Near Netawaka in Jackson County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Battle of the Spurs

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 19, 2018

1. Battle of the Spurs Marker

Inscription. One witness to this event later wrote that it was “no joke” to attack old John Brown. The abolitionist inspired such terror that in January 1859, about 1.5 miles north of here, a U.S. marshal fled at the mere sight of him. Brown, escorting 11 slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, was discovered in a cabin on Straight Creek. Marshal John Wood hid in a nearby stream crossing with about 35 deputies, while Freestaters marched overnight from Topeka to support Brown. Even with reinforcements Brown’s party was outnumbered two to one, but he defiantly ordered his men to ford the creek. “Scarcely had the foremost entered the water,” one man recalled, “when the valiant marshal mounted his horse and rode off in haste.” Another remembered: “The closer we got to the ford, the farther they got from it.” Mocking the posse’s retreat, a newspaperman dubbed this the “Battle of the Spurs.” Brown and his party reached Iowa unharmed.

Erected by State of Kansas. (Marker Number 17.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1859.

Location. 39° 33.972′ N, 95° 43.991′ W. Marker is near Netawaka, Kansas, in Jackson County. It is at the intersection of 286th Road and U.S. 75, on the right when traveling west on 286th Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12864 286th Rd, Holton KS 66436, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 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); Livestock Water Trough (approx. 7.2 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of the Spurs (has been replaced with this marker).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 19, 2018

2. Battle of the Spurs Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2024, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 442 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 19, 2018, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.