Battle of Marmiton River

Part of the American Civil War

Date	October 25, 1864 (1864-10-25)
Location	Vernon County, Missouri
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

John McNeil

Sterling Price

Units involved

Department of the Missouri

Army of Missouri

Strength

2 brigades

1 Division

Casualties and losses

unknown

The Battle of Marmiton River (also known as Shiloh Creek or Charlot's Farm) occurred on October 25, 1864, in Vernon County, Missouri during the American Civil War.

Following the Battle of Mine Creek, Confederate Major General Sterling Price continued his cartage towards Fort Scott. In the late afternoon of October 25, Price's supply train had difficulty crossing the Marmiton River ford and, like at Mine Creek, Price had to make a stand. Brigadier General John McNeil, commanding two brigades of Alfred Pleasonton's Union cavalry division, attacked the Confederate troops that Price and his officers had rallied, which included a sizable number of unarmed men. McNeil observed the sizable Confederate force, not knowing that many of them were unarmed, and refrained from an all out assault. After about two hours of skirmishing, Price continued his retreat and McNeil could not mount an effective pursuit. Price's army was broken by this time, and it was simply a question of how many men he could successfully evacuate to friendly territory.

The battle occurred at a crossing of the Marmaton river, where the water was only two feet deep, and about thirty feet wide, with steep banks approaching and leading from the crossing. The river at this point ran east and west, with the troop's crossing going from the north to the south. General John McNeil's brigade approached the Confederate troops about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Troops engaged for the Confederates included Jeff Thompson's brigade (formerly J.O. Shelby's Iron Brigade), Slayback's battalion, and the remnants of Marmaduke's and Fagan's divisions (Dobbin's and Clark's brigades). The reserves consisted of Jackman's and Tyler's brigades. At this point in time, Price's army had only the three guns left of Richard Collin's battery. It is estimated that Price had about 8,000 men at this point in time.

McNeil's brigade halted about 800 yards from the Confederate line, and after a short delay, Pleasonton relayed orders to McNeil to attack. McNeil's men were on foot at this time, having dismounted their horses, when Tyler's brigade charged the Union line, mounted. McNeil had four guns, two Rodman's and two mountain howitzers, which then fired at the attacking Confederates. Eleven were killed and 24 wounded, before Tyler's men had made it 400 yards.

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