Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, CSA

Five US brigades engaged the leftovers of Price’s cavalry corps.

US losses were about 400, Southern about 250.

Price’s force was in full retreat following its raid into Missouri, and the catastrophic defeats at Westport, then in three battles on October 25. On the 28th it stopped to rest about two miles south of Newtonia, Missouri. Soon afterward, Blunt’s Union troops surprised the Confederates. Most of the Confederates were in no condition –physically or mentally – to resist, and they were soon tumbling backwards. Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby’s division, including his Iron Brigade, rode to the front, dismounted, and engaged the Yankees while the rest of Price’s exhausted, demoralized, feeble army headed back to the Indian Territory.

Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn later appeared with Union reinforcements which forced Shelby to retire. The Union troops had forced the Confederates to retreat but failed to destroy or capture them. The hard retreat over desolate prairie would see to many of the remnants.

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eHistory Staff

Selected sources:
American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service.