Posts in this category are part of the Border War Series
As mentioned at the end of part 1 of this series, the fuse that lit the fireworks occurred in front of the Sears store on the SW corner of the square on April 20th. A crowd of approximately 25 hippies had gathered in front of the Sears store. Don Foster, the manager of the Sears […]
War on the Harrisonville Square 1972 Part 2 Read More »
This entry in my series of historic events on the border takes a bit of a different slant than my other entries which generally have focused on the “old west” time frame. This three-part series will tell the story of Charlie Simpson and the shooting that he was responsible for on the afternoon of April
War on the Harrisonville Square 1972 Read More »
There is very little remaining of the town of Quindaro, Kansas today. A modern park shelter now sits atop the bluff that overlooks the riverfront ground that bustled with activity beginning in the late 1850s and continuing to the end of the 1800s and into the early 1900s. Unfortunately, the once-bustling area is no longer
Newtonia is a very small town, population 200, about 60 miles southwest of Springfield. The two Civil War battles fought there will always be known more for the fact that Native American Indian soldiers fought against each other than they will for their overall significance to the war effort. First Battle of Newtonia The first
Battles of Newtonia Missouri Read More »
Early on the morning of September 22, 1861, Lane, and his men, calling themselves “Lane’s Brigade”, rode into town and after trading small arms fire with a few sentries posted by the town, made a direct route to the bank. At the bank Lane had his men blow open the safe only to find it
The Sacking of Osceola Read More »
A traveler cannot understand the Border War without a visit to Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence is located about 30 miles west of Kansas City and was one of the first towns settled in the Kansas Territory. Lawrence was settled by abolitionist who were funded and supported by abolitionists like the New England Emigrant Aid Company among
Lecompton is another town that has embraced its Civil War roots and markets itself to the outside world based on that image. The town’s slogan is “Historic Lecompton: The Birthplace of the Civil War, Where Slavery Began to Die.” Indeed, this very small town just a few miles northwest of Lawrence played a significant role
Sneak Peek for the cover design for my second book, “The Border War Tour: A Traveler’s Guide to Civil War Sites on the Missouri/Kansas Border”. I’m pleased to announce that my second book “Border War Tour”, is being finalized and I expect a release date in the early spring of 2022. The images with this post
Cover Design for second book Read More »
In this tour stop, I will review what is not just one tour stop but several. The Battle of Westport Driving Tour takes the visitor through key locations in the battle around the Kansas City Country Club Plaza area and other areas east and south of the Plaza. The year is 1864 and the war is
The Battle of Westport Read More »
This tour stop at Fort Hayes will wrap up our journey through the middle of Kansas. Hayes, Kansas is located on I-70 about 4 hours from Kansas City. For Hayes is located on the south side of the Hayes just off highway 183. The historic Site is surrounded on three sides by the Fort Hayes
Fort Hayes, Fort Hayes Kansas Read More »
