Battle of Dry Wood Creek

Battle of Dry Wood Creek Battle of the Mules Began: September 2, 1861 Ended: Same day Location: Vernon County, Missouri Theater: Trans-Mississippi Theater Campaign: Operations to Control Missouri Outcome: Confederate victory Combatants Kansas Cavalry Brigade Missouri State Guard Commanders James H. Lane Colonel, USA Sterling Price Major General, CSA James S. Rains Brigadier General, CSA Strength 600 Casualties 14 20 Killed: 4 Wounded: 16

Col. James H. Lane’s cavalry, comprising about 600 men, set out from Fort Scott to learn the whereabouts of a rumored Confederate force. They encountered a Confederate force, about 6,000-strong, near Big Dry Wood Creek. The Union cavalry surprised the Confederates, but their numerical superiority soon determined the encounter’s outcome. They forced the Union cavalry to retire and captured their mules, and the Confederates continued on towards Lexington. The Confederates were forcing the Federals to abandon southwestern Missouri and to concentrate on holding the Missouri Valley.