12-Site Civil War Tour
After the Burning, Union officials determined that Humboldt
needed protection against possible further Confederate attack, and Camp Hunter/Logtown
was established at what is now South Park. Humboldt's Civil War Days
is held triennially at South Park, featuring troop encampments, reenactments
of the Raid and Burning of Humboldt, and the Court-Martial of Private Alexander
Driscoll, member of Kansas 7th Volunteer Cavalry (Jayhawkers). Next CWD event
is June 9-10-11, 2006.
Visit Humboldt Historical Museum at 2nd and Neosho. Open weekends between
Memorial Day and the 2nd weekend in October or call for appointment: 620-473-2250.
Ask about viewing the DVD: "Tracing Trails of Blood on Ice:
Opothleyahola's Great Escape!"
Click
on the image above for larger view.
Creek leader Opothleyahola courageously led 10,000 Indians and 600 Black slaves and freedmen from Confederate Indian Territory to freedom in Kansas in the most bitter winter on record 1861-62. Out of 7000 survivors, 1000 Indians and Blacks volunteered to form the 1st Volunteer Indian Home Guard Regiment. They marched 4 abreast from LeRoy to Camp Hunter, Humboldt. From here, they were sent to Baxter Springs for training before returning to Indian Territory to rescue kin still suffering harassment under Confederate control. Lincoln's papers contain reports of their valiant fighting in border wars against Confederates in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).