The Battle of Marais des Cygnes took place on August 30, 1856, during the period of conflict known as Bleeding Kansas. This battle was part of the struggle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the Kansas Territory. The confrontation involved a group of anti-slavery settlers, known as Free Staters, who clashed with pro-slavery forces. The battle occurred near the Marais des Cygnes River in present-day Linn County, Kansas. Although the Free Staters were outnumbered, they managed to resist the pro-slavery forces. This conflict highlighted the intense violence and political turmoil surrounding the debate over slavery in the United States during the mid-19th century.