Battle of Westport

Overview

The Battle of Westport was a battle of the American Civil War fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri. Union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General Sterling Price, forcing his army to retreat and marking the turning point of his Missouri Expedition. The battle ended the last major Confederate offensive west of the Mississippi River, and for the remainder of the war the United States Army maintained solid control over most of Missouri. More than 30,000 troops fought in the clash, one of the largest west of the Mississippi River.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Westport on October 23, 1864, marked the decisive turning point of Sterling Price's Missouri Expedition, the last major Confederate offensive west of the Mississippi River. Union forces under Samuel R. Curtis, fielding roughly 22,000 troops against Price's 8,500, inflicted a defeat that compelled the Confederate army to retreat and abandon any remaining prospect of seizing Missouri. With more than 30,000 troops engaged, it ranked among the largest engagements fought west of the Mississippi. Following the battle, the United States Army consolidated control over most of Missouri for the remainder of the war, effectively closing the trans-Mississippi theater to large-scale Confederate offensive action.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)