Russell's Ford - Battle of Westport - Kansas City, Mo
Posted by: 
iconions
N 38° 57.765 W 094° 33.000
15S E 365708 N 4313785
This historic area is located near the intersection of Blue River Rd. and Prospect Ave. in Kansas City, Mo.
Waymark Code: WM5WKT
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 02/21/2009
Views: 11
This location - Russell's Ford - is an important chapter in the aftermath of the Battle of Westport as the retreat of General George Dietzler's Kansas Militia allowed General Sterling Price's Confederates to begin a slow and bloody retreat through Kansas. They were stopped 3 days later at the only Civil War Battle to be fought between regular units of both sides on Kansas soil - the Battle of Mine Creek, a complete Union victory.
The text of the marker placed by the Civil War Roundtable of Kansas City:
RUSSELL'S FORD
In 1864 the ford across the Blue River was near where the bridge to the north now stands. Blue River road did not exist the. On October 22, 1864. Kansas Militia, defending this ford to prevent crossing by Confederate General Price, withdrew to the north and west when Price crossed downstream. On the 23rd Price's wagon train and most of his army crossed here retreating south on what was then called the Harrisonville Road. Late that morning a unit of McNeil's Union Brigade was on the bluff to the southeast but did not fire on the enemy.
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