Kansas Brigade unknown Date 23 September 1861 | 17 killed8 wounded 9 executed | |
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Combatants United States of America, Union, Confederate States of America Similar American Civil War, Battle of Dry Wood Creek, Second Battle of Independence, Second Battle of Newtonia, Battle of Cole Camp | ||
The Sacking of Osceola was a Kansas Jayhawker initiative on September 23, 1861, to push out pro-Southern elements at Osceola, Missouri. It was not authorized by Union military authorities but was the work of an informal group of pro-Union Kansas "Jayhawkers". The town of 3,000 people was plundered and burned to the ground, 200 slaves were freed and nine local citizens were executed.
Contents
Background
Following Sterling Price's secessionist Missouri State Guard victory over General Nathaniel Lyon's Union army at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Price continued his goal of maintaining the geographical integrity of Missouri from all outside invaders.
James H. Lane, often called the leader of the Jayhawkers, organized 1,200 troops to resist the Price invasion into Kansas. Price defeated Lane in the Battle of Dry Wood Creek near Fort Scott, Kansas. Lane retreated and Price continued his offensive further into Missouri to the Siege of Lexington.
While Price moved North, Lane launched an attack behind him. After crossing the Missouri border at Trading Post, Kansas on September 10, Lane began an offensive moving East on Butler, Harrisonville, Osceola and Clinton, Missouri.
Osceola
The climax of the campaign was on September 23, 1861, at Osceola, where Lane's forces drove off a small Southern force and then looted and burned the town. An artillery battery under Capt. Thomas Moonlight shelled the St. Clair County courthouse. According to reports, many of the Kansans got so drunk that when it came time to leave they were unable to march and had to ride in wagons and carriages. They carried off with them a tremendous load of plunder, including as Lane's personal share a piano and a quantity of silk dresses. Lane led hundreds of slaves to Kansas and freedom. The troops moved Northwest and arrived at Kansas City, Missouri, on September 29, to pursue Price as he retreated south through the state.
Osceola was plundered with Lane's men freeing 200 slaves and taking 350 horses, 400 cattle, 3,000 bags of flour, and quantities of supplies from all the town shops and stores as well as carriages and wagons. Nine local men were rounded up, given a quick drumhead court-martial trial, and executed. All but three of the town's 800 buildings burned; the town never fully recovered.
Aftermath
Lane's raid stirred hatred that led to Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas, leading in turn to the depopulation of four counties of western Missouri under General Order No. 11.The sacking of Osceola, Missouri was not authorized by the union military but was okayed by President Lincoln. Thye town of Osceola had about 3,000 people and Lane thought the town wealthy so evading Gen Price attacked the towns of Butler, Harrisonville, CLINTON and then headed on to Osceola where they robbed the bank and found nothing in it which sent Lane into a rage and swore the whole town should suffer. no one was allowed to pass the pickets under any circumstances while the pillage was going on. 200 slaves were freed and 12 local citizens were rounded up and given a quick drumhead court-martial of which Lane took part in and executed, all but three of the men were killed and one of the three was a man named Micajah Dark, thirteen years later Dark was hunted down , by the forces of Missouri's reconstruction regime pursued to his home, he was kidnapped, brutally assulted, murdered and his body flung into the Osage River, he was 74 years old.
On the morning of Sept 24th, dr. John Trolinger and three other's wished to cross over into town not knowing that it was already being pillaged. As they were landing they were fired upon by around 60 outlaws. The doctor received 11 buckshot wounds but none too bad which his wife later took care of under his control. a man named Summer's was shot in the mouth which carried away most of his jaw and was never the same again, the other two were able to escape but leaving their horses to the enemy. 200 slaves were freed and they carried off everything that they could manage, took 350 horses, 400 cattle, 3,000 bags of flour and supplies from the shops and stores, plus wagons and carriges, and Lane's part of the take was a piano and 13 silk dresses. Lane's men were so drunk that they could not march and had to ride in the wagons. But the city of Osceola, Missouri was fearfully avenged when Lawrence, Kansas was razed to the ground and the people scattered to the 4 winds after Quantrill and his raiders revenged them. and to note not a single woman or child were harmed.