Confederate Memorial
Osceola, St. Clair County, Missouri

In memory of citizens of Osceola murdered by Kansas Jayhawkers and the Union Army.

In June 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued an order making the U.S. Senator from Kansas, James H. Lane, a
Brigadier General.
In September 1861, Gen. Lane and his rabble army of Kansas Jayhawkers, under questionable authority of Mr.
Lincoln, invaded Missouri. His objective was to pillage and destroy peaceable, prosperous Osceola.
On September 21 & 22, the Jayhawkers invaded, occupied, sacked, and torched Osceola. Twelve male citizens sought
to protect one of the banks from being looted and ultimately burned. Gen. Lane arrested these citizens for "treason" and,
by way of a "drumhead court-martial", appointed himself prosecutor and judge, condemning the twelve to death.
He mustered a makeshift firing squad, in which he himself took part, murdering all but three of the twelve men,
thinking all were dead.
 

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