Battle of the Marais des Cygnes: 145th Anniversary

During the Civil War, on October 25, 1864 three significant battles occurred in Kansas and the first of these has three names. In the pages of history, it was called the Battle of "The Mounds", the Battle of Trading Post and the Battle of the Marais des Cygnes. To make matters worse or more difficult for historians occasionally this battle was also called the Battle of the Osage, because the Marais des Cygnes River is a tributary of and becomes the Osage River. Also, to complicate things even more, in some official accounts or reports, the Battle of Mine Creek is also referred to as the Battle of the Osage! Therefore, even the official and personal accounts can be confusing by using different names to describe the same battle. All of the 3 "Kansas" battles & one battle that occurred in Missouri on Oct. 25, 1864 that were part of the Confederate Campaign led by Major General Sterling Price were "Union" victories and successful rear guard or delaying actions by the Confederate forces. Therefore, even being defeated in battle, the Confederates succeeded in protecting their column as Price's "Army of Missouri" marched south and then east into Missouri that was more hospitable to southern forces than the enemy sate of Kansas.

The following are edited versions of the official after action reports of "Union" Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis and Brigadier General John B. Sanborn that describe the "Battle of the Marais des Cygnes". Both reports are located on Pages 493, 494, 390 & 391 in Vol. 41, Part 1, Reports of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

Report of Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis,

Commanding the Army of the Border

BATTLE OF THE MARAIS DES CYGNES

The enemy had gone into camp in the timber skirting the Marais des Cygnes near the town of Trading Post, making fires and other arrangements for rest and refreshments. My day and night's march brought my advance close upon them about 12 midnight of the 25th and at 3 o'clock [a.m.] Major Hunt led 3 companies of the 2nd Colorado to attack and take a mound which commands the valley of the stream. This was gallantly executed. I sent a special order to General Sanborn, who commanded the advance brigade, by Major Weed, to push forward artillery and open at long range. This was retarded by the darkness, but the artillery commenced at 4 a.m. As daylight approached our troops deployed, moving in line against the enemy, who still occupied one of the hills and timber skirting the stream. As our lines rose steadily on the side hill the enemy's force on the summit melted away, till finally our forces had secured all the commanding positions with very little loss. Skirmishers moved into the timber, when the rebel camp was deserted in great confusion. A stand was made at the river crossing, where the enemy was felling trees and firing cannon, but our advance was so close upon them they left their guns [artillery] and the ford, retreating in disorder. Cattle, camp equipment, Negroes, provisions partly cooked and stolen goods were scattered over miles of the forest camp and along the lines of retreat. Few were killed on either side as the night and early morn attack created a general fright in the rebel lines and only random shots on either side. The Battle of the Marais des Cygnes was a gallant affair, commenced in a dark rainy night and consummated at early dawn after a day and night march, to the surprise and horror of Price's forces. They burned a public store-house formerly used by our pickets and fired many haystacks in the vicinity, but their loss of two guns [cannon], many cattle, sheep and thousands of necessaries for sleeping and carrying supplies, were serious losses to the enemy.

Brigadier General Sanborn and the troops of his brigade, Major Weed, Major Hunt and Major McKenny, of my staff deserve special commendation for their efforts in this Battle of the Marais des Cygnes.

Commanding"

Report of Brigadier General John B. Sanborn

Brigade Commander

"The following day, the 24th, my command moved to the immediate vicinity of the Marais des Cygnes, a distance of 60 miles, passing the commands of Generals Curtis and Blunt and taking the advance. My advance reached this point a little after midnight and immediately commenced skirmishing [engaging] the enemy. The road leading to Trading Post, on the Marais des Cygnes, passes through a gap between two high mounds about half a mile from the river, each from one half to a mile in length. [Note: This road was the "Original Military Road" that was constructed between 1837 & 1844 that connected Forts Leavenworth, Scott and Gibson]. The night was dark and it was raining heavily. Colonel Gravely advanced gallantly with his command and the enemy opened musketry fire from the gap. The line was deployed as skirmishers and advanced towards the base of the mounds. The enemy opened a line of fire from the foot, sides and summits of the mounds and the intervening gap and in an instant the clamor and noise of many voices indicated that we were near the enemy's position.

My ignorance of the topography of the country, the impenetrable darkness and incessant rain, induced me to postpone a general attack until 4 o'clock in the morning [of the 25th]. Col. Gravely was ordered to advance and occupy the summits of the two mounds and the intervening gap without delay. Captains Thurber & Montgomery were ordered to open fire with all their guns [cannon] at 16 degrees elevation, bearing across the right end of the mound on our left through the gap, the mounds and gap being now just visible through the receding darkness. The 4th Iowa Cavalry[being dismounted] gained the mound on our right without serious opposition, but Col. Gravely met with strong resistance in his advance toward the crest of the mound on our left. The enemy's line extended the entire length of this mound & as our line advanced it opened a rapid, but ill-directed fire. The line formed by the [dismounted] 6th & 8th Cavalry Missouri State Militia, almost crawling upon the ground by reason of the abrupt assent, moved steadily forward until within a few yards of the enemy, when a loud cheer from our line, followed by one or two sharp volleys of musketry, proclaimed the position gained. Captains Thurber & Montgomery had kept up a steady fire from their batteries during this advance and as afterwards was ascertained, many of their shells exploded in the enemy's camp creating the greatest excitement & confusion. Gen. Pleasanton was now upon the ground and ordered me to advance my line to the Marais des Cygnes and cross the river as soon as possible. This order was immediately executed and in a few minutes my command occupied the ground just abandoned by the enemy, who left one piece of artillery & many wagons, horses, mules, cattle, sheep, cooking utensils & etc.

Commanding."

Thus ended the early morning Battle of the Marais des Cygnes which was followed by the Battle of Mine Creek at approximately 11:00 a.m., the Battle of the Little Osage at 2:30 p.m. near the present town of Fulton, Kansas and the Battle of Charlot's Farm at sunset near Deerfield, Mo. and of course the War Went On!