the battle of the big blue involve the second regiment of the kansas state militia, also led by general james lane, and he pursued and fought confederate forces led by general sterling price in jackson county, missouri, near the big blue river on october 27, 1864. reader had enlisted in the second division of the kansas militia when the war began. he was involved in this conflict. the confederates routed lane's forces and anyone left behind who was not killed was taken prisoner. reader was taken prisoner. he surrendered peacefully and he recounts in the diary as well his time as a prisoner. they were marching the soldiers south, the prisoners south, apparently to texas and reader was able to get away and escape by pretending to be a confederate soldier. 21, before the day of battle, he writes "we went to the big lou and camped one half mile in blackjack saplings covered with deadly. nearly stole a turkey. we had nice fires. we heard cannon shots from the northeast. tom wallace laughed and said he would rather hear the baby cry. william bergman says he wants to see a battle. well, i don'