Rural Missouri - August 2013 - (Page 28)

Blood-stained dawn Lawrence Massacre ~ Aug. 21, 1863 Quantrill leads horrific attack across the border by Jim Denny info@ruralmissouri.coop border region. He already had looted and burned the Kansas towns of Aubry, Shawneetown and Olathe, executing citizens as well as soldiers. One of the worst Union setbacks occurred on y August 1863, the Civil War effort was June 16, 1863, near Westport. Here, 30 to 50 guergoing badly for the Confederacy in both the rillas ambushed a 68-man Kansas cavalry unit and eastern and western theaters. Lee was defeatfollowed with a furious charge against the panicked ed at Gettysburg, while Grant was victorious soldiers. Some 20 soldiers were killed and four at Vicksburg. West of the Mississippi River, Confedwounded, with only three losses to the guerrilla side. erate armies were trying desperately to hold on to No small patrol or escort was safe from a surprise Little Rock and the lower Arkansas River valley. attack of guerrilla horsemen erupting from the bush, The only victory of note for the Southern side pistols blazing, no prisoners taken. Every militia purcame on Aug. 21, 1863, when a bold attack on Lawsuit of guerrillas ended with inferior rence, Kan., left between 150 and 200 horses giving out, or the guerrilla quar“enemy” dead. Considerable military ry scattering along countless trails into ingenuity was required to pull off this the brush country only to reassemble attack 50 miles deep into hostile terrisomewhere else and strike again. tory. A band of 450 men — the largest An exasperated captain lamented, force of its kind in the Civil War — had “We do not believe that guerrillas can to cross from Missouri into Kansas, ever be taken by pursuit; we must take escaping detection, slipping past a them by strategy.” Unfortunately, they defensive chain of border military never really developed such a strategy; posts. The commander of this expedithe guerrillas outgunned, out-maneution needed to understand and exploit vered and out-killed their Union foes the weaknesses of his enemy, who almost every time. greatly outnumbered him. While failing to win the war against The attack came off brilliantly; only Quantrill’s guerrillas, the Union one man was lost. Only trouble was authorities stepped up their that this victory was not won war against the civilians who against a Federal army. The slain Jim Denny, a Co-Mo Electric member sustained them. By the sumenemies were unarmed civilfrom Lupus, brings the state’s Civil War mer of 1863, it was abundantly ians — not soldiers — and the history to life in Rural Missouri as we clear that guerrillas could not be attackers were William Quantcommemorate the sesquicentennial of driven out without first cutting rill’s guerrillas, not Confederate this time in our nation’s history. Order soldiers come to redeem the Jim’s book, “The Civil War’s First Blood,” off their source of supplies and succor — the disloyal Southern Missouri-Kansas border from its online at www.ruralmissouri.coop. inhabitants of the Missouri endless war against itself. counties along the border. About the only places in the Union where the By mid-summer, Gen. Thomas Ewing took charge Civil War didn’t seem to be going well were in Misof the District of the Border and inaugurated a new souri and eastern Kansas. Here, despite the absence get-tough policy. Since some two-thirds of the popuof Confederate armies, the guerrillas seemed to be lation of his district seemed actively disloyal, he winning the war within a war that was going on far determined to expel several hundred families of the from the real theaters of action. “worst guerrillas” from Missouri. His troops already One of the most skilled slayers of Union men had rounded up several wives and sisters of some of was William Quantrill, leader of a fearsome band the most deadly guerrillas. of hardened guerrillas. By the summer of 1863, his In one of the most fatal Union missteps, some of name inspired dread in Union folk throughout the B these young women were housed in a structurally unsound building in Kansas City, which collapsed on Aug. 13, 1863. Five were killed. This tragedy sent the guerrillas into a murderous rage that would soon lead to deeds that would mortify the whole nation. Guerrilla chieftain Bill Anderson’s sister, Josephine, was killed and another sister, Mary, was crippled. From that day forward, his rage grew to maniacal proportions, and he commenced his terrible career as “Bloody Bill,” one of Missouri’s most pitiless mass killers. What distinguished Quantrill from other skilled and ruthless guerrilla leaders was his ability to think big. It took all of his persuasive powers to convince his fellow guerrillas that an attack on Lawrence could be pulled off. They all knew that Gen. Ewing had fortified the border and that a cordon of thousands of Union soldiers protected the frontier. But Quantrill had a peculiar genius or luck, and he somehow sensed that the time for the raid was now. He was right. His foes cooperated perfectly and dropped their guard at the precise moment Quantrill decided to attack. His band had no trouble crossing the border. They rode to Lawrence virtually undetected. The one outpost that noted their passing did not bother sending word that a large group of unknown horsemen was riding west into Kansas. Three weeks earlier, military units had guarded Lawrence, and sentries had been posted around the clock. But after a false alarm, the units were sent away and the sentries disbanded. The appearance of Quantrill and his men at dawn on Aug. 21, 1863, was a complete surprise. After a four-hour orgy of looting, burning and the slaughter of almost every male they encountered, Quantrill’s band headed back to Missouri, leaving an inconceivable scene of carnage in its wake. Union forces picked up the trail and began a pursuit, but a vigorous rear action by a company of guerrillas kept them at a respectful distance. These troops almost served as an escort, merely following Quantrill’s band to the Missouri border where, as usual, his guerrillas dissolved into the brush with virtually no casualties. After Lawrence, Quantrill’s star was almost as bright as it ever got. His daring deed had certainly riveted the attention — and horror — of the entire nation. Quantrill had promised his Missouri boys that at Lawrence, “We can get more revenge and more money there than anywhere else in the state.” Sweet revenge could be savored amongst the Southern folk along the western border, but they must have also felt a dread and foreboding. They knew that despite the presence of Quantrill, enraged Kansans and Missouri militia would shortly be heading to their neighborhoods to collect their own revenge. The horror was far from over. The other shoe was about to drop. In his painting, “Blood Stained Dawn,” Ernst Ulmer captured the bedlam of Quantrill’s horrific attack on Lawrence. Art courtesy of the Ernst Ulmer estate, www.ernstulmer.com. http://www.ruralmissouri.coop http://www.ernstulmer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - August 2013

Rural Missouri - August 2013
Table of Contents
Comments
Columns
Hideout heaven
Mining a lead-lined history
Adrenaline adventures
Outdoors
Out of the Way Eats
High-flying fun
Hearth and Home
Blood-stained dawn
Swarm chasers
Around Missouri
Marketplace
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - August 2013

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/videotest
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com