Patrick H
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2014
Our friend @M2HA has reminded me that today marks the 156th anniversary of another of the most controversial acts of the entire Civil War.
General Order Number 11 was issued in response to the August 21st raid by Quantrill's guerrillas on Lawrence, Kansas. The order depopulated nearly four full Missouri counties of loyal and rebellious civilians alike. Their homes were looted and burned, their crops were destroyed and their livestock driven off.
The area is still known as the "Burnt District."
Opinions vary, but most Missourians believe it was an immoral order, and the murder, looting and destruction which accompanied the enforcement of the order were nothing less that a criminal enterprise on a vast scale. That is certainly my belief, too.
The individual guerrillas who perpetrated the excesses at Lawrence deserved to experience consequences. The civilians of border Missouri did not.
General Order Number 11 was issued in response to the August 21st raid by Quantrill's guerrillas on Lawrence, Kansas. The order depopulated nearly four full Missouri counties of loyal and rebellious civilians alike. Their homes were looted and burned, their crops were destroyed and their livestock driven off.
The area is still known as the "Burnt District."
Opinions vary, but most Missourians believe it was an immoral order, and the murder, looting and destruction which accompanied the enforcement of the order were nothing less that a criminal enterprise on a vast scale. That is certainly my belief, too.
The individual guerrillas who perpetrated the excesses at Lawrence deserved to experience consequences. The civilians of border Missouri did not.