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History Channel movie about local event to premiere in Fort Scott
By Lynn A. Wade
Nevada Daily Mail
In 1864, Confederate General Sterling Price had high hopes of capturing Missouri for the south, having led Missouri pro-Confederate troops in victories in Wilson's Creek in August 1861 and Lexington in September 1861. Years had passed, and in a 1864 campaign, victories were again Price's in the Kansas City area such as Independence and Lexington. But at Westport, the Union soldiers prevailed and Price's forces began a retreat down the Kansas/Missouri line. It was at Mine Creek, Oct. 25,1864, that the Federals caught up with, and soundly defeated, Price's forces. Now that battle has been chronicled in a History Channel presentation, set to premiere at 7 p.m., Nov. 13, at the Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main Fort Scott.
"It was an important battle. A lot of our Vernon County boys fought in that one," said Terry Ramsey, Bushwhacker Museum coordinator, Nevada.
Fort Scott re-enactor Charlie Cress was one of several from Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma who participated in filming of the documentary, which took place in July. Cress can be spotted in the film. He's the one in the tattered gray uniform, riding a mule.
Cress said many re-enactors appearing in the film go to other states for such re-enactments, but he doesn't -- the expense of doing so can be high.
But locally, he sometimes dons the Confederate uniform, more out of a sense of identification with confederate ideals about individual and state's rights than about family history or other reasons.
During a visit to Nevada on Wednesday, he remarked jovially, "I feel more comfortable sometimes on this side of the line," referring to the area's history as a strong pocket of Confederate sympathizers.
"I just don't think I could be one of the federals," he said.
So, in the film, he's on the Confederate side, riding the lone mule used as a mount. "I had the only mule, except the ones pulling a wagon," Cress said.
There were some other mules -- tall, tan-colored mules owned by Steve William's, Redfield -- that were used to pull one of the wagons.
Price's supply wagons turned out to be part of his downfall. Pursued by Union forces numbering 10,000 cavalrymen, including those led by Gen. Alfred Pleasonton, Price traveled south and attempted to cross mine creek.
"The problem was, that there was a kind of a traffic bottleneck. There was one place you could ford it, but on either side, you could go down into the creek but on the other side were high banks," Cress said.
Trapped by geography and hundreds of descending Union soldiers, Price's group was defeated.
"It was pretty much the last hurrah before they scurried off into Missouri and Arkansas," Cress said, "I'm no historian. I'm not really sure how long it (the battle itself) lasted, but not long."
Cress said the documentary was filmed over two days, with the Union and Confederate parts filmed separately. "They had us charging into our own cannon. There really weren't very many of us. I don't know how they'll do their 'movie magic' but I suppose it'll look like there are thousands of them coming over the hill," Cress said.
The Battle of Mine Creek was believed to be the biggest cavalry battle of the Civil War, and during the fray, Union cavalry killed or captured about 1,000 Confederate soldiers and had taken much of their artillery.
According to the U.S. National Park Service, Price encountered problems similar to those at Mine Creek when he crossed the Marmaton River later that day and had to again make a stand, resulting in another skirmish and the continued retreat of Confederate forces to the south.
The History Channel's film, "Mine Creek: The Lost Battle of the Civil War," will be attended by television personality Bill Kurtis, who will be available before and after the showing for autographs and to meet the public. Posters designed for the event will be available for $10, and copies autographed by Kurtis will be available for $25. Additional items available for purchase include programs and posters of the recent 140th Battle Re-enactment of Mine Creek, commemorative T-shirts and a history of the Battle of Mine Creek book.
Kurtis, Cress said, is a friendly, personable man who was easy to work with during the filming. "In working with him on the film, he was a nice guy, just like you and me," Cress said.
Free will donations collected at the screening and proceeds from the sale of commemorative items will go to support the Mine Creek Battlefield Foundation.
The documentary, produced as an episode of "Investigating History" will be nationally televised on Monday, Nov. 15, at 9 p.m. on the History Channel and features Kurtis as host and narrator.