The Haunted Battlefield In Kansas Both History Buffs And Ghost Hunters Will Love
By Lisa Sammons|Published October 10, 2022
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Lisa Sammons
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Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
Black Jack Battlefield is a famous historical site in Kansas that saw the Battle of Black Jack. This historic battle was the first armed conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery sects in the United States, and some even argue it was the first battle of the Civil War. The site where the battle occurred is now part of a natural park that also holds plenty of educational presentations and historical re-enactments: it’s a must-visit for history lovers and nature lovers alike. But in a spot so historical, it’s not hard to feel like it could harbor some ghosts as well.
The Battle of Black Jack was part of "Bleeding Kansas," a time period in the late 1850s that centered around whether the proposed state of Kansas would be admitted into the Union as a slave state or a free state.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed in 1854, declared that the residents of the Kansas and Nebraska territories would vote to determine whether the states would outlaw slavery prior to joining the Union.
Abolitionists from the North moved to the territories in an attempt to skew votes, but pro-slavery forces from the South did the same. This caused a great deal of tension and even several outright battles, including the Battle of Black Jack.
Bleeding Kansas was a precursor to the Civil War that would embroil the entire country into turmoil within just a few years.
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In 1856, Henry Pate, a pro-slavery advocate, took over the city of Lawrence. Just a few days later, famed abolitionist John Brown killed five pro-slavery men, right in front of their families, in the Pottawatomie massacre.
In the summer of 1856, Henry Pate and John Brown gathered their forces in the little town of Black Jack and fought what was to be known as the Battle of Black Jack. Brown's anti-slavery troops emerged victorious.
Today, the battlefield is a National Historic Landmark. It's part of a park in Baldwin City, giving ample opportunities for sightseeing and recreation.
It's amazing to stand here today and think about all the events that followed the Battle of Black Jack. Bleeding Kansas was perhaps the most important precursor to the American Civil War.
You don't have to be a strong believer in the supernatural to feel like spirits could linger here in this place. The natural area is beautiful, but there's also something vaguely eerie about it, especially when you think about all the suffering that followed the events here and how many lives were touched.
For more information about Black Jack Battlefield, check out the battlefield’s official website.
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