This is an incomplete list of military and other armed confrontations that have occurred within the boundaries of the modern US State of Kansas since European contact. The region was part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1535–1679, New France from 1679–1803, and part of the United States of America 1803–present. A small portion of the southwest part of the state—southwest of the Arkansas River was claimed by the Republic of Texas after the Texas Revolution.
Two wars have directly affected the region, the American Civil War (1860–1865) and the Plains Indian Wars. Kansas was also greatly affected during the Bleeding Kansas period (1855–1861) in which settlers and outsiders fought to determine whether the territory would become a free or slave state.
Battles
NameDateLocationWarCampaignDeadBelligerentsBattle at EtzanoaSeptember 1601modern Arkansas City, KansasunknownEscanxaque vs New SpainBattle of Chouteau's IslandSpring 1816near modern Lakin, Kansas8Pawnee vs French fur tradersLove's DefeatJune 26, 1847near modern Garfield, KansasMexican–American War6United States of America vs Kiowa & ComancheBattle of Coon CreekJune 18, 1848near modern Kinsley, KansasMexican–American WarUnited States of America vs Comanche & OsageWakarusa War November–December 1855Lawrence, Kansas / Wakarusa River ValleyBleeding Kansas2Free-Staters vs Border RuffiansSacking of LawrenceMay 21, 1856Lawrence, KansasBleeding Kansas1One pro-slavery man was killed by falling debris after the sacking.Pro-slavery mobAbout 800 men under the command of Douglas County Sheriff Samuel Jones. vs abolitionist civiliansPottawatomie massacreSee: Reynolds, David S. John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights (New York: Vintage Books), 2005, pp. 162-177. May 24–25, 1856Franklin County, KansasBleeding Kansas5Free-StatersAn unknown number of men from the Pottawatomie Rifles were among the belligerents. vs Pro-slavery settlersJames P. Doyle, William Doyle, and Drury Doyle (adult sons of James and former slave catchers), Allen Wilkinson, and William Sherman.Battle of Black JackOfficial siteJune 2, 1856near modern Baldwin City, KansasBleeding KansasBorder RuffiansThe Henry C. Pate gang; about 30 men. vs Free-StatersJohn Brown gang; 30 men.Battle of Fort TitusAugust 16, 1856Douglas County, KansasBleeding Kansas3Free-Staters vs Border RuffiansBattle of OsawatomieAugust 30, 1856Osawatomie, KansasBleeding Kansas25+This figure represents the five known anti-slavery men killed during the battle: Fredrick Brown, George W. Partridge, David Garrison, Theron Parker Powers, and Charles Kaiser. The number of pro-slavery men killed was reported by John Brown to be at least 20. See: Reynolds, David S. John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights (New York: Vintage Books), 2005, pp. 200–201. Border RuffiansThe John W. Reid & Rev. Marvin White gang; 250-300 men. vs Free-StatersJohn Brown gang; 40 men.Battle of Solomon's ForkChalfant, William Y. Cheyennes and Horse Soldiers: The 1857 Expedition and Battle of Solomon's Fork (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press), 2002.July 29, 1857near modern Morland, KansasPlains Indians Wars10-11United States of America vs Northern CheyenneBattle of Indian Rock 1857within modern SalinaTerritorial dispute Northern Cheyenne vs Delaware, Kaw, and Pottawatomi Marais des Cygnes massacreMay 19, 1858Trading Post, KansasBleeding Kansas5Border RuffiansThe Charles Hamilton gang. vs Free-Staters11 men, all unarmed. Battle of the Spurs January 31, 1859 near modern Netawaka, Kansas Bleeding Kansas Underground Railroad 0No shots were fired. John Brown, J. H. Kagi, Aaron Dwight Stevens, & 12 escaped slaves vs. U.S. marshalsLawrence MassacreAugust 21, 1863Lawrence, KansasAmerican Civil WarQuantrill's Raid150+United States of America & Kansas militia vs Confederate States of AmericaFort Baxter MassacreOctober 6, 1863near modern Baxter Springs, KansasAmerican Civil WarQuantrill's Raid100+United States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Marais des CygnesOctober 25, 1864Linn County, KansasAmerican Civil WarPrice's RaidunknownUnited States of America vs Confederate States of AmericaBattle of Mine CreekOctober 25, 1864Linn County, KansasAmerican Civil WarPrice's RaidUnited States of America vs Confederate States of America Battle of Cow Creek June 11, 1865 near modern Alden, Kansas Plains Indian Wars 15+ Company I, 2nd Colorado Cavalry & Company G, 7th Iowa Cavalry vs Kiowa (likely) Battle of Lookout Station April 15, 1867 near modern Antonino, Kansas Plains Indian Wars 2 Lakota & Southern Cheyenne vs civilians Fort Wallace June 21, 1867 modern Wallace, Kansas Plains Indian Wars Comanche Campaign 28Eight U.S. soldiers were reported killed or mortally wounded from a force of 40 men from the 3rd Cavalry and 7th Cavalry under the command of Lt Hale. Native forces were estimated to be 400 and their losses reported at 20. United States of America vs Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa, & Southern Cheyenne Fort Wallace June 26, 1867 modern Wallace, Kansas Plains Indian Wars Comanche Campaign 1 United States of America vs Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa, & Southern Cheyenne Kidder Massacre July 2, 1867 near modern Goodland, Kansas Plains Indian Wars 12 United States of America vs Northern Cheyenne & Sioux Battle of the Saline River August 2, 1867 modern Ellis County, Kansas Plains Indian Wars Comanche Campaign 31+ United States of America vs Southern CheyenneBattle of Prairie Dog CreekAugust 21, 1867modern Phillips County, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign53United States of America vs Kiowa & Southern Cheyenne(1st) Battle of Beaver CreekAugust 22–23, 1867modern Phillips County, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign2+18th Kansas Cavalry vs Kiowa & Southern CheyennePlum Buttes MassacreSeptember 9, 1867This date requires verification.near modern Chase, KansasPlains Indian Wars3Dog Soldiers vs Santa Fe Trail partyBattle of Council GroveJune 3, 1868near Council Grove, KansasPlains Indian Wars3Southern Cheyenne vs Kaw(2nd) Battle of Beaver Creek (2)October 15, 1868modern Phillips County, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaignunknown10th US Cavalry H & I Troops vs Southern CheyenneBattle of Buff CreekOctober 2, 1868modern Wallace, KansasPlains Indian WarsComanche Campaign1United States of America vs Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa, & Southern CheyenneBattle of Punished Woman ForkSeptember 27, 1878modern Scott County, KansasPlains Indian Wars1United States of America vs Southern CheyenneCoffeyville bank robberyOctober 5, 1892Coffeyville, Kansas8city law enforcement & citizens vs Dalton Gang
References Citations
Works cited
See also
History of Kansas Kansas in the American Civil War Plains Indians Wars