Baxter Springs
Baxter Springs Massacre, Kansas
October 6, 1863
A permanent military presence was established in Baxter Springs with the assignment
of Lt Crites and part of the 3rd WI Cavalry. Fort Blair (commonly known as Fort
Baxter) was constructed with a blockhouse and a log breastwork. 1st Lt James Pond
(with the rest of companies C and D of the WI cavalry and Company A of the 2nd KS
Colored Infantry) arrived and removed one wall of the fort to enlarge the space.
On the morning of October 6, 1863, Quantrill, with 300 - 400 men attacked the fort.
One of the first killed (while foraging away from the fort) was John Fry, an Army Scout.
(Fry had earlier distinguished himself as the first Pony Express rider.)
Lt Pond and his remaining 90 men held off the attack through extreme bravery
and the use of a mountain howitzer. Lt Pond received the Congressional Medal of
Honor for his actions (giving most of the credit to the 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry).
In the engagement, including the earlier attack on Fort Blair, the
Federals lost over 100 men while Quantrill lost 1.
The land surrounding Fort Blair is city park. The remainder of the land encompassing
the engagement is privately owned.
CWSAC ref KS002, Preservation Priority IV.2 (class C battle)
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Battlefield Series
Baxter Springs 01
The Fort has been reconstructed as one of the main sites on the Baxter
Springs Civil War Auto Tour. This view shows the Fort looking West, as seen by
Quantrill’s men at the start of the action.
photo taken January 28, 2003
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Battlefield Series
Baxter Springs 02
The Fort has been reconstructed as one of the main sites on the Baxter Springs
Civil War Auto Tour. This view shows the Fort looking East, toward the
direction of Quantrill’s first approach.
photo taken January 28, 2003
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Battlefield Series
Baxter Springs 03
The attack began at the site presented here. The view presented here is looking south.
Quantrill attacked from the South and Southeast (from the left),
scattering the Union troops into the fields and stream beds to the West (right).
photo taken January 28, 2003
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Battlefield Series
Baxter Springs 04
The victims of the massacre were initially interred in Baxter Springs.
The bodies were moved to this site in the Spring of 1870. The soldier’s monument
was erected at that time.
The cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas.
photo taken January 28, 2003
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Battlefield Series
Baxter Springs 05
The victims of the massacre were initially interred in Baxter Springs.
The bodies were moved to this site in the Spring of 1870. The soldier’s monument
was erected at that time.
The cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas.
photo taken January 28, 2003
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