Fox-on-the-Run

The last week of August in 1863 was pretty chaotic in the border counties of Eastern Kansas as a result of the very successful raid on and destruction of Lawrence, Kan., by one of the Chief Confederate Foxes, William Clarke Quantrill and his band of guerrillas.

There is very fast old fiddle tune called "Fox-on-the Run" and after their victory at Lawrence, Quantrill and his "foxes" headed back to their "dens" in Missouri as fast as their horses and mules could carry them. They were, however, not running from the Union Hounds, because the hounds were very confused and were following many scents. The chase was on and James Henry Lane wanted to lead a full scale invasion of Missouri and wreck havoc and destruction on the "Land of Misery" as his brigade did in the fall and early winter of 1861. However, cooler "Union" heads prevailed and the invasion did not occur.

Headquarters Troops on the Border Coldwater Grove, Aug. 30, 1863

General: In compliance with Special Orders No. 51, Hdqs. Dist. of the Border, I have the honor to submit the following brief report of the part my command took in the chase after Quantrill's murderers in their raid on Lawrence.

At 3 a.m., on the 21st, I received a dispatch from Capt. Coleman that Quantrill had crossed into Kansas and he was in pursuit with 180 men. I learned from other sources that the enemy was moving in the direction of Paola (not Lawrence). Having with me a part of Capt. Flesher's Company 30 men, I started in the direction of Paola; but finding, after traveling 12 miles, that Quantrill turned north, I changed my direction and soon found the trail of the enemy. I followed to within four miles of Gardner, (Kan.); there I learned that Quantrill had gone through Gardner at 11 o'clock the night before (on his way to Lawrence.) being about 12 hours behind and learning that a force was in pursuit and believing that Quantrill could not pass back by the same route he entered the State, I turned my detachment of 30 men toward Paola. At 5 o'clock reached Paola, having marched 55 miles; found the citizens in arms; sent men to Osawatomie and Stanton to raise the citizens and to communicate every movement of the enemy (returning from their raid on Lawrence). Lieut. Parsons found Major Plumb with the entire command which had been in pursuit, together with General Lane, in command of the militia, all eager to find the marauders, but no one knew what had become of them!

(The foxes had made good their escape into Missouri.) Various opinions as to direction were now discussed and out of the diversity of opinions it was thought advisable to rest the command until the direction was ascertained by scouts from less jaded troops.

At 2 o'clock the following morning, having received satisfactory information as to the direction of the enemy, I got the command together and gave chase at daylight and followed the murderers to the Grand River, where they commenced breaking up in small bands. Finding my command, both men and horses, very much exhausted and feeling farther pursuit useless, I halted. At this time I was out of cartridges, both pistol and carbine.

The following report is from a Missouri Union officer and his conclusion is very interesting because he recommends the creation of a "no mans land" to separate Kansas from Missouri which is exactly what the now infamous Order No. 11 did.

Lexington, Mo. Aug. 27, 1863

General: Started early on the morning of the 22nd on Quantrill's trail as far as big Creek, five miles northwest of Pleasant Hill, where we stopped to feed and as soon as the advance came out of the brush west of Big Creek they discovered a body of men some half mile in their front. They replied that they were Federal Troops, but would not say whose command they belonged to. I rode forward and satisfied myself they were Bushwhackers and were forming a battle line behind a fence. We came up with them and exchanged several rounds (fired several shots), when they broke for the brush. Five were killed. Have heard since, several were wounded; several horses killed and some were captured. The ground they passed over was strewed with goods of every description. As soon as I found they had scattered, the force was divided and one of the detachments came up with them late in the evening and fought them in the brush a considerable time, when the again scattered in every direction. Five more were killed in this engagement. Our casualties were none, so far. I attempted to guard the passes that night to keep them from passing east, but most of them passed over. From two prisoners we learned this party was commanded by Quantrill and that there were 200 men.

I must also call your attention to Corporal Andrew J. Fuller of Co. I, who seized a Bushwhacker, after they had emptied their revolvers and beat his brians out with his pistol. This is the same man who a short time since attacked three Bushwhackers, killing two and running the third. His bravery is certainly worthy of reward.

In closing this report, I would recommend that every citizen, man, woman and child, in the Texas Prairie and near it, be sent out of the country and troops sent there to use up the forage or that it be destroyed! There are large quantities of it there and every farmer there, with one or two exceptions, favors and feeds the Bushwhackers and the quickest way to destroy them is to destroy their subsistence and remove their friends.

The whole number killed during the scout was 16; brought in eight male and two female prisoners; ordered a number of females to report to the provost -- marshal; 25 horses, several guns and pistols.

B. F. Lazear Lieut. Col., 1st Mo. State Militia Cavalry.

Quantrill and most of his Confederate "foxes" that raided Lawrence, Kansas successfully eluded the Union "hounds" and continued their "irregular war" against their oppressive foe. If he, Quantrill, had not attacked Lawrence and massacred many civilians, it is doubtful that the infamous Order No. 11 would have ever been issued and the infamous "Burnt District" would not have been created en masse.

However, Quantrill and his "Foxes" would be in Kansas again and would kill "Blue Belly Billy Yanks" from Kansas and Wisconsin at a place called Baxter Springs on Oct. 6, 1863, and the war continued.