Marais des cygnes river, river flowing through eastcentral kansas and westcentral missouri, u. Battle of marais des cygnes simple english wikipedia, the. The site of the massacre is now one of the kansas state historical societys. Jul 07, 2010 on may 19, 1858, proslavery forces came from missouri and captured 11 freestate men, killing five of them in a ravine just to the northeast of the rest stop in what came to be known as the marais des cygnes massacre. Marais des cygnes national wildlife refuge map author.
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content. View all hotels near marais des cygnes massacre state historical site on. Jul 07, 2009 since there has recently been some discussion of bleeding kansas and other acts that cluttered our history in the runup to the civil war, i thought this poem published in the september 1858 atlantic monthly might be of interest. They were mostly people who knew hamilton personally, and seem to have gone along without resistance not anticipating what he had in store for them. A visit to the marais des cygnes massacre state historic site located in pleasanton, kansas. If you would like more information, contact nearby mine creek battlefield state historic site, which oversees marais. Marais des cygnes massacre state historic site pleasanton. The marais des cygnes massacre state historic site waypoint n38 16. It is also called the battle of osage, or the battle of trading post. The marais des cygnes massacre further depopulated the area between the warring factions, with the freestaters concentrating around osawatomie, while the proslavery men retreated into missouri, and the area around trading post and other border communities came to resemble a demilitarized zone. Word of the massacre spread quickly and by afternoon freestaters from around the area had gathered to treat the wounded, collect the dead, and help james. Take a drive through this now beautiful natural setting and experience the site through outdoor exhibits. The marais des cygnes massacre was one of the last major horrors of that conflict.
This is the second in a series of articles that will focus on some of the 19th century memories and the first markers and monument that were. Rather than travel busy us 71 in western missouri, we opted to travel from joplin, missouri over to us 69, which runs north in eastern kansas, paralleling the state line up to kansas city. Five of the men were killed, five were seriously injured, and one escaped unharmed. Since there has recently been some discussion of bleeding kansas and other acts that cluttered our history in the runup to the civil war, i thought this poem published in the september 1858 atlantic monthly might be of interest. Murlin welch, the various reasons these men were released were they were either too young, too old, proslavery or members of the masonic lodge. The principal stream in this county, as in miami, is the marais des cygnes. Heres the official website for the marais des cygnes massacre state historic site. Ten of these border ruffians were wellknown in fort scott. The battle of marais des cygnes was a battle during prices missouri raid in the american civil war. Nov 05, 2016 a visit to the marais des cygnes massacre state historic site located in pleasanton, kansas. The marais des cygnes massacre site is located in a rural setting of eastern linn county, kansas, about five miles 8. Most of the above text is based on information in the book kansas. The bloodiest single incident in the kansasmissouri border struggles, 18541861, occurred may 19, 1858, when about 30 proslavery missourians seized 11 kansas freestate men near trading post and marched them to a ravine 225 yards northwest of this marker. Marais des cygnes massacre state historic site freedoms.
In may 1858, missourians crossed the border into kansas territory and murdered five freestate men. The marais des cygnes massacre occurred on may 19, 1858 near trading post, kansas, about 12 miles north of fort scott. View all hotels near marais des cygnes massacre state historical site on tripadvisor. The marais des cygnes massacre kansas may 19 1858 c. Marais des cygnes massacre kansas historical society. Our first day of travel had been in heavy traffic on i40 and i540 now i49 in arkansas. Marais des cygnes massacre state historic site near trading post, kansas.
It was the last violent episode in the period known as bleeding kansas. The marais des cygnes massacre state historic site next. Marais des cygnes rest area, near pleasonton, kansas. Marais des cygnes massacre simple english wikipedia, the. After about 5 miles, take the ramp to get headed north on us. Marais des cygnes massacre state historical site tripadvisor. This self guided drive through site is open dawn to dusk daily. The park covers about 43 acres 17 ha, including the ravine in which the marais des cygnes massacre took place on may 19, 1858. Marais des cygnes, fish and wildlife, usfws, wildlife refuge created date. Oct 17, 2016 marais des cygnes rest area, near pleasonton, kansas. In robleys history of bourbon county, page 110 it says. In inclement weather, road conditions may not be ideal to visit the site. Mar 10, 2016 marais des cygnes massacre state historic site near trading post, kansas. If interested in bleeding kansas history i highly suggest the book border warfare by g.
Le marais du cygne by john greenleaf whittier poetry atlas. Marais des cygnes massacre site things i want to tell my mother. On may 19, 1858, proslavery forces came from missouri and captured 11 freestate men, killing five of them in a ravine just to the northeast of the rest stop in what came to be known as the marais des cygnes massacre. The event came to be known as the marais des cygnes massacre, named for the nearby marais des cygnes river. It is the site of the 1858 marais des cygnes massacre, one of the last major acts of violence in bleeding kansas before the american civil war. The kansas historical society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the states history. The marais des cygnes massacre happened on may 19, 1858 near the town of trading post, kansas. The civil war muse the marais du cygne martyrs memorial. Murder on the marais des cygnes the bloodiest single. Marais des cygnes massacre state historic site youtube. The site, now managed by the kansas historical society, is a national. Marais des cygnes massacre site kansapedia kansas historical society. Price withdrew south, and pleasonton, commanding in the field, pursued him into kansas and fought him at marais des cygnes.
The marais du cygne martyrs memorial waypoint n38 15. On may 19, 1858, proslavery men killed five freestate men and wounded five others in a ravine that is now listed as a national historic landmark. Hotels near marais des cygnes massacre state historical site. From mound city, get headed east on kansas highway 52. The antislavery militant john brown later built a fortified blockhouse on the spot. Today trading post kansas remains a tiny residential area. An illustration of the marais des cygnes massacre in linn county, kansas territory. The marais des cygnes memorial association was organized may 19, 1878, with hon. The marais des cygnes massacre site, also known as marais des cygnes massacre memorial park, is a state historic site near trading post, kansas, not far from the missouri border.
The marais des cygnes massacre site was designated a national historic landmark in 1974. Marais des cygnes massacre an illustration of the marais des cygnes massacre in linn county, kansas territory, copied from beyond the mississippi by albert d. The museum houses a variety of artifacts from the regions history. It enters from the north and flows southeastwardly into missouri. Border ruffians led by charles hamilton stopped in the small village of trading post in lynn county, kansas on their to west point, missouri. The subject is the charles hamiltonled massacre at marais des. Up 844 crosses the marais des cygnes river in osawatomie, kansas. All of marais des cygnes wildlife area is designated nontoxic shot. You can also access the marais des cygnes via our facebook pages and our website at maraisdescygnes. On may 19, 1858, proslavery men killed five free state men and wounded five others in a ravine that is now listed as a national. The marais des cygnes massacre and the execution of william.
Journal of arizona history geronimo, colorado massacre, mining, water fights. Agents and resources are available to you during regular office hours via phone or email. The marais des cygnes massacre historic site is located 5. Its tributaries from the east are middle creek and north sugar, both of which rise in miami county, and flow southward, emptying into the marais des cygnes within a short distance of each other. Travel through history as the civil war muse leads you on battlefield tours. Marais des cygnes massacre, kansas legends of america.
Marais des cygnes district research and extension kansas. Brayman paola, ks 66071 92944306 92944301 fax office hours. The marais des cygnes massacre state historic site tour stop. Marais des cygne massacre civil war history discussion. The civil war muse the marais des cygnes massacre state.
Marais des cygnes kansas department of wildlife, parks and. Although outnumbered, they hit the rebel line, forcing them to withdraw. It happened on october 25, 1864, in linn county, kansas. The massacre, which followed earlier guerrilla warfare activities, on both sides, shocked the nation and became a pivotal event in the bleeding kansas era. Mar 03, 2008 1864 1928 may 19, 2008, is the 150th anniversary of the marais des cygnes massacre that was one of the most violent incidents in the era of kansas history known as bleeding kansas that extended from 1854 to the beginning of the civil war in 1861. The marais des cygnes massacre and the execution of. The marais des cygnes massacre, kansas, may 19, 1858. The shootings shocked the nation and became a pivotal event in the bleeding kansas era. William griffith, for the marais des cygnes massacre. July 2016 the author of this article is solely responsible for its content. Marais des cygnes massacre civil war on the western. It was the first of three related actions on the same day. On the path to the marais des cygne they took several men captive, letting some of them go, according to the book border warfare by g. The marais des cygnes massacre and the execution of william griffith kansas history harvey r hougen on.
From the marais des cygnes massacre state historic site, backtrack to kansas highway 52 and turn right to get headed west on the highway. Pottawatomie vs marais des cygnes massacre civil war. This poem commemorates the killing of 11 antislavery citizens of kansas, killed by proslavery marauders at the marais des cygnes marsh of swans near the border with missouri in 1858. Nearby there is a series of old white buildings, one of which is the trading post museum. Where is the marais des cygnes society in butler missouri. The ladys guide, for reenactresses of the victorian era. These educational expeditions in kansas and missouri describe the battles, gives. Hamilton had previously been driven from his land in lynn county by freestaters and. The drive leading back to the ravine where the marais des cygnes massacre took place one of the signs telling the history of this location. Record books 4h youth development marais des cygnes district. Marais des cygnes massacre, kansas massacre of marais des cygnes, kansas as early as 1856 trouble arose between the freestate and proslavery settlers in linn county, kansas when a large body of southerners marched through the area destroying what little property there was and capturing the freestate settlers who were not fortunate enough to.
Photograph, marais des cygnes massacre territorial kansas online. In may 1858, proslavery men gunned down 11 freestate men in a ravine that is now an important landmark. Border ruffians led by charles hamilton stopped in the small village of trading post in lynn. A few months later, abolitionist john brown came to this site on a military trail to build a fort. Marais des cygnes national wildlife refuge tripadvisor. Marais des cygnes massacre site kansapedia kansas historical. The object of the association is to erect a memorial structure near the trading post, linn county, kan. Marais des cygnes river river, united states britannica. It rises near eskridge, kansas, and flows nearly 220 miles 355 km eastward into missouri, where it joins the little osage river to form the osage river. Subject to heavy flooding, the river has many flood control projects. Marais des cygnes national wildlife refuge, pleasanton. John greenleaf whittier was a quaker and an ardent opponent of slavery. On may 19, 1858, approximately 30 men led by charles hamilton, a georgian native and.