Bloody Dawn

[rivrrat]

Went over to Lawrence last evening to see a new documentary based on the book Bloody Dawn, by my friend Tom Goodrich. It was quite an experience to watch a film about the Quantrill Raid in a theater which sits less than a hundred yards from the Eldridge Hotel which is on the site of the origional hotel which was at the center of the raid and was burnt by the raders.
The film itself is produced by a not for profit company, Lone Chimmy Films, which is dedicated to films on Kansas history. Bloody Dawn is only their second production. The format is Interviews with several historians the film then goes to a reancitment of the raid, using local reenactors, many are friends and acquaintances of mine. That being said, this is the weakest part of the film, it is just impossible to capture the scale of the raid with a low budget and a handfull of reenactors. Lawrence in 1863 was the second largest city in Kansas with a population of 3000 and Quantrill led a batallion sise force of from Three to five hundred men The film makes it seem a settlement of about six buidings. It does a much better job of recounting the stories of individuals and families.
The overall film is quite good, and the history is sound. The only quibble I have with Tom is his assertion that the raid and its planning was a result of the collapse of the prison holding partisan women in Kansas City in August of 1863. I thhink that the raid had already been planned and the collapse served as a trigger. That will be argued for years to come.
If you get an opportunity to see this film, take it you will be glad you did.