Lawrence, Kansas Massacre
New York Times Article August 22, 1863
LEAVENWORTH, Saturday, Aug. 22.
From citizens of Lawrence, Kansas, who have arrived here for supplies and medicines, I have gathered the following particulars regarding the burning of that city by QUANTRELL's guerrillas: The lost of killed and wounded, as far as ascertained, numbers some one hundred and eighty, the majority of whom were killed instantly. The names of all the killed and wounded cannot be given now. The houses that remain standing are filled with the killed and wounded, who belong to all classes of society. Among the ruins of the burned houses, the charred remains of victims are constantly being found. But one hotel is left standing in the place, and QUANTRELL spared this in consequence of his having made his home there some years since without expense; bat its proprietor was shot by his men. Among the most prominent citizens known to be killed are the following: Gen. G.W. CALIMER, Mayor of the city, and his sons J.G. Low, Josiah Trask, S.P. Throop, Dr. Griswold, James Eldridge, James Perrine, Colonel STORE, and his two brothers: Gilbert A.W. Griswold, Frederick Kimball, Thomas Murphy, John Spear, and his two brothers; Addison Waugh, Duncan Alleyson, George Bush, Judge Carpenter, Rev. Mr. Snyder, August Ellis, Lemuel Fillman, Dwight Coleman, Lewis Swan, R. Loomis, John Crane, Levi Yates, two brothers, named Range; John Evans, G.W. Bell, Messrs. Kieth, Brown, Dale, Turtch, Palmer, Sargent. Delinski, Albrock, Powers and Brant. These were killed instantly, most of them in their own houses, with their wives and children clinging to them, while the murderers planted pistols to their breasts and shot them down. The following are among those mortally wounded, Joseph Eldridge. M. Baker, (of the firm of Richardson & Baker,) M. Williamson, George Holt, J.F. Hansom and W.S.R. Licking. In one case the guerrillas drove twelve men into a house, shot them, and burned the building, and the friends of these twelve men, while standing on the banks of the river, were fired into by the guerrillas and a number killed and wounded. Twenty-five negro recruits were shot dead. The guerrillas look all the money that could be found in the pockets or houses of the citizens. They stole all the jewelry of the ladies, even to the rings on their fingers. They spared nothing that was at all valuable. Gen. JIM LANE managed to escape on horseback, and rallied about twenty men, fully armed and equipped, and followed and overtook QUANTRELL when 12 miles from Lawrence. The result of this fight is not as yet ascertained. QUANTRELL is now retreating toward Missouri, burning and laying waste everything on his route. It is not expected that he will be intercepted by our forces. He will probably get away without loss. No resistance was made at Lawrence to the guerrillas. The people were shot down as they ran through the streets in their night clothes, and their bodies thrown into wells and cisterns. The citizens of Lawrence have been expecting this raid for some time from the threats made by QUANTRELL, and had organized military companies for the defence of the place, and these companies were for some time, constantly kept under arms; but from assurances being given that QUANTRELL would never invade Kansas again, these military organizations were abandoned, and QUANTRELL and his guerrillas learning this, made the raid when the people were entirely defenceless. A large train left here to-day with supplies of clothing, provisions, &c., for the sufferers. The citizens of Leavenworth have opened their doors to all who choose to come, and many of the victims have availed themselves of the hospitalities offered them, and will be well cared for. The feeling among all classes of citizens here is very bitter against the commanders of this Department and District for being so wholly unprepared to meet such an emergency. The commanding General was absent from his headquarters at the time the raid occurred, and did not know of the invasion until the destruction of Lawrence was complete. Everything, however, was then done in regard to the movement of troops to intercept QEANTRELL and capture him and his band -- but it was too late. Our State authorities are now taking the matter into their own hands. Col. JENNISON has been reinstated in the command of a new regiment, and is about starting down the border with sufficient troops to overcome any force the enemy can bring against him, and if not interfered with by the commanding officer of this Department, raids into Kansas will end with the present one. The men comprising QUANTRELL's force are principally those band of guerrillas who have been robbing and murdering along the border for the past six months, with but little opposition being made to them. They have had ample time to prepare everything that would insure them success. They are now probably safe in Missouri with their plunder, as good Union citizens. The loss at Lawrence is not less than two millions of dollars, and will fall heavily on the New-York and Leavenworth merchants. Two banks were robbed of every dollar they had, and the third escaped a similar fate only because the heat was so great from the burning buildings that the rebels could not stop long enough to get the safes open.
From citizens of Lawrence, Kansas, who have arrived here for supplies and medicines, I have gathered the following particulars regarding the burning of that city by QUANTRELL's guerrillas:
The lost of killed and wounded, as far as ascertained, numbers some one hundred and eighty, the majority of whom were killed instantly.
The names of all the killed and wounded cannot be given now.
The houses that remain standing are filled with the killed and wounded, who belong to all classes of society.
Among the ruins of the burned houses, the charred remains of victims are constantly being found.
But one hotel is left standing in the place, and QUANTRELL spared this in consequence of his having made his home there some years since without expense; bat its proprietor was shot by his men.
Among the most prominent citizens known to be killed are the following:
Gen. G.W. CALIMER, Mayor of the city, and his sons J.G. Low, Josiah Trask, S.P. Throop, Dr. Griswold, James Eldridge, James Perrine, Colonel STORE, and his two brothers: Gilbert A.W. Griswold, Frederick Kimball, Thomas Murphy, John Spear, and his two brothers; Addison Waugh, Duncan Alleyson, George Bush, Judge Carpenter, Rev. Mr. Snyder, August Ellis, Lemuel Fillman, Dwight Coleman, Lewis Swan, R. Loomis, John Crane, Levi Yates, two brothers, named Range; John Evans, G.W. Bell, Messrs. Kieth, Brown, Dale, Turtch, Palmer, Sargent. Delinski, Albrock, Powers and Brant.
These were killed instantly, most of them in their own houses, with their wives and children clinging to them, while the murderers planted pistols to their breasts and shot them down.
The following are among those mortally wounded, Joseph Eldridge. M. Baker, (of the firm of Richardson & Baker,) M. Williamson, George Holt, J.F. Hansom and W.S.R. Licking.
In one case the guerrillas drove twelve men into a house, shot them, and burned the building, and the friends of these twelve men, while standing on the banks of the river, were fired into by the guerrillas and a number killed and wounded.
Twenty-five negro recruits were shot dead.
The guerrillas look all the money that could be found in the pockets or houses of the citizens.
They stole all the jewelry of the ladies, even to the rings on their fingers. They spared nothing that was at all valuable.
Gen. JIM LANE managed to escape on horseback, and rallied about twenty men, fully armed and equipped, and followed and overtook QUANTRELL when 12 miles from Lawrence.
The result of this fight is not as yet ascertained.
QUANTRELL is now retreating toward Missouri, burning and laying waste everything on his route.
It is not expected that he will be intercepted by our forces. He will probably get away without loss.
No resistance was made at Lawrence to the guerrillas. The people were shot down as they ran through the streets in their night clothes, and their bodies thrown into wells and cisterns.
The citizens of Lawrence have been expecting this raid for some time from the threats made by QUANTRELL, and had organized military companies for the defence of the place, and these companies were for some time, constantly kept under arms; but from assurances being given that QUANTRELL would never invade Kansas again, these military organizations were abandoned, and QUANTRELL and his guerrillas learning this, made the raid when the people were entirely defenceless.
A large train left here to-day with supplies of clothing, provisions, &c., for the sufferers.
The citizens of Leavenworth have opened their doors to all who choose to come, and many of the victims have availed themselves of the hospitalities offered them, and will be well cared for.
The feeling among all classes of citizens here is very bitter against the commanders of this Department and District for being so wholly unprepared to meet such an emergency.
The commanding General was absent from his headquarters at the time the raid occurred, and did not know of the invasion until the destruction of Lawrence was complete.
Everything, however, was then done in regard to the movement of troops to intercept QEANTRELL and capture him and his band -- but it was too late.
Our State authorities are now taking the matter into their own hands. Col. JENNISON has been reinstated in the command of a new regiment, and is about starting down the border with sufficient troops to overcome any force the enemy can bring against him, and if not interfered with by the commanding officer of this Department, raids into Kansas will end with the present one.
The men comprising QUANTRELL's force are principally those band of guerrillas who have been robbing and murdering along the border for the past six months, with but little opposition being made to them. They have had ample time to prepare everything that would insure them success.
They are now probably safe in Missouri with their plunder, as good Union citizens.
The loss at Lawrence is not less than two millions of dollars, and will fall heavily on the New-York and Leavenworth merchants.
Two banks were robbed of every dollar they had, and the third escaped a similar fate only because the heat was so great from the burning buildings that the rebels could not stop long enough to get the safes open.