US ResearchConflictsMexican-American WarKansasWakarusa War 1855
Mexican-American War

Wakarusa War 1855

1855
Kansas
Era
Mexican-American War
Year
1855
Location
Kansas
Status
Historical record
The Battle

History & Significance

Wakarusa War 1855 was a Mexican-American War engagement fought in Kansas, 1855. The outcome was inconclusive.

Result
Contested (negotiated withdrawal) victory
Forces engaged
~1,500 pro-slavery Missourians vs. ~1,200 free-state defenders of Lawrence
Casualties
1 free-state settler killed; 1 pro-slavery settler killed
Outcome
Missouri "Border Ruffians" besieged Lawrence; Governor Shannon negotiated withdrawal; 1 free-state man killed

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

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Wakarusa War 1855 take place?
Wakarusa War 1855 took place in 1855.
Where was Wakarusa War 1855 fought?
Wakarusa War 1855 was fought in Kansas, United States.
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Everything a full report reveals about Wakarusa War 1855

This page covers Wakarusa War 1855. A full Aubrey report for the area pulls together this battle alongside historic sites, land records, and everything else the record holds within a few miles:

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
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Wakarusa War 1855

Haskell Institute
Industrial · 2.9 mi
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Battle of Black Jack
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Battle of Osawatomie 1856
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Marais des Cygnes Massacre 1858
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All battles in KansasMexican-American Warconflicts ›Historic sites in Kansas
Source

This page is compiled from cited public sources.

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