I am from Kansas City and would like to comment on a couple of things from the above discussion. The park where Civil War action took place near the Plaza is called Loose Park, located on Wornall Rd. Loose Park (and the Plaza) is just south of Old Westport, so there’s plenty to see in that area of town.

The reference to a fort in southeastern Kansas should be Fort Scott, not Fort Smith. I believe Fort Smith to be in Arkansas. There’s an old military road in eastern Kansas that went north-south between Fort Scott and Fort Leavenworth. There are signs here and there marking this route.

Best regards,
David Swafford

Price’s raid is really a dark time for the Confederates in the west. It was a bit of a forlorn hope, like Hood’s Nashville campaign, that started off well and became an increasingly desperate affair.

As an Illinoisian, these places are right next door, for me – compared to VA and PA, anyway…

Another player in this campaign is a guy I have studied extensively – William Starke Rosecrans.

I see a convergence of interests here.

If you have never been to Ft. Leavenworth, it’s certainly worth a stop- an Army post in the classic style, especially the oldest section along the river.

While you are there, Fort Smith in southeastern Kansas is also worth your time- a great example of an antebellum frontier Army post.

Sounds like a very enjoyable stomp, I hadn’t even heard of a couple of those engagements until this year.

I think you’ll really enjoy the cavalry museum at Fort Riley. I went several years ago and enjoyed it immensely. If I knew then what I know now, it could have been a much more instructive visit. There’s a lot there to see.

If you have the time, the museum at Fort Leavenworth is nice also, but most of their cavalry information focuses on the 9th and 10th Cavalry. There’s a very nice monument to them near the Eisenhower Library.

It’s shame the Fort Riley museum doesn’t have more memorabilia, but the cavalry units that are still active have a lot of it. The units own the material, of course, but it would be nice if a happy medium could be found. Particularly since the museums of both active regiments have been in boxes for the last couple of years due to unit moves.

Indeed – Pleasonton, regardless of the courtsmartial imbroglio he got himself involved in “out there,” shone in the West. I really look forward to stomping those grounds and putting the story together.

J.D.