The Battle of Slough Creek, fought on September 11, 1856, stands as a telling testament to the intense violence and ideological conflict that defined the period known as Bleeding Kansas. This pivotal skirmish, occurring several years before the American Civil War, encapsulated the deep divisions over the slavery issue that threatened to tear the nation apart, making it a critical, albeit often overlooked, event in American history.
As residents of Kansas grappled with the contentious question of whether the territory would enter the Union as a free or slave state, the landscape became a battleground for abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates. The events at Slough Creek illuminate the brutal reality of this struggle, demonstrating the courage and desperation of those involved.
The Volatile Landscape of Bleeding Kansas
The mid-1850s saw Kansas plunged into chaos following the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, which introduced the principle of popular sovereignty. This act allowed settlers in the new territories to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise and igniting a bitter struggle for control of Kansas. Pro-slavery settlers, often referred to as ‘Border Ruffians’ from Missouri, clashed violently with anti-slavery ‘Free-State’ immigrants from the North. Towns like Lawrence became hotbeds of abolitionist sentiment, frequently targeted by pro-slavery forces, while other areas struggled for dominance, leading to numerous skirmishes and widespread instability.
The arrival of armed groups, both Free-State and pro-slavery, transformed Kansas into a miniature civil war zone. It was against this backdrop of escalating tensions and frequent skirmishes that the Battle of Slough Creek unfolded, highlighting the desperate measures taken by both sides to secure their vision for the territory.
Colonel Harvey’s Mission to Leavenworth
In the precarious days of September 1856, Colonel James A. Harvey, a resolute leader of Free-State forces, was dispatched from Lawrence with three small companies of Free-State men. Their urgent mission was to provide relief for fellow Free-State advocates in Leavenworth, who had been driven from their homes and forced to seek refuge within the confines of Fort Leavenworth due to mounting pro-slavery aggression. The situation in Leavenworth was dire, reflecting the broader oppression faced by those who opposed slavery.
Harvey’s advance force reached the vicinity of Easton and Alexandria in Leavenworth County on the morning of September 10. However, their progress towards Leavenworth was halted when E. B. Whitman, a Free-State sympathizer, intercepted Harvey with crucial intelligence. Whitman advised against any further direct advance on Leavenworth, as a new figure had just entered the volatile political arena: Governor John Geary. Geary’s arrival signaled a potential shift in the territorial administration, and a direct military confrontation might have complicated ongoing diplomatic efforts or provoked further widespread violence.
Acting on this strategic advice, Colonel Harvey altered his plans and established an encampment approximately six miles east of Oskaloosa. This decision, though a diversion from his original mission, would lead him directly to an unexpected confrontation that would become known as the Battle of Slough Creek.
The Discovery at Slough Creek
As night fell over Harvey’s encampment near Oskaloosa, an unexpected and crucial piece of information emerged. Jesse Newell, the respected founder of Oskaloosa, made his way into the Free-State camp. Newell, intimately familiar with the local terrain and the movements of various factions, brought news of a pro-slavery company of Carolinians encamped a short distance away on Slough Creek. These Carolinians were part of the influx of Southern settlers who had come to Kansas to ensure its entry into the Union as a slave state, often acting as paramilitary units.
Newell, a staunch Free-State supporter, offered to guide Colonel Harvey’s men to the location. Recognizing the strategic opportunity to neutralize a pro-slavery threat and bolster Free-State morale, Harvey swiftly ordered his camp to be struck. Under the cloak of darkness, the Free-State companies began their stealthy advance towards Slough Creek, guided by Newell’s expertise.
The Skirmish and Its Aftermath
At approximately 3 o’clock in the morning, Harvey’s Free-State forces successfully surrounded the unsuspecting Carolinian encampment on Slough Creek. The element of surprise was complete, but as the pro-slavery southerners discovered their predicament, a
