Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-09-02
The Baxter Springs Massacre
Over One Hundred Union Soldiers Murdered in Cold Blood


some lively music. While the bant
was playing the detouring squad o.
Quantrell, all dressed in Federal uni
forms. took in the sitpstA, and
turned from the fort to look after the
new arrivals. In the meantime, Lieut.
Pond had repulsed that portion Of
the Quantrell gang that had attack
ed him at the fort. and Quantrell
with his entire force gave attention
% Gen. Blunt.
Gen. Blunt saw the Quantrell men
forming at the edge of the timber
sast Of him, but as they were dress
ed in Federal uniform, he yet sup
posed them to be Lieut.. Ponds COM
mand, and did not realize they were
Quantrell's guerillas until they
charged upon his ranks. Lieut.. Cal
vert, half realizing the treachery,
rode over to the general for orders,
out was told not to fire on the ap-
preaching troops, as they were union
forces, and thus Quantrell was per-
nitted to approach within 40 yards
Of Blunt's lines. Lieut.. Bannister,
4 mere boy, in command of company
L, Sd Wisconsin cavalry, took in the
situation and deeming 1t no time to
wait for orders, took his station at
the head Of his company and gave
the command Attention! Give them
h-l, boys" and they did. The
volley staggered the enemy for mo-
ment, but before the Federals could
reload the Quantrells we're among
them shooting right and left with
their pistols, killing over twenty men
and unhorsing as many more, and
throwing the entire ranks into con-
'usion. They tried to rally, and did
% some extent, until after the third
Solley, but by this time over half
heir number had fallen, and the re-
nainder, seeing that further resist
ance was futile, fed in disorder
across the prairie, closely pursued
~ the foe, who were shooting them
down and demanding their surrend-
ar. Others were overthrown or had
their horses shot from under them,
and they too surrendered. The band
boys attempted to cross the prairie,
and for q mile kept ahead Of theil
3ursuers, but the wagon broke down
and the guerillRs overlook them,
shot them down and dubbed and
'obbed them, burning the wagon
With its contents, including many |
bodies. Even the little IA year old
drummer boy, Johnny, was not spar
ed, but was riddled with bullets,
brown in the fire and burned to a
crisp. After the siege there was
found SO dead bodies OF the field,
leaving only nineteen survivors out
Of III, and three Of these were so
badly wounded they were left on
the field for dead,
Gen. Blunt had his horse shot
rom under him, but mounted an
)ther, and with Major Henning and
Capt. Tough, his chief Of scouts, en-
ieavored to rally the men, but find
ing 1t impossible, made their escape
through the lines. Maj. Curtis was
lnhorsed and captured, and was TAX
IN out and shot:
Among the three left on the field
'or dead was Capt: p: p. W. Arnold,
now the only kHewA survivor Of that
.errible massacre, and who is now
living at Lamar, Mo-, and never fails
o attend the Baxter Reunion, and is
,ne Of the directors Of the assOcia-
ion. His horse was shot down and
n falling the rider was badly hurt,
Ind he was shot by his pursuers
while down, and left for dead. He
received several bullets, four in the
read and three in the body, and still
he recovered, reported for duty and
Ierved out his time. and is today
highly hanered citizen,
All those killed, excepting a few
If the prominent oficers, whose
bodies were shipped to Fort Scott
or burial. were inferred at the Bax-
er cemetery In the National cemetery
ct, and a handsome monument
marks their last resting place.