Location: Newton County, October 28, 1864

By Albert Castel

CS Major General Sterling Price continued his retreat from Missouri. On October 28 he stopped to rest his command just south of Newtonia. While the Confederates were gathering corn in the fields near their camp, US Major General James G. Blunt approached at the head of 1,000 cavalrymen. Price, thinking that US Major General Samuel R. Curtis had caught up with him, ordered an instant retreat.

Blunt had fought well in the Union victory at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, in December 1862 but had damaged his reputation at the Baxter Springs massacre. His efforts earlier in the month at Little Blue River and Westport to re-establish his record were successful. At Newtonia, however, he attacked alone with only two brigades of his division, those of US Colonels Charles R. Jennison and James H. Ford. CS Brigadier General Joseph O. “Jo” Shelby, with his division and the remnant of CS Brigadier General William L. Cabell’s Brigade of CS Major General James F. Fagan’s Division, checked the Federals while Price with the rest of his army resumed the retreat toward Arkansas.

With his superior numbers, Shelby overlapped both of Blunt’s flanks and pushed the Federals back. Just before sundown US Brigadier General John B. Sanborn arrived after a forced march of sixty-two miles from Fort Scott, Kansas. His fortunate arrival enabled him to take a position on Blunt’s left, threaten the Confederates’ right flank, and force them back to a defensive position.

Darkness put an end to the fighting. The Federals withdrew to Newtonia, and Shelby rode after the rest of Price’s forces, having protected their retreat. Price’s army began to disintegrate after Newtonia. Price fell back to Cane Hill, and Curtis pursued him to the Arkansas River on November 8. The Confederates continued their retreat across Indian Territory and on to Texas.

Price’s expedition was the last large-scale operation west of the Mississippi River, and it was a strategic failure. Price lost men, weapons, and supplies while hardly damaging the Federal war effort. By mid-December Price had only 3,500 men, having lost as a result of battle, desertion, and illness more than two thirds of the 12,000 he had led into Missouri.

Estimated Casualties: 26 US, 24 CS