Battle of Little Blue River

The day after fighting Confederate General Sterling Price’s troops at Lexington, Union Major General James G. Blunt’s forces are positioned at the Little Blue River. Concerned about the safety of Independence, just west of the Little Blue, General Samuel Curtis orders Blunt and most of his troops to the town that day. Colonel Thomas Moonlight is ordered to stand guard at the Little Blue with the remaining men in Blunt’s command. Slowed but not stopped after the Battle of Lexington, Price reaches the Little Blue on October 21 and engages Moonlight. Though Blunt soon arrives with reinforcements, Union forces cannot hold their position and retreat to Independence.