Price was also being pursued by Union forces from St. Louis and Jefferson City (if my memory serves) in the form of General Alfred Pleasanton, cavalry, and General A. J. Smith, infantry. With pressure front in the form of the Kansas State Militia and other long-term Kansas and Missouri units, Price had to break free from an envelopment. The battle at Westport could have opened the gateway to supplies at Fort Leavenworth, nearby, but the pursuit of Pleasanton must have been paramount on Pric's mind.

If Price could have broken and scattered the Kansas contingent and occupied Westport, he would have turned to face his pursuers from the same position to protect his trains. Unfortunately for Price he was caught in the vice and fled southward along the Kansas/Missouri border.

Howard Mann