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Lawrence (1863)
 
War:   American Civil War
 
Also known as:   Lawrence Massacre
 
Date(s):   21 Aug 1863
 
Location:   Douglas County, Kansas, US
 
Outcome:   Confederate Victory
 
Principal   Commanders:   Confederate: William C. Quantrill
 
Description:   Lt. Col. William C. Quantrill, CSA

Quantrill's Raiders attacked an undefended town.

Quantrill killed about 200 and lost one.

Quantrill chose the sleepy town of Lawrence, claiming retaliation for a Union raid on Osceola, Missouri. Quantrill carefully scouted the town to make sure there was no opposition, then led his 400 or so men straight down the main street.

For four hours they killed, stole, and burned. Three banks were ransacked; all the bars were emptied of liquor; all but two businesses and 1 in 4 homes were burned to the ground. 183 men and boys were killed in various ways - shot, knifed, hanged, strangled, dragged to death, trampled by horses.

About 9am they pulled out, sharing out their loot of whiskey, money, watches, horses, silverware - anything that had caught their eye. Shortly afterwards, knowing they would be pursued, they killed their few prisoners and rode back toward Missouri. Although a posse was soon on their trail, the raiders got clean away and it was soon useless to pursue. Only one man was captured, and he was drunk in the main street of Lawrence. Not carrying any identification papers, he was lynched by the citizens in an effort at vengeance.

The 'Lawrence Massacre' was probably the nastiest example of the vicious Kansas-Missouri border warfare, but there were many smaller examples on both sides.


Content provided by:
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Selected sources:
American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service.



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