Battle of Mine Creek

The private was James Dunlavy of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry, born in Decatur County, Indiana, on February 4, 1844, and a soldier only since November 1863. For taking Marmaduke, who commanded a division in Price's raid, he was given furlough for the rest of his enlistment and received the Medal of Honor on April 4, 1865. He later became a doctor and is buried at Maramec, Oklahoma. Marmaduke was promoted while a prisoner on Johnson's Island, ran for governor of Missouri on his Confederate record, won in 1884, and died in office in December 1887.

What the plaque says

Battle of Mine Creek In October, 1864, a Confederate army under Gen. Sterling Price was defeated near Kansas City. He retreated south, crossed into Kansas, and camped at Trading Post. Early on the morning of October 25 Union troops under Generals Pleasonton, Blunt and Curtis forced him from this position, and a few hours later the Battle of Mine Creek was fought over these fields. Confederate forces were thrown into confusion as they tried to cross the steep, slippery banks of the stream. In the close fighting on the bottoms hundreds of Rebel soldiers were captured, including General Marmaduke, who was taken by a 20-year-old private. Although Union forces missed a chance to destroy Price's army the defeat was decisive enough to end the threat of a Rebel invasion of Kansas. About 25,000 men were engaged, more than in any other Kansas battle. Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site — steps away
  The Linn County ford where some 2,500 Union cavalrymen charged about 7,000 of Sterling Price's retreating Confederates in October 1864 and broke them against the creek.
• Fort Scott National Historic Site — 21 mi
  An 1840s army post on the old Missouri border where officers kept enslaved servants, and where twenty years later the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry was mustered onto the parade ground.
• John Brown Museum State Historic Site — 28 mi
  The log cabin of Samuel and Florella Adair at Osawatomie, Oberlin-trained abolitionists whose home was an Underground Railroad station and the headquarters of Florella's half brother, John Brown.

More markers nearby

• Marais des Cygnes Massacre — 7.7 mi
• Fort Scott — 21 mi
• John Brown Country — 27 mi