Missouri was an incredibly important state because whichever nation held Missouri had a gateway out west, control of both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and control of both trade and food. As such, both sides rushed to make Missouri their own. The U.S pled with Missouri to stay in the Union, and the C.S. (Confederate States) pled with Missouri to secede. The C.S. even gave Missouri Senators and Representatives in their Congress, and changed their flag to include Missouri. The struggle for the U.S to keep Missouri in the Union resulted in several battles, including;

• The Battle of Boonville (June 17th, 1861), otherwise known as the First Battle of Boonville - With a Pro-Southern Governor wanting the state to secede, and even forming the Missouri State Guard, conflict was sure to happen. Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon rallied forces to put down the Missouri State Guard under Major-General Sterling Price. Understanding that Lyon would come to put down the force, Price had his men reposition near Boonville, where Colonel John S. Marmaduke could assist in the developing battle. In a short fight, Lyon was able to disperse the Confederate militia, which allowed for an early Union victory and control in Missouri. This control allowed for the Union access to the Missouri River, and helped douse attempts to place Missouri in the Confederacy. 1,700 U.S soldiers fought in the conflict, with thirty-one dead at the end of the battle. It is unknown the exact number of Missouri State Guard Troops there were at the time, however it is estimated that fifty soldiers of the State Guard died in the battle.

• The Battle of Carthage (July 5th, 1861) - With Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon chasing approximately 4,000 soldiers combined from the State Militia and Marmaduke's forces, Colonel Franz Sigel lead another small Union force into Missouri's southwest to search for the governor and his loyal troops. When Governor Jackson found out that Colonel Sigel had encamped himself at Carthage, on the night of July 4th, he quickly took command of the troops with him and planned to attack Sigel's smaller force. On the morning of the 5th, Jackson established a battle line, roughly ten miles north of Carthage, and induced Sigel to attack him. Starting with artillery fire, Sigel repositioned his troops to counterattack the Confederate lines, but stopped in his tracks when he saw a large Confederate force moving into the woods to his left. Sigel feared that these men would attack his flank, and he withdrew. By the evening of the 5th, Sigel and his force retreated to Sarcoxie. It was later found out that the mass of Confederate troops to Sigel's left was actually unarmed. The battle took the lives of forty-four Union soldiers and 200 Missouri State Guardsmen, and was seen as a pointless battle. Even though the battle had little meaning, it furthered support for Pro-Southern elements in the state.

• The Battle of Liberty (September 17th, 1861), also known as The Battle of Blue Mills Landing - General D.R. Atchison (Atkinson), also mythically known as the one-day president, of the Confederate forces left Lexington on the 15th of September, 1861, and proceeded to Liberty where his forces would combine with the Missouri State Guard. On the nights of the 16th and 17th of September, Atchison's combined force crossed the Missouri River to the south side and prepared for a fight against the Union troops reported in the local area. On the 15th, Union Lieutenant Colonel John Scott led a force of 600 men from Cameron, and moved the force toward Liberty. Scott left his camp in Centreville at 2:00 in the morning on the 17th. Once arrived in Liberty, Scott sent his scouts ahead of the main force to find signs of any Confederates. A skirmish began around 11:00 in the morning. An hour later, at noon, Scott marched in the direction of the skirmish, he approached Blue Mills Landing and at 3:00, struck the Confederate pickets. Scott's forces began to retreat, and Atchison ordered his men to pursue the retreating Union forces, which they did for some distance until they fell back to their positions. The hour-long fight claimed fifty-six U.S soldiers and seventy C.S soldiers. The resulting victory for the Confederates allowed them to consolidate influence in northwestern Missouri.

• The Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10th, 1861), also known as The Battle of Oak Hills - Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon's Army of the West was camped at Springfield, Missouri, with Confederate troops under the commands of Brigadier General Ben McCulloh quickly approaching. On the 9th of August, both sides formulated plans to attack the other. Around 5:00 a.m. on the 10th of August, Lyon, with two columns of men commanded by himself and Colonel Franz Sigel, attacked the Confederates on Wilson's Creek about twelve miles southwest of Springfield. The rebel cavalry received the first blow and fell back away from Bloody Hill. Confederate forces soon rushed up and stabilized their positions. The Confederates attacked the Union forces three times, but failed to break through the Union line. Nathaniel Lyon was killed in one of the attacks by the Confederates. Major Samuel D. Sturgis replaced Lyon. In the chaos, the Confederates routed Sigel's column south of Skegg's Branch. After the third and final attack from the Confederates on the Union line, which ended at 11 a.m., the Confederates withdrew. Sturgis realized that his Union troops were exhausted and his ammunition low and ordered a full retreat to Springfield. The Confederates were both too disorganized and ill-equipped to pursue the retreating Union forces. This is regarded as a Confederate victory since it rallied more support for the Southern cause in the state. Not only this but the sympathizers in Missouri acted like a trampoline and launched Price and his Missouri State Guard as far as Lexington. The "trampoline" even affected Missouri politics, as in late October, Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson met in Neosho and passed an ordinance of secession from the Union. Wilson's Creek is regarded as the most significant 1861 battle in the state of Missouri, as the victory gave the Confederates control of southwestern Missouri. The Battle of Wilson's Creek claimed 1,235 Union troops and 1,095 Confederate and Missouri State Guard troops.

• The Battle of Dry Wood Creek (September 2nd, 1861), also known as The Battle of the Mules - Colonel J. H. Lane's Union cavalry, composed of 600 men, rode from Fort Scott, Kansas to learn the whereabouts of a possible Confederate force nearby. They were met by the Missouri State Guard, which was 6,000 strong, near Big Dry Wood Creek. Regardless of the State Guard's initial surprise at Lane's Union cavalry, their numbers quickly became too overwhelming for Lane's men. The Missouri State Guard forced Lane's Union cavalry to retire and captured Lane's mules, and the State Guard continued on toward Lexington. The Confederates forced the Federals to abandon southwestern Missouri and to concentrate on holding the Missouri Valley. Records from this battle have been lost, but what is known is that Lane's forces suffered fourteen deaths. The number of the Missouri State Guard deaths is unknown.

• The First Battle of Lexington (September 13-20, 1861), also known as The Battle of the Hemp Bales - After the victory at Wilson's Creek, the Confederate Missouri State Guard, having consolidated forces in the northern and central part of the state, marched on Lexington under the command of Major General Sterling Price. Colonel James A. Mulligan commanded the surrounded Union garrison of 3,500 men. On September 13th Price's men were slowed by Union skirmishers south of town who were repelled by Price's men back into their fortifications. Price, having the advantage compared to the Union troops trapped in Lexington, decided to wait on his ammunition wagons, other supplies, and reinforcements before the siege of the city. Three days later, on the 18th of September, Price was ready and ordered the siege to begin. The Missouri State Guard moved forward amidst heavy Union artillery fire, and pushed the enemy back to their inner works. On the 19th, the State Guard reinforced their positions, and kept the Union defenders under heavy artillery fire as they prepared for the final push of the siege. In the early hours of the 20th, Price's men hid behind mobile bales of hemp for cover. The men became close enough, thanks to the bales, to take the Union works at the Anderson House in the final push. Colonel Mulligan, upon hearing the news, requested surrender terms after noon, and by 2 p.m. the Union men had vacated their positions and stacked their arms. The Union stronghold had fallen, further increasing Southern sentiment and support for Confederate control in the Missouri Valley west of Arrow Rock. Out of the estimated 3,500 Union troops under Mulligan, it is estimated that 1,774 died. Out of the estimated 12,000 Missouri State Guardsmen, it is estimated that 100 men died.

• The Battle of Fredericktown (October 21st, 1861) - Hoping to be met with the same success the Confederates had in Lexington, the Union troops planned to siege the town of Fredericktown. Two Union columns, one under Colonel J.B. Plummer and the other under Colonel William P. Carlin, marched on Fredericktown in an attempt to overtake Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson and his force. On the morning of October 21st, Thompson's force left Fredericktown to head south, roughly twelve miles out, to secure his supply train. He later returned to Fredericktown, then under Union occupation. As a result, Thompson unsuccessfully spent the morning attempting to discern the enemy numbers and locations. With no information before the battle, Thompson decided to attack around noon. Union Colonel Plummer, with a combination of his force and a detachment of Colonel William P. Carlin's troops, met Thompson's forces and a two hour battle ensued. The overwhelming Union numbers took their toll on Thompson's men, which caused a retreat. The Union cavalry pursued the retreating Confederates. At the end of the day, Fredericktown cemented in the Union control of southeastern Missouri. Out of the approximated 2,500-3,500 men of the Union, it is unknown how many died. Out of the Missouri State Guard forces under Brigadier General Thompson, only sixty-two soldiers died to try to retake the city.

• The Battle of Springfield (October 25th, 1861), also known as Zagonyi's Charge - Having done little in the campaign for control of Missouri, Major General John C. Frémont planned to clear Major General Sterling Price's forces from the state, and if possible, carry the war into Arkansas and Louisiana. Gaining forces while leaving his headquarters in Saint Louis, Frémont had a combined force of more than 20,000 strong. To add to his numbers, Frémont's accompanying cavalry force joined in the effort, which brought the total to 25,000 men and horses. Major Frank J. White, a fellow commanding officer in Saint Louis, fell ill and gave his Prairie Scouts under Frémont's command. Frémont's Body Guards joined the militia as well. Frémont's Body Guards, under Major Charles Zagonyi, and the Prairie Scouts, under Major General Frémont, travelled ahead of the main army to gather intelligence. As the army neared Springfield, the local state guard commander Colonel Julian Frazier sent out requests to nearby stations for additional troops. With Union forces nearing the city, Frazier felt there was no time to waste. Frazier left Springfield with 1,000-1,500 to prevent the Union from taking the city. Instead of facing the combined force of Frémont and Zagonyi head on, Frazier hoped to catch them by surprise with an ambush. Frazier set up the ambush along a road that the Union forces had to take to reach the city, and once in range Frazier and his men sprung on the Union forces. This proved unsuccessful. The Union easily outnumbered Frazier's forces and as such the Union forces charged the State Guardsmen. In a panic and confused, Frazier's men fled in all directions. Before the enemy could regroup, Zagonyi and his men quickly took Springfield. They gained a hero's welcome and even released Union prisoners. The Union victory in seizing Springfield cost eighty-five soldiers, while the Missouri State Guard lost 133 soldiers in the conflict.

• The Battle of Belmont (November 7th, 1861), remembered as Ulysses S. Grant's first battle - On November 6th, 1861, Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant left Cairo, Illinois, by steamboat (nicknamed "steamers") with two gunboats as protection. Grant's goal was to make a demonstration against Columbus, Kentucky. The next morning, on November 7th, 1861, Grant learned Confederate troops moved across the Mississippi River from Columbus - Grant's original location - to Belmont, Missouri. It was thought that the Confederate troops were relocating to reinforce either Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson or to reinforce Major General Sterling Price. Regardless, Grant was going to stop them in their tracks. Grant's next area of attack was Belmont. When Grant drew closer to the town, he ensured to dock out of range of the Confederate artillery at Columbus. When unloaded, Grant and his men started the mile-long march to Belmont. It was at 9 a.m. when the shooting started. The Union was able to pull the Confederate and State Guard from their camp in the city, and from there the Union destroyed the Rebel supplies and equipment they found. The Union took some supplies, but destroyed what they could not carry. The scattered Confederate and State Guardsmen eventually reorganized when reinforcements from Columbus arrived. The combined effort from the Confederate troops and State Guardsmen eventually drove the Union out of the area, but the damage was already done. The destruction of supplies would prove destructive to the war effort. Supplies were not the only things lost: the Union forces lost 498 soldiers and the Confederate/State Guardsmen lost 966 soldiers.

• The Battle of Mount Zion Church (December 28th, 1861) - Brigadier General Benjamin M. Prentiss led a Union force of five mounted companies and two companies of sharpshooters from the 66th Illinois Infantry Regiment, known as the Birge's Western Sharpshooters. Prentiss's forces marched into Boone County in order to defend the North Missouri Railroad and to help remove the secessionist sentiment there. When Prentiss and his men arrived in the town of Sturgeon, Missouri, on December 26th, he was quickly informed of Rebels near Hallsville. As a response to this new information, Prentiss sent a company to Hallsville to attack the Rebels under Colonel Caleb Dorsey. The resulting battle outside of the city resulted in numerous casualties, including prisoners that were taken before Colonel Dorsey ordered a retreat. On the 28th, Prentiss ordered that his entire force meet the Rebels. He routed one company of Rebels on the road from Hallsville to Mount Zion. When Prentiss discovered Mount Zion Church contained the rest of the Rebel forces, he headed for the church to remove the presence of the Rebels, where a battle ensued. When the smoke cleared, the Rebels were retreating and had left their wounded, killed, supplies, and animals behind for the victors to claim. The Rebels lost 210 soldiers, and priceless equipment. The victorious Union forces had lost seventy-two soldiers, and had gained control of the area and new equipment.

• The Battle of Roan's Tan Yard (January 8th, 1862) also known as the Battle of Silver Creek - Rumors and sightings of a Confederate force in the Howard County area had circulated for more than a week. Despite their best efforts, the Union forces could not locate them. On the 7th of January, 1862, Union forces discovered Colonel J. A. Poindexter and his Southern forces were camped on Silver Creek. Small Union units banded together and marched toward the Confederate camp, which was fourteen miles northwest of Fayette. When the Union forces reached the camp they attacked, routed the enemy, and sent those that were not killed, wounded, or captured to flee for safety. When the last powder was ignited, the Union forces destroyed the camp to prevent further usage. The Confederates lost a location for both recruiting and raiding. In addition, the Southern forces lost an estimated eighty soldiers compared to the Union's eleven losses.

• The Battle of New Madrid and the Battle of Island Number Ten - After the Union (led by Ulysses S. Grant) captured Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee, and Columbus, Kentucky was evacuated, General P. G. T Beauregard, commander of the Confederate Army of the Mississippi, chose Island Number Ten to be the strong point for defending the Mississippi River. Near the island was the city of New Madrid, which was one of the weak points in the area. Brigadier General John Pope, commander of the Union Army of the Mississippi, set out from Commerce, Missouri, to attack New Madrid on the 28th of February. The Union forces had to march through swamps while lugging supplies and artillery. When the forces reached the New Madrid outskirts on March 3rd, the siege of the city began. Brigadier General John P. McCown, the commander of the garrison, defended both New Madrid and Island Number Ten from the attackers. McCown launched a sortie (a sudden issuing of troops from a defensive position against the enemy, as defined by Merriam-Webster) with Brigadier General M. Jeff Thompson, of Missouri State Guard, leading the attack. Thompson was able to reposition troops to allow him to attack the besiegers with small units and bring up heavy artillery to bombard them. On March 13th, the Confederate forces bombarded the Union forces with no significant change. New Madrid began to appear to be a lost cause, and the Confederate gunboats and troops were evacuated from the town to Island Number Ten and Tiptonville. The following day, Brigadier General John Pope's Union army discovered that New Madrid was deserted, and quickly moved to occupy it. Naval forces, under Union command of Flag-Officer Andrew H. Foote, moved into the area to help reinforce the Union positions. The increase of naval forces helped overwhelm the Confederate batteries and firepower, which allowed for Pope's army to cross the river and trap the Confederates. Brigadier General William W. Mackall, who replaced McCown in command, surrendered Island Number Ten on the 8th of April, 1862. The Union gained new control of a major water way, while the Confederates lost their defenses and trade routes. It is unknown exactly how many men lost their lives on both sides of the conflict.

• The Battle of Kirksville (August 6th-9th, 1862) - Colonel John McNeil and his Union troops, numbered to about 1,000, pursued Colonel Joseph C. Porter and his Confederate Missouri Brigade of 2,500 men for more than a week. On the morning of August 6th, McNeil attacked Porter in the town of Kirksville, where Porter and his men hid in homes, stores, and fields. After roughly three hours of fighting, the Union forces secured the town, captured prisoners, and chased away others. Three days later, another Union force met and destroyed Porter's command. The Union victory at Kirksville helped secure Union dominance in northeastern Missouri. This battle would take eighty-eight Union soldiers' lives, and 368 Confederate soldiers' lives.

• The Battle of Independence (August 11th, 1862) - On August 11th, 1862, Colonel J. T. Hughes's Confederate force, including William Quantrill and other bushwhackers, attacked Independence at dawn in two columns on different roads. The Confederate force was able to march through the town to the Union Army camp killing, capturing, and scattering the Union force. Lieutenant Colonel James T. Buel, commander of the Union camp, attempted to gather his scattered men and hold out in one of the town's buildings. The Confederate forces saw the Union forces flood into one of the buildings, and set fire to a nearby building to threaten the Union defenders. As a response to the fire, Buel sent a flag of truce to arrange a meeting with Colonel G. W. Thompson - the Confederate commander that replaced Colonel J.T. Hughes after he was killed in battle. Buel accepted the terms of surrender and 150 of his men were paroled; and while some were able to escape, others did not fair so well. The Confederate forces were able to establish dominance in the Kansas City area, albeit not for long. While the estimated casualties for the Confederate forces are unknown, it is estimated that 344 Union soldiers died in the Battle of Independence.

• The Battle of Lone Jack (August 15-16, 1862) - Union Major Emory S. Foster, under orders, marched his 800-man combined force from Lexington to Lone Jack. When Foster and his men reached the Lone Jack area, it was discovered that 1,600 Confederates under Colonel J. T. Coffee were camped outside of the town. Foster readied his men, and prepared to attack the Confederate camp. Around 9 p.m. on the 15th, Foster and his men attacked the Confederate camp and dispersed the force. Early the next morning, Union pickets informed Foster that a 3,000-man Confederate force was advancing on their position. Soon afterwards, this Southern force attacked and a battle ensued that involved many charges, retreats, and counterattacks. After five hours of fighting and the death of Foster, Coffee and his 1,500 men reappeared, causing Foster's successor, Captain M. H. Brawner to order a retreat. The men left the field of battle, and returned to Lexington. This Confederate victory was short-lived, as the Confederates did not keep a strong presence in the area (as was the case for many of the places of their victories in Missouri) and needed to evacuate the area soon afterwards when they were threatened by a large Union force. The Confederates lost 110 soldiers, compared to the Union loss of 160 soldiers.

• The Battle of Newtonia (September 30th, 1862) - Following the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862, most Confederate and Union troops left northwestern Arkansas and southwestern Missouri. By late summer, Confederate forces returned to the area, which caused much apprehension in nearby Federally-occupied Springfield, Missouri, and Fort Scott, Kansas. Confederate Colonel Douglas Cooper reached the area on the 27th, and immediately assigned two of his units to Newtonia, where there was a mill for making bread and bread products. In mid-September, two brigades which belonged to Brigadier General James G. Blunt's Union Army of Kansas left Fort Scott for southwest Missouri. On the 29th, Union scouts approached the town of Newtonia, but were chased away. Other Union troops appeared in the nearby town of Granby, where there were lead mines. Cooper sent reinforcements to fortify the town, shortly after the scouts were discovered. The following morning, Union troops appeared before Newtonia, and a battle ensued by 7:00 that morning. The Federals were able to drive the enemy, but were pushed back when Confederate reinforcements arrived and swelled the numbers. The Union forces panicked and retreated quickly. As forces started to pull away, some reinforcements appeared and helped to stem their retreat. With the newfound troops, Union forces then renewed the attack and threatened the enemy's right flank. Again, newly arrived Confederate reinforcements stopped the Union assault and pushed them back once more. With momentum, the Confederate forces continued to pursue the Union army after dark. Union gunners posted artillery in roadways to halt the Confederate forces in pursuit. The Confederates were able to determine the location of the Union artillery, and they promptly fired back. When the first Confederate shell exploded near Union artillery, panic ensued and posts were left. The Union forces were pushed back to Sarcoxie, more than ten miles away. A Confederate victory, the Union lost 245 soldiers during the battle and retreat, compared to the Confederate estimated 100 casualties.

• The Battle of Clark's Mill (November 7th, 1862) also known as the Battle of Vera Cruz - After he received reports of Confederate forces in the area, Captain Hiram E. Barstow, a Union commander at Clark's Mill, sent a detachment towards the town of Gainesville (located near the Missouri-Arkansas border) while he led another detachment southeastward. Barstow's men ran into a Confederate force, where a skirmish ensued. Barstow's men were able to repel and drive the forces back. As a result of their suffered losses, Barstow ordered his men to fall back to Clark's Mill where better defensive positions could be held. In Barstow's rush, he was informed that a second Confederate force was coming from the northeast. Barstow and his men engaged in a five-hour long fight with Confederate forces. The Confederates demanded a surrender after they witnessed the Union lines break due to artillery and Confederate superior numbers. Barstow accepted surrender, and the Confederates proceeded to parole the Union troops. Due to the success of the battle, the Confederates secured a foothold in southwest Missouri. The success came with unknown casualties for the Confederates, but an estimated 113 casualties for the Union forces.

• The Battle of Springfield (January 8th, 1863) - Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke launched an expedition into Missouri, where he was able to reach Ozark, a small town south of Springfield. At Ozark, Marmaduke was able to destroy a Union post and advance on Springfield. Marmaduke hoped to destroy the Union communication center and supply depot in the town, in an effort to turn the tide of war for Missouri. On the morning of January 8th, 1863, Marmaduke was on the outskirts of town. He continued to move upon the city, even knowing that the Union army, stationed there, created strong fortifications to secure the town. To Marmaduke's benefit, the ranks in the town were extremely depleted. Francis J. Herron's (Herron was a Major General for the Union Army, who fought in Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana) two divisions had not yet returned from the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7th, 1862. After receiving a report on January 7th that Marmaduke's forces were fast approaching, Brigadier General Egbert B. Brown was set to reinforce the town and round up any additional troops. Around 10:00 in the morning, the Confederates marched in battle line to attack the defenders. The entirety of the day included attacks and counter attacks until dark. However, the Union troops were able to hold on and the Confederates withdrew during the night. Brown was wounded in the battle, but luck was in the commander's favor. The Confederates appeared again the next day but withdrew without attacking. Brown's efforts to secure Springfield paid off. With the stronghold secured, the Union strength in the area only grew stronger. The Union victory came at an estimated 163 casualties, compared to the Confederate 240 casualties.

• The Battle of Hartville (January 9-11th, 1863) - One day after the Battle of Springfield, Marmaduke sought to rejoin with the other column of his army led by Colonel Joseph C. Porter who planned to assault Union posts outside of Hartville, Missouri. As Porter neared Hartville on the 9th of January, he sent a detachment forward to scout the city and its defenses. Observing that the small fort could easily be taken, the small detachment did exactly that. They were able to take the town and the small garrison. The same day, Porter moved towards the town of Marshfield. On the 10th, some of Porter's men were able to raid other Union installations in the area before rejoining with Marmaduke's column to the east of the town of Marshfield. As Marmaduke left the Springfield area, he received reports of Union troops en route to surround him. Colonel Samuel Merrill, commander of the approaching Union column, arrived in Hartville and discovered that the garrison already surrendered and set out after the Confederates. The fight quickly ensued. Marmaduke feared being cut off from his retreat route back to Arkansas so he pushed the Union forces to Hartville, where it established a defense line. It was here where a four-hour battle broke out in which the Confederates suffered many casualties but forced the Union army to retreat. Although the Confederates won the battle, they were eventually forced to pull back to friendly Arkansas. It is estimated that seventy-eight Union soldiers perished, compared to the Confederate 329 soldiers lost.

• The Battle of Cape Girardeau (April 26th, 1863) - Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke sought to attack Brigadier General John McNeil and his Union forces of around 2,000 men at Bloomfield, Missouri. McNeil moved northeast to the town of Cape Girardeau, and Marmaduke pursued. Marmaduke sent troops to destroy or capture McNeil's force when it arrived closer to the town, however the Union forces built fortifications which caused the small force to fall back to the main army. When the division returned with this news, Marmaduke decided to order one of his brigades to make a demonstration of the Federals' strength. The Union forces were not in the fortifications when the attack came, but they quickly rushed to them. Realizing the Federals' strength, Marmaduke withdrew his division to Jackson. Marmaduke moved his forces to relieve pressure off other Confederate forces, and ultimately the battle got little accomplished. Marmaduke lost 325 soldiers, while McNeil lost twelve.

• The Battle of Fort Davidson (September 27th, 1864) also known as the Battle of Pilot Knob - In September of 1864, a Confederate army under Major General Sterling Price crossed into Missouri with the goal of capturing St. Louis. Union forces, under Brigadier General Thomas Ewing, moved with reinforcements down the railroad to Ironton, Missouri, to stop Price's advance. On the morning of September 27th, the Confederates attacked, and drove the Federals back into defensive fortifications that were anchored by Fort Davidson. In the late afternoon, Price continuously led assaults on the fort in an effort to force a surrender. Each attack was unsuccessful and took on numerous casualties. Price, worried about time constraints, denied the idea of mounting guns on the ground to compel the fort to surrender or to shell the garrison into submission. To Price's luck, the Union forces in Fort Davidson evacuated during the night. Price not only lost valuable soldiers but also gave the Union forces the necessary time to concentrate and oppose the attacks and raids. The siege of the fort resulted in a loss of 184 Union defenders, and an estimated 1,500 Confederate attackers.

• The Battle of Glasgow (October 15th, 1864) - While Major General Sterling Price led attacks and raids across Missouri, he sent a detachment to Glasgow, Missouri, to steal weapons and supplies in an arms storehouse, that could be used to support the war effort. The combined mounted infantry, cavalry, and artillery forces laid siege to the town and the fortifications on Hereford Hill. Before dawn on October 15th, Confederate artillery fired upon the town and Confederates proceeded to advance on the town by numerous routes. Eventually Union forces retreated from the town, and fell back to fortifications on Hereford Hill. Here, Union soldiers formed a defensive line in the area. Unfazed, Confederates continued to advance upon their positions. After facing constant waves of Confederates, Colonel Chester Harding surrendered around 1:30 p.m. because he feared his men could not withstand another wave. Although Harding's men destroyed a few Federal stores that contained equipment, Price's men still were able to find rifle-muskets, overcoats, and horses. The Confederate force would remain in the town for three days before rejoining the main force with new supplies and weapons, under Major General Sterling Price. Once the two rejoined, the march of Kansas City began. It is estimated the Confederates lost fifty men, compared to the Union's approximate loss of 400.

• The Battle of Lexington (October 19th, 1864) - Major General Sterling Price's march along the Missouri River towards Kansas City was very slow, which provided the Union the chance to concentrate and stop the southern army. Multiple commanders tried to join forces but some simply could not. For example, Major General William S. Rosecrans, commander of the Department of Missouri, could not establish communications in order to combine forces with Major General Samuel R. Curtis, the commander of the Department of Kansas. Curtis had major problems with his militia. To name one, many of the Kansas soldiers refused to enter Missouri. All was not lost however, as Major General James G. Blunt, commanding 2,000 men, set out for Lexington. On October 19th, Price's army approached Lexington, and proceeded to collide with Union scouts and pickets at 2:00 in the afternoon. The scouts were able to drive them back, and engage in a battle with the main force. The Union forces were able to hold their ground, but Price's army eventually pushed them through the town to the western outskirts and pursued them along the Independence Road until nightfall. Without reinforcements, Blunt and his men could not stop Price's army, but they were able to slow them down. While it was a Confederate victory, Blunt was able learn the size and disposition of Price's army. It is unknown how many soldiers lost their lives at this battle.

• The Battle of Little Blue River (October 20-21st, 1864) also known as the Battle of Westport - The Battle of Little Blue River, eight miles east of Independence, came one day after the Battle of Lexington. The Union force prepared to engage the Confederates again, while in a strong defensive position. Major General Samuel R. Curtis, commander of the Department of Kansas, ordered Major General James G. Blunt into Independence. He left Colonel Thomas Moonlight with a small Union force to defend the Little Blue River. The following day, Curtis ordered that Blunt take all the volunteers he could get a hold of and return to Little Blue River. As Blunt neared the stream with reinforcements, he discovered that, under orders, Moonlight's forces burned a bridge, attacked the enemy, and retreated away from the strong defensive position Moonlight held the day before. Blunt entered the battle and attempted to drive the enemy back, and retake the once Union defensive positions. The Union forces were able to drive the Confederates to fall back, thanks to the Union numerical superiority. The Union forces eventually retreated back to Independence and went into camp there after dark. Another Confederate victory, it is unknown how many casualties each side mounted, but it is thought to be a deadly battle.

• The Second Battle of Independence (October 22nd, 1864) - After the Battle of Little Blue River, Major General Sterling Price's army rode west in the direction of Kansas City. On the night of the 21st, he camped at Independence where a division went and fought at Little Blue River. The following day the march continued to Kansas City. Price placed Brigadier General Joe Shelby's division in the lead, followed by Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke's division, and Brigadier General James Fagan's division at the rear. Major General Alfred Pleasonston's Union force crossed the Little Blue River and attacked a Confederate brigade under Fagan's command. After the attack, Pleasonston's forces moved to occupy Independence. Marmaduke's division met Pleasonton two miles west of the town. The Confederate forces struck the Union forces, drove them back, and held them at bay until the morning of the 23rd. Pleasonton's forces lost the battle, but they were able to scare Price and his army, which had a major influence on Price's campaign. The Confederate victory estimated the loss of 140 Confederate soldiers. The number of Union casualties is unknown.

• The Battle of Byram's Ford (October 22-23rd, 1864), also known as the Battle of Big Blue River - As mentioned in the Battle of Independence (above), Price encountered resistance on his march to Kansas City. Major General Samuel R. Curtis's Army of the Border, in the city of Westport, blocked the Confederates' way west while Major General Alfred Pleasonton's forces attacked Independence and put pressure on Price's army's rear. Price needed to move roughly 500 wagons of supplies to allow passage of the stores. Byram's Ford was the spot to cross the river to transport the supplies, and Price turned Byram's Ford into a strategic point during the fighting of Westport. On October 22nd, Major General James G. Blunt's division held a defensive position on the Big Blue River's west side. At 10:00 in the morning on the 22nd, a portion of Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby's Confederate division conducted a frontal attack on Blunt's men. This attack was a decoy, as the rest of Shelby's men flanked Blunt's hasty defenses. This forced Union forces to retreat to Westport. While the small skirmish occurred, Price was able to get the wagons full of supplies safely across the river. From there, the supply wagons made their way to Little Santa Fe for safety. Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke's Confederate division was able to repel the Union attacks, led by Major General Alfred Pleasonton, at Little Blue River, Independence, and Big Blue River, that allowed the Confederate rear to be held. Pleasonton assaulted Marmaduke's men at Byram's Ford, around 8:00 in the morning on the 23rd. Three hours later, Marmaduke's men had suffered enough and retreated toward Westport. With Pleasonton across the river, he became a surprise to Price who fought Curti's Army of the Border at Westport. As a result, Price retreated south. It is unknown how many casualties each side sustained during the battle.

• The Second Battle of Westport (October 23rd, 1864) - Major General Sterling Price's Missouri Expedition significantly changed course during the duration of the campaign. From St. Louis and Jefferson City to Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth change most definitely came. However, as Price's army neared Kansas City, Major General Samuel R. Curtis's Army of the Border blocked its way west while Major General Alfred Pleasonton's provisional cavalry division was closing on their rear. Price decided that he needed to confront the two Union forces and decided to attack them one at a time. Since Pleasonton still had a great distance to cover in order to reach Price, Price moved to attack Curtis at Westport. The fight was difficult since Curtis established strong defensive lines. During a four-hour battle, the Confederates threw themselves at the Union defenses but to no success. Price's forces were unable to break the Union lines, and as a result retreated south. The Union victory was hard fought, with 1,500 Union deaths and 1,500 Confederate deaths. This battle put the Confederate forces in a constant movement of retreat.

• The Battle of Marmiton River (October 25th, 1864), also known as the Battle of Shiloh Creek and the Battle of Charlot's Farm - After the Battle of Mine Creek, Kansas, Major General Sterling Price continued his cartage towards Fort Scott. In the late afternoon of October 25th, Price's supply train had difficulty crossing the Marmiton River, and similarly to Mine Creek, Price needed to make a stand. Brigadier General John S. McNeil commanded two brigades of Pleasonton's cavalry division and attacked the Confederate troops that Price and his officers gathered, which included a large number of unarmed soldiers. McNeil observed the sizable Confederate force and decided against a complete attack on the Confederates. He did not know that many of them were unarmed. After about two hours of skirmishing, Price continued his retreat and McNeil could not mount an effective pursuit. Price's army was broken by this time, and it became more of a priority to evacuate as many men as possible into friendly territory. It is unknown how many lives this battle claimed.

• The Second Battle of Newtonia (October 28th, 1864) - Price's force was in full retreat, trying to march through hostile Missouri to get to docile terrority. On the march back to the Missouri southern border on October 28th, Price and his men stopped to rest two miles south of Newtonia, Missouri. Soon afterward, Major General James G. Blunt's Union troops surprised the Confederates and began to drive them back. Brigadier General Joe Shelby's division, including the famous "Iron Brigade", rode to the front, dismounted, and attacked the Union forces while other Confederate troops retreated to Native American Territory. Brigadier General John B. Sanborn later appeared with Union reinforcements, which convinced Shelby to retreat as well. The Union troops forced the Confederates to retreat and effectively put an end to Price's campaign into Missouri. With the final nail in the coffin, the Union lost an estimated 400 soldiers compared to the Confederate 250 loss.