The Marais des Cygnes massacre (/ˌmɛərdəˈziːn,-ˈsiːn,ˈmɛərdəziːn/,[1][2]also /məˌriːdəˈsiːn,məˌreɪdəˈseɪn/)[citation needed] is considered the last significant act of violence in Bleeding Kansas prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War. On May 19, 1858, approximately 30 men led by Charles Hamilton, a Georgia native and proslavery leader, crossed into the Kansas Territory from Missouri. They arrived at Trading Post, Kansas, in the morning and then headed back to Missouri. Along the way, they captured 11 Free-Staters, none of whom were armed and, it is said, none of whom had participated in the ongoing violence. Most of the men knew Hamilton and apparently did not realize he meant them harm. These prisoners were led into a defile, where Hamilton ordered his men to shoot, firing the first and last bullet himself. Five men were killed and five severely wounded. Only one Free-Stater escaped injury.[3]
An artistic depiction of the massacre
Hamilton and his gang returned to Missouri. Only one man was ever prosecuted for his involvement in the massacre: William Griffith of Bates County, Missouri. In the spring of 1863, Griffith was recognized and arrested. That October, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Griffith was hanged on October 30, 1863.[4] Charles Hamilton returned to Georgia, where he died in 1880.
The incident horrified the U.S. and inspired John Greenleaf Whittier to write a poem on the murders, "Le Marais du Cygne", which appeared in the September 1858 The Atlantic Monthly.[5]
marais, cygnes, massacre, confused, with, battle, marais, cygnes, ɛər, ɛər, also, citation, needed, considered, last, significant, violence, bleeding, kansas, prior, outbreak, american, civil, 1858, approximately, charles, hamilton, georgia, native, proslavery. Not to be confused with Battle of Marais des Cygnes The Marais des Cygnes massacre ˌ m ɛer d e ˈ z iː n ˈ s iː n ˈ m ɛer d e z iː n 1 2 also m e ˌ r iː d e ˈ s iː n m e ˌ r eɪ d e ˈ s eɪ n citation needed is considered the last significant act of violence in Bleeding Kansas prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War On May 19 1858 approximately 30 men led by Charles Hamilton a Georgia native and proslavery leader crossed into the Kansas Territory from Missouri They arrived at Trading Post Kansas in the morning and then headed back to Missouri Along the way they captured 11 Free Staters none of whom were armed and it is said none of whom had participated in the ongoing violence Most of the men knew Hamilton and apparently did not realize he meant them harm These prisoners were led into a defile where Hamilton ordered his men to shoot firing the first and last bullet himself Five men were killed and five severely wounded Only one Free Stater escaped injury 3 An artistic depiction of the massacre Hamilton and his gang returned to Missouri Only one man was ever prosecuted for his involvement in the massacre William Griffith of Bates County Missouri In the spring of 1863 Griffith was recognized and arrested That October he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death Griffith was hanged on October 30 1863 4 Charles Hamilton returned to Georgia where he died in 1880 The incident horrified the U S and inspired John Greenleaf Whittier to write a poem on the murders Le Marais du Cygne which appeared in the September 1858 The Atlantic Monthly 5 See also edit nbsp Kansas portalGreat Hanging at Gainesville Marais des Cygnes Massacre Site a U S National Historic Landmark List of battles fought in Kansas List of incidents of civil unrest in the United StatesReferences edit Marais des Cygnes The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 5th ed HarperCollins Retrieved 4 May 2019 Marais des Cygnes Merriam Webster com Dictionary Retrieved 4 May 2019 Marais des Cygnes Massacre site Kansapedia Kansas Historical Society www kshs org Retrieved 2018 09 05 William griffith The Weekly News Democrat 1863 11 07 p 2 Retrieved 2023 07 17 Le Marais du Cygne Archived from the original on 2005 12 26 Retrieved 2006 01 28 External links editKansas State Historical Society Marais Massacre U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site38 16 53 N 94 37 11 W 38 28139 N 94 61972 W 38 28139 94 61972 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marais des Cygnes massacre amp oldid 1178099169, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
