Council Grove's Post Explained

Council Grove's Post is a trading post on the Santa Fe Trail that operated in Council Grove, Kansas. It was established around 1861 and decommissioned around 1864, with ties to the Civil War.

History

Council Grove, Kansas, was a town with mixed loyalties during the Civil War. While the majority of the area's citizens supported the Union cause, quite a number of residents had ties to the south and many sympathized with the Confederacy. In April and May 1863 Confederate guerrillas camped near Council Grove and the town felt threatened by them before they left.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

In 1863 or possibly earlier Union soldiers were stationed at Council Grove and they built a blockhouse, probably in 1864. Probably there were times when the troops were removed. In spring and summer 1864 troops were stationed at Council Grove to help protect the Santa Fe Trail, which passed through Council Grove. Indians had been attacking travelers along the trail.^{[7] [8] [9]}

The post at Council Grove operated until at least the end of September 1864. It probably closed soon after, as no official reports exist after the September 30 report by the post commander.^{[10] [11] [12]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Albert E. Castel . William Clarke Quantrill: His Life and Times . 1962 . University of Oklahoma Press . 978-0806130811 . 104–105 .
2. News: That Storm . The Council Grove Press . 11 May 1863 . 2–3.
3. News: untitled story . The Council Grove Press . 18 May 1863 . 2.
4. Book: William C. Pollard, Jr. . Forts and Military Posts in Kansas: 1854-1865 . 1997 . Faith Baptist College and Seminary. 29–30.
5. Book: Pollard . Dark Friday: The Story of Quantrill's Lawrence Raid . Baranski Publishing Co. . 1990 . 2–3.
6. Book: Brigham, Lalla Maloy . The story of Council Grove on the Santa Fe Trail . 1921 . Council Grove, Kan. . 2 June 2018 . https://archive.org/stream/storyofcouncilgr00brig/storyofcouncilgr00brig_djvu.txt. 26 Feb 2008.
7. Book: Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society: 1923-1925 . Homecoming Centennial Celebrations at Council Grove, June 27 to July 2, 1921. Topeka: Kansas State Printing Plant . 1925 . 555. 1258486679 .
8. Book: Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society: 1923-1925 . Sixty Years in Kansas and Council Grove . Topeka: Kansas State Printing Plant . 1925 . 555. 1258486679 .
9. Book: Leo E. Oliva . Fort Larned on the Santa Fe Trail . Topeka: Kansas State Historical Society . 1982 . 15.
10. Book: The National Archives, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration . Returns from U.S. Military Posts: 1800-1916 . National Archives microfilm publications. Pamphlet accompanying microcopy ;no. 617 . Washington: National Archives Microfilm Publications . 1965. 1–2.
11. Book: The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XLI, Part II . National Archives microfilm publications. Pamphlet accompanying microcopy ;no. 617 . Washington: Government Printing Offices . 1893. 896.
12. Book: The War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. XLI, Part I . National Archives microfilm publications. Pamphlet accompanying microcopy ;no. 617 . Washington: Government Printing Offices . 1893. 815.