The First Battle of Independence was fought at Independence and nearby locations on Aug. 11, 1862, when Confederate forces under Col. John T. Hughes, joined by Col. Upton Hays and guerrilla leader William C. Quantrill, launched a dawn surprise attack on the Union garrison and compelled its surrender in the worst Federal defeat in Missouri since the Battle of Lexington the previous September. The battle grew out of a broader Confederate effort in the Trans-Mississippi theater under Gen. Thomas C. Hindman to open a third front west of the Mississippi by sending notable Missourians back into the state to recruit men while guerrilla warfare distracted Union forces. Hays returned to Jackson County in late June to raise cavalry, coordinated with Quantrill to occupy Federal troops, and by early August had gathered about 150 men near Lee's Summit. Hughes arrived on Aug. 1 with 75 men, feared the large Federal garrison at Independence would block his movement north of the Missouri River, and decided to strike before Union commander Col. James T. Buel could attack the Confederate camp. On Aug. 10 the combined force of about 400 men moved to Blue Springs to stage the assault, while Buel defended Independence with between 400 and 500 men but left them dangerously dispersed between headquarters, other buildings, the jail, and a tent camp on the western edge of the city. At 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 11 the Confederates entered town, passed near Buel's headquarters before being recognized, and soon forced Capt. W. H. Rodewald and his men into the headquarters building, where Quantrill's men pinned them down with heavy fire. Hughes's main force then reached the Union camp undetected, opened a devastating volley into the tents of sleeping Federals, and drove Capt. Jacob Axline's men to rally behind a nearby stone fence, from which they repelled repeated attacks. Hughes was killed leading a charge, his successor Col. G. W. Thompson was wounded and disabled, and Hays then took command, halted further charges, and continued the firefight. As Axline prepared to move toward the square, Buel ordered surrender after Quantrill threatened to burn a nearby building and trap the men in the spreading fire. The battle left 26 Federals dead and 74 wounded, with 11 of the wounded later dying, while about 150 troops surrendered and others escaped; the Union commanders Buel and Breckinridge were later tried for conspiracy and cowardice but not convicted. Confederate losses were also severe, with 23 killed and nine mortally wounded, including ten officers and Hughes among the dead, but the victors captured enough arms and ammunition to equip Hays's regiment and carried off 20 wagonloads of plunder. Five days later the two sides fought again at Lone Jack, where Confederate victory also brought heavy casualties and little advantage, and soon afterward Confederate forces and recruits withdrew to Arkansas in the face of a Union buildup. Quantrill and his guerrillas played a crucial role by scouting Union strength and positions, guiding Hughes's force to the field, and helping force the surrender; on Aug. 15 they were mustered into Confederate service as partisan rangers, after which they continued their deadly guerrilla war in Missouri.
