Sesquicentennial news
by chuckofish
Today is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Westport–sometimes referred to as the Gettysburg of the West–on October 23, 1864.
N.C. Wyeth mural of the Battle of Westport at the MO State Capitol
Union forces under Major Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major Sterling Price. This engagement was the turning point of Price’s Missouri Expedition, forcing his army to retreat and ending the last significant Confederate operation west of the Mississippi River. This battle was one of the largest ever to be fought west of the Mississippi River, with over 30,000 men engaged. Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickcock (a scout for Gen. Curtis), Frederick Benteen, and Jeremiah Johnson all fought in this battle.
I am definitely adding this trip to my “To Do” list. I have been meaning to visit Westport, Missouri (now called Kansas City) where my ancestors were among the first pioneers to settle. And now I find that there was a major Civil War battle fought there? Where have I been?
Unfortunately, I will have to miss the reenactment, but, as you know, I am more of the self-guided-tour type anyway.
Road trip, anyone?
Trivia question: What famous movie character had a cat named after Gen. Sterling Price? What movie?
dual personalities 
I know the answer(s) but I won’t spoil the fun. (We had such a cat as General Sterling Price. The Christian name of the character was as a beef sandwich.) To this day I cannot abide the second main character in the movie.
What beef sandwich? Go ahead and say…
He’s making a joke about Glen Campbell’s character…
Reuben ‘Rooster’ Cogburn (Corned Beef and Thousand Island Dressing) and I cannot abide Kim Darby nor Mattie Ross.
It’s Rooster Cogburn in True Grit, isn’t it?
Yes, of course–(not LaBoeuf)
Great history lesson…didn’t know about it either. Count me in!
And who knew that there are N.C. Wyeth murals at the capitol? I always think of Thomas Hart Benton…
Have seen the Benton paintings but didn’t know about the Wyeth ones. Jeff City is on the way to Westport!
I see I am too late but it is True Grit. A movie I have watched many times. I hope to make it to Kansas City next summer on a road trip I am planning.
I can not hear the name Gen. Sterling Price without thinking of that cat!
The Combat Studies Institute people at Fort Leavenworth led us on a ‘staff ride’ of the battlefield. It was pretty cool — it stretched over miles. I hadn’t thought about it in ages. Thanks for the reminder and a toast to General Price!
[…] of significant war material, it had little long-term benefit as Price was ultimately defeated at Westport a week later, bringing his campaign in Missouri to an […]