- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
Major General Sterling Price invaded Missouri with the intent of challenge the Union for the control of Missouri. Price took about 13,000 Confederates in to a state that was held by approximately 10,000 Union soldiers. At least from a force analysis Price might have had a reasonable chance of success, but he had to move quickly before the Union sent reinforcements. Price decided to seize Pilot Knob as part of his campaign. Union Brigadier General Thomas Elwing was in command at Fort Davidson which was the key to the defensive of the town of Pilot Knob.
Price came up with a plan to attack Fort Davidson from multiple directions. On the first day the Confederate attacks were unsuccessful and the Confederates suffered casualties in a fruitless attack. Price demanded three times that the fort surrender but in the end the outnumbered General Elwing decided to abandon the fort overnight. The Confederates pursued the Union soldiers but were unsuccessful in destroying them or even greatly impacting the withdrawal. The exact number of causalities is not know but the Confederates suffered between 500 and 1,000 casualties to the Union 200. Perhaps ever more important was the three days it took to take Pilot Knob.
Although General Price did capture Fort Davidson and the town of Plot Knob it was a costly victory in both men and time. The battle probably influenced General Price to abandon the thought of capturing St. Louis. Why did Price decide to take Pilot Knob is the first place? It is said that the Confederate army under Price was not well equipped nor real reliable. However, much the same can be said of the Union forces with almost half of them being either Missouri militia or enrolled civilians. Should we even call the Battle of Pilot Knob a Confederate victory?
The reason I started this thread is because I purchased this book/booklet.
I bought it for the Bonnie J. Krause article German Americans in the St. Louis Region, 1840-1860. I liked the article by Krause but am trying to decide if I should read the other article; The Great-Little Battle of Pilot Knob (part II) by Joseph Conan Thompson. I have read magazine articles about the Battle of Pilot Knob and one book about the battle, but do not really know much about the battle. Still I do not have Part I and Part II stars on the day of the battle. Perhaps I should read the article regardless of not having Part I.
Extra question. Has anyone visited the battle site of The Battle of Pilot Knob? I understand that it is a Missouri State Historical Site and has a visitor center. I am not sure how much there is to see there. I might be going to New Mexico to visit my sister this coming year and might want to stop by and see the place.
Price came up with a plan to attack Fort Davidson from multiple directions. On the first day the Confederate attacks were unsuccessful and the Confederates suffered casualties in a fruitless attack. Price demanded three times that the fort surrender but in the end the outnumbered General Elwing decided to abandon the fort overnight. The Confederates pursued the Union soldiers but were unsuccessful in destroying them or even greatly impacting the withdrawal. The exact number of causalities is not know but the Confederates suffered between 500 and 1,000 casualties to the Union 200. Perhaps ever more important was the three days it took to take Pilot Knob.
Although General Price did capture Fort Davidson and the town of Plot Knob it was a costly victory in both men and time. The battle probably influenced General Price to abandon the thought of capturing St. Louis. Why did Price decide to take Pilot Knob is the first place? It is said that the Confederate army under Price was not well equipped nor real reliable. However, much the same can be said of the Union forces with almost half of them being either Missouri militia or enrolled civilians. Should we even call the Battle of Pilot Knob a Confederate victory?
The reason I started this thread is because I purchased this book/booklet.
I bought it for the Bonnie J. Krause article German Americans in the St. Louis Region, 1840-1860. I liked the article by Krause but am trying to decide if I should read the other article; The Great-Little Battle of Pilot Knob (part II) by Joseph Conan Thompson. I have read magazine articles about the Battle of Pilot Knob and one book about the battle, but do not really know much about the battle. Still I do not have Part I and Part II stars on the day of the battle. Perhaps I should read the article regardless of not having Part I.
Extra question. Has anyone visited the battle site of The Battle of Pilot Knob? I understand that it is a Missouri State Historical Site and has a visitor center. I am not sure how much there is to see there. I might be going to New Mexico to visit my sister this coming year and might want to stop by and see the place.