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'Lawrence is in ashes'
This past Wednesday, Aug. 21, was the 150th Anniversary of the attack and destruction of Lawrence, Kan. by William C. Quantrill (alias Charley Hart) and his Confederate guerrillas. This was the largest and most deadly successful Confederate guerrilla raid into Kansas during the Civil War. The title of this column is the words of Kansas Governor Thomas Carney that were included in his letter of Aug. 24, 1863, to Major General J. M. Schofield, who was the commanding officer of the Department of the Missouri. This letter is located on Pages 489-490 in Series I, Vol. 22, Correspondence, of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion and has been edited as follows:
"Leavenworth, Kansas; August 24, 1863.
[To] Major General Schofield, Saint Louis, Mo.:
| SIR: DISASTER has again fallen on our State. LAWRENCE is in ASHES! Millions of property have been destroyed and worse yet, nearly 200 lives of our best citizens have been sacrificed. NO FIENDS in human shape could have acted with more SAVAGE BARBARITY than did QUANTRILL and his band in their last successful raid. No body of men large as that commanded by Quantrill could have gathered together without the people residing in Western Missouri knowing everything about it. Such people cannot be considered loyal and should not be treated as loyal citizens; for while they conceal the movements of the DESPERADOES like Quantrill and his followers, they are in the worse sense of the word their aiders and abettors and SHOULD BE EQUALLY GUILTY. There is no way of reaching these armed ruffians while the civilian is permitted to cloak him. There can be no peace in Missouri -- there will be utter desolation in Kansas -- unless both are made to feel promptly the rigor of military law. The peace of both states and the safety of the Republic demand alike this resolute course of action." | THOMAS CARNEY, | Governor." |
The most rapid same day notification of Quantrill's Raid occurred with the following brief description that was received at Maj. Gen. Schofield's headquarters in St. Louis.
"Lawrence, August 21, 1863, 5:00 p.m.
| General: I have, with regret, to report that Quantrill, alias Charley Hart, reached this town at about 4:30 o'clock this morning; BURNED the town; SLAUGHTERED in COLD BLOOD about 60 citizens; then left by the Blanton Bridge and by way of the town of Brooklyn. As near as I can estimate, he had about 200 men, armed principally with revolvers. It is said that Lane, with a few men held him at bay in Brooklyn and has sent back for help. Quantrill left about 10 o'clock. | Respectfully, | A.R. BANKS." |
Now then, from the Confederate perspective the raid on Lawrence was very successful military action and it was payback for all of the "Missouri" towns which Lane's Brigade destroyed such as Papinsville, Osceola and Morristown in the fall of 1861. From the "Union" perspective the attack and destruction of Lawrence was a "MASSACRE" because 60 civilian citizens were killed. According to Mr. Webster, one of the definitions of a "MASSACRE" is, "to KILL WANTONLY and INDISCRIMINATELY" and that is certainly what happened in Lawrence. However, in Missouri for two and a half years there had been wanton and indiscriminate killing by both sides in the guerrilla war that was indicative of the "Show Me State." It was also a war of retaliation and revenge and since Lawrence, Kan. was considered to be the "Abolitionist Capitol" of Kansas it appears that "Quantrill" believed it was time for some retribution which occurred with Lawrence in flames and many of its' citizens DEAD!
From the "Union" perspective there would be repercussions or payback for the "MASSACRE" and "BURNING" of Lawrence that would be inflicted on some "Missouri" citizens which will be addressed in a column in the near future, and of course the war went on!