"This very well documented narrative by Mr. Petersen is the best account of what led up to, and what occurred, at the Lawrence, Kansas, raid that I've ever encountered."-Duncan Hansen, author, A Reunion in Death "Petersen's well-documented accounting of the times . . . sheds an enlightened view of what happened and why for the first time."-James C. Sterling, professor and Missouri Community Newspaper Management chair, Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri When William Clarke Quantrill raided Lawrence, Kansas, on August 21, 1863, a bloody massacre ensued. No account has given an objective viewpoint of the often misunderstood and incorrectly reported Raid on Lawrence until now. Seven chapters explore the details of the raid and its causes. Though Quantrill's troops were accused of murder and robbery, Petersen proves that the men directed their operations on militiamen. He also argues that Lawrence was a viable military target, because it was a station for Jayhawkers and a supply house. Quantrill at Lawrence: The Untold Story brings the culmination of events into focus, offering firsthand accounts from those embroiled in the border conflict, and identifies the contribution of certain individuals. Such warriors as James Lane, Charles Jennison, and George Hoyt are brought to life through powerful portraits. With maps and more than sixty photographs, this book covers every aspect of the much-debated Civil War campaign.
