Camp Defiance (Linn County, Kansas)
Linn County · Kansas · Civil War
History & Significance
In December 1861, the town of Potosi, Kansas, along the Kansas-Missouri border, was attacked by Confederate guerrillas. Col. James Montgomery stationed the Kansas 3rd Regiment about 4 miles to the northeast as a direct response.
Camp Defiance was located on the south side of Mine Creek and just barely inside the Kansas border. Mine Creek provided a natural defense on the camp's north side, as neither man nor horse could have negotiated the water.
The encampment served as a Union garrison point during a period of significant border tensions. Discipline was a major problem at Camp Defiance, as men from the Lane Brigade were in trouble with civilians; unauthorized absences, vandalism, drunkenness and attempted murder were all documented.
Many of the men in camp were ill and some of the troops were short of tents, clothing, arms and other supplies. In March it was decided to abandon Camp Defiance.
Key Facts
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Defiance
- https://legendsofkansas.com/linn-county-kansas/
- https://ozarkscivilwar.org/regions/linn