Battle of Osawatomie
08/30/1856 AD defeated
250–400 pro-slavery Border Ruffians led by John W. Reid attacked the town of Osawatomie, Kansas, which at the time was settled largely by anti-slavery Free-Staters. Reid was intent on destroying the Free-State settlement and then moving on to Topeka and Lawrence to do more of the same. Abolitionist John Brown first learned of the raiders when they shot his son Frederick. With just 40 or so men, Brown tried to defend the town against the pro-slavery partisans, but ultimately was forced to withdraw; five Free-Staters were killed in the battle, and the town of Osawatomie was subsequently looted and burned by Reid's men.
The battle was one of a series of violent clashes between abolitionists and pro-slavery partisans in Kansas and Missouri during the Bleeding Kansas era.
Lattitude: 38.5016° N
Longitude: 94.9508° W
Region: North America
Modern Day United States
Subjects Who or What defeated?
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John William Reid Lawyer, soldier, one-tim...
Objects To Whom or What was defeated?
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John Brown (John H. Brown) American abolitionist le...
Events in 1856 MORE
