Price's Lost Campaign: The 1864 Invasion of Missouri

Price's Lost Campaign: The 1864 Invasion of Missouri examines Confederate General Sterling Price's military campaign into Missouri during the American Civil War in 1864. The book focuses on the initial phase of the operation, analyzing how an intended full-scale invasion transformed into what history would record as a raid. Mark A. Lause reconstructs the military and political context of the campaign through primary sources and battlefield accounts. The narrative covers the operation from its conception through Price's fateful decision not to attack Jefferson City, which marked a critical turning point in the campaign. The book challenges traditional Confederate narratives about the conduct of Southern forces during the operation. It presents evidence about the behavior of Price's troops and examines the strategic decisions of both Union and Confederate leadership during this period. This military history offers insights into the complexities of Civil War command decisions and the impact of leadership failures on military operations. The book contributes to the broader understanding of how individual commanders' choices could alter the trajectory of significant campaigns.

Readers note this is a detailed military history focused on Price's 1864 Missouri campaign, but some found it lacking in strategic context and broader Civil War connections. Positives: - Clear chronological narrative of troop movements - Coverage of lesser-known battles and skirmishes - Inclusion of civilian experiences during the campaign - Strong use of primary sources and first-hand accounts Negatives: - Maps are basic and hard to follow - Limited background on key figures - Writing style can be dry and academic - Some readers wanted more analysis of the campaign's impact Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (13 ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (11 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Fills an important gap in Civil War history but needed better maps" - Amazon reviewer "Too focused on minute details without explaining why they matter" - Goodreads review "Best account of this campaign I've read, despite its flaws" - Civil War forum post

The Battle of Westport by Paul Kirkman This detailed military history examines the largest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River, which marked the end point of Price's Missouri campaign.

General Sterling Price and the Civil War in the West by Albert Castel This biography traces Price's military career through the Trans-Mississippi theater and provides context for his Missouri campaign decisions.

Confederate Guerrilla by Thomas D. Vandiver The story of Missouri guerrilla leader William Clarke Quantrill intersects with Price's campaign and illuminates the irregular warfare that characterized the Civil War in Missouri.

Wilson's Creek by William Garrett Piston This battle study examines the 1861 Missouri campaign that established the pattern of Confederate attempts to secure the state that Price would later follow.

The Civil War on the Missouri-Kansas Border by Donald L. Gilmore This military history explores the broader context of irregular warfare and conventional operations along the Missouri-Kansas border where Price's campaign took place.

🔵 Sterling Price's Missouri campaign involved over 12,000 Confederate troops - one of the largest cavalry forces assembled during the Civil War 🔵 The campaign covered approximately 1,400 miles across Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas, making it one of the longest military operations of the war 🔵 Author Mark A. Lause is a professor of history at the University of Cincinnati, specializing in the social history of the Civil War era and labor movements 🔵 Jefferson City, which Price ultimately decided not to attack, had been Missouri's state capital since 1826 and was heavily fortified by Union forces 🔵 Confederate General Sterling Price had previously served as Missouri's governor (1853-1857), which added personal significance to his attempt to "liberate" the state