Battle of Marais des Cygnes

Marais des Cygnes

Date	October 25, 1864 (1864-10-25)
Location	Linn County, Kansas
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

U.S. (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

Alfred Pleasonton
John F. Philips
Frederick Benteen

Sterling Price
John S. Marmaduke
James F. Fagan

Units involved

Phillips's and Benteen's brigades of the U.S. Provisional Cavalry Division

Army of Missouri

Strength

2,600

7,000

Casualties and losses

Unknown

The Battle of Marais des Cygnes (pronounced Mare D' Zeen) took place on October 25, 1864, in Linn County, Kansas during Price's Missouri Raid in the American Civil War. It is also called the Battle of Osage, or the Battle of Trading Post. It proved to be the first of three interconnected actions on this same day, all involving elements of Major General Sterling Price's Confederate Army of Missouri, and the Union's Provisional Cavalry Division commanded by Major General Alfred Pleasonton.

During this battle, two brigades of Pleasonton's cavalry, one under Colonels John F. Philips and the other under Frederick Benteen, caught up with Price's rear guard at Trading Post, Kansas. Price's army covered the crossing of the Marais des Cygnes River with a Southern supply train. Though unable to prevent the crossing or inflict serious damage on Confederate forces, Pleasonton's troopers did manage to capture prisoners and artillery, forcing Price to continue his retreat. This led in turn to a second engagement at Mine Creek later that morning, followed by a final battle at Marmiton River in the afternoon. The three Union victories won on this day sealed the fate of Price's campaign.

During the American Civil War, the Confederate authorities were looking for an edge in the upcoming U.S. presidential election of 1864. Due to this, they decided to attempt to take over the territory of Missouri to help persuade the people of the North to vote against current President, Abraham Lincoln. With Missouri as a Confederate territory, they were convinced it would give them the advantage in winning the war. With commands from Lt. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, Sterling Price assembled an army to take on this challenge. After this, he lost his infantry units to reassignment, and was forced to create a cavalry for the raid.

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