Bleeding Kansas” was well named.
And just the beginning of what was to follow throughout the nation.
(sounds of war cry or cheers)
(drums beating)
(gunfire)
(sounds of musical instruments-wooden bones accompanied by fife music)
slavery vs. free soil… of federal union vs. states rights. By March of 1862, Fort
Scott would again become an official military post, supplying and training Union soldiers
… treating the sick and wounded.
“We learn… that Government has ordered twenty thousand troops on this border, as
a basis of future operations…”
“Our city presents the appearance of one grand military camp. Every vacant tenement
has been taken possession of. Villages of tents surround the town.”
(drums beating rapidly)
By 1861, full-scale civil war erupted,
as the nation clashed over the dilemmas of slavery vs. free soil
... of federal union vs. states' rights.
By March of 1862,
Fort Scott would again become an official military post,
supplying and training Union soldiers
treating the sick and wounded.
Auctioneer: “–Hospital SOLD… $400.”
“The most of these patients… suffering with diseases so long as to be reduced to
mere skeletons… I was implored by some of the sick in tents … to take them to some
house where they could be kept warm, but every house, however poor and open, was full.”
(sad, somber music)
One young man… seemed very sad,
tears were in his eyes.
Poor fellow, he is badly wounded.
His cot, I fear, will soon be empty
…This cruel war, when will it end?”
Fort Scott was a regional hub for the Union war effort, providing support for military
action in the area.
Thousands of tons of supplies purchased from local farmers were stored here.
Kansas was also a national leader in the forming of black military units, one of which was
mustered into service at Fort Scott.
“The First Kansas (Colored) particularly distinguished itself; they fought like veterans…
their coolness and bravery I have never seen surpassed.”
And for the first time, Indians were organized into their own regiments, with three companies
sworn in at Fort Scott.
"Too much praise cannot be awarded to both officers and men for their gallant, conduct
in the battle.
While no battles were fought at Fort Scott. Soldiers engaged in battles elsewhere in Kansas and
responded to nearby guerilla warfare and ambushes that kept this area’s citizens on edge.
“There has been great excitement among the citizens in the neighborhood on account of
the hordes of guerillas having appeared of late, as they consider their lives and property
in peril.”
As in other parts of the country, refugees fled areas devastated by war, some escaping
from their former condition as slaves.
“Every day, wagon after wagon arrives in our town,
loaded with refugees from the monster secession.”
“Some of them were forced to make the trip to Kansas amid hard time, sufferings, depravations,
and sickness to escape the ravages of this war."
"the suffering of the troops and refugees in Fort Scott continues very great
please gather from your households all that can be spared
and let us send it to these homeless destitute ones
whose property has been destroyed by Rebel violence"
During the Civil War, the town grew well beyond the boundaries of the old fort and continued
to prosper after the conflict.