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Comments on: The Big Blue Battlefield https://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404 Bringing obscurity into focus Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:39:26 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.22 By: Jim Chandler https://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404&cpage=1#comment-61483 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:54:26 +0000 http://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404#comment-61483 p.s.
The monuments, signs, etc. have been in place since before the original article, and maybe 1 or 2 one story buildings may have been razed, but the area immediately east of the railroad tracks the the current road along what would have been the main road to the ford has been vacant for many years.

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By: Jim Chandler https://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404&cpage=1#comment-61482 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:42:12 +0000 http://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404#comment-61482 I am quite familiar with this site having worked as a Land Surveyor in this area. Perhaps some things can be clarified.
Firstly, the fighting at the Big Blue River crossing at Byram’s ford preceded the Battle of Wesport, also known as the Battle of the Hemp Bales as bales of hemp were used for cover.
The fighting took place in two phases, first the Confederate forces meeting artillery fire from the Kansas Militia, and driving them back, then meeting the trailing Union Cavalry the next morning with their own artillery from basically the same position overlooking the ford.
There is actually a brick monument at the turn of the road with 3 plaques that describe the battle, the middle one being a brass map of the troop movements as one faces the hillside where the final cavalry charge forced the Confederates to retreat.
Yes this is an industrial park area, but the buildings are spread out, and the open flood plane between the ford, and the stone outcropping at the base of the bluff is well apparent and easy to see how crossing it under fire might have been difficult.
The ‘highway” is actually a Parkway, and the border of Swope Park, the 2nd largest municipal park in the U.S., and currently the new Soccer Villiage run by the MLS’ Sporting KC.
When the new bridge was built several years ago, no Civil War artifacts were found in the roadway area that is upstream from the ford.
Currently access to the actual ford site is fenced off, but one might get to it roughing it through the woods to the left bank.
Besides the brick monument with the map display, there’s a commemorative stone wall, and 4 or 5 historical signs that identify key areas to the battle.
So as sites within a city go, if one gets in the right spots, its not hard to envision it all unfolding before you.

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By: Drew W. https://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404&cpage=1#comment-9765 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:06:55 +0000 http://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404#comment-9765 The state park at Lexington is wonderful.

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By: Wade Sokolosky https://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404&cpage=1#comment-9753 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 03:29:42 +0000 http://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404#comment-9753 Eric,

Glade to see the preservation efforts in KC. Several years back I had the good fortune to visit the Big Blue. Your right – smack dad in the middle of an industrial park. My four years at Fort Leavenworth afforded me the opportunity to visit the MO, KS and ARK battlefields quite often. Such a treat for a Tarheel!!

Wade Sokolosky

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By: Steve Basic https://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404&cpage=1#comment-9746 Tue, 16 Jan 2007 06:45:45 +0000 http://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=404#comment-9746 Eric,

Thanks for the information. As you may know, our CW Chat room had its annual muster out there a few years ago, and while we did not have the time to venture to the Kansas City area, The Battle of Westport was brought up in a talk by Civil War Artist Andy Thomas. Mr. Thomas has done a very fine print of the Battle of Westport, and I pried open the wallet here, and bought one for myself. The print features General Shelby in action at the Battle.

I have made 2 trips out to that area, and I was very much impressed by some of the Civil War sites I visited. Like everywhere else, the sites out there are facing much the same crises as other CW sites throughout the country.

Hope all is well.

Regards from the Garden State,

Steve

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