Battle of Cape Girardeau

Battle of Cape Girardeau Began: April 26, 1863 Ended: Same day Location: Cape Girardeau City, Missouri Theater: Trans-Mississippi Theater Campaign: Marmaduke’s Second Expedition into Missouri Outcome: Union victory Combatants Garrison, plus reinforcements Marmaduke's cavalry division Commanders John McNeil Brigadier General, USA John S. Marmaduke Brigadier General, CSA Strength 2,000 Casualties 12 325

Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke sought to strike Brig. Gen. John McNeil, with his combined force of about 2,000 men, at Bloomfield, Missouri. McNeil retreated and Marmaduke followed. Marmaduke received notification, on April 25, that McNeil was near Cape Girardeau. He sent troops to destroy or capture McNeil’s force, but then he learned that the Federals had placed themselves in the fortifications. Marmaduke ordered one of his brigades to make a demonstration to ascertain the Federals’ strength. Col. John S. Shelby’s brigade made the demonstration which escalated into an attack. Those Union forces not already in fortifications retreated into them. Realizing the Federals’ strength, Marmaduke withdrew his division to Jackson. After finding the force he had been chasing, Marmaduke was repulsed. Meant to relieve pressure on other Confederate troops and to disrupt Union operations, Marmaduke’s expedition did little to fulfill either objective. (NPS summary)