No question that Quantrill was a stone-cold killer and a genuine son-of-a-bitch of the highest order, but there was no shortage of those on either side of the Missouri-Kansas border wars nor did the Federals depopulate and burn whole counties in Kansas like they did in Missouri. The truth of it is there were precious few heroes on either side. C'est la Guerre.
Here's an occasionally balanced view from the Wednesday, August 24, 1938 edition of The Hutchinson [Kansas] News:
"It was 75 years ago Sunday that Quantrill raided Lawrence. The story has been incorrectly learned by every schoolboy since. While it makes him no less black a scoundrel, Quantrill was doing only what Brown, Jennison, and Lane had previously done in Missouri. It was war, moreover, and the preponderance of the evidence is Quantrill had a Confederate commission in his pocket. There were two heroes of the day. The mayor who prudently sought refuge in a well only to be asphyxiated, and General Jim Lane who courageously dashed after the marauders when sufficient time had elapsed so there wasn't the slightest chance of catching up with them."
I had kin fought and died on both sides (mostly back east) and I have to wonder why in the hell any of them thought it was a good idea.
When the Federal troops lock up the mothers, wives, and daughters of their enemies and allow (or cause) the jail they're in to collapse on, maim, and kill said mothers, wives, and daughters, it's not surprising those enemies went medieval on the town of Lawrence. The Jayhawkers had a bad habit of driving Missouri families out of their homes, loading all the families' belongings on the families' wagons, hitched to the families' horses or mules, and having the families' now-freed slaves drive the wagons to Lawrence. The Jayhawkers would then burn the houses.
The Union troops cared nothing for the freedmen, either. They'd confiscate the wagons and belongings once they got to Lawrence and send the freed slaves packing, left to fend for themselves. The black men and women got the short end of the stick.
I live in Missouri, in what used to be Brooking Township. It's the northernmost extent of the Burnt District. My friend and I used to drive around on Saturday mornings in the counties south of here looking at cemeteries, historical markers, and little towns. My friend's house south of Harrisonville was next to a house that was burned by Federals and later rebuilt. The town of Harrisonville has a Burnt District festival every year in memory of the Civil War years.
Quantrill was a bad man, but the raid on Lawrence was instigated by the actions of Union troops and Jayhawkers.
Wild, Q horsemen apparently raided as far as central Texas. We have to wonder why... In fact, some of them set up, as vets/bandits about 5 mins from one of my churches.
This is the Winter of Love, LSP.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Eva Braun said some good things about her guy, too.
ReplyDeleteAin't that the truth, LL.
ReplyDeleteThat, Ed, is a very good point.
ReplyDeleteNo question that Quantrill was a stone-cold killer and a genuine son-of-a-bitch of the highest order, but there was no shortage of those on either side of the Missouri-Kansas border wars nor did the Federals depopulate and burn whole counties in Kansas like they did in Missouri. The truth of it is there were precious few heroes on either side. C'est la Guerre.
ReplyDeleteHere's an occasionally balanced view from the Wednesday, August 24, 1938 edition of The Hutchinson [Kansas] News:
"It was 75 years ago Sunday that Quantrill raided Lawrence. The story has been incorrectly learned by every schoolboy since. While it makes him no less black a scoundrel, Quantrill was doing only what Brown, Jennison, and Lane had previously done in Missouri. It was war, moreover, and the preponderance of the evidence is Quantrill had a Confederate commission in his pocket. There were two heroes of the day. The mayor who prudently sought refuge in a well only to be asphyxiated, and General Jim Lane who courageously dashed after the marauders when sufficient time had elapsed so there wasn't the slightest chance of catching up with them."
I had kin fought and died on both sides (mostly back east) and I have to wonder why in the hell any of them thought it was a good idea.
This is a good read--
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.com/Co-Aytch-Sam-R-Watkins/dp/1491283319/ref=sr_1_1?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&keywords=co+aytch&qid=1645148947&s=books&sr=1-1&unfiltered=1
When the Federal troops lock up the mothers, wives, and daughters of their enemies and allow (or cause) the jail they're in to collapse on, maim, and kill said mothers, wives, and daughters, it's not surprising those enemies went medieval on the town of Lawrence. The Jayhawkers had a bad habit of driving Missouri families out of their homes, loading all the families' belongings on the families' wagons, hitched to the families' horses or mules, and having the families' now-freed slaves drive the wagons to Lawrence. The Jayhawkers would then burn the houses.
ReplyDeleteThe Union troops cared nothing for the freedmen, either. They'd confiscate the wagons and belongings once they got to Lawrence and send the freed slaves packing, left to fend for themselves. The black men and women got the short end of the stick.
I live in Missouri, in what used to be Brooking Township. It's the northernmost extent of the Burnt District. My friend and I used to drive around on Saturday mornings in the counties south of here looking at cemeteries, historical markers, and little towns. My friend's house south of Harrisonville was next to a house that was burned by Federals and later rebuilt. The town of Harrisonville has a Burnt District festival every year in memory of the Civil War years.
Quantrill was a bad man, but the raid on Lawrence was instigated by the actions of Union troops and Jayhawkers.
Wild, Q horsemen apparently raided as far as central Texas. We have to wonder why... In fact, some of them set up, as vets/bandits about 5 mins from one of my churches.
ReplyDeleteThat in mind, what a bloody thing! Great quote.
Good call, RHT, I'll give that a read.
ReplyDeleteJoe, I 100% agree.
ReplyDelete