Copyright 2009 The Black Jack Battlefield Trust, Inc.© All rights
reserved
No copying of text, images or otherwise allowed without permission
For a brochure on the Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park click here
To access a map of the Battle of Black Jack titled Prelude to War, published
by the Lawrence Journal-World for the
150th anniversary of the Battle, click here
The Black Jack Battlefield
is in the savannah ecotone located between the eastern deciduous woodland and the tall grass prairie in the central great plains of North America.
Over the past one hundred thousand years, the savannah has maintained it's
identity by the natural influences of fire and grazing.
In the last ten thousand years, human activity has been a minimum influence
on this ecotone.
Within the past three hundred years, influences from the spread of Europeans
from the coastal to the interior regions of North America have manifested
themselves at Black Jack.
Human settlements and agricultural practices have caused major changes
in the natural environment.
The Black Jack Battlefield Trust
is making a concerted effort to restore major portions of the forty acres
to its pristine condition.
Efforts are underway to manage encroaching woody growth and restore native
prairie through reseeding, prescribed fire, and mowing.
The headwaters of northward flowing Captain's Creek is located on the property
and is fed by numerous seeps and springs. There are only rare intervals
when water does not flow along the stream course.
A nature trail has been laid through the wetlands and riparian woodland
along the stream and up onto the restored prairie.
A wide diversity
of plant and animal species continues to be discovered on the property.
A comprehensive list of plant species has been prepared. An inventory of
the spectrum of animal species is in the process of development.
