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 »
I’m going to step a little bit away from the Border War for my next few posts. In August I traveled throughout central Kansas visiting several historical sites throughout the region. I’m going to use the next few posts to talk about those sites and share images from my travels throughout that region. I hope
Nicodemus Kansas; A Slave City Read More »
I was honored to speak at the David Whitmer Symposium last Saturday, this was changed to an online event, but the program was recorded so more people may be able to watch. My part of the program begins at the 06.25 mark and lasts for approximately 40 minutes. In my presentation, I dig into the
Ray County Presentation Read More »
Fort Scott, named after General Winfield Scott, was built in 1842 to give soldiers a place to live while working to maintain peace between white settlers and the Native American population in the area. The fort was also used as a supply point for troops and equipment being sent to the Mexican-American War which lasted
Border War Tour Stop: Rebel Raid on Humbold, Kansas Humboldt, Kansas is a small town about 50 miles due east of Fort Scott, Kansas, and 10 miles north of Chanute, Kansas. The 2020 population of 1,769, is down from the 1,953 residents in 2010. Humboldt was founded in 1857 by German immigrants who identified as abolitionists
Rebel Raid on Humboldt Kansas Read More »
