Battle of Osawatomie facts for kids

The Battle of Osawatomie was a fight that happened on August 30, 1856. It was part of a bigger conflict called Bleeding Kansas. In this battle, a large group of 250 to 400 pro-slavery fighters, known as Border Ruffians, attacked the town of Osawatomie, Kansas. This town was mostly settled by people who were against slavery, called Free-Staters.

The Border Ruffians, led by John W. Reid, wanted to destroy Osawatomie. They also planned to attack other anti-slavery towns like Topeka and Lawrence. A famous anti-slavery leader named John Brown learned about the attack when his son, Frederick, was shot. Brown and about 40 of his men tried to defend Osawatomie. But they were greatly outnumbered and had to retreat. Five Free-Staters died in the battle. After the fight, Reid's men looted and burned the town. This battle was one of many violent clashes between people who wanted to end slavery and those who supported it in Kansas and Missouri.

Why the Battle Happened

The Start of "Bleeding Kansas"

The year 1854 was important because of the Kansas–Nebraska Act. This law started a period of violence known as "Bleeding Kansas". The law said that people living in the new Kansas Territory could decide if they wanted slavery or not. This idea was called popular sovereignty. It went against an older law from 1820, the Missouri Compromise, which had limited where slavery could spread.

People who supported slavery and those who opposed it quickly moved into Kansas. They all wanted to influence the vote. Soon, tensions grew into a small war. This war was mostly fought between regular citizens. On one side were the "Free-Staters", many from New England. On the other side were pro-slavery "Border Ruffians" from Missouri.

Slavery and the Nation's Future

The question of whether Kansas would be a slave state or a free state was a huge deal for the whole country. The United States was deeply divided over slavery. Many people who wanted to end slavery focused on stopping it from spreading to new areas. If Kansas could choose slavery, other new states might too. But if Kansas became a free state, slavery would be limited to where it already existed.

People who supported slavery felt this was wrong. They believed slavery was good for both individuals and the country. They thought limiting slavery's growth would hurt their way of life.

Rising Tensions and John Brown

In 1855, a strong anti-slavery leader named John Brown arrived in Kansas. After he came, the fighting with the Border Ruffians got worse. On May 21, 1856, pro-slavery forces attacked Lawrence. This town was a major center for people against slavery. This attack was called the Sacking of Lawrence.

In return, four days later, John Brown and his followers attacked five pro-slavery men. This event became known as the Pottawatomie massacre. After that, in early June, the Battle of Black Jack happened. Anti-slavery forces won this battle. This made John Brown a serious threat to the Border Ruffians. Violence in Kansas kept increasing throughout the summer of 1856.

The Battle of Osawatomie

Osawatomie Under Threat

Osawatomie was a town settled by people who wanted to end slavery. It was located near the Marais des Cygnes River. Earlier in the summer of 1856, the town had been attacked by pro-slavery groups. Many original residents had left. About 200 people still lived there in August. They were always worried about another attack. This was partly because John Brown often used the town as his base.

On August 13, 1856, a group of anti-slavery men, likely John Brown's followers, raided the area where Rev. Martin White lived. White had spoken out against the Pottawatomie Massacre. The raiders attacked the homes of White's sons and stole horses and other items. They then attacked White's house but were pushed back twice. After this, Rev. Martin White asked the Governor for help. He then led a group towards Osawatomie.

Frederick Brown's Death

On the morning of August 30, 1856, several hundred Border Ruffians, led by John W. Reid, entered Osawatomie. John Brown and his family were staying at the cabin of Rev. Samuel Adair. Frederick Brown, John Brown's 26-year-old son, was the only family member there at the time. He approached the group of Border Ruffians.

Rev. Martin White later described what happened. He said that as he was part of the advance guard, Frederick Brown came towards them. White told him to stop, but Frederick kept coming, saying, "I know you." White ordered him to stop again. When Frederick reached for his gun, White shot him to protect himself. The bullet went through Frederick's heart, and he fell. Frederick Brown was the first person to die in the Battle of Osawatomie.

The Fight Begins

When John Brown heard about his son's death, he rushed towards Osawatomie. He gathered several dozen men to face the Missouri invaders. The fighting started when Reid's forces moved forward in long lines towards the woods where Brown and his men were hiding. Reid fired his cannons into the woods. The anti-slavery fighters began to shoot back. For about fifteen minutes, there was long-distance firing, but not much damage was done.

Finally, the Border Ruffians charged forward. Brown's forces were scattered and fled in all directions. Five Free-Staters were killed, including Frederick Brown. Several others were wounded.

Osawatomie Burned

Instead of chasing Brown's men, the pro-slavery forces turned their attention to the town itself. John W. Reid's men went through Osawatomie and burned almost all the buildings. They spared only three buildings that had women and children inside. Before leaving, they thoroughly looted the town. They also took six prisoners. However, they could not find John Brown himself. Reid's forces then continued north, attacking other towns like Topeka on their way.

Aftermath and Legacy

John Brown's Resolve

After the Missourians left, John Brown came out of hiding. He saw the burned town. He reportedly told his son Jason:

God sees it. I have only a short time to live – only one death to die, and I will die fighting for this cause. There will be no more peace in this land until slavery is done for. I will give them something else to do than extend slave territory. I will carry this war into Africa.

John Brown became even more famous for his bravery and fighting skills. The Battle of Osawatomie, along with his other actions, including the raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, made him a well-known figure. He was seen as a dangerous anti-slavery leader, a "madman" by some. Southerners and those who supported slavery saw him as a big threat. People recognized that he had faced a much larger enemy in the battle, and he and most of his men had survived. Because of his role in the Bleeding Kansas conflict, one of John Brown's nicknames became "Osawatomie Brown".

Continued Violence in Kansas

After the Battle of Osawatomie, violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups in Kansas got much worse. The acting governor of the Kansas Territory, Daniel Woodson, said the region was in rebellion. He asked citizens to restore law and order. Free-Staters were very upset by this. In response, the Border Ruffians gathered more forces. The U.S. Army was not very effective at stopping the fighting.

Open violence continued for at least two more months. Both sides started fires, looted towns, and destroyed crops. There was a mix of peace and violence in Kansas until the Marais des Cygnes massacre in 1858. The start of the American Civil War in 1861 brought even more violence to the territory.

Remembering the Battle Today

Today, John Brown Memorial Park is in Osawatomie. It covers the exact spot where the 1856 battle happened. In 1906, U.S. Vice President Fairbanks gave a speech there. The John Brown Museum State Historic Site was opened in 1911. It has a life-size statue of John Brown. There is also a monument for the five Free-Staters who died in the battle: Frederick Brown, George W. Partridge, David Garrison, Theron Parker Powers, and Charles Kaiser. All except Kaiser are buried in the park.

Rev. Samuel Adair's cabin, where John Brown stayed, survived the battle. Adair lived in it until he died in 1898. The cabin was moved to the park in 1911. Later, in 1928, it was placed inside a large stone building to protect it.

Images for kids

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  Osawatomie John Brown from the 1901 Baltimore & Ohio Railroad calendar