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Mexican-American War

Marais des Cygnes Massacre 1858

1858
Kansas
Era
Mexican-American War
Year
1858
Location
Kansas
Status
Historical record
The Battle

History & Significance

Marais des Cygnes Massacre 1858 was a Mexican-American War engagement fought in Kansas, 1858. It was a Pro-slavery forces victory.

The Marais des Cygnes Massacre of 19 May 1858 was one of the worst single acts of violence in Bleeding Kansas. Charles Hamilton and his Missouri raiders lined up 11 unarmed free-state settlers in a ravine and shot them at close range, killing 5 and wounding 5. The event inspired John Greenleaf Whittier's poem 'Le Marais du Cygne.' The massacre demonstrated that despite the apparent easing of tensions in 1857, pro-slavery violence in Kansas had not ended.

Result
Pro-slavery forces victory
Forces engaged
Charles Hamilton and ~30 pro-slavery Missourians vs. unarmed free-state settlers
Casualties
5 free-state settlers killed; 5 wounded; 1 escaped
Outcome
11 free-state men lined up and shot; 5 killed, 5 wounded, 1 escaped

Approximate location. The nearest recorded settlement is shown; the exact site is unrecorded.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Marais des Cygnes Massacre 1858 take place?
Marais des Cygnes Massacre 1858 took place in 1858.
Where was Marais des Cygnes Massacre 1858 fought?
Marais des Cygnes Massacre 1858 was fought in Kansas, United States.
What was the significance of Marais des Cygnes Massacre 1858?
The Marais des Cygnes Massacre of 19 May 1858 was one of the worst single acts of violence in Bleeding Kansas. Charles Hamilton and his Missouri raiders lined up 11 unarmed free-state settlers in a ravine and shot them at close range, killing 5 and wounding 5. The event inspired John Greenleaf Whitt
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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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All battles in Kansas›Mexican-American Warconflicts ›Historic sites in Kansas›
Source

This page is compiled from cited public sources.

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