After a botched attack at the Battle of Pilot Knob, the strength of the Union defenses at Jefferson City led Price to abandon the main goals of his campaign.

After gaining information about Price's strength and position that the Union high command had been previously lacking, Blunt withdrew from the field.

[5] Meanwhile, in the Trans-Mississippi Theater, the Confederates had defeated Union attackers during the Red River campaign in Louisiana, which took place from March through May.

[8] Countering Price was the Union Department of Missouri, under the command of Major General William S. Rosecrans, who had fewer than 10,000 men on hand, many of whom were militiamen.

[9] In late September, the Confederates encountered a small Union force holding Fort Davidson near the town of Pilot Knob.

Attacks against the post in the Battle of Pilot Knob on September 27 failed, and the Union garrison abandoned the fort that night.

Price had suffered hundreds of casualties in the battle, and decided to divert the aim of his advance from St. Louis to Jefferson City.

[12] In turn, Price determined that Jefferson City was too strong to attack, and began moving westwards along the course of the Missouri River.

[14] Meanwhile, Union troops commanded by Major Generals Samuel R. Curtis and James G. Blunt were withdrawn from their role in fights against the Cheyenne; the Kansas State Militia was also mobilized.

[15] On October 15, Blunt moved a three-brigade unit under his command to Hickman Mills, Missouri; the third brigade was composed of militia.

[13] In his after-action report, Blunt provided the significant amount his force was outnumbered by, as well as the fact that his mountain howitzers were unable to effectively respond to Price's artillery as reasons for the decision to withdraw.

Price continued moving westward, fighting several smaller actions along the way, before being decisively defeated by Curtis at the Battle of Westport on October 23, near Kansas City.

[27] The same report noted that while none of the battlefield is on the National Register of Historic Places, 3,543.31 acres (1,433.93 ha) of the site are likely eligible for listing.