List of battles fought in Kansas explained

This is an incomplete list of military and other armed confrontations that have occurred within the boundaries of the modern US State of Kansas since European contact. The region was part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1535 - 1679, New France from 1679 - 1803, and part of the United States of America 1803 - present. A small portion of the southwest part of the state—southwest of the Arkansas River was claimed by the Republic of Texas after the Texas Revolution.

Two wars have directly affected the region, the American Civil War (1860 - 1865) and the Plains Indian Wars. Kansas was also greatly affected during the Bleeding Kansas period (1855 - 1861) in which settlers and outsiders fought to determine whether the territory would become a free or slave state.

Battles

NameDateLocationWarCampaignDeadBelligerents
Battle at Etzanoa[1] September 1601modern Arkansas City, KansasunknownEscanxaque vs New Spain[2]
Battle of Chouteau's IslandSpring 1816near modern Lakin, Kansas8Pawnee vs French fur traders
Love's Defeat[3] June 26, 1847near modern Garfield, KansasMexican–American War6United States of America vs Kiowa & Comanche
Battle of Coon Creek[4] [5] June 18, 1848near modern Kinsley, KansasMexican–American WarUnited States of America vs Comanche & Osage
Wakarusa WarNovember–December 1855Lawrence, Kansas / Wakarusa River ValleyBleeding Kansas2Free-Staters vs Border Ruffians
Sacking of LawrenceMay 21, 1856Lawrence, KansasBleeding Kansas1[6] Pro-slavery mob[7] vs abolitionist civilians
Pottawatomie massacre[8] May 24–25, 1856Franklin County, KansasBleeding Kansas5Free-Staters[9] vs Pro-slavery settlers[10]
Battle of Black Jack[11] June 2, 1856near modern Baldwin City, KansasBleeding KansasBorder Ruffians[12] vs Free-Staters[13]
Battle of Fort TitusAugust 16, 1856Douglas County, KansasBleeding Kansas3Free-Staters vs Border Ruffians
Battle of OsawatomieAugust 30, 1856Osawatomie, KansasBleeding Kansas25+[14] Border Ruffians[15] vs Free-Staters[16]
Battle of Solomon's Fork[17] July 29, 1857near modern Morland, KansasPlains Indians Wars10-11United States of America vs Northern Cheyenne
Battle of Indian Rock1857within modern SalinaTerritorial disputeNorthern Cheyenne vs Delaware, Kaw, and Pottawatomi,
Marais des Cygnes massacre[18] May 19, 1858Trading Post, KansasBleeding Kansas5Border Ruffians[19] vs Free-Staters[20]
Battle of the SpursJanuary 31, 1859near modern Netawaka, KansasBleeding KansasUnderground Railroad0[21] John Brown, J. H. Kagi, Aaron Dwight Stevens, & 12 escaped slaves vs. U.S. marshals
Lawrence Massacre[22] August 21, 1863Lawrence, KansasAmerican Civil WarQuantrill's Raid150+United States of America & Kansas militia vs Confederate States of America
Fort Baxter Massacre[23] October 6, 1863near modern Baxter Springs, KansasAmerican Civil WarQuantrill's Raid100+United States of America vs Confederate States of America
Battle of Marais des Cygnes[24] October 25, 1864Linn County, KansasAmerican Civil WarPrice's RaidunknownUnited States of America vs Confederate States of America
Battle of Mine Creek[25] October 25, 1864Linn County, KansasAmerican Civil WarPrice's RaidUnited States of America vs Confederate States of America
Battle of Cow CreekJune 11, 1865near modern Alden, KansasPlains Indian Wars15+Company I, 2nd Colorado Cavalry & Company G, 7th Iowa Cavalry vs Kiowa (likely)
Battle of Lookout StationApril 15, 1867near modern Antonino, KansasPlains Indian Wars2Lakota & Southern Cheyenne vs civilians
Fort Wallace[26] June 21, 1867modern Wallace, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign28[27] United States of America vs Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa, & Southern Cheyenne
Fort WallaceJune 26, 1867modern Wallace, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign1United States of America vs Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa, & Southern Cheyenne
Kidder MassacreJuly 2, 1867near modern Goodland, KansasPlains Indian Wars12United States of America vs Northern Cheyenne & Sioux
Battle of the Saline RiverAugust 1867modern Ellis County, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign31+United States of America vs Southern Cheyenne
Battle of Prairie Dog Creek[28] August 21, 1867modern Phillips County, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign53United States of America vs Kiowa & Southern Cheyenne
(1st) Battle of Beaver CreekAugust 22–23, 1867modern Phillips County, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign2+18th Kansas Cavalry vs Kiowa & Southern Cheyenne
Plum Buttes MassacreSeptember 9, 1867[29] near modern Chase, KansasPlains Indian Wars3Dog Soldiers vs Santa Fe Trail party
Battle of Council GroveJune 3, 1868near Council Grove, KansasPlains Indian Wars3Southern Cheyenne vs Kaw
(2nd) Battle of Beaver Creek (2)[30] October 15, 1868modern Phillips County, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaignunknown10th US Cavalry H & I Troops vs Southern Cheyenne
Battle of Buff CreekOctober 2, 1868modern Wallace, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign1United States of America vs Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa, & Southern Cheyenne
Battle of Punished Woman ForkSeptember 27, 1878modern Scott County, KansasPlains Indian Wars1United States of America vs Southern Cheyenne
Coffeyville bank robberyOctober 5, 1892Coffeyville, Kansas8city law enforcement & citizens vs Dalton Gang

References

Works cited

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lost city found: Etzanoa of the great Wichita Nation. 2017-04-17. The Wichita Eagle.
  2. Web site: Etzanoa: The Great Settlement. 2017-04-17. The Shocker: Wichita State University Alumni Magazine.
  3. Web site: Love's Defeat. 2009-10-28. Santa Fe Trail Research Site.
  4. Web site: The Battle of Coon Creek. 2009-10-24. Kansas State Library.
  5. Web site: The Battle of Coon Creek. 2009-10-24. Santa Fe Trail Research Site.
  6. One pro-slavery man was killed by falling debris after the sacking.
  7. About 800 men under the command of Douglas County Sheriff Samuel Jones.
  8. See: Reynolds, David S. John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights (New York: Vintage Books), 2005, pp. 162-177.
  9. An unknown number of men from the Pottawatomie Rifles were among the belligerents.
  10. James P. Doyle, William Doyle, and Drury Doyle (adult sons of James and former slave catchers), Allen Wilkinson, and William Sherman.
  11. http://www.blackjackbattlefield.org/ Official site
  12. The Henry C. Pate gang; about 30 men.
  13. [John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]
  14. This figure represents the five known anti-slavery men killed during the battle: Fredrick Brown, George W. Partridge, David Garrison, Theron Parker Powers, and Charles Kaiser. The number of pro-slavery men killed was reported by John Brown to be at least 20. See: Reynolds, David S. John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights (New York: Vintage Books), 2005, pp. 200–201.
  15. The John W. Reid & Rev. Marvin White gang; 250-300 men.
  16. John Brown gang; 40 men.
  17. Chalfant, William Y. Cheyennes and Horse Soldiers: The 1857 Expedition and Battle of Solomon's Fork (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press), 2002.
  18. Web site: Marais des Cygnes Massacre history. 2011-05-25. Kansas Historical Society.
  19. The Charles Hamilton gang.
  20. 11 men, all unarmed.
  21. No shots were fired.
  22. Web site: CWSAC Battle Summary: Lawrence. 2009-06-19. National Park Service.
  23. Web site: CWSAC Battle Summary: Baxter Springs. 2009-06-19. National Park Service.
  24. Web site: CWSAC Battle Summary: Marais des Cygnes. 2009-06-19. National Park Service.
  25. Web site: CWSAC Battle Summary: Mine Creek. 2009-06-19. National Park Service.
  26. News: Attack on Fort Wallace, Kansas. 2011-07-26. New York Times. June 29, 1867.
  27. Eight U.S. soldiers were reported killed or mortally wounded from a force of 40 men from the 3rd Cavalry and 7th Cavalry under the command of Lt Hale. Native forces were estimated to be 400 and their losses reported at 20.
  28. Web site: Ceremony to commemorate Battle of Prairie Dog Creek. 2009-10-25. Kansas National Guard. https://web.archive.org/web/20110609030459/http://www.accesskansas.org/ksadjutantgeneral/News%20Releases/2005/150-05-012.htm. 2011-06-09. dead.
  29. This date requires verification.
  30. Book: Leckie, William H. . The Buffalo Soldiers: A Narrative of the Negro Cavalry in the West . University of Oklahoma Press . December 1999 . 978-0-8061-1244-2 . registration .

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