The Gallant Stand: An Analysis of the Union Army of the Border's Use of Mission Command at the Battle of the Little Blue, 21 October 1864
Abstract
Confederate Major General Sterling Price's Missouri Raid of 1864 ended in defeat at the battle of Westport on 21-23 October 1864. That outcome was partially engineered by the Union chain of command's actions during the first day of fighting along the Little Blue River east of Independence, Missouri. Federal leaders assumed risk to allow their subordinates to exercise disciplined initiative and adapt to developing combat situations, applying principles of the Mission Command philosophy that day. Due to the Mission Command philosophy that the Union leadership collectively exhibited, a small Union cavalry force delayed Price's Confederate Army of Missouri for an entire day. That delay was critical because it allowed the Union Army of the Border to the west time to consolidate and additionally allowed the Union Provisional Cavalry Division coming from the east to catch the rear of Price's column. The subsequent days of battle on 22 and 23 October at Westport, Missouri, resulted in a decisive Union victory and the retreat of the Confederate army. The Union leadership's use of the philosophy of Mission Command at the battle of the Little Blue River contributed to decisive victory at the Battle of Westport. It provides an excellent case study in the proper use of Mission Command.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1020111
Entities
People
- Donald D Lovett
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College