Price's Missouri Expedition Facts

August 29–December 2, 1864

Key facts about Confederate Major General Sterling Price's Expedition into Missouri in 1864.

Map of Price's Missouri Expedition

This map illustrates the route of Confederate General Sterling Price’s Missouri Expedition in 1864. [Wikimedia Commons]

Date

  • August 29 – December 2, 1864

Location

  • Missouri
  • Kansas
  • Indian Territory
  • Texas

Major Engagements of Price’s Missouri Expedition of 1864

Principal Union Commanders

Principal Confederate Commanders

  • Major General Sterling Price
  • Major General James F. Fagan
  • Major General John S. Marmaduke
  • Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby

Union Forces Engaged

Confederate Forces Engaged

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 22,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 12,000

Estimated Union Casualties

  • Unknown

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 4,000

Result

  • Union victory

Significance

Price’s Missouri Expedition of 1864was a failure. He met only one of the campaign’s objectives—capturing or destroying Union property in Missouri. Otherwise, Price failed to occupy St. Louis or Jefferson City. His presence in the state did not inspire many Missourians to join his army, and many of those who did join the Army of Missouri were either killed, captured, or deserted before the expedition ended. Price’s threat to Missouri diverted few, if any, federal troops away from Richmond or Atlanta. Finally, rather than hindering President Lincoln’s 1864 reelection prospects, the sweeping Union victory at the Battle of Westport may have contributed to Lincoln’s surging popularity at the ballot box in November.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title Price's Missouri Expedition Facts
  • Date August 29–December 2, 1864
  • Author
  • Keywords Sterling Price, Army of Missouri, Samuel Curtis, Army of the Border, Alfred Pleasonton, George W. Dietzler, James G. Blunt
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date September 21, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update April 18, 2022

Price's Missouri Expedition Facts is Part of the Following on AHC