Second Battle of Newtonia

Part of the American Civil War

Date	October 28, 1864 (1864-10-28)
Location	Newton County, Missouri
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

James G. Blunt

Joseph O. Shelby

Casualties and losses

400

250

Price's Missouri Expedition

Fort Davidson 4th Boonville Glasgow 2nd Lexington Little Blue River 2nd Independence Byram's Ford Westport Marais des Cygnes Mine Creek Marmiton River 2nd Newtonia

Map of Newtonia II Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.

The Second Battle of Newtonia was fought on October 28, 1864, in Newton County, Missouri, as part of Major General Sterling Price's Missouri Expedition of the American Civil War.

Price's Confederate cavalry force was in full retreat following its expedition into Missouri. On October 28, 1864, it stopped to rest about two miles (3 km) south of Newtonia, Missouri. About 3:00 p.m., Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt's Union cavalrymen spotted the rear of Price’s supply train entering the woods south of town on the Cassville road. McLain's Colorado Light Artillery, supported by the 15th Kansas Cavalry, opened on the rebels.

Blunt formed the 16th Kansas Cavalry and 2nd Colorado Cavalry in two lines and personally led a charge behind a screen of skirmishers toward the fleeing supply train. Most of the rebel skirmishers were in no condition (physically or mentally) to resist, and they were soon tumbling backwards. Brig. Gen. Joseph O. (Jo) Shelby's mounted infantry division, including his "Iron Brigade", rode to the front, dismounted, and engaged the Union force. Shelby's men overlapped the flanks of the smaller Union force and forced it back into a large cornfield near the Matthew H. Ritchey estate. There, fighting raged until Federal cannon fire and reinforcements under Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn finally caused the Confederates to retreat at nightfall. However, Shelby had accomplished his mission in holding up the Union pursuers. By morning, Price had retreated across the desolate prairie towards the Indian Territory.

Despite the duration and ferocity of the firefight, casualties were rather light (400 for the Federals versus 250 for the Confederates).

Today, most of the battlefield is in private hands. Twenty acres (81,000 m²), plus the Ritchey mansion, are owned by the Newtonia Battlefield Preservation Society.

References

Missouri in the American Civil War

1861	Governor refuses to furnish quota of militia to the United States Seizure of United States Arsenal at Liberty Seizure of United States ordnance stores at Kansas City Capture of Camp Jackson Convention between Brig. Gen. William S. Harney, U. S. Army, and Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, Missouri State Guard Engagement at Boonville Skirmish at Cole Camp Engagement near Carthage Skirmish at Athens Martial law declared in St. Louis Battle of Wilson's Creek Action at Dry Wood Creek Siege of Lexington Action at Blue Mills Landing Destruction of Osceola Operations about Ironton and Fredericktown Action at Springfield Engagement at Belmont Missouri admitted as a member of the Confederate States of America Brig. Gen. John M. Schofield, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Missouri Militia Skirmish at Blackwater Creek Action at Mount Zion Church

1862	Action at Roan's Tan-Yard Operations at New Madrid Brig. Gen. Mosby M. Parsons, Mo. S. G., assumes command of the Missouri State Guard Action at Moore's Mill Action at Kirksville Action at Independence Action at Lone Jack Engagement at Newtonia Skirmish at Island Mound Action at Clark's Mill

1863	Engagement at Springfield Engagement at Hartville Action at Cape Girardeau Skirmish at Chalk Bluff Enrolled Militia of Missouri placed under command of Maj. Gen. Schofield Shelby's raid in Arkansas and Missouri

1864	Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, C. S. Army, assumes command of the expeditionary forces at Princeton, Ark. Price's enters Missouri Affair at Centralia Attack on Fort Davidson Action at Glasgow Action at Lexington Action at the Little Blue Action at Independence Action at the Big Blue Engagement at Westport Engagement at the Marmiton Engagement at Newtonia

1865	Negotiations for the surrender of the Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department Gen. E. Kirby Smith, C. S. Army, surrenders troops in Trans-Mississippi Department

Coordinates: 36°52′26″N 94°11′25″W / 36.8739°N 94.1903°W / 36.8739; -94.1903

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Second Battle of Newtonia

References

Further reading