From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The First Battle of Independence was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on August 11, 1862, in Jackson County, Missouri.
Col. John T. Hughes’s Confederate force, including the partisan leader William Quantrill, attacked Independence, Missouri, at dawn, in two columns on different roads. They drove through the town to the Union Army camp, capturing, killing, and scattering the Federal soldiers. Lt. Col. James T. Buel, commander of the Union garrison, attempted to hold out in one of the buildings with some of his men. Soon the building next to them was on fire, threatening them. Buel then, by means of a flag of truce, arranged a meeting with the new Confederate commander, Col. G. W. Thompson, who had replaced Colonel Hughes, killed earlier. Buel surrendered and about 150 of his men were paroled; the others had escaped, hidden, or been killed. Having taken Independence, the Confederate force headed for Kansas City. Confederate dominance in the Kansas City area continued, but not for long.
[edit] Sources
