Marais des Cygnes Massacre Site

The Marais des Cygnes massacre (, also ) is considered the last significant act of violence in Bleeding Kansas prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War. On May 19, 1858, approximately 30 men led by Charles Hamilton, a Georgia native and proslavery leader, crossed into the Kansas Territory from Missouri. They arrived at Trading Post, Kansas, in the morning and then headed back to Missouri. Along the way, they captured 11 Free-Staters, none of whom were armed and, it is said, none of whom had participated in the ongoing violence. Most of the men knew Hamilton and apparently did not realize he meant them harm. These prisoners were led into a defile, where Hamilton ordered his men to shoot, firing the first and last bullet himself. Five men were killed and five severely wounded. Only one Free-Stater escaped injury.Hamilton and his gang returned to Missouri. Only one man was ever prosecuted for his involvement in the massacre: William Griffith of Bates County, Missouri. In the spring of 1863, Griffith was recognized and arrested. That October, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Griffith was hanged on October 30, 1863. Charles Hamilton returned to Georgia, where he died in 1880. The incident horrified the U.S. and inspired John Greenleaf Whittier to write a poem on the murders, "Le Marais du Cygne", which appeared in the September 1858 The Atlantic Monthly.

Homer Township is one of twenty-four townships in Bates County, Missouri, and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 449.

Hog Branch is a stream in Bates County, Missouri and Linn County, Kansas. It is a tributary of Mulberry Creek. The stream headwaters are in eastern Linn County, Kansas, just west of the Missouri-Kansas border at 38°18′05″N 94°36′49″W and it flows southeast into Bates County, Missouri. The stream flows southeast to its confluence with Mulberry Creek about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Amoret at 38°16′08″N 94°33′52″W.Hog Branch was named for the hogs along its course.

Amsterdam is a city in western Bates County, Missouri, and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the United States. The population was 242 at the 2010 census.

West Point Township is one of twenty-four townships in Bates County, Missouri, and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 573.West Point Township took its name from the community of West Point, which is now considered a ghost town.

Vinton is an extinct town in Bates County, in the U.S. state of Missouri.A post office called Vinton was established in 1871, and remained in operation until 1904. The community was named after the local Vinton family.

Plum Branch is a stream in Bates County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is a tributary of Miami Creek. Plum Branch was so named on account of the plum trees in the area.

Merwin is a village in Bates County, Missouri, and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the United States. The population was 69 at the 2020 census.

Linn Valley is a city in Linn County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 956.

West Boone Township is one of twenty-four townships in Bates County, Missouri, and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 582.West Boone Township derives its name from the pioneer Daniel Boone.

Jingo is an unincorporated community in Miami County, Kansas, United States. It is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

La Cygne (pronounced lay SEEN) is a city in Linn County, Kansas, United States, and situated along the Marais des Cygnes River. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,050. The city is named after the Marais des Cygnes River which is a French translation of an Osage appellation meaning "marsh of the swans".