Byram's Ford, MO

Date: October 22-23, 1864

Campaign: Price’s Missouri Expedition [1864]

Battles in Campaign:

• Fort Davidson, MO - September 27, 1864 B

• Glasgow, MO - October 15, 1864 C¹

• Lexington, MO II - October 19, 1864 D¹

• Little Blue River, MO - October 21, 1864 D¹

• Independence, MO II - October 22, 1864 C¹

• Byram's Ford, MO - October 22, 1864 B

• Westport, MO - October 23, 1864 A

• Marais des Cygnes, KS - October 25, 1864 C¹

• Marmiton River, MO - October 25, 1864 D¹

• Mine Creek, KS - October 25, 1864 C¹

• Newtonia II, MO - October 28, 1864 B

Situation:

• Maj. Gen. Sterling Price’s Army of Missouri was headed west towards Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth.

• Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis’ Army of the Border, in and around Westport, was blocking the Confederates’ way west and Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton’s provisional cavalry division was pressing Price’s army’s rear.

• Price had nearly 500 wagons with him and required a good ford over the Big Blue River to facilitate the passage of his supplies.

• Byram’s Ford was the best ford in the area and became a strategic point during the fighting around Westport.

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt and Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton

• Confederate: Brig. Gen. Joseph Shelby and Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke

Principal Forces:

• Union: 1st Division, Army of the Border and provisional cavalry division

• Confederate: Shelby and Marmaduke’s Divisions

Description:

• On October 22, Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt’s division held a defensive position on the Big Blue River’s west bank.

• Around 10:00 am on the 22nd, part of Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby’s Confederate division conducted a frontal attack on Blunt’s men.

• This attack was a ruse because the rest of Shelby’s men flanked Blunt’s hasty defenses, forcing the Federals to retire to Westport.

• Price’s wagon train and about 5,000 head of cattle then crossed the Big Blue River at Byram’s Ford and headed southward toward Little Santa Fe and safety.

• However, Pleasonton’s cavalry was in close pursuit of Price’s army.

• Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke’s Confederate division held the west bank of the Big Blue at Byram’s Ford to prevent Pleasonton from attacking Price’s rear.

• Pleasonton attacked Marmaduke at Byram’s Ford, around 8:00 am, on the 23rd.

• After three hours of fighting, Marmaduke’s forces fell back toward Westport.

• When Pleasonton crossed the river, he was an additional threat to Price who was fighting Curtis’ Army of the Border at Westport. Price had to retreat south.

Slide Presentation: None

Classification²: B

Casualties³: Unknown

• Union:

• Confederate:

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Battle of Byram's Ford - Wikipedia

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

³ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 09/03/2009