Battle of Westport
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 8:05 pm
I thought it would be interesting to some of you who live, shop and work in the plaza if you knew the size of that battle.
It was the biggest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi. Approx. 1500 soldiers died for the Union and Confederacy.
However the Confederacy lost 2,000 more troops due to capture.
Federal troops were based just north of Brush Creek in what is now the Country Club Plaza just south of St. Lukes Hospital.
Confederate Troops (Army of Missouri) camped south of what is now loose park.
Even more federal troops were east of the Confederates possibly near Brookside Boulevard and Brush Creek.
Here is a map of the battle:
and here a painting of the battle:
So while we shop in the Plaza we forget that on October 23rd 1864 3,000+ men lost their lives.
It ended up to be a decisive for the Union.
Also, a mile or so north a smaller town called the Town of Kansas was having its share of troubles and growing at a slow pace.
But then a few years later the Town of Kansas gains a rail bridge called the Hannibal Bridge. Following that it had one of the largest population booms in the US.
A decade or so after the Hannibal Bridge the Town of Kansas (now Kansas City) annexed Westport.
It was the biggest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi. Approx. 1500 soldiers died for the Union and Confederacy.
However the Confederacy lost 2,000 more troops due to capture.
Federal troops were based just north of Brush Creek in what is now the Country Club Plaza just south of St. Lukes Hospital.
Confederate Troops (Army of Missouri) camped south of what is now loose park.
Even more federal troops were east of the Confederates possibly near Brookside Boulevard and Brush Creek.
Here is a map of the battle:
and here a painting of the battle:
So while we shop in the Plaza we forget that on October 23rd 1864 3,000+ men lost their lives.
It ended up to be a decisive for the Union.
Also, a mile or so north a smaller town called the Town of Kansas was having its share of troubles and growing at a slow pace.
But then a few years later the Town of Kansas gains a rail bridge called the Hannibal Bridge. Following that it had one of the largest population booms in the US.
A decade or so after the Hannibal Bridge the Town of Kansas (now Kansas City) annexed Westport.