all along the Pacific Railroad from Franklin to Hermann with about 15,000 men. Ewing is the only man that has had a fight with him (at Pilot Knob) & that was not much. HE MUST COME FARTHER WEST BEFORE WE GO FOR HIM!

S. S. CURTIS

Major & Aide-de-Camp."

"Fort Leavenworth, October 6, 1864.

Col. C. W. Blair,

Fort Scott:

How are matters in your vicinity? Rebel forces have steadily advanced up the Missouri (River) to the Osage. If they come an inch farther the whole militia force of Kansas will be called out & I hope they will shut up shop & join in movements to clean out the surrounding country. Not a word from Saint Louis for several days. Jefferson City is pretty strong, preparing to resist anticipated attack, but I must watch for rebels below (to the south). Some talk of Shelby hanging around Saint Louis while Price turns westward. Have good scouts going and coming south & east. Ford, of my command, is now in Missouri at Pleasant Hill.

S.R. CURTIS

Major General."

"Fort Scott, October 6, 1864.

Maj. Gen. S. R. Curtis:

My scouts extend 50 miles east & 70 south & are going night & day. My whole command is ready to march at a moment's notice, whenever the word is given. The militia here will turn out to a man. There are some 200 or 300 men of the command below whom Col. Jennison talks of sending below (south). They are dismounted & but half of them are armed. Had they not better be kept here & have infantry arms issued to them for use while here? It is scarcely safe for them to try to get back (to Ft. Gibson), as Cooper's force is only 20 miles south of Gibson. You may depend that I shall not be found asleep, but will be ready in all respects when the time of action comes. Everything quiet here.

C. W. BLAIR

Colonel, Commanding."

Fort Leavenworth, October 6, 1864.

Col. C. W. Blair:

What has Jennison to do with sending troops below (south)? Are they Thayer's troops? If they are should they await to escort a [supply] train which I want to send as soon as I get Thayer's approval and my own.

I wish no movement south till we get east all right. (Meaning, until the Confederate threat from "Price" is eliminated.) Glad to hear the MILITIA will turn out. Thurston says they (the militia) will also (turn out) at Humboldt. Have the public informed of probable coming events, HAVE EVERY MAN'S HAVERSACK AND CARTRIDGE-BOX READY TO SLING.

S. R. CURTIS

Major General."

"Fort Scott, October 6, 1864.

Major General Curtis,

All right. I will have the MILITIA organized and ready as far as possible before the call. Many thanks.

C. W. BLAIR,

Colonel."

" Fort Leavenworth, October 7, 1864

[Kansas] Governor T. Carney:

I have nothing more by telegraph. I have Saint Louis papers of the 3rd. They all show Price has some 20,000 men and must now be on this (the west side) of the Osage (River). His movements, therefore, "THREATEN KANSAS". If beaten at Jefferson (City) his RETREATING HORDES will flood this region if we do not rally to resist them. Send me a copy of your message (calling out the militia) early. I will use the telegraph to give immediate notice of its purport (meaning).

S. R. CURTIS

Major General."

The "dye was cast"! There was no doubt in the "Union" mind that Major General Sterling Price and his "Army of Missouri" would reach, invade and raise has much havoc and destruction in Kansas as possible. This was believed at the beginning of October in 1864 and became a reality on October 24th & 25th and of course the War Went On!