Battle of Mine Creek order of battle: Union

Of the brigades listed below, only Philips' and Benteen's brigades, and a small part of Sanborn's brigade from the Union Army of the Border fought in the Battle of Mine Creek of the American Civil War.[1] The Confederate order of battle is listed separately. The entire organization of the Army of the Border is shown.

Command disputes

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By order of MG James G. Blunt (General Field Orders No. 2) the militia regiments of William H. M. Fishbeck, Brigadier General of Militia, were placed under the command of Charles W. Blair, Colonel of Volunteers; Fishbeck was infuriated that his command had been subordinated to a volunteer officer. Because Kansas law stated that militia should be kept under the command of militia officers, Fishbeck disregarded Blunt's order. Blunt had Fishbeck arrested and held until released by order of MG Samuel Curtis. Upon his release, Fishbeck resumed command of the Kansas Militia regiments, with orders to obey directives that came from MG Blunt. This rather cumbersome arrangement had BG Fishbeck in direct command of the militia units attached to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, and Col Charles Blair in overall command of the brigade. Howard N. Monnett describes the arrangement as a "brigade within a brigade". Blair and Fishbeck led the militia into action at Westport (accompanied onto the field by MG George W. Dietzler), and then in the subsequent pursuit of Price until MG Curtis ordered the militia to return home.[2]

Abbreviations used

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Military rank

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Army of the Border

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MG Samuel Ryan Curtis

Escort:

Division Brigade Regiments and Others

First Provisional Cavalry Division
MG James G. Blunt
Escort:
Company E, 14th Kansas Cavalry: 2Lt William B. Clark

1st Brigade


Col Charles R. Jennison

  • (Brigade did not participate in Battle of Mine Creek)
2nd Brigade


Col Thomas Moonlight

  • (Brigade did not participate in Battle of Mine Creek)
3rd Brigade [Kansas State Militia Division]


Col Charles W. Blair
BG William H. M. Fishback

  • (Brigade did not participate in Battle of Mine Creek)
4th Brigade


   Col James Hobart Ford

  • (Brigade did not participate in Battle of Mine Creek)
Division Brigade Regiments and Others

Second Division
     MG Alfred Pleasonton
Escort:
Company A, 11th Kansas Cavalry: Cpt Henry E. Palmer

1st Brigade


   Col John Finis Philips

2nd Brigade


BG John McNeil

  • 17th Illinois Cavalry: Col John Lourie Beveridge
  • 7th Kansas Cavalry: Maj Francis M. Malone
  • 2nd Missouri Cavalry: Cpt George M. Houston
  • 13th Missouri Cavalry: Col Edwin C. Catherwood
  • 3rd Missouri State Militia Cavalry: Ltc Henry M. Matthews
  • 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry: Ltc Joseph A. Eppstein
  • 9th Missouri State Militia Cavalry: Ltc Daniel M. Draper
  • Battery B, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery
  • Mountain howitzer battery (4 12-pdr)

(Brigade arrived after conclusion of the Battle of Mine Creek, but was in the Battle of Little Osage and the Battle of Marmiton River immediately following the Battle of Mine Creek)[3]

3rd Brigade


BG John Benjamin Sanborn

(Battery L, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery fought at the Battle of Mine Creek, remainder of Brigade arrived after conclusion of Battle of Mine Creek)

4th Brigade


   Ltc Frederick William Benteen


Notes

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The list shown is the entire Army of the Border. Of this army, only Philip's and Benteen's Brigades were present at this battle. Other brigades from this army fought other battles during Price's Raid.

  1. ^ Official Records: Series 1, vol 41, Part 1 (Price's Missouri Expedition) p. 337
  2. ^ Monnett p.44-45
  3. ^ Official Records, Series 1, vol 41, Part 1 (Price's Missouri Expedition), p. 539

References

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  • Buresh, Lumir F. October 25 and the Battle of Mine Creek (Kansas City, MO: The Lowell Press), 1977. ISBN 0-913504-40-8
  • Monnett, Howard N. Action Before Westport: 1864 (Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado), 1995. [revised edition]
  • Hinton, Richard Josiah. Rebel invasion of Missouri and Kansas, and the campaign of the army of the border against General Sterling Price, in October and November, 1864 (Chicago: Church and Goodman)
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