Monday. April 17, 1961 University Daily Kansas
Page 7
Quantrill's Lawrence Massacre Killed 183
QUANTRILL'S RAID—William A. Quantrill, the Confederate officer whose name put fear into most early Kansans' hearts, was the leader of the August raid in 1863 which nearly leveled Lawrence. Records indicate 183 persons were killed after the townspeople had pleaded with Quantrill and his men for mercy. Quantrill sup-
Courtesy The Kansas Historical Society
possibly led the raid in retaliation for Lawrence's Jim Lane's raids that had been taking a heavy toll on Missouri men and stock. Another suggested motive for the viciousness of the raid is the poor treatment Quantrill received as a boy in Lawrence.
By Fred Zimmerman
Just after sunrise one day in August of 1863, William Quantrill galloped into Lawrence with 175 freebooters bent on terror and destruction. When they left, 183 persons were dead and $1,500,000 worth of property damage had been done.
The raiders first went to the Eldridge House, expecting to find some opposition. But the townspeople were caught off-guard, and the raiders took Eld+idge House without firing a shot.
THE OWNERS ASKED for mercy for the strangers in town, so they were taken to the Whitney house, where Quantrill had set up headquarters.
The raiders then sacked the town, burning almost every house and killing almost every man they found.
After destroying most of the town, Quantrill and his men returned to the Whitney house and ate lunch before leaving. By this time the residents who had managed to escape a about 300—had organized about 100 federal troops, and they escorted the raiders to the Missouri line.
THE ATTACK had come as a complete surprise, even though the citizens had been expecting a raid of some kind in retaliation for the raids Jim Lane of Kansas had been making in Missouri. Lane had been stealing horses and other property, and he used Lawrence as his headquarters.
In January, 1863, Quantrill had attacked the Kansas border towns of Olathe, Shawnee, and Aubrey.
At that time a civilian defense force was organized in Lawrence, and alarms were set up to be used in case of attack.
Seven months passed without an attack, however, so the people grew less alert. When it finally came, no one expected it.
ON AUGUST 20, the day before the raid, Quantrill's force was seen at Aubrey. Capt. J. A. Pike, who saw Quantrill, had about 100 federal troops. Instead of pursuing the raiders, however, he sent a messenger to Kansas City.
By the time the warning reached Kansas City and a messenger was dispatched to Lawrence, it was too late. The attack had already begun.
Quantrill had lived in Lawrence as a boy, and was constantly in trouble. He was driven from the town after serious misbehavior, and he joined the Missouri guerrillas.
Manhattan is Town With Split Personality
Manhattan is a town with schizophrenia.
In 1854, two towns were founded on the site where Manhattan new stands. They were Polesda and Canton. They were soon consolidated under the name of Boston, but this was not to last either. A party of settlers was given half of the town-site in a deal that allowed them to change the name to Manhattan.
So residents are often confused when they refer to the city's history. Was it Polesda, Canton, or Boston? Right now it's only sure that it is Manhattan.
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