Synopsis "A Guide to Frontier Kansas"
Perhaps no state is as closely associated with the American frontier as Kansas. It was the heart of the Old West, with cow towns such as Wichita, Dodge City, Ellsworth and Abilene. Bringing cattle into those cow towns was the famous Chisholm Trail, which terminated in Kansas. The Santa Fe Trail crossed completely across Kansas, and the Oregon and Pony Express trails cut through the northeastern corner. Legendary cowboys floated into and out of Kansas cattle towns after the Civil War, including Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Luke Short, Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok and Bat Masterson. Frank James, Jesse James (possibly) and Cole Younger participated in the Civil War attack on Lawrence, led by William Quantrill and "Bloody Bill" Anderson. The Civil War started in Kansas in the latter half of the 1850s, when Free-State and Pro-slavery forces fought a bloody series of battles now called "Bleeding Kansas". The most famous of all abolitionists, John Brown, fought in Kansas (and a lieutenant named J.E.B. Stuart interacted with him during "Bleeding Kansas"). During the Civil War, in addition to the attack on Lawrence by Quantrill's Raiders, Quantrill also attacked Baxter Springs, Kansas. And battles were fought at Marais des Cygnes and Mine Creek when Confederate general Sterling Price invaded Kansas in late 1864. Senator James Lane and Charles Jennison conducted irregular warfare in Kansas and western Missouri for the Union during the Civil War. During the Indian Wars, a series of forts protected settlers in Kansas from Indian attacks, including Fort Dodge, Fort Harker, Fort Hays, Fort Larned, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley and Fort Scott. Two of those forts - Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth - are still active military bases. Two of the most famous generals of the Civil War for the Union were stationed in Kansas during the post-Civil War period - Philip Sheridan and George Armstrong Custer. This book will examine the period in the history of Kansas when it could legitimately be referred to as the "frontier", from about 1850-1900. We'll also look at what sites are still extant in Kansas from that period. I hope you enjoy this "Guide to Frontier Kansas".
