During 1864 Overton drilled every two weeks and in October was called out with the State Militia on the “Price Raid.” Starting from Atchison with the 12th Kansas Calvary and furnishing his own horse they went to Wyandote, now Kansas City, Kansas. They crossed the Kaw river on a pontoon bridge. The Captain, Asa Barnes gave the order: “Saddle, prepare to mount! Mount forward, March.” They marched to the state line, and the front lines refused to go beyond the Kansas border so they disarmed and the rest of the Company went on, going to Independence, Missouri. They were there drilling from Monday morning until Saturday noon.
On Thursday night they were ordered to “saddle, prepare to mount, half cock your guns and don’t speak above a whisper. Forward March.” They traveled four miles through a dense forest to a boat landing on the Missouri river to unload a steam boat load of flour. It was finished by 1 o’clock and they returned unmolested by the Bush Whacker.
On Friday, at 9:30 a.m., two companies of Colorado Calvary Regulars started from Independence over to the Big Blue where they were fighting, singing, “We Will Rally Round The Flag Boys.” By 11 o’clock they were coming back single file and double file. Overton saw two men coming with their comrades, a corpse on the horns of their saddles. Many of them had been wounded in the conflict. Some who had flesh wounds were taken to the hospitals and within a short time were on the streets, bandaged up but smoking a cigar as content as though nothing had happened. The Reb’s retreated and went to West Port.
On Saturday the Kansas Militia were ordered to form a hollow square at the Court House of Kansas City, Missouri, which is now a residence district of Kansas City. They left their Commissary Wagon at Independence and on reaching West Port had nothing to eat. Overton, finding two whole “hard tacks” and some pieces left by the other soldiers, blew the dust off and ate it thinking it tasted mighty good.
On Sunday morning they were called out and went a mile where there was an orchard and beyond it was a stone wall. Every little while men on horses would bob up behind the wall, fire their guns and be out of sight again. The two Companies were ordered to Charge! And they advanced through the orchard but to their surprise found Sterling Price’s entire army was there starting south for winter quarters and the rear pickets were those who were shooting at them as they followed up the main army. They were then ordered to go back to camp and called roll alphabetically.
One of their men, Thomas Leason had lost his hat and was asked, “Where’s your hat Tom?” His reply was, “Lost it in the battle.” But Overton saw it by the roadside and said Tom was too badly frightened to stop and get it.
As they reached camp the Commissary wagon had just arrived and the half starved boys were only too glad to help the cooks so they could get a square meal again. After dinner, the Command was given to March and follow Price’s Trail. They went about three miles when Gilbert Woolworth, the Lieutenant Colonel, galloped to the front ranks and said, “Halt! All that’s in favor of going back home to mother, give three rousing cheers for the Union, Hoop! Hoop Hurrah!” And the boys yelled until they were as hoarse as bull-frogs. “Break ranks right out and see the scenes of war” he told them as there had been a battle engagement there the night before. There were dead horses of every color here and there, saddles, blankets, haversacks, bayonets, muskets and sabers strewed around and everything gave evidence of the conflict. They started back to camp, in about a mile the ran across seven dead men laying in a pile, and ten feet away was a body headless. Thirty steps beyond was a rail pen four or five rails high and in it was a dead man with a white shirt on, in a sitting posture. He was thought to be a confederate officer.
They went back to camp and the next morning started for Atchison, Kansas, where they were discharged and drew their statescripts.