Coldwater Grove's Post facts for kids

Coldwater Grove was a small but important place during the American Civil War. It was located about 13½ miles east of Paola, Kansas. This spot was unique because it was right on the border between Kansas and Missouri. So, parts of it were in both states!

Coldwater Grove: A Civil War Post

What Was Coldwater Grove?

In June 1863, the Union Army set up a military post at Coldwater Grove. A military post is like a small base where soldiers live and work. This post was on the Kansas side of the border. Lt. Col. Charles S. Clark was put in charge of the Coldwater Grove post. He also commanded four other nearby military posts.

A Close Call with Quantrill

On August 20, 1863, Lt. Col. Clark got some important news. He learned that a group of Confederate guerrillas were camped nearby. Guerrillas were fighters who used surprise attacks and didn't always wear uniforms. This group was led by a man named William C. Quantrill.

Clark quickly sent out scouts to find out what Quantrill was doing. He also ordered soldiers from two other posts to come and help defend Coldwater Grove. But Quantrill moved fast. Clark soon found out that Quantrill had already crossed into Kansas during the night.

Clark quickly gathered about thirty of his men. They tried to chase after Quantrill, but it was too late. Quantrill and his men were already on their way to raid a town called Lawrence, Kansas.

The Lawrence Raid

Quantrill's raid on Lawrence became a very sad event in history. It is known as the Lawrence Massacre. This event caused a lot of damage and loss of life in Lawrence.

Life at the Post

The Coldwater Grove military post stayed active for a long time. It was used by the Union Army until at least June 1865. Sometimes, the soldiers might have built a strong fence or wall called a stockade. This would have helped protect the post, possibly after August 1864.

The post was not always full of soldiers. Sometimes, the troops would leave temporarily. They would go to help defend other areas that were in danger. For example, the post might have been left empty in October 1864. This was during a big raid into Missouri led by Major General Sterling Price. This event is known as Price's Raid. Letters from the Union Army suggest that the post was indeed abandoned during this time.

The End of the Post

Even in May 1865, there were still some guerrilla fighters active in the area. A Union Army officer named Captain A. J. Lumsden wrote a report. He said that soldiers from Coldwater Grove killed one of these guerrillas. The last known report about the Coldwater Grove post was dated June 3, 1865. After this, the post was likely closed down.