Battle of the Spurs (Kansas) facts for kids
The Battle of the Spurs was a surprising event that happened on January 31, 1859. It took place near Netawaka, Kansas, about 7 miles north of Holton, Kansas. This event is famous because it was called a "battle" even though no shots were fired!
It involved a famous abolitionist named John Brown. An abolitionist was someone who strongly believed that slavery should be ended. John Brown was helping a group of 12 enslaved people escape from the slave state of Missouri. Their goal was to reach freedom in Iowa.
Contents
What Happened?
The Journey to Freedom
John Brown was leading 12 people who had escaped slavery. He was also joined by his helpers, John Henry Kagi and Aaron Dwight Stevens. Their journey was dangerous, as they were trying to get to Iowa, a free state.
A Surprising Confrontation
As they traveled near a place called Straight Creek, they faced a group of people trying to stop them. This group was a "posse" (a group of people gathered by a sheriff or marshal). It included U.S. marshals and others. They wanted to capture John Brown because there was a large reward of $3,000 for him.
The "Battle" Begins
The posse had about 45 people, which was a much larger group than John Brown's party. Brown's group had only 21 people, and this included women and children. Even though Brown's group was much smaller, he was known for being brave and even scary to his enemies.
Instead of turning back or trying to hide, John Brown led his group straight toward the posse. What happened next was very unexpected. The larger posse, instead of fighting, turned around and ran away in a panic!
No Shots Fired
It's amazing, but not a single shot was fired during this event. No one even raised a rifle. The posse simply fled on their horses.
Why Was It Called the "Battle of the Spurs"?
People who supported ending slavery were called "Free-Staters." They thought it was funny that the proslavery posse (the group that supported slavery) ran away so quickly. They joked that the posse used their "spurs" (metal tools on boots used to make horses go faster) to escape. So, they mockingly called the event the "Battle of the Spurs."
This event showed how determined John Brown was. It also showed how some people were afraid of him, even when they had more people. Today, there is a historical marker in Kansas to remember this unique moment in history.
