Confederate partisan William C. Quantrill launches a merciless raid on a small Federal force in southeastern Kansas.

Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
Confederate partisan William C. Quantrill launches a merciless raid on a small Federal force in southeastern Kansas.
William C. Quantrill’s Confederate raiders rampage through Lawrence, the focal point of “Bleeding Kansas” since before the war.
Thomas Ewing incurs the wrath of Confederate raiders operating along the Missouri-Kansas border by targeting their relatives, including women and children.
President James Buchanan signs a bill into law making “Bleeding Kansas” the 34th state of the Union.