150 Years ago today: Lawrence, kansas burned.

“On August 21, 1863, Capt. William C. Quantrill led a band of Missouri partisan rangers on a daring raid of Lawrence, kansas. The raiders sought vengeance for murders and other terrorist acts that had been committed by Jayhawkers and Redlegs, including the looting and burning of numerous Missouri farms and the town of Osceola. Even then, Lawrence was the nest of Jayhawker activity. And it was Lawrence that burned that day."

Between three and four hundred riders arrived at the summit of Mount Oread, then descended on Lawrence in a fury. Over four hours, the raiders pillaged and set fire to the town and killed most of its male population. Quantrill's men burned to the ground a quarter of the buildings in Lawrence, including all but two businesses. They looted most of the banks and stores and killed between 185 and 200 men and boys. According to an 1897 account, among the dead were 18 of 23 unmustered army recruits. By 9 a.m., the raiders were on their way out of town, evading the few units that came in pursuit, and splitting up so as to avoid Union pursuit of a unified column.

The Lawrence Massacre was one of the bloodiest events in the whole history of kansas.



Mostly from Wiki.