Throw Back Thursday - General Order No. 11

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On this day August 25th in 1863, Union General Thomas Ewing issued the infamous General Order No. 11 ordering the forced evacuation of Bates, Cass, and parts of Jackson and Vernon counties in an effort to cut off supplies to the guerrillas in the area. 

The subsequent burning of the affected counties earned the area the nicknames, "The Burnt District" and "The Land of Chimneys." As Bates county was the only county without a Union garrison, it was the lone county to be completely depopulated as a result of the order.

Courtesy of Bates County Museum