Near Netawaka in Jackson County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Battle of the Spurs
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2011
1. Battle of the Spurs Marker (Original Marker)
Just before Christmas, 1858, John Brown "liberated" eleven slaves in Missouri. He hid them in a covered wagon and circled north on the underground railway toward Nebraska and freedom. En route a Negro baby was born. Late in January they reached Albert Fuller's cabin on Straight creek, a mile and a half south of this marker. Here a Federal posse barred their way. Both sides sent for reinforcements. Help for Brown arrived first, Topeka abolitionists leaving in the midst of Sunday church.
Declaring he would not be turned "from the path of the Lord," Brown, though still outnumbered, crossed the creek in spite of high water and the enemy entrenched on the other side. Demoralized by his audacity, the posse mounted and spurred away -- thus giving a name to the bloodless battle. This was Brown's exit from Kansas. In December, 1859, he was hanged for his treasonable attack at Harper's Ferry.
This sign marks the site of Eureka, a trading center on the Parallel Road which ran from Atchison to the Pike's Peak gold fields.
Erected by The State of Kansas. (Marker Number 17.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans
this page online
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 33.972′ N, 95° 43.991′ W. Marker was near Netawaka, Kansas, in Jackson County. It was at the intersection of U.S. 75 and 286th Road, on the left when traveling south on U.S. 75. Marker is about 2.5 miles south of Netawaka. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Netawaka KS 66516, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Eastern Kansas. It was also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Battle of the Spurs (here, next to this marker); The Wetmore Calaboose (approx. 6.3 miles away); Don Clarence Rising (approx. 6½ miles away); Jackson County Courthouse Horse Water Trough (approx. 7 miles away); Fort Jim Lane (approx. 7 miles away); Edward D. Holton (approx. 7 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 7.1 miles away); Company E, 137th Infantry Regt, 35th Infantry Div (approx. 7.1 miles away).
More about this marker. Marker was replaced in 2012.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2011
2. Battle of the Spurs Marker
Looking north
Also see . . .
1. The Battle of the Spurs and John Brown's Exit from Kansas. Kansas Historical Society website entry (Submitted on March 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Territorial Kansas Online. Internet Archive entry for retired project's homepage. (Submitted on March 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,752 times since then and 96 times this year. Last updated on July 15, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 7, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
