The Civil War in Johnson County
The year 1861 brought many changes to Johnson County. In January, Kansas entered the Union as a free state. More and more settlers moved to the area, towns were laid out and virgin prairie was broken by the plow. Within months, however, everything changed — southern states were seceding from the United States over the issue of slavery, and Civil War threatened the country.
Johnson Countians were optimistic, certain the conflict would be brief. In May 1861, the Olathe Mirror assured farmers, “The season promises to be favorable... In the older States, thousands are being taken away from agricultural pursuit to enter the army. The war will cause a heavy demand and high prices... You are far removed from the seat of trouble, and have every opportunity to do well...” Despite this optimism, Johnson County was to suffer much in the coming conflict.
According to the 1860 census, there were 4,324 residents in Johnson County. In general, the population consisted of young families who had lived in the county for less than three years — more than twenty percent were five years or younger. Although the majority of the population was employed in farming, nine towns had been platted and twenty-five school districts were established.
Located on the Missouri border, Johnson County had been considered a stronghold for southern sympathizers throughout the territorial period. A number of “secessionists” lived in the county at the start of the Civil war. Because of its location, Johnson county was caught in the crossfire between the guerrilla forces of both pro-slavery advocates and abolitionists. The county was just as likely to be visited by “jayhawkers” from Lawrence as “bushwhackers” from Missouri.
Jayhawkers consisted of small bands of militant Union sympathizers, many of whom had been involved in the bloodier aspects of Kansas’ fight to become a free state. These bands would visit towns and farms, forcing suspected secessionists to take an oath of allegiance to the Union. Although they were promoting the issue of freedom, they weren’t above stealing horses and other valuable goods in the process.
Pro-slavery bushwhackers from Missouri, led by notorious men like William Quantrill and “Bloody Bill” Anderson, were also a constant threat. These bands, like the jayhawkers, functioned outside official military channels.
Of the twenty-four guerrilla raids into Kansas during the civil War, eight took place in Johnson County. On the evening of October 22, 1861, the first of these raids occurred in the town of Gardner. In his memoirs, Stephen J. Wilson recalls, “They arrived about 10:30 on a clear moonlight night. When they raided the Armory... we realized our danger. Crossing the street they rattled the door of Sponable’s store, then smashed it with a big breaking plow... Other bandits loaded the wagon with goods from the two stores... Henry Gorseline... aroused the countryside, but the bandits escaped with the loot.”
In 1862, the raiding escalated and Johnson Countians were in constant danger. In September, Olathe was attacked. According to O.H. Gregg in his History of Johnson County, Quantrill and about 150 of his men crossed the border soon after dark and entered Olathe about midnight. They rode up to the south side of the square, where Quantrill gave the command “Take immediate possession, and don’t let a man escape.” The citizens of Olathe realized the raiders were bushwhackers and started to run. The guerrillas spread throughout the town, and coralled every citizen in the public square. They then entered every house and business, stealing goods as they went. Interestingly, and for no known reason, the raiders took every photograph they could find of young ladies throughout the town. During this raid, three civilians were killed and the town’s newspaper, The Olathe Mirror, was destroyed.
A mere six weeks after the Olathe raid, Shawnee was raided. The primary purpose of this raid was to obtain clothing, which was always in short supply, for the guerrillas. Again Quantrill’s band entered an unsuspecting town. The raid proceeded much as it had in Olathe, the main difference being that before the guerrillas left, they set fire to nearly every building. Some of the fires were extinguished, but at least fourteen houses were entirely lost.
During the war, the towns of Aubry and Spring hill also fell under attack, and Shawnee was burned to the ground a second time in 1863. Many of these raids were in response to jayhawker raiding along the western border of Missouri.
In addition to the terrors of jayhawker and bushwhacker raids, the citizens of Johnson County were at the mercy of another group — common criminals. The constant state of unrest caused by raiders and the lack of adequate law enforcement created the ideal environment for bands of roaming outlaws. Horse stealing was their principal line of business. Some farmers lost most of their horses and cattle, and many families abandoned their farms. Farmers and merchants sent their wives and children to safer areas. In essence, everyday life in Johnson County ground to a halt.
Throughout the war, the citizens of Johnson County did not sit idly by and watch their homes destroyed. Many men joined the Union army and left home to fight in other parts of the country. Others joined together for local protection. Almost immediately after the start of the war, recognizing the need to defend themselves, Johnson Countians called for military protection. The men of Olathe formed the Union Guards, and other towns in the county also organized for their protection. In Shawnee, where troops were stationed, the Olathe Mirror noted that “no one can pass through that place without a close examination.” It was not until late in 1863, however, that there seemed to be enough protection at the right place and time.
Local women also contributed to the military campaign. Some cooked dinners for hungry soldiers and others questioned why the U.S. government did not allow them positions in the army to take care of the sick and wounded. According to the Olathe Mirror, Johnson County had willing volunteers including Mrs. Stiles of Shawnee who “would like a situation in the army.” They noted “She is an excellent lady, and would be of great service in almost any capacity she might be employed.”
The growing number of raids in 1863, plus the horror of Quantrill’s massacre at Lawrence, warned authorities that they could no longer leave the border unprotected. In September, Governor Carney raised the Fifteenth Kansas Regiment and placed it under the command of the notorious jayhawker C.R. Jennison. Johnson County furnished many men for the Fifteenth. Olathe was made a regular military post and base for supplies, and Company K was stationed there.
In spring of 1864, the square in the middle of Olathe was turned into a fort. In addition, Governor Carney enrolled every able-bodied citizen between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five in the state militia. These preparation were made just in time. In fall 1864, Confederate troops under the command of General Price threatened the area. O.H. Gregg noted “He aimed apparently to strike Kansas on the Johnson County line, [and] march south through the most thickly settled portions of the State... ” Governor Carney ordered the entire state militia — more than 12,000 men — into action. Small groups were detailed to Lawrence, Leavenworth and Topeka; the balance were ordered to assemble at Olathe and then later at the Methodist Mission.
On October 23, Price made an effort to cross the Kansas line near Westport. He was met by a mixed force of volunteers and militia. The Battle of Westport raged for six hours. About noon, Price learned he was surrounded and ordered a retreat. This disastrous defeat caused the rebels to abandon their effort to control Kansas, and no other raid or invasion was attempted. At this time, the worst of the war was over.
In April of 1865, the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomatox ended the Civil War. After years of border conflict during the territorial days of “Bleeding Kansas” and the Civil War, Johnson County had peace for the first time since it had been opened to white settlement in 1857. The population of the county increased after the war. Soldiers returned from the war, and new immigrants, eager to take advantage of low real estate prices, came to live in the county. Johnson Countians who had moved away during the war moved back to their homes and resumed farming and running their businesses.
--ALBUM vol. 6, no. 1 (winter 1993)