Tuesday, October 6, 1863
Fresh off his infamous raid on Lawrence, Kansas, William Clarke Quantrill leads his force of 400 bushwhackers against the earth-and-log structure of Fort Blair, outside of Baxter Springs, Kansas. Major General James G. Blunt arrives to intercept Quantrill but mistakes Quantrill's men (many of whom are wearing blue coats) for Union soldiers. Blunt escapes, but 100 federal soldiers are killed.