Skirmish near Brooklyn, Kansas

The Skirmish near Brooklyn, Kansas was a skirmish of the American Civil War on August 21, 1863 between Quantrill's Raiders and pursuing Union forces immediately after the Lawrence massacre.

Skirmish near Brooklyn, Kansas
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
Date August 21, 1863 Location South of Brooklyn, Kansas Result Union pursuit checked by Confederate charge
Belligerents
Confederate States	United States
Commanders and leaders
William Quantrill George M. Todd commanding rearguard[1]	Preston B. Plumb James H. Lane
Units involved
Quantrill's Raiders	Militia, 9th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment[2]
Strength
300–400	no more than 300[1]

Background

Following the Lawrence massacre, Quantrill's Raiders, a Confederate guerrilla group led by William Quantrill, departed the ravaged town heading toward Brooklyn, 12 miles south. They were pursued by Union forces from Kansas and Missouri, with a group of local militia, commanded by Senator James H. Lane, undertaking the initial pursuit, later joined by about 200 cavalry troopers under Major Preston B. Plumb.[1]

Skirmish

Arriving in Brooklyn and finding it deserted (the residents having been warned by fleeing farmers), Quantrill ordered the town burned.[3] As the burning of Brooklyn was taking place, some of Quantrill's men noticed a cloud of dust approaching from the north, and the raiders fled southward from the town. Plumb's pursuit soon began to close the gap to the point where gunfire was exchanged. Shortly afterward, the raiders passed down a narrow lane through a cornfield. The guerillas lost discipline and Quantrill feared they would break and scatter. George M. Todd rallied 20 men and charged the Federal cavalry, driving them back with losses on both sides. Todd was given command of the rearguard and a pattern of brief firefights ensued as Todd's men would set up a defense and hold off the Union vanguard until the main Union force would catch up. At that point the raiders would ride to reach Quantrill and repeat the pattern as they withdrew towards Paola, Kansas.[3]

See also

• Bushwhacking a form of guerrilla warfare common during the American Revolutionary War, American Civil War
• List of battles fought in Kansas
• List of massacres in Kansas

References

1. Michael E. Banasik (2003). Cavaliers of the Brush: Quantrill and His Men. Press of the Camp Pope Bookshop. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-1-929919-04-8.
2. A compendium of the War of the Rebellion. The Dyer publishing company. 1908. p. 725.
3. Duane Schultz (15 November 1997). Quantrill's War: The Life & Times Of William Clarke Quantrill, 1837-1865. St. Martin's Press. pp. 215–221. ISBN 978-0-312-16972-5.