3rd & 4th Battle of Boonville, Mo - U.S. Civil War Sites on Waymarking.com

County of marker: Cooper County
Location of marker: Main St. & Vine St., Boonville

Marker Text: This marks defence[sic] works where three companies of Union soldiers were taken prisoner when Confederates captured Boonville.

"On the 11th, hearing of the approach of the Federal General [John] McNeil with a cavalry force estimated at 2,500 men, for the purpose of attacking Boonville by the Tipton road, I selected my position about half a mile from the river and placed the divisions of Major-Generals Fagan and Marmaduke in line of battle to receive him. The enemy attacked them, but was easily driven back with considerable loss, and was afterward pursued by a portion of Fagan’s division and Jackman’s brigade a distance of twenty-one miles from Boonville with heavy loss, in spite of obstinate resistance and the ruggedness of the country over which the pursuit was made." ~ Craig Swan

"By October 10, the Army of Missouri arrived at Boonville, 100 miles to the east of Kansas City, where the situation would only get worse. Boonville was situated inside the "Little Dixie" part of the state and was home to many of Price's men. A large portion of them went on unauthorized leaves to visit their families. Others plundered Boonville despite its pro-Southern proclivities, which only added to the slow, 500-wagon supply train filled with provisions as well as loot from the raid. While Price's army delayed at Boonville, General Alfred Pleasonton led a pursuing Union cavalry force consisting of 4,500 men, closing in on Price's position from the east. Meanwhile, in Kansas, Governor Thomas Carney raised a force of state militia to check Price's advance to the west. Major General Samuel R. Curtis commanded some 15,000 regular soldiers and militia from the Department of Kansas along the border, and the Union forces converging on Kansas City totaled nearly 30,000." ~ Civil War on the Western Border