Price's Raid and his plan to take Westport

Confederate General Sterling Price

           Former governor of Missouri

Union General Samuel R. Curtis:

          Commander of the Department of the Border

• Price's Missouri Expedition changed course from St. Louis and Jefferson City to Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth.

• Curtis learned of Price’s plan to take Kansas City/Westport for Confederacy and fortified defensive lines along the west bank of the Little Blue River.

• There were about 17,000 Union troops for defense at Little Blue River, commanded by General James G. Blunt and General George W. Deitzler.

• A second Union cavalry division under command of General Alfred Pleasonton (also commander of cavalry at Gettysburg) advanced from St. Louis to help Curtis’ defense. About 7,000-8,000 men.

• Price chose to strike Curtis' troops at Westport before dealing with Pleasonton's division at St. Louis. 

• A third Union infantry corps of about 9,000 men under command of General A.J. Smith proceeded westward and parallel to the course of Pleasonton’s division to aid Westport.

• Price's troops could not break the Union lines and retreated south. "Westport was the decisive battle of Price's Missouri Expedition, and from this point on, the Confederates were in retreat."

Sources: Battle of Westport