The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Price's Missouri Expedition

Bryce --

Thanks for your response. By October of 1864 almost all Confederate cavalrymen found themselves at a severe disadvantage to their Northern counterparts. Rosser's and Fitz Lee's men in the Shenandoah fared little better than Jeff Thompson's troopers during that month. Aside from Forrest (and I'm not sure how he did it), the only mounted forces able to hold their own against the Yankees were partisans and irregulars. Federal cavalry rated better in every category: arms, equipment, numbers, supplies, leadership, experience and morale.

I don't believe anyone would argue against the superiority of transportation available to Federal commanders. Movement via rail and waterways allowed military assets to be shifted rapidly from one point to another. Confederate resources in this area were limited at best.

Aside from the destruction of his small army, what could Price have accomplished? To summarize the excellent points previously made in this thread, at this time chances of establishing Confederate control in any part of Missouri were slim and none. No line of communications existed between Price's command in Missouri and points south, nor was one likely to be established. Despite Price's earnest desire to return home and lead a mass uprising against the Federals, he would have done better to pursue more limited yet attainable goals.

Several people mentioned that conditions in Arkansas favored Confederate reoccupation of towns and military posts held by the Federals for over a year. Risks to Southern commanders would appear to be limited, especially since Federal leaders saw little benefit to maintaining garrisons here. One might argue that Confederates would gain little out of this, but it appears to have been the most realistic effort that could have been made west of the Mississippi.

In October 1864, what would the Confederate cause have gained by reoccupation of central Arkansas?

A larger base for collecting recruits, horses and supplies,
An opportunity to defeat Federal forces attempting to leave the region,
The ability to establish advance camps for incursions into Missouri,
A boost to morale and political prestige.

Are these realistic goals?

Price seems to have been like a first-time visitor in a casino. Winning a little money early in the day may have been the worst thing for him. Before he bet the ranch and lost everything, somebody needed to drag the man away from the table!

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