Council Grove's Post

Council Grove, Kansas, was a town with mixed loyalties during the Civil War. While the majority of the area's citizens supported the Union cause, quite a number of residents had ties to the south and many sympathyzed with the Confederacy. In April and May 1863 Confederate guerrillas camped near Council Grove and the town felt threatened by them before they left.^[1]

In 1863 or possibly earlier Union soldiers were stationed at Council Grove and they built a blockhouse, probably in 1864. Probably there were times when the troops were removed. In spring and summer 1864 troops were stationed at Council Grove to help protect the Santa Fe Trail, which passed through Council Grove. Indians had been attacking travelers along the trail.^[2]

The post at Council Grove operated until at least the end of September 1864. It probably closed soon after, as no official reports exist after the September 30 report by the post commander.^[3]

References

1. ^ Albert Castel, William Clarke Quantrill, His Life and Times (N.p.: Albert Castel, 1962), pp. 104-5; "The Rebel Raid," The Council Grove Press, May 11, 1863, p. 2; "That Storm," The Council Grove Press, May 11, 1863, p. 3; untitled story, The Council Grove Press, May 18, 1863, p. 2; William C. Pollard, Jr., "Forts and Military Posts in Kansas: 1854-1865" (Ph.D. dissertation, Faith Baptist College and Seminary, 1997), pp. 29-30 (A copy is in the Kansas State Historical Society archives, Topeka, Kans.); Pollard, Dark Friday: The Story of Quantrill's Lawrence Raid (Lecompton, Kans.: Baranski Publishing Co., 1990), pp. 20-1.
2. ^ Mrs. Mamie S. Sharp, "Homecoming Centennial Celebrations at Council Grove, June 27 to July 2, 1921," Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society: 1923-1925 (Topeka: Kansas State Printing Plant, 1925), p. 555; R. M. Armstrong, "Sixty Years in Kansas and Council Grove," Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society: 1923-1925, p. 555; Leo E. Oliva, Fort Larned on the Santa Fe Trail (Topeka: Kansas State Historical Society, 1982), p. 15.
3. ^ The National Archives, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, Returns from U.S. Military Posts: 1800-1916 (Washington: National Archives Microfilm Publications, 1965), pp. 1-2; Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt, report, The War of the Rebellion (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1893), Series I, Vol. XLI, Part II, p. 896; First Lt. Asa R. Bancroft, report, The War of the Rebellion (1893), Series I, Vol. XLI, Part I, p. 815.