The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid
In Response To: Re: Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid ()

I thought it was very well stated by George Miller in "Missouri's Memorable Decade":

“Viewed in any light, the Lawrance Raid will continue to be held, as the most infamous event of the uncivil war! The work of destruction did not stop in Kansas. The cowardly criminality of this spiteful reciprocity lay in the fact that each party knew, but did not care, that the consequences of their violent acts would fall most heavily upon their own helpless friends. Jennison in 1861 rushed into Missouri when there was no one to resist, and robbed and killed and sneaked away with his spoils and left the union people of Missouri to bear the vengeance of his crimes. Quantrell in 1863 rushed into Lawrence, Kansas,, when there was no danger, and killed and robbed and sneaked off with his spoils, leaving helpless women and children of his own side to bear the dreadful vengeance invoked by that raid. So the Lawrence raid was followed by swift and cruel retribution, falling, as usual in this border warfare, upon the innocent and helpless, rather than the guilty ones. Quantrell left Kansas with the loss of one man. The Kansas troops followed him, at a respectful distance, and visited dire vengeance on all western Missouri. Unarmed old men and boys were accused and shot down, and homes with their now meagre comforts were burned, and helpless women and children turned out with no provision for the approaching winter. The number of those killed was never reported, as they were scattered all over western Missouri.”

Messages In This Thread

Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid
Re: Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid
Re: Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid
Re: Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid
Re: Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid
Re: Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid
Re: Hoyt and the Lawrence Raid