despite his disappointments in arkansas and louisiana, price managed to convince his superiors to permit him to invade missouri in the fall of 1864. he was hoping to win that state for the confederacy or at the very least imperil abraham lincoln's chances for reelection that year. confederate general kirby smith agreed, though he was forced to detach the infantry brigades originally detailed to price's force and send them elsewhere. this changed price's proposed campaign from a full-scale invasion of missouri to a large cavalry raid. price gathered 12,000 horsemen for his army, and fourteen pieces of artillery.