General Order #11 – Devastating Northwest Missouri
The American Civil War, a conflict that cleaved the nation in two, was not solely defined by grand battles between uniformed armies. It was also a war fought in the shadows, a brutal struggle marked by guerrilla warfare and deep-seated civilian loyalties. Nowhere was this more evident than in the border region between Missouri and Kansas, a volatile territory where neighbor turned against neighbor and the lines between combatant and civilian blurred. It was in this environment of escalating violence and mistrust that General Thomas Ewing Jr. issued General Order No. 11, a decree that would forever scar Northwest Missouri and leave a legacy of bitterness and devastation.
The early years of the Civil War saw Missouri become a hotbed of guerrilla activity. Bands of Confederate sympathizers, often referred to as bushwhackers or guerrillas, found refuge and support amongst the civilian population in several western Missouri counties. From these havens, they launched frequent raids across the state line into Kansas, terrorizing Unionist settlements and disrupting supply lines. These raids were not merely acts of petty theft or isolated skirmishes; they were deliberate acts of violence intended to destabilize the Union presence and intimidate those loyal to the federal government.
The most infamous of these raids was undoubtedly the attack on Lawrence, Kansas, on August 21, 1863, led by the notorious William Quantrill. Quantrill and his raiders descended upon the unsuspecting town, unleashing a wave of unparalleled brutality. The town was systematically looted and burned, and approximately 180 men and boys were killed in cold blood. The Lawrence Massacre sent shockwaves throughout the nation, further inflaming tensions between pro-Union and pro-Confederate factions and deepening the cycle of violence in the border region. The attack was purportedly a retaliatory strike for an earlier Union assault on Osceola, Missouri, led by James H. Lane, two years prior, highlighting the tit-for-tat nature of the conflict.
As the smoldering ruins of Lawrence testified to the devastating power of guerrilla warfare, public outrage in Kansas reached a fever pitch. General Thomas Ewing, in command of the District of the Border and tasked with repelling these guerrilla raids, found himself facing intense criticism for his perceived failure to protect the citizens of Kansas. Whether Ewing and his subordinates were truly negligent is a matter of historical debate, but there is no doubt that he felt the full weight of public anger and condemnation.
In the immediate aftermath of the Lawrence Massacre, under immense pressure to restore order and prevent further attacks, Ewing issued General Order No. 11 on August 25, 1863, just four days after the devastation of Lawrence. This order, a sweeping and drastic measure, mandated the forced evacuation of residents from four Missouri counties: Jackson, Cass, and Bates, as well as a portion of Vernon County. The only exceptions were those residing within one mile of specific Union-held towns and those in a defined area of Kaw Township. This encompassed a vast area of Northwest Missouri, effectively emptying the countryside of its civilian population.
The text of General Order #11 was stark and uncompromising. It gave residents a mere fifteen days to prove their loyalty to the Union by obtaining certificates from the commanding officer of the nearest military station. Those who received these certificates were permitted to relocate to military stations within the district or to other parts of Kansas, excluding the eastern border counties. Those who failed to obtain a certificate, or who were deemed disloyal, were ordered to leave the district entirely. The order further stipulated that all grain and hay within the evacuation zone would be seized by Union forces for military use, and any remaining supplies found after September 9th would be destroyed.
To fully comprehend the scope of General Order #11, it is crucial to understand the context of General Order No. 10, which it supplemented and amended. General Order No. 10 provided for the escort of loyal citizens to military posts and the arrest of anyone, excluding women, who aided guerrillas. Wives and children of known guerrillas, as well as women who actively assisted them, were to be removed from the district or sent to Confederate lines. Paragraph 4 of General Order #11 rescinded a clause in General Order No. 10 that allowed individuals who surrendered their arms to be banished with their families to a location designated by the commanding officer.
The stated objective of General Order #11 was to cut off the supply lines and support networks of the Confederate guerrillas, particularly Quantrill’s Raiders. By removing the civilian population, Ewing hoped to deprive the guerrillas of food, shelter, and intelligence, thus crippling their ability to operate in the region. While the order did succeed in disrupting guerrilla activities to some extent, its implementation had far-reaching and devastating consequences for the civilian population of Northwest Missouri.
In theory, Ewing instructed his troops to refrain from looting and acts of violence during the enforcement of General Order #11. However, in practice, the order unleashed a wave of widespread abuse and destruction. Many of the soldiers tasked with carrying out the evacuation were Kansans, eager to exact revenge on their Missouri neighbors for the raids and violence they had endured. These soldiers, driven by a thirst for retribution, engaged in rampant looting, arson, and intimidation. Homes were burned, farms were ransacked, and livestock was stolen, leaving behind a landscape of desolation and despair. As the residents of Northwest Missouri fled their homes, they witnessed the destruction of their livelihoods and the annihilation of their communities.
Ironically, General Order #11 backfired in many ways. While it aimed to suppress Confederate sympathies, it ultimately served to alienate and enrage the civilian population. Many residents who had previously been neutral or ambivalent towards the Confederate cause were so outraged by the destruction and suffering caused by the order that they became active supporters of the guerrillas. Those who had already aided the guerrillas were even more determined to provide assistance, fueled by a sense of injustice and resentment.
Despite the initial support from the federal government, Ewing faced mounting criticism from politicians and military superiors for the unintended consequences of General Order #11. Some months later, he attempted to mitigate the damage by issuing General Order No. 20, which allowed loyal citizens to return to their homes and organize local defense companies. However, the scars of General Order #11 remained deep and the bitterness lingered for generations.
The legacy of General Order #11 continued to haunt Ewing long after the Civil War ended. At the Democratic National Convention in New York City in 1868, he was defeated in his bid for the vice-presidential nomination, largely due to the controversy surrounding his actions in Missouri. The memory of the forced evacuation and the destruction it wrought proved to be a political liability that he could not overcome.
General Order #11 stands as a stark reminder of the brutal realities of the Civil War and the devastating impact of military policies on civilian populations. It is a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of war and the importance of considering the human cost of military actions. The order’s legacy continues to be debated and remembered in Northwest Missouri, a testament to its enduring impact on the region’s history and identity.