In the tumultuous landscape of the American Civil War, General Order No. 11 stands as a stark testament to the brutality and desperation that characterized the Missouri-Kansas border conflict. Issued on August 25, 1863, by Union General Thomas Ewing Jr., General Order No. 11 commanded the forced evacuation of entire counties in western Missouri, profoundly altering the lives of thousands and leaving a scar on the region’s history.
This drastic measure was a direct response to the escalating guerrilla warfare, particularly the devastating Lawrence Massacre, and aimed to sever the vital support networks that sustained Confederate bushwhackers operating along the border.
The Genesis of General Order No. 11
The Missouri-Kansas border during the Civil War was a crucible of violence, a continuation of the
