the marais des cygnes massacre happened on may 19, 1858 near the town of trading post, kansas. it was the last violent episode in the period known as bleeding kansas. border ruffians led by charles hamilton stopped in the small village of trading post in lynn county, kansas on their to west point, missouri. hamilton had previously been driven from his land in lynn county by free-staters and abolitionists. he came back to seek revenge. they captured eleven free-state men, all of whom hamilton had a grudge against. the captives were marched into a nearby ravine where the missourians opened fire on them. the story got national attention in the press. eastern newspapers including the new york times printed the story. anti-slavery groups called the victims martyrs. in 1974, the site of the massacre was designated a national historic landmark.