For information on the 2nd Colorado during Price's 1864 Missouri Invasion may I recommend that you read Hinton's book, Rebel Invasion of Missouri and Kansas?
I am especially interested in the 2nd's casualties during the invasion. I have not seen any nominal lists which makes it difficult to determine how many casualties were lost in each engagement.
I think it would be a good idea to get hold of copies the regiment's newspaper.
Below is the diary of Sgt. Francis M. Gordon of Company D:
Diary of 2nd Colorado Cavalry Trooper
Transcription of Westport period
From Oct 1st to 23rd, 1864
October 1st, 1864
One battalion of our regiment with the regimental head Qtrs. Moved from Kansas City, to Independence with cold rain and plenty of wind, the report is current that the rebel General Price is at Pilot Knob on the Mississippi below St. Louis and is marching up the country and we are ordered to prepare to copperate (sic) with Genl. Brown and Fisk if he should come up that way.
2nd - Lay in camp, cold rain storm.
3rd - In camp. Much rain.
4th - In camp still it rains.
5th - Still in camp and yet we had plenty of rain, and camp is one consolidated around hole. Blankets all wet and slow to dry them.
6th - March 9 o clock for Pleasant Hill. Arrived at a little before seven p.m. camp in school yard. (last line undecipherable)
October 7th, 1864
Lay in camp - dress parade and drill, at 2 o clock p.m. The news came by telegraph that Price is near Jefferson City, and on his ay west.
8th - In camp Capt. Elmer and company start out heading east for the purpose of getting c----(?) Distance about eighteen miles.
8th - still in camp at Pleasant Hill - 3 o clock a report came in that there was a band of rebs seen a little way out of town all hands saddle up -great excitement - proves to be nothing but our own men coming in.
10th - One transportation train starts for Olathe at sunrise. Report says Old Price is this side of Sedalia. 10 o clock brings the report that Price is badly whipped and is retreating towards Arkansas. 4 o clock p.m. We have dress parade. Military ______(?) till can t rest.
11th - 2:00 p.m. we have a good drill 9:00 p.m. we get orders to pack up and march for Hickman s Mills. Start at 10 o clock arrive at 5 a.m. nas not found any enemy yet.
12th - Fifteen hundred rebel cavalry reported within fifteen miles of Independence and company of us go to Independence to see how things are going. Find the citizens in a state of excitement. Return to the Mills.
13th - Stay at the Mills all day. Sent our train in to Kansas City to get rations.
2 o clock - Col. Goes to Kansas City with B Co. for escort where we started there was about 3 or 4 thousand men at the Mills and ten pieces of artillery, with General Blunt in command.
7 o clock - I go across the way (in K.C.) to see M. R. have a good time. Report at Camp midnight. Lay down and sleep about an hour and a half and the bugle sounded the revelie (sic). We get and saddle and fool around until nearly daylight and then rode out for Independence. Arrived a little after sunrise stay here all day Gen. Curtis could link with fifteen-hundred and two-thousand men today. I had the pleasure of seeing Senator Jim Lane of Kansas.
16th - Still in Independence. Gen. Curtis with all the Kansas troops moved to Hickman s Mills scouting - we hear nothing from Price or any one else today.
17th - The soldiers & artillery are moving through town all day some going one ay and some the other. My squad keep their horses saddled all day for orderlies.
18th - Still there is flying reports from Price but nothing reliable. Afternoon Col. Ford with D Co. for escort goes to Kansas City arrive at dark. I went over the way and have a little chat until midnight, got to camp and try to sleep but rather cold.
19th - 3 o clock - Return to Independence. The news came in about sunrise that Gen. Blunt had run in with Price driving westward and is a little west of Sedalia and drove them back to the main army, but this evenings report says Blunt is at Lexington and hCHNKWKS
20th - In Independence reports say Price is still advancing west of Lexington. Col. Moonlight has a fight with Price s advance.
21st - We search from Independence towards Lexington six miles and meet the advance of the enemy. The fight commenced at 10 o clock with 3 to 4,000 on our side. Price s force about 30,000. We fall back to Independence not run. The enemy drive us from there on west. Stand was at Blue River. Lost one Major from our Regt. Loss on Rebels side not known. But I think the rebel loss to be at least 8 to 1 on our side, for they charged a second time and were repulsed.
22nd - Reinforced by Gen. Curtis making our force about 10,000 Col. Genison (sic) with his brigade is stationed 4 miles south of us for the purpose of holding another ford and Moonlight with a brigade is still south of Genison (sic) holding another ford. 1 o clock - we get a dispatch from Genison (sic) stating that he had lost the ford and was falling back on Westport. We left at full gallop to Westport. Form our line of battle and rest as best we can until morning drinking our fill of coffee.
23rd. - Move out to the S_____ (?) ford in order of Battle 1 o clock - the fight begins again opening with artillery on both sides, but the rebs thought they would take the First Colorado batry as it was doing them considerable damage, but they were mistaken in that, for the 2nd Colorado came up and on the right of the battery just in time to give them the most deadly fire I ever saw. The rebs all got confused and went back leaving a great many dead and wounded on the ground. We captured thirty-three prisoners that lost their hourses and could not get off the field. I do not know how many were killed but the road was lined with them for near a half mile. The col. That led the charge was killed.
List of Prisoners
1. E. J. Bratcher, Sr. 10. J. W. Hopner 19. T. D. Baley
2. E. J. Bratcher, Jr. 11. A. J. Coleman 20. J. D. Toler
3. A. J. Bratcher 12. S. W. Coleman 21. Wm. Avery
4. J. D. Bratcher 13. Jesse (?) Stoner 22. Joseph Myers
5. S. G. Lange ration (?) 14. Robt Cheatham 23. Jacob Williams
6. L. T. Goode 15. R. W. Lewis 24. Norman Greene
7. S. J. Jones 16. Luke West 25. Seloninton (?) Atkins
8. L. D. Jones 17. Richard Daniel 26. S. Thompson
9. R. R. Beasley 18. Wm. Williams 27. Uriah Thompson