James Lane — Was He a Military Officer Before Lawrence is about the burning of Osceola, Missouri. It is not a indepth investigation into the the life of James Lane. Yet it is almost impossible to avoid the controversy that surrounds this man, least of which was whether he was actually a military officer in…
Category: Missouri Chronicles
Before Lawrence
The Forward: Why was Before Lawrence written One of the darkest days of the Civil War was on August 21, 1863. Riding into the town of Lawrence, Kansas were a ruthless band of pro-Southern guerrilla fighters led by William Quantrill. Within hours, 150 men and boys would be executed and a quarter of the town…