The undulations in the ground behind this plaque mark the site of the mass burial of 17 men killed at the Battle of Liberty on September 17, 1861. These Federal soldiers came to Liberty to prevent Confederates from joining General Price at the seige of Lexington but were ambushed by the waiting rebels. Their remains were exhumed in 1912 and placed in graves at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. Names of these deceased soldiers are preserved in the Grand River Chapel. "Christ both died and arose that He might be Lord both of the dead and the living" (Rom. 14:7-9)