KANSAS

Kansas and the issue of whether or not the territory should or would allow slavery when admitted as a state was one of the flashpoints for the outbreak of the war. For years, partisans from both sides of the debate fought and killed each other over the slavery issue, finally culminating in the sacking and burning of Lawrence in 1856 by pro-slavery partisans and John Brown's retaliation and massacre at Pottawatomie Creek. Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861, just as several Southern states were leaving through means of secession and establishing a confederacy.

During the Civil War, Kansas raised 9 cavalry regiments, 5 light artillery batteries, 13 infantry regiments - including 2 colored - and numerous militia companies. The biggest event in Kansas during the war was Quantrill's raid in August 1863. The state lost a total of 2630 men, 737 killed or mortally wounded in action.

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