Marker Logo HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Results contain just this marker . . .
Downtown Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
 

Union Prison Collapse

 
 
Union Prison Collapse Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 19, 2010
1. Union Prison Collapse Marker
Inscription.
Very near here at 1425 Grand Avenue during The Civil War, a tragedy occurred that was to intensify the ferocious hatred of the Border guerrillas for the Union forces. Under Union General Ewing's orders, the guerrillas' women were imprisoned in a large three-storied brick building owned, but not then occupied by artist, George Caleb Bingham. About two o'clock on Friday, August 14, 1863 the weakened building collapsed injuring many of the female inmates. "Christie" McCorkle Kerr, Susan Selvy Vandiver, Arminia Selvy and Josephine Anderson, sister of "Bloody Bill" Anderson, were killed. Also many female relatives of the men with Quantrill were injured. Mary Anderson, Armenia Whitsett Gilvey, Mollie Grindstaff, and Nanie Harris, all injured, had close relatives with Quantrill and the Younger brothers.

On the news of the tragedy reaching Quantrill's men in the brush, they were wild. Also on August 18th, General Ewing issued General Order No.10, banishing the guerrillas' families from the state. Coupled with the death and injury in the collapse, then banishment of their women, the guerrillas seemed to scream for retaliatory measures.

Friday, August 21, 1863 dawned hot and clear as Quantrill, with 310 men perpetrated the Lawrence Massacre. In two hours close to 150 male citizens of Lawrence were killed, several only young
Paid Advertisement
Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
Click or scan to see
this page online
boys. Not one Lawrence woman was injured. 185 buildings were destroyed. Eighty widows and 250 orphans were left crying in the dusty streets. By 9 o'clock the massacre was over and the guerrillas retreated. A tragedy here and General Order No. 10 were blamed for the Lawrence Massacre.
 
Erected by Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal OrganizationsSettlements & SettlersWar, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Kansas City - Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1425.
 
Location. 39° 5.774′ N, 94° 34.853′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County. It is in Downtown Kansas City. Marker is at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Truman Road North Drive, on the right when traveling north on Grand Boulevard. Marker is south across Truman Road from the Sprint Center, adjacent to I-70. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1407 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City MO 64106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Rockhill Nelson (approx. ¼ mile away); Kansas City Municipal Auditorium (approx.
Union Prison Collapse Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 19, 2010
2. Union Prison Collapse Marker
Looking east
0.3 miles away); Aladdin Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Convention Center (approx. 0.4 miles away); Phoenix Society for Individual Freedom / North American Conference of Homophile Organizations (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old French Kansas City (approx. 0.4 miles away); "Bronco Buster" (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.
 
Also see . . .
1. Collapse of the Military Prison in 1918 Kansas and Kansans. Kansas GenWeb entry (Submitted on April 30, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.) 

2. Quantrill and the Lawrence Massacre. Kansas Territory: Crucible of American Experience website entry (Submitted on April 30, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.) 

3. Ladd's Description of the Lawrence Massacre. Kansas Historical Society website entry (Submitted on April 30, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.) 
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,386 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Share this page.  
Share on Tumblr
m=42056

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisements
Mar. 28, 2024