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| Swan River Museum - 12 E. Peoria, P O Box 123 - Paola, KS 66071 Phone: 913-294-4940 - all rights reserved |
Miami County Historical Museum Swan River Museum Miami County Historical & Genealogy Society |
Civil War
Kansas entered the Union as the
thirty-fourth state on January 29, 1861.
Less than three months later, on April
12, Fort Sumter was attacked by
Confederate troops and the Civil War
began. In Washington D.C., rumors
were afloat that President Abraham
Lincoln was to be kidnapped or
assassinated. James H. Lane, a
senator from Kansas, recruited 120
Kansas men who were in the city and
organized them into the "Frontier
Guard." For nearly three weeks they
were billeted in the White House to
protect the President.
Most Kansans strongly favored the
cause of the Union. Governor Charles
Robinson began recruiting troops for
the Union armies, and Senator Lane
returned from Washington to do the
same. Before the war ended, the
federal government issued several calls
for troops, asking Kansas for a total of
16,654 men. More than 20,000
"Jayhawkers" enlisted, however, and
the state contributed 19 regiments and
four batteries to the Union forces.
Although many of these volunteer
soldiers hailed from states other than
Kansas, this was a remarkable showing
for an infant state with only 30,000 men
of military age. Kansas soldiers
suffered nearly 8,500 casualties.
Springfield flagSeveral skirmishes with
Confederate units took place along the
Missouri border in 1861, but the first
real action for Kansas troops came at
the Battle of Wilson's Creek, near
Springfield, Missouri, on August 10,
1861. Both the First and Second Kansas
Volunteer Infantry regiments were
engaged, but the First saw the most
action and suffered heavy losses.
During 1862 several Kansas units
served in campaigns in Kentucky,
Tennessee, and Mississippi. In
Arkansas a brigade commanded by
James G. Blunt, the first Kansan to
become a major-general, fought in the
battles of Rhea's Mills, Cane Hill, and
Prairie Grove. Kansas regiments, both
white and black, were used in the
Indian territory in 1862 and 1863. In
1863 Kansans also served under
General U.S. Grant in the Vicksburg
campaign, under General Rosencrans at
Chickamauga, and against Morgan's
Raiders in Indiana.
Price's RaidIn 1864 several Kansas
units were stationed in Arkansas.
There had been no organized warfare
in Kansas other than occasional raids.
That fall, however, Confederate forces
under General Sterling Price moved
north into Missouri. Their initial
objective was St. Louis; they also were
ordered to seize supplies and rally
Missourians to the Southern cause.
Price failed to reach St. Louis as Union
troops forced him to swing west toward
Kansas City. Actions were fought at
Lexington, and the Big and Little Blue
Rivers. Fighting continued at Westport
and on October 23, 1864, Price was
defeated and forced to retreat south
along the Kansas-Missouri border. He
decided to try to seize Fort Scott, a
Union supply center. He was defeated
again at the Battle of Mine Creek in Linn
County, Kansas, by Federal troops
under Generals Samuel Curtis, Alfred
Pleasanton, and Blunt. Approximately
25,000 men were involved in the
pursuit and series of rear guard actions
on October 25. Nearly 10,000 soldiers
were engaged at Mine Creek alone, the
largest battle fought on Kansas soil.
This Union victory ended any threat of a
Southern invasion of the state.
Flag from Quantrill's raidMore
devastating than any battle between
regular troops in Kansas were the raids
and pillaging of guerrilla bands. Such
raids and atrocities were committed by
both sides, but by far the most
notorious came on August 21, 1863.
William Clark Quantrill and several
hundred followers attacked Lawrence
at dawn. By the time they Lawrence,
much of the town had been destroyed
and nearly 200 men and boys had been
killed.
Kansas entered the Union as the
thirty-fourth state on January 29, 1861.
Less than three months later, on April
12, Fort Sumter was attacked by
Confederate troops and the Civil War
began. In Washington D.C., rumors
were afloat that President Abraham
Lincoln was to be kidnapped or
assassinated. James H. Lane, a
senator from Kansas, recruited 120
Kansas men who were in the city and
organized them into the "Frontier
Guard." For nearly three weeks they
were billeted in the White House to
protect the President.
Most Kansans strongly favored the
cause of the Union. Governor Charles
Robinson began recruiting troops for
the Union armies, and Senator Lane
returned from Washington to do the
same. Before the war ended, the
federal government issued several calls
for troops, asking Kansas for a total of
16,654 men. More than 20,000
"Jayhawkers" enlisted, however, and
the state contributed 19 regiments and
four batteries to the Union forces.
Although many of these volunteer
soldiers hailed from states other than
Kansas, this was a remarkable showing
for an infant state with only 30,000 men
of military age. Kansas soldiers
suffered nearly 8,500 casualties.
Springfield flagSeveral skirmishes with
Confederate units took place along the
Missouri border in 1861, but the first
real action for Kansas troops came at
the Battle of Wilson's Creek, near
Springfield, Missouri, on August 10,
1861. Both the First and Second Kansas
Volunteer Infantry regiments were
engaged, but the First saw the most
action and suffered heavy losses.
During 1862 several Kansas units
served in campaigns in Kentucky,
Tennessee, and Mississippi. In
Arkansas a brigade commanded by
James G. Blunt, the first Kansan to
become a major-general, fought in the
battles of Rhea's Mills, Cane Hill, and
Prairie Grove. Kansas regiments, both
white and black, were used in the
Indian territory in 1862 and 1863. In
1863 Kansans also served under
General U.S. Grant in the Vicksburg
campaign, under General Rosencrans at
Chickamauga, and against Morgan's
Raiders in Indiana.
Price's RaidIn 1864 several Kansas
units were stationed in Arkansas.
There had been no organized warfare
in Kansas other than occasional raids.
That fall, however, Confederate forces
under General Sterling Price moved
north into Missouri. Their initial
objective was St. Louis; they also were
ordered to seize supplies and rally
Missourians to the Southern cause.
Price failed to reach St. Louis as Union
troops forced him to swing west toward
Kansas City. Actions were fought at
Lexington, and the Big and Little Blue
Rivers. Fighting continued at Westport
and on October 23, 1864, Price was
defeated and forced to retreat south
along the Kansas-Missouri border. He
decided to try to seize Fort Scott, a
Union supply center. He was defeated
again at the Battle of Mine Creek in Linn
County, Kansas, by Federal troops
under Generals Samuel Curtis, Alfred
Pleasanton, and Blunt. Approximately
25,000 men were involved in the
pursuit and series of rear guard actions
on October 25. Nearly 10,000 soldiers
were engaged at Mine Creek alone, the
largest battle fought on Kansas soil.
This Union victory ended any threat of a
Southern invasion of the state.
Flag from Quantrill's raidMore
devastating than any battle between
regular troops in Kansas were the raids
and pillaging of guerrilla bands. Such
raids and atrocities were committed by
both sides, but by far the most
notorious came on August 21, 1863.
William Clark Quantrill and several
hundred followers attacked Lawrence
at dawn. By the time they Lawrence,
much of the town had been destroyed
and nearly 200 men and boys had been
killed.
