Camp Union, Kansas City, Missouri – Legends of America
Okay, history buffs and casual readers alike, let’s take a little trip back in time to Kansas City, Missouri, during the Civil War era. We’re talking about Camp Union, also known as Fort Union, a place that played a pivotal role in this city’s story.
A City Divided
When the Civil War kicked off in April 1861, it was a real game-changer for the City of Kansas (what we now know as Kansas City). You see, even before the war, the city had already seen its fair share of trouble during the "Border War" leading up to Kansas becoming a "Free-State."
But now, neutrality was out the window. The people of Kansas City were split right down the middle: some were die-hard Union supporters, while others were all about the Confederacy. Imagine the tension – neighbors, friends, even family members taking opposite sides! It was a tough time for the city.
Initially, the bigwigs in Kansas City wanted to stay out of the fray, focusing on keeping the local economy afloat. But politics are politics, and things got complicated fast.
Missouri’s Tricky Position
Missouri held a Constitutional Convention just before the war started, and they decided not to secede from the Union. Officially, the state claimed to be "neutral." However, the governor, Claiborne Jackson, was secretly rooting for the secessionists. So, from April to June, Missouri basically had two governments, with the pro-Confederate folks running things from the state capital. It was a messy situation, to say the least.
The First Shots (Sort Of)
Just days after the famous battle at Fort Sumter in South Carolina, Governor Jackson ordered the state militia to raid a Union Arsenal in Liberty, Missouri. The Southern sympathizers made off with a bunch of muskets, cannons, and ammo. This was basically the first act of aggression against the federal government in Missouri during the Civil War.
Enter Mayor Van Horn
Before all this chaos, Robert T. Van Horn, a newspaper guy and a staunch Unionist, became the mayor of Kansas City. He won a tight election by playing it somewhat moderate – supporting pro-slavery views while still pledging loyalty to the Union. But when the war started, Van Horn joined the Union Army as a lieutenant colonel.
The pro-Southern folks weren’t too happy about Van Horn’s Union leanings. Governor Jackson even told him to resign as mayor. But Van Horn wasn’t having it. He got a "major" rank from the Union Army and stayed put as mayor. Talk about dedication!
Raising the Stakes (and Flags)
Things escalated when some Kansas City residents who supported the Confederacy raised a Confederate flag at a prominent intersection. Van Horn was furious and saw it as a blatant sign of Confederate influence. He called in Union reinforcements from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Kansas City Under Siege
In preparation for war, newspapers shut down, businesses closed, and many people fled the city for safety. The population dwindled. Bands of Missouri "bushwhackers" (basically, Confederate guerrillas) started looting and causing trouble. At the same time, "Jayhawkers" and "Redlegs" from Kansas saw an opportunity to crush the town at the mouth of the Kansas River. It was a chaotic and dangerous time.
Camp Union is Established
On June 14, Union troops marched into Kansas City to secure it for the Union. Captain W. E. Prince led the force, which included infantry and cavalry. Van Horn also created a local defense unit called the "Home Guard" to help the Union troops.
The soldiers initially set up shop on Walnut Street before moving to 10th Street and Broadway. This location was the site of an unfinished hotel called the Broadway Hotel, which had been under construction since 1857. Work had stopped because of the war, so the troops turned it into Camp Union.
They built earthworks around the site, and the unfinished hotel foundation became a stable for the cavalry horses. Barracks and other buildings were built inside the earthworks. They even installed cannons to defend the camp. In addition to the camp itself, there were quartermaster’s stables across the street, a warehouse on the riverbank, and a hospital in the Farmer’s Hotel on Grand Avenue.
Keeping the Peace (Sort Of)
In the months and years that followed, the Union soldiers worked to suppress Confederate sympathizers in the city. The cannons were used to warn people of danger.
According to Laura Coates Reed, daughter of Kersey and Sarah Coates: "I remember it well, with its old cannon that always looked so formidable, its adjoining barracks, and the dear old flag that waved so proudly over all."
Meanwhile, Major Robert Van Horn led the 25th Regiment of the Missouri Volunteer Infantry. But he was wounded at the Battle of Lexington and captured by the Missouri State Guard. He was later released as part of an agreement between Union and Confederate generals. After returning home, he was elected to the Missouri Senate and then became Mayor of Kansas City again.
The Raiders and the Economy
Confederate raiders continued to threaten Kansas City and the surrounding area. Secessionist guerrillas disrupted trade and ravaged farmland. While the Union held the city, trade and travel shifted to other towns in Kansas, like Leavenworth and Atchison.
The Battle of Westport
In October 1864, General Sterling Price suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Westport, which took place in present-day Kansas City, Missouri. This loss led to the collapse of the Army of Missouri and ended any hope of bringing Missouri into the Confederacy.
From Camp Union to Hotel
After the Civil War ended in 1867, Camp Union was dismantled. Construction resumed on the Broadway Hotel, but it didn’t do well. Kersey Coates bought it in 1870 and renamed it the Coates House Hotel. After Coates died, his family tore down the original hotel and built a new one on the same site in 1888.
So, there you have it – the story of Camp Union in Kansas City, a place that played a vital role in a city divided during a tumultuous time in American history.