Battle of Fort Davidson
Pilot Knob, Missouri, USA
What happened
Sterling Price's Confederate army, with James Fagan, John Marmaduke and William Cabell, attacked about 1,456 Union soldiers, militia and civilians under Thomas Ewing. During Price's raid into Missouri, his army surrounded Fort Davidson, which sat in a plain between four peaks. The Confederate attacks were poorly coordinated, and the defenders drove each one back. That night Ewing's men slipped out past the Confederate guards and blew up the fort's gunpowder store.
Why it matters
The failed attacks lowered Confederate morale. Price gave up his plan to attack St. Louis.
What came next
Price turned west toward Jefferson City and Kansas City and was defeated at Westport on 23 October 1864.
Did you know?
The fort held well over twice the number of soldiers it was built for.
Timeline
- 27 Sep 1864Battle of Fort Davidson.
- 27 Sep 1864That night the Union garrison leaves the fort.
- 23 Oct 1864Battle of Westport.