Battle to Reach Swan Swamp

Steel Shadow Art at Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site 

Mine Creek to Marais des Cygnes, by way of Pleasanton, Worland, and Foster

A bright and sunny day promising temperatures near 32°C led to wandering a civil war battlefield in east central Kansas, followed by visiting a few family graveyards and hometowns of decades past.
The first encounter of the day, Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site in Linn County, Kansas. It honors the victory of outnumbered Union forces of 1864, in what is considered one of the largest cavalry battles of the Civil War; particularly, a certain 20-year old Private Dunlavy of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry Regiment, who captured Confederate Major General Marmaduke.

Prairie Trail at Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site

There is not much there really, beyond a relatively freshly burned open field, and a lot of trail-side reading. A sign indicated the direction of a Confederate Memorial (leaving state property). Nothing appeared in immediate view, and lacking any sort of map, the main path along the Prairie Trail suggested the preferred route on this particular outing.

Linn County Courthouse in Kansas

A quick hop to the east, the Linn County Courthouse stood basking in the warm sun of springtime in eastern Kansas. It was built in 1885, using native limestone, and designed by a Topeka architect.

W.E. “Bunker” Hill Community Center in Pleasanton

Another moment down the street from the courthouse, a structure recalled memories of family reunions long ago.

Looking south across Mine Creek Bridge

A brief back-track along the previous route, and crossing Mine Creek Bridge (1927), a couple of turns were missed, but not forgotten. The grid roads of Kansas are sometimes just too predictable.

Fairmont Church and Littell Cemetery

The Littell Cemetery appeared soon enough, as it had in years past, just as family arrived, proving the best resting place for most. There was little success on this visit. Those called upon could not be located on this occasion.

First Baptist Church of Worland, Missouri

Checking on relatives from about the same period, across the state line, their town stood in ruins. Only a handful of folks call it home now, and the routing of secondary transportation routes appear to have aided in its obsolescence.

Worland is a peaceful little spot though, and those that remain would very likely have it no other way.

Walnut Creek near Foster, MO

The area hosts nature, for the most part. Walnut Creek quietly makes it way through the area, on its way to the Marais des Cygnes River. Many of the tiny towns in this part of the world posses similar traits.

Foster Grade & High School

Foster School once served the community sufficiently. It stands empty, boarded, and mostly forgotten. Later attempts to find any information about the site yielded nothing.

Salem Cemetery

Relatives down the road had witnessed a steady and continuous development in their neighborhood. All the new homes made it impossible to locate them.

Drainage Ditch to the Marais des Cygnes along SW CR4647

The Marais des Cygnes River, which translates to Swan Swamp, interrupts routes north of the previous destination, but not all. A good navigator and atlas prevented an unnecessary detour south.

Marais des Cygnes River from SW CR4647

Swan Swamp was not quite as scenic as originally thought. Years of flood management has obviously made it a shadow of its former self. The drainage ditch put on a better show.

Random field west of Butler, MO

The ensuing dirt road presented a few minor challenges, but offered up a vistas lacking obstruction of any sort. After kicking up the dust and a few rocks, pavement stretched out to Butler. Relatives interred there were much easier to locate. Grounds keepers identified their exact location, making the day a partial success on that specific front. Setting a course for home base, times gone by were left far behind once again.