Union Regiments by State

Kansas

Source: The Union Army, Vol. IV. Madison, Wisconsin: Federal Publishing Company, 1908.


Military Affairs in Kansas
1861-65

The adoption of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in May, 1854, abrogated the agreement of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, prohibiting slavery north of the line 360 30', and left the question of slavery or no slavery to the people of the respective territories when they should come to frame their state constitutions. In this act Stephen A. Douglas gave concrete expression to the doctrine of popular sovereignty, declaring that his main desire was to take from Congress the decision of a local domestic question, and leave it to the people vitally interested. The act sowed the wind, and the whirlwind was not long in coming. It was regarded throughout the North as the very extravagance of aggression on the part of the slave interest, the very refinement of bad faith, the expression of a determined purpose to force slavery upon Kansas, and upon every territory of the United States. Its direct result was to precipitate an even more violent and widespread discussion of the slavery question than had ever before been known in the country. In Kansas itself, the result was seven long years of bloody strife between the Free-state and the Pro-slavery settlers for the control of the new territory. Civil war in Kansas was but the angry prelude to the War of the Rebellion. With the admission of Kansas into the Union as a free state under the Wyandotte constitution, January 29, 1861, the first decisive victory against the slave power within the nation was gained, but the state was not admitted until after seven states had seceded from the Union, and most of the other Southern senators had withdrawn (January 21, 1861), from the United States senate.

In December 1859, at an election held under the Wyandotte constitution, a legislature, state officers and a representative in Congress had been chosen. When Kansas was admitted as a state in 1861, under the above constitution, the officers elected in 1859 became the first state officials. Governor Charles Robinson, who had been so long and prominently identified with the Free-soil movement in Kansas, was at the head of the state ticket chosen in 1859, and assumed the duties of his office February 9, 1861. He promptly asked the legislature 188 to meet on March 26, and also appointed M. F. Conway, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Henry J. Adams and James C. Stone to represent Kansas in the "Peace Conference" at Washington. Both Ewing and Stone voted for peace and compromise.

Kansas had thus barely begun her statehood at the outbreak of the Civil war and she entered on the work of state organization amid the deep mutterings which betokened the near approach of the great conflict between the sections. As her own soil had been rent by factional strife since the beginning of her organization as a territory, and as the infant state was now destined to pass through four more years of bitter warfare, Kansas may be said to have been conceived in bitterness and strife and cradled in war. She well earned her appellation of "bleeding Kansas." Moreover, in addition to the years of domestic embroilment and anxiety, Kansas had just passed through one of the greatest natural calamities recorded in the nation's history. From June, 1859, to the fall of 1860, a period of over a year, not a shower fell to soak the parched earth. Almost every form of vegetation except the prairie grass perished and much suffering prevailed. It is estimated that 20,000 people left the territory during this awful time, while only the generous supplies of money, provisions, clothing and seed wheat, received from the northern states, warded off still greater suffering among those who remained. Despite her own internal difficulties Kansas maintained an attitude of unswerving loyalty to the Federal government throughout the Civil war, and the first state message of her first great war-governor gave forth no uncertain sound. Governor Robinson concluded an able and ringing message with the words: "The position of the Federal executive is a trying one. The government, when assumed by him, was rent in twain; the cry against coercion was heard in every quarter; his hands were tied, and he had neither men nor money, nor the authority to use either. While it is the duty of every loyal state to see that equal and exact justice is done to the citizens of every other state, it is equally its duty to sustain the chief executive of the nation in defending the government from foes, whether from within or without—and Kansas, though last and least of the states in the Union, will ever be ready to answer the call of her country."

Governor Robinson impressed one as having most of the qualifications of a great leader. "He was tall, well-proportioned, commanding in appearance, yet winning in manner; with a clear, keen, blue eye; a countenance that denoted culture and intellect, and a will that few would care to run against. He would pass anywhere as a good-looking man, and in any crowd would command attention. With perfect control of himself, he could rule in the midst of a storm. His magnetism would inspire men to do and to dare in the cause of human liberty and the establishment of the great principles of republican government." Fortunate it was that the services of this remarkable man were appreciated, and an admiring constituency saw fit to elect him to the highest office within the gift of the people, that of the first governor of the state. In the period of crisis which ensued he took high rank among the war governors of the loyal states.

The Federal census of 1860 gave Kansas a population of 143,643 inhabitants, including Indians, but this total was much diminished by reason of the drought of 1860, from which the state had barely emerged when the war began. Consequently her population in 1861 numbered only a few over 107,000. The total number of men called for by the president of the United States from Kansas during the war was 16,654; the state not only supplied her full quota under all calls, but furnished a surplus of 3,443 men, or 20,097 men in all. The report of the provost-marshal-general is authority for the statement that Kansas lost 61.01 men killed in action and died from wounds out of each 1,000, which is in excess of the proportion furnished to the item of mortality by any of the other loyal states; Vermont ranking second with a loss per 1,000 of 58.22. It is also worthy of note that that no bounty was ever offered by the state, nor did any city or county offer a bounty to secure recruits. The state's quotas were always promptly filled up to the end of the war.

The first state legislature convened at Topeka, pursuant to call, March 26, 1861, and continued in session until June 4. The legislature had an overwhelming Republican majority on joint ballot and on April 4 elected as the first two U. S. senators from the state, James H. Lane and Samuel C. Pomeroy— Martin F. Conway then serving as her representative in Congress. Among the important acts passed was one authorizing the issue of $150,000 in bonds to provide for the running expenses of the state, and one providing for the organization of a state militia. Under the latter act, which was passed only a week after President Lincoln issued his first call for 75,000 soldiers, militia companies were rapidly formed in nearly every county in the state. Altogether 180 companies were organized, divided into two divisions, four brigades and eleven regiments. April 17, five days after Sumter was fired upon, Captain Samuel Walker of Lawrence tendered to Governor Robinson a company of 100 men. In fact many militia companies were immediately offered from all parts of the state. Although under the first call for troops by Lincoln, none were allotted to Kansas, she nevertheless furnished two regiments—the ist and 2nd Kansas infantry. Nowhere did the spirit of loyalty rule stronger than in the legislature itself. A company was formed of its members and officers, which drilled daily under the instruction of a member with some previous military training. But the sentiment for the Union and "coercion" was by no means universal throughout the state. This was only natural in view of the peculiar manner in which the state was settled, and the strength of the slaveholding interests within her borders. Besides, she was immediately adjacent to the great slaveholding state of Missouri, which tended strongly to the support of the Southern cause. When the first meeting was held in Atchison to form a military company, "coercion" was voted down and the Union company was organized with difficulty. On the other hand, when the steamboat "New Sam Gaty" arrived at Leavenworth from St. Louis April 13, with a Confederate flag flying, an angry crowd gathered on the levee and compelled the captain to haul down the traitorous emblem and replace it with the Stars and Stripes.

The fact was soon recognized that the war was not to be a short one, and the call for three months' militia was not long after followed by calls for volunteers for three years or during the war. Kansas responded to each of these early calls with twice as many men as were demanded. During the term of her first governor, or until January 12, 1863, Kansas was called upon to provide 5,006 men, and 10,639 were furnished. During the administration of her second governor, Thomas Carney, the quotas assigned to Kansas amounted to 11,654 men, but as the state was already credited with a large surplus, she was only required to furnish a total of 9,558 men. A complete list of the volunteer organizations sworn into the service of the United States includes the following: The ist, 2nd, 3d,. 4th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 17th infantry; the 1st and 2nd Colored infantry; the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th cavalry; the ist, 2nd and 3d batteries of light artillery, and an independent Colored battery. Many of these citizen soldiers of Kansas had become inured to war during territorial days in their struggles with the "border ruffians" and were now only too glad to offer their services to the state and nation in the greater struggle which was at hand. But while the state as a whole was animated by a spirit of loyalty and patriotism to the Union and gave an eager response to the call to arms, many who had gained an unenviable notoriety during the border struggles now came to the surface once more and made of the war an occasion for a renewal of killing, bushwhacking and plundering in the border counties of Missouri and Kansas. The secessionists were struggling to carry Missouri out of the Union, and the people of Kansas were much aroused. They remembered the wrongs and indignities sustained at the hands of the border ruffians, most of whom were inhabitants of Missouri, and some were now stimulated to acts of revenge, resulting in a guerrilla warfare all along the border. Armed bands of bushwhackers visited the towns, plundered the stores, laid the prominent citizens under contribution, or took them prisoners, and sometimes murdered them in cold blood. Of course the counties distant from the border were less disturbed, though occasional outrages were even perpetrated there. Says one who lived through these scenes: "For Kansas, the Civil war was but the continuation of the border troubles. The embers of that struggle had not been covered with the ashes of forgetfulness when they blazed again into direst flames. Along the border the war assumed the character of a vendetta; a war of revenge, and over all the wide field a war of combats; of ambushes and ambuscades, of swift advances and hurried retreats; of spies and scouts; of stealth, darkness and murder. All along the way men riding solitary were shot down; little companies killed by their camp fires; men fighting on both sides neither asking, giving, nor expecting mercy." The authorities in both states were desirous of protecting their citizens from spoliation, and indeed succeeded for a time, the governor of Kansas returning the spoils taken from Missouri, and authorities in Missouri reciprocating the favor to citizens of Kansas. It was this condition of affairs which tinged the war in the west with extreme bitterness and caused the Kansas troops proper, who were fighting gallantly in the field to be subjected to much harsh criticism.

The 1st and 2nd infantry left the state early in June, 1861, and on the 17th, Governor Robinson called for more troops, under the second call of the president. The Confederate General Price and a strong force was advancing on Fort Scott, and this news stimulated the formation of the new regiments. By the end of August there had been collected at Fort Scott a force which came to be known as Lane's brigade, made up of the 3d and 4th infantry, and the 5th, 6th and 7th cavalry, numbering in all some 2,500 men. The 1st Kansas battery was also attached to the brigade. A part of this force, under Colonels Montgomery, Jennison and Johnson, and Captains Moonlight, Ritchie, Williams and Stewart, had a sharp skirmish with the advance of General Price, under General Rains, at Dry Wood, Missouri, 12 miles east of Fort Scott, September 2. Later the Union forces retired from Fort Scott in the direction of the Little Osage and built Fort Lincoln. When Price abandoned his first attempted invasion of Kansas, and moved to Lexington, Missouri, Lane's brigade operated on his left flank and kept him out of Kansas.

In January, 1862, between 6,000 and 7,000 Indians in the Indian Territory, chiefly belonging to the tribes of the Creeks, Seminoles and Cherokees, who had remained loyal to the Federal government, sought refuge across the border in southern Kansas. Large numbers of these refugees were encamped at Leroy, Coffey county, and suffered greatly during the winter. In the spring and summer there were organized from these Indians three mounted regiments, which were officered mostly from Kansas regiments. They were known as the 1st, 2nd and 3d Indian home guards and were formed into a brigade under the command of Colonel William A. Phillips.

When Major-General David Hunter, who had been assigned to the command of the Department of Kansas, arrived at Fort Leavenworth, he found the companies comprising the 3d and 4th regiments below the maximum and recommended to the governor the consolidation of the two regiments into one, which was done; and the new organization was designated the 10th infantry. The 10th should have been numbered the 3d after the consolidation, but the matter was not attended to and the numbers 3d and 4th do not again make their appearance in the military history of the state.

During the winter 1861-62 there was a great deal of talk about what the newspapers called General Lane's "Southern Expedition." It was Senator Lane's purpose to organize and equip a large force under his own command for the purpose of conducting a campaign south to the Gulf. The proposed expedition seems to have never received the sympathy or cooperation of General Hunter, and on February 26, 1862, Lane wrote to the legislature that he had failed to make a satisfactory arrangement with General Hunter; that he would not lead the expedition, and that he had resigned his commission as brigadier-general and would return to the senate. The expedition was finally abandoned.

During the year 1862 the president commissioned the following Kansas officers brigadier-generals: Robert B. Mitchell, James G. Blunt, Albert L. Lee and G. W. Deitzler. Colonel Thomas Ewing jr. was also commissioned a brigadier-general in 1863, and Colonel Powell Clayton in 1864. On November 29, 1862, Brigadier-General Blunt was promoted major-general, and rendered distinguished service to the state and nation during the year. On May 2 1862, he was placed in command of the Department of Kansas, and on August 8 left to assume personal command of the troops in the field. From Fort Scott he moved southward through Missouri and Arkansas and won victories at Newtonia, Old Fort Wayne, Cane Hill and Prairie Grove. In the last named action the combined forces of Generals Blunt and Herron defeated and scattered a greatly superior force of the enemy under General Hindman and won a notable victory. On this field were present the largest number of Kansas troops yet drawn together, there being with Blunt part of the 2nd, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 13th Kansas regiments, and three Kansas batteries, commanded by Smith, Tenney and Hopkins.

At the second state election in November 1862, state officers, a legislature and member of Congress were elected. Thomas Carney, the Republican candidate, was elected governor for two years, receiving a majority of 4,545 over his opponent W. R. Wagstaff, Union Democrat. A. C. Wilder, Republican, was chosen member of Congress and the legislature was again overwhelmingly Republican. On January 14, 1863, the senate unanimously passed a resolution thanking the officers and soldiers of Blunt's command for their victories at Newtonia, Old Fort Wayne, Cane Hill, Prairie Grove and Van Buren.

During 1863 the 14th and 15th regiments of cavalry were organized; the organization of the 1st Colored Kansas was completed and another colored regiment, the 83d U. S., was organized and mustered into service November 1. Kansas troops had particularly distinguished themselves in the operations in Missouri, Arkansas and the Indian Territory. The state was exposed to attack and predatory raids on its eastern, southern and western borders, and was called upon to repel not only the regular forces of the Confederacy, but also Indians, and irregular bodies of guerrillas. Numerous minor raids by these predatory rangers occurred in the border counties in 1861 and 1862, but the most disastrous visitation of this nature took place in 1863. This was the celebrated Quantrill massacre at Lawrence August 21, wherein about 150 unarmed and defenseless men were cruelly slain, leaving some 80 widows and 250 orphans. The Rev. Richard Cordley, pastor of the Lawrence Congregational church at the time, has left the following account of the raid: "On the 20th of August, a body of between 300 and 400 crossed the state line at sundown. Riding all night, they reached Lawrence at daybreak. They dashed into the town with a yell, shooting at everybody they saw. The surprise was complete. The hotel, and every point where a rally would be possible, was seized at once, and the ruffians began the work of destruction. Some of the citizens escaped into the fields and ravines, and some into the woods, but the larger portion could not escape at all. Numbers of these were shot down as they were found, and often brutally mangled. In many cases the bodies were left in the burning buildings and consumed. The rebels entered the place about five o'clock, and left between nine and ten. Troops for the relief of the town were within six miles when the rebels went out. One hundred and forty-three were left dead in the streets, and about 30 desperately wounded. The main street was all burned except two stores. Thus, about 75 business houses were destroyed, and nearly 200 residences. They destroyed something near $2,000,000 of property, left 80 widows and 250 orphans, as the result of their four hours' work. Scenes of brutality were enacted, which have never been surpassed in savage warfare. The picture is redeemed only by the fact that women and children were in no case hurt." The first news of the massacre was brought to Leavenworth by James F. Legate. The town was without defenders, as the few recruits there in camp had not yet received their arms, and were practically wiped out by the first volley, while the militia company of the place was widely scattered, and their arms were stored in the armory. It took nearly a week to gather up and bury the dead, 53 bodies being laid in one trench. A memorial monument was raised to the victims in 1895, "Dedicated to the memory of the 150 citizens, who, defenseless, fell victims to the inhuman ferocity of border guerrillas, led by the infamous Quantrill in his raid upon Lawrence, August 21, 1863." Quantrill had at one time been a resident of Lawrence. Senator Lane was in the town at the time, but succeeded in avoiding the raiders, and as Quantrill's force drew off, he and Lieut. John K. Rankin hastily gathered together a small force and started in pursuit, but only succeeded in keeping the enemy moving. Much indignation was felt by the citizens of Kansas at the alleged remissness of General Ewing, then in command of the Department of Kansas and Western Missouri. The state, "though war-scourged and poor," came promptly to the relief of the stricken city, the citizens of Leavenworth alone raising a relief fund of $10,000.

Only two days after the attack, General Ewing issued General Order No. 11, which practically depopulated some of the border counties of Missouri, and forced both loyal and disloyal citizens to vacate and leave their homes. Those who could satisfy the military authorities of their loyalty were permitted to remove to any military station in the district, or to any part of Kansas except the counties on the eastern border of the state, while all others were required to remove from the district entirely. This was a harsh measure, but seemed to be necessary in order to clear the border region of its disaffected elements.

Quantrill and his band of marauders still hovered around the Kansas border, and on October 6,1863,about 250 of the guerrillas suddenly fell upon General Blunt and his little cavalry escort of about 100 men, near Baxter Springs, and killed 80 of the party, including several civilians. General Blunt rallied some 15 of his men and by dint of great coolness and courage, held off the foe and escaped. Among the killed was Major H. Z. Curtis, son of Major-General S. R. Curtis. The affair took place near the little post known as Fort Blair, which was next assailed, but the enemy was gallantly repelled with loss by Lieut. Pond of the 3d Wisconsin cavalry.

On October 6, 1863, the provost-marshal-general stated that Kansas had furnished for the United States service 4,440 men in excess of all calls. Her white soldiers numbered 9,613. This statement did not include the colored regiment, nor 2,262 Indians enrolled in the three regiments in 1862.

At the beginning of the year 1864 Kansas had contributed nearly 14,000 men to the Federal service, and this number was materially increased in response to the various calls made for troops during the year. Many of the men in the old organizations reenlisted as veterans, and the 16th cavalry and the 17th infantry were added to the list of regiments already in the field. The state was also credited with a considerable number of enlistments in the 18th U. S. Colored infantry, and in the 8th U. S. Veteran Volunteers. The last military organization formed in the state during the war was the Independent Colored Kansas battery, which was mustered into the U. S. service January 1, 1865, but saw no active service. Speaking of the number of men furnished by Kansas Governor Crawford said: "The state has furnished the Federal army more troops in proportion to her population than any other state in the Union; and the entire militia was always in readiness for immediate action in the field, and was all engaged in rendering efficient service in repelling the rebel army under Price from our border; and upon several occasions regiments and independent companies were in actual service, defending the border and frontier."

On January 1, 1864, Kansas was made a military department with Major-General Samuel R. Curtis in command, and on the 29th General Thayer succeeded General McNeil in command of the District of the Frontier.

In the fall of 1864 Kansas was seriously menaced by one other raid, called the "Price raid." Price's army was estimated at from 18,000 to 20,000 men, and as it moved north and west through Arkansas and Missouri toward the Kansas border, energetic measures were taken to resist the advance. On October 2 the concentration of Kansas militia began at Olathe; on the 8th Governor Carney issued his proclamation calling out the "men of Kansas," and appointed Major-General Deitzler as commander-in-chief. There was a prompt response by the Kansas militia, and it is estimated that over 16,000 men offered their services at this time. Fortunately for the state, Generals, A. J. Smith and Alfred Pleasonton were close in Price's rear, while General Deitzler, in command of the state militia, General Curtis, General Blunt, Colonels Blair, Moonlight, Cloud, Crawford, and others met him at the border. After fighting a series of bloody battles, he was finally forced, late in October, to beat a hasty retreat towards Arkansas, and Kansas was saved from the threatened invasion. General Curtis, in parting with his troops, issued the following congratulatory order from the headquarters of the Army of the Border, November 8, 1864: "The general tenders his thanks to the officers and soldiers for their generous support and prompt obedience to orders, and to his staff for their unceasing efforts to share the toil incident to the campaign. The pursuit of Price in 1864, and the battles of Lexington, Little Blue, Big Blue, Westport, Marais des Cygnes, Osage, Chariot and Newtonia, will be borne on the banners of the regiments who shared in them; and the states of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Arkansas, may glory in the achievement of their sons in this short but eventful campaign." During this campaign Price's retreating army entered Linn county from the east and moved southward 6 miles to Mine creek, sometimes called Osage, where a decisive battle was fought on Kansas soil. In this battle 500 prisoners and 8 pieces of artillery were captured. Among the prisoners were Generals Marmaduke and Cabell. The Union losses were light. General Curtis' order of October 10, proclaiming martial law in Kansas, was revoked by Him after the battle of Mine creek, and on the 27th, Governor Carney ordered the militia to return to their homes.

In this battle, as in nearly all the battles west of the Mississippi, Colonel Samuel J. Crawford bore a conspicuous part. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, he resigned his seat in the Kansas legislature, and entered the army as a captain in the ad Kansas infantry. After the battle of Wilson's creek, his regiment, which had suffered heavy losses, was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, to be reorganized into the 2d Kansas cavalry. By an order from the war department, Major Cloud and Captain Crawford were retained in the service to perfect the new organization. With this regiment he served until November 1, 1863, when he was promoted to the colonelcy of the 83 d U. S. Colored infantry, and subsequently he was brevetted a brigadier-general of volunteers.

On November 8, 1864, while in the army, he was elected governor of Kansas. At this election the state recorded its first vote for president of the United States—Mr. Lincoln. On January 9, 1865, the new state officers were sworn in, and on the following day the legislature convened. Immediately upon assuming his new duties. Governor Crawford proceeded to reconstruct the adjutant-general's office, and organize the militia of the state, on a fighting basis. At that time the war was raging on three sides of Kansas—the Confederates on the south and east and hostile tribes of Indians in the service of the Confederacy on the west. Governor Crawford brought home with him from the field, tried and true soldiers, to take charge of military affairs in the state. He appointed Major T. J. Anderson, adjutant-general; Captain D. E. Ballard, quartermaster-general; Captain J. K. Rankin, paymaster-general, and Colonel W. F. Cloud, major-general of the state militia. Under Major Anderson, the adjutant-general's department was speedily put in working order; and under Colonel Cloud, the militia of the state was soon placed on a fighting basis. On the south and east the state was protected from invasion, but on the west the hostile Indians were not so easily suppressed. As already stated, the state had furnished more than its full quota of volunteer troops to the United States, under all calls from the president, but by an oversight on the part of a former adjutant-general, all the troops so furnished had not been reported to the war department, and in consequence a draft had been ordered by the secretary of war, prior to the election in 1864. Confident that the state was not delinquent, Governor Crawford directed the adjutant-general to prepare a report for the war department, showing the number of troops which the state had furnished. This report was submitted to the secretary by Governor Crawford in February, whereupon the draft was suspended and the drafted men were returned home and discharged. The three years term of enlistment of Kansas troops having expired, many of them reenlisted, and Governor Crawford reorganized and consolidated most of the regiments into veteran battalions, which served until the close of the war, when the volunteers returned home and were honorably mustered out of service.

The soldiers of no state of the Union, in proportion to their numbers, rendered better or more faithful service to the government than did the Kansas volunteers. From start to finish, they were in the fight, and they were always there to stay. No Kansas regiment, battery or battalion ever faltered in the face of the enemy. The war of the rebellion over, Governor Crawford turned his attention to a more savage warfare on the western border. The wild tribes of Indians that had been led into hostility on the frontier by agents of the Confederacy during the Civil war, were not so easily suppressed. From 1865 to 1869, during Governor Crawford's two administrations, a relentless Indian warfare raged along the border settlements of Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, Generals Sheridan, Hancock, Terry, Custer, and other United States officers, were in the field, but their troops were so limited in numbers, and the field of operation so extensive, that they had difficulty in coping with the savages. From early spring until late in the fall they would sweep the plains—striking a settlement one day, emigrants the next, and overland trains laden with merchandise or government military supplies the next. Thus they kept up their savage warfare until August, 1868, when they raided and laid waste the frontier settlements of northwestern Kansas for a distance of 30 miles. In this raid they robbed and burned houses, killed and wounded a large number of settlers, stole many horses, and carried into captivity a number of women and children. Being notified of this raid, Governor Crawford was soon on the ground with state troops, but the Indians with their plunder and captives were far away before he arrived.

After caring for the wounded and quieting the remnant of settlers who had escaped the scalping knife, he returned and communicated with the secretary of war and Generals Sherman and Sheridan, as to the best means for driving the hostiles from the state and preventing further depredations. In view of the atrocities which had been committed by the Indians, it was determined to organize and concentrate a force under the command of General Sheridan for a campaign and follow the Indians to their winter haunts in the Indian Territory. Sheridan not having troops sufficient in Kansas for such an expedition, requested the secretary of war to call upon Governor Crawford for a regiment of cavalry to accompany him. His request was promptly granted and the necessary authority given for raising, arming, equipping and mustering a regiment of 1,200 men. In the pursuance of this authority, Governor Crawford organized the 19th Kansas cavalry and joined Sheridan and his command at Camp Supply, in the western part of the Indian Territory, November 26, 1868.

On December 6, with the 7th U. S. cavalry, commanded by General Custer, and the 19th Kansas, commanded by Colonel Crawford, Sheridan moved southward to the Washita river and thence to the field where Custer had the week previous engaged the five wild tribes in battle. From the Washita the command moved in a south-easterly direction, in close pursuit of the Indians, to the Wichita mountains, a distance of 150 miles from Camp Supply, where the Indians, having become exhausted and unable to escape, surrendered and agreed to give up the women they had previously captured in Kansas. They also agreed to turn over their arms to the government and forever after stay on their reservation. Thus a savage Indian war with the five wild tribes—the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Comanches, Kiowas and Apaches—which had roamed the plains and ravaged the border settlements of Kansas for four years, was brought to a close. Never afterwards did these Indians come into Kansas except as friends.

At the close of this campaign, which was made in the dead of winter, through an untraveled country, in deep snow and bitter cold weather, Governor Crawford returned home, and thereafter engaged in the peaceful pursuits of life.

Writing of the services rendered by the soldiers of Kansas in the Civil war, Noble L. Prentis says in his History of Kansas: "The soldiers of Kansas were called alternately to repel invasion and to penetrate the fastnesses of the enemy. The war was waged in a wild and almost wilderness country; a country of mountains, defiles, tangled woods and canebrakes, traversed by countless streams, rapid and roaring, or deep, winding and sluggish; but for the most part, without bridges or ferries. In the thousands of miles of marching, the Kansas soldiers often saw not a rod of smooth and settled highway. They moved by trails, by traces, over the hills and far away across the prairies, guided by the sun, the distant and random gun, the smoke of combat or vengeful burning. They were far from the region of great and decisive battles, of strategic combinations and foreseen results. The columns came and went, making forced marches for days and nights together—fighting a battle and winning a dear-bought victory—to return whence they came. They fought, and marched, and camped in a region that was neither North nor South, and so possessed a climate with the evil features of both. They met the blinding sleet and snow, were drenched with tropical rainstorms, and braved alike the blazing fury of the sun, and the bitter malice of the frost. Far from their bases of supplies, food and powder must be brought a long, toilsome and dangerous way, guarded at every step, fought for at every ford and pass. It was a hard and desperate warfare."

The soldiers of Kansas were, for the most part, of hardy physique and inured to outdoor life. A large proportion of them were excellent horsemen and it was therefore only natural that, of the seventeen white regiments furnished by the state, nine belonged to the cavalry arm of the service.

By resolution of the legislature, approved February at, 1867, the adjutant-general was required to make a full and complete report of his office, and the report prepared in conformity therewith by Adjt.-General T. J. Anderson, contains the only printed record of the soldiers of Kansas who were mustered into the service of the United States during the war of the rebellion. This report, unfortunately, does not contain the names and history of the militia regiments, who performed gallant service during the dark days of the war in guarding the border.

In an elaborate statement of casualties embodied in this report, it is shown that the 20,097 men furnished by the state sustained losses as follows: Officers killed, 34; died of wounds, 12; died of disease, 26; deserted, 2; honorably discharged, 88; discharged for disability, 8; dishonorably discharged, 1; cashiered, 4; resigned, 281. Enlisted men killed, 762; died of wounds, 192; died of disease, 2,080; deserted, 1,988; discharged for disability, 1,849; honorably discharged, 999; dishonorably discharged, 94; missing in action, 35. Aggregate casualties, 8,498.

Of the white regiments, the 1st infantry sustained the heaviest loss in killed and died of wounds, losing 11 officers and 120 enlisted men. The 1st Colored infantry met with the heaviest loss killed in action—4 officers and 166 men.

Kansas has done wisely in perpetuating the names of many of her soldier heroes in the names of her counties; such are Mitchell, Cloud, Trego, Norton, Clark, Harper, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Stafford, Cowley, Graham, Jewell, Osborne, Ellis, Gove, Pratt, Ness, Hodgeman, Crawford and Harvey,—the two last named commemorating the names of her two soldiers who later survived as governors of the state. Alfred Gray and Dudley Haskell, two soldiers from other states, who saw service with Kansas troops, have also given their names to two counties.

Though the machinery of government in the new state of Kansas was installed amid the strain and stress of war, it nevertheless continued to work with regularity. Naturally the state made but slow advance in material prosperity during the progress of the war and her increase in population was correspondingly slow. A census of the state taken in May, 1865, as a basis for a new apportionment, showed a gain in population of only 35,058 in five years, most of which took place after the war was practically over. With the return of Kansas soldiers to their homes, taking into account the natural increase and the great immigration during 1865, it is probable that at the close of that year, the population had received sufficient accessions to bring it up to 150,000, or a gain of nearly fifty per cent over the population at the beginning of the war. After the year 1865 the prosperity of Kansas was unparalleled in population, wealth, production, internal improvements, education, charitable institutions and religion.


RECORD OF KANSAS REGIMENTS

NOTE.—The Kansas regiments were numbered consecutively, irrespective of whether they belonged to the infantry, cavalry, or artillery arm of service. The official report of the adjutant-general of the state, 1861-65, has grouped the regiments according to this numerical sequence, and the same arrangement will be found below. It is matter for regret that no adequate record could be found by the writer, covering the splendid services rendered by the state militia organizations, during the dark days in the autumn of 1864, when Kansas was threatened with invasion by General Price's army; nor has it been possible to find any satisfactory account of the 1st, 2nd and 3d regiments, Indian Home Guards, which were almost entirely officered by soldiers from Kansas regiments. These Indian regiments were mainly composed of refugee Indians from the Indian Territory, though many of their members were native to the soil of the state.

First Infantry.—Colonels, George W. Deitzler, William Y. Roberts; Lieut.-Colonels, Oscar E. Learnard, Otto M. Tennison, Newell W. Spicer; Majors, John A. Halderman, William Y. Roberts, James Ketner. This regiment was raised under the call of President Lincoln in May, 1861, for three years' volunteers. The men were recruited between May 20 and June 3, principally from the counties of Leavenworth, Douglas and Atchison, rendezvoused at Camp Lincoln, near Fort Leavenworth, and were there mustered into the U. S. service for three years June 3, 1861. The regiment left the state for Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri, June 13, joined the forces under General Lyon, and participated in a skirmish with the enemy under General Price at Dug springs, Missouri, in which a few men of the 1st were wounded. It took part in its first important battle at Wilson's creek, where it established a reputation for discipline and bravery excelled by none. It went into this bloody engagement with 644 men and officers, of whom 77 were killed and 255 wounded, or 51 per cent, of those engaged. Said the veteran Major Sturgis to General Lyon, during the progress of the 6 hours' battle: "These Kansas boys are doing the best fighting that I have ever witnessed." Colonel Deitzler, Major Halderman, and several other officers of the regiment were specially mentioned in the official report of the battle for gallant and meritorious conduct. The 1st then retreated from Springfield to Rolla and thence to St. Louis with the rest of the Union forces, and was occupied in railroad guard duty along the lines of the Hannibal and St. Joseph, and the Missouri Pacific railroads during the remaining months of 1861. It was then stationed at Lexington for a month, when it was ordered to Fort Leavenworth and was granted 10 days' furlough. It rendezvoused again at Lawrence, whence it moved to Fort Scott, to join the army under General Curtis. At the time of the contemplated expedition to Texas by way of New Mexico, it was ordered to Fort Riley, but on the abandonment of the expedition, it was in May ordered to Pittsburg landing, Tennessee. Before reaching that point it was ordered to Columbus, Kentucky, and was employed during the summer in guarding the Mobile & Ohio railroad, with headquarters at Trenton, Tennessee, whence it moved to Jackson in the latter part of September. On October 3 it was assigned to General McPherson's brigade, joined Rosecrans just at the close of the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, pursued the enemy to Ripley, and was engaged at Chewalla and Tuscumbia. Returning to Corinth and thence to Grand Junction, it participated in Grant's movement towards Jackson, Mississippi, forming a part of Colonel Deitzler's brigade. It was engaged at Lumpkin's mill and Tallahatchie; marched with Grant's army to Memphis in December; and early in the following year embarked on transports for Young's point, opposite Vicksburg. From this time on until the fall of Vicksburg it shared in all the operations of the siege. From February 1, 1863, the regiment served as mounted infantry by order of General Grant and was constantly employed in outpost and picket duty, frequently skirmishing with the enemy. On the fall of Vicksburg it moved to Natchez, where it crossed the Mississippi river, engaged and routed 2,000 of the enemy on the Louisiana side, and then occupied the post of Vandalia, Iowa. During the ensuing winter it was employed in picket and outpost duty at Black River bridge in the rear of Vicksburg, and thoroughly scouted the country toward Jackson, Benton, Yazoo City, etc. During this time the regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Spicer, Colonel Roberts being in command of a brigade. It formed part of General McArthur's expedition up the Yazoo river, striking the Central Mississippi railroad at Benton, and engaging the enemy at Tallahatchie. On June 1, 1864, its term of service having expired, the regiment, except recruits and two companies of veterans embarked on the transport Arthur for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to be mustered out. In addition to about 300 men of the 1st, there were on the boat an equal number of men, women and children as passengers. The Arthur was fired upon near Columbia, Arkansas, by an 8-gun battery of the enemy, several shots striking the boat, and three shells exploding within her, but fortunately the hull and machinery of the boat escaped serious damage. One killed and another mortally wounded of the 1st were the total casualties. The regiment was mustered out at Leavenworth June 17, 1864. The veteran companies continued in service in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas until the end of the war, when they were honorably discharged at Little Rock, Arkansas, August 30, 1865. The following is a list of the engagements in which the 1st was in whole or in part engaged: Dug springs, Wilson's creek, Brownsville, Trenton, Chewalla, Tuscumbia, Lumpkin's mill, Tallahatchie, Old river, Hood's lane, Black bayou, Lake Providence, Caledonia, Pinhook, Bayou Tensas, Holly Brook, Baxter's bayou. Cross bayou, Alexandria, Big Black river, Columbia, Atchafalaya river, Salem, Richmond, Louisiana, Bayou Macon, Yazoo City and Benton. The regiment lost 131 killed and mortally wounded, of which 11 were officers; 94 men died of disease and other causes. Its original strength was 986; aggregate strength during service, 1,192.

Second Infantry.—Colonel, Robert B. Mitchell; Lieut.-Colonel, Charles W. Blair; Major, William F. Cloud. This regiment was recruited in May, 1861, rendezvoused at Lawrence, and 650 strong started for Kansas City, Missouri, June 13, being mustered into the U. S. service at the latter place, June 20, 1861, for three months. The regiment was ordered to join the forces under Major Sturgis, which formed a junction with General Lyon's command at Grand river July 7. The united forces then proceeded to Springfield and encamped. The 1st and 2nd Kansas regiments formed a brigade under the command of Colonel Deitzler of the 1st. A portion of the regiment first came under fire at Forsyth, Missouri, in July and was again engaged in the skirmish at Dug springs. In the bloody battle of Wilson's creek the 2nd took a gallant and prominent part. During the early part of the engagement it was in reserve, supporting a section of Totten's battery, but as the desperate nature of the battle developed, General Lyon ordered it to the front, and as the regiment went into position on the crest of the hill on the front center a heavy ambuscaded fire was opened on the head of the column. Lyon had joined Colonel Mitchell and was riding by his side. The general was instantly killed by the enemy's fire and Mitchell was severely wounded. The command now devolved on Lieut.-Colonel Blair, who fought his regiment with the utmost gallantry throughout the remainder of the action. The 2nd was the last regiment to leave the field and maintained its line and organization unbroken from the first to the last of the fight, which lasted about 6 hours. The day after the battle the 2nd retreated with the army to Rolla, whence it moved to St. Louis, where it was ordered to Kansas by General Fremont for muster out and reorganization. On the way home the regiment was engaged at Paris, Missouri, and drove the enemy from the town after a slight skirmish. Two days later it was attacked at Shelbina by 3,500 men and a battery of artillery, under command of Colonel Green, the Union force consisting of only about 600 men under command of Colonel Williams of the 3d Iowa infantry. The little band of Union men finally made its escape from its precarious situation by seizing a locomotive and some freight cars, and running the gauntlet of the enemy's battery. The 2nd proceeded to Macon, Bloomfield, and thence by rail to St. Joseph, where it surprised and routed a force of the enemy and held the post until the arrival of troops to permanently garrison the place. Then taking boat, the regiment started for Leavenworth, attacking and dispersing a small force at Iatan. When it arrived at Leavenworth, Price's forces had captured Lexington, Missouri, and were threatening Kansas, so the 2nd was ordered to the defense of Wyandotte. When Price retreated the regiment again returned to Leavenworth, where it was mustered out and discharged October 31, 1861, with instructions to reorganize. A large number of its members soon after reenlisted in the 2nd Kansas cavalry then being organized, Colonel Mitchell becoming colonel of the new regiment, and Lieut.-Colonel Blair and Major Cloud becoming majors. Its casualties during service were 2 officers and 11 enlisted men killed, or died of wounds, and 2 men died of disease.

Second Cavalry.—Colonels, Robert B. Mitchell, William F. Cloud; Lieut.-Colonel, Owen A. Bassett; Majors, Charles W. Blair, Julius G. Fisk, William F. Cloud, James M. Pomeroy, Thomas B. Eldridge, Henry Hopkins, John Johnston. The first steps taken toward the organization of this regiment were in October, 1861, when A. C. Davis of Wyandotte county was authorized by Major-General Fremont, then commanding the Western Department, to raise a regiment of cavalry in the state, to be designated the 12th Kansas volunteers. In December the organization, then consisting of nine companies, was designated by the governor the 9th Kansas volunteers, and a tenth company, K, was added to the regiment in January, 1862. On February 4, 1862, Cos. F, G, H and I, whose organization was irregular, were mustered out, and on February 28 Cos. G, H and I, formerly belonging to the 2nd infantry (3 months) and now reorganized, were assigned to the regiment. On March 15 the number of the regiment was again changed by the governor to the 2nd Kansas volunteers, which has caused it to be confused by many with the three months' organization of the same name, many of whose members were now in the new organization. On March 27, 1862, by order of the governor, the regimental designation was finally changed to the 2nd Kansas cavalry, by which it is properly known. The regiment was finally mustered on May 7, 1862, having been stationed at Leavenworth, Quindaro, Shawneetown and Fort Riley, during the process of organization. In April Colonel Mitchell relinquished the command of the regiment, having been promoted brigadier-general, and was succeeded June 1 by Colonel Cloud of the 10th infantry. On April 22 a detail of 150 men was ordered to report at Fort Leavenworth for assignment to duty with a battery of six 10-pounder Parrott guns. Captain Hopkins was detailed to command it, and it became known as Hopkins' battery. On May 16 squadrons A and D under Major Fisk were detached for special duty and ordered to Fort Lyon, Colonel On June 9 the regiment was ordered to join the Indian expedition then concentrating at Humboldt, leaving a sufficient force to garrison Fort Riley. In obedience to the instructions squadrons B and C were detached for garrison duty under command of Captain D. S. Whittenhall. On the 22nd squadrons B and C were ordered to the relief of Fort Larned, which was threatened by hostile Indians, and the four squadrons, A, B, C and D, did not rejoin the regiment until September 20, A and D having meanwhile marched a distance of 1,566 miles and B and C 566 miles. The men and horses returned in excellent condition and no time was required to again fit them for the field. The following is a list of battles and skirmishes in which all or a part of this regiment was engaged; Coon creek, Newtonia, Hazel Bottom, Elk Horn tavern, Sugar -creek, Cross Hollow, Old Fort Wayne, Boonesboro; Cove creek, Pineville, Cane Hill, Carthage, Boston mountain, Reed's mountain, Prairie Grove, Dripping spring, twice at Bentonville, Carthage, Honey springs, Perryville, Devil's backbone, twice at Dardanelle, Choctaw Nation, four times at Roseville, Clarksville, three times at Caddo gap, Baker's spring, Little Missouri river, Sulphur springs, Dallas, twice at Waldron, Mountain fork, Caddo mountain, Scott's farm, Danville, Prairie d'Ane, Poison springs, Jenkins' ferry, twice at Fort Smith, Crawford county, Fort Gibson and Cabin creek. Hopkins' battery, was ordered to Columbus, Kentucky, the latter part of May, 1862, and served chiefly in Tennessee and Mississippi as cavalry, returning to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, October 26, 1862, where it was temporarily assigned to duty with the post battery. Most of the men returned to their regiment by January 1, 1863, but many never returned. The detail of these 150 men from the regiment materially lessened its efficiency and was always regarded as a great disaster. All told the 2nd cavalry saw as much hard service and did as much fighting as any other cavalry organization west of the Mississippi. Its list of promotions from the ranks is in excess of any other Kansas organization, and it is the only cavalry organization in the West that captured a battery. This battery was captured at the battle of Old Fort Wayne, and Co. B was detached to man the captured guns, subsequently becoming known as "Hopkins' Kansas battery" (see 3d Battery). Its casualties during service amounted to 2 officers and 62 enlisted men, killed or died of wounds; 1 officer and 93 men died by disease and other causes. January 10-26, 1865, Cos. C, D, E, F, G and I (except recruits and veterans reenlisted), were mustered out at Fort Leavenworth; Co. H was mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, March 18, 1865, and A at the same place April 14, 1865; K, at Fort Leavenworth, April 17, 1865; and the remainder of the regiment was mustered out June 22, 1865, at Fort Gibson, I. T. The aggregate strength of the 2nd Cav. was 1,273.

Third Infantry.—The organization thus numbered, was recruited in the summer of 1861 as a part of Lane's Kansas brigade, and was consolidated with the 4th infantry and a small number of the 5th cavalry, in March, 1862, to form the 10th infantry (q. v.).

Fourth Infantry.—This regiment was also raised in the summer of 1861, as a part of Lane's Kansas brigade, and was consolidated as above to form the 10th infantry.

Fifth Cavalry.—Colonels, Hampton P. Johnson, Powell Clayton; Lieut.-Colonels, John Ritchie, Powell Clayton, Wilton A. Jenkins, Thomas W. Scudder; Majors, James H. Summers, Wilton A. Jenkins, S. E. Hoffman, Samuel Walker, Thomas W. Scudder, Stephen R. Harrington. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Denver, near Barnesville, December 31, 1861, for three years. Prior to its regular organization and muster in on the above date, portions of the command saw considerable active service. Cos. A and F formed part of the expedition to Harrisonville, Missouri, under command of Colonel Weer of the 4th Kansas and upon returning to Kansas City escorted a supply train to Fort Scott, where Cos. B, C and E, and two infantry companies joined them and Colonel Johnson took command of the regiment. It took part in a number of skirmishes around Fort Scott and lost a few men wounded. In a gallant charge at Morristown, Missouri, September 17, Colonel Johnson fell at the head of his men, pierced by nine bullets. Later the regiment was engaged with Price's force at Osceola and West Point, Missouri, as a part of Lane's brigade, then joined the army under General Fremont for a time, but finally returned to Kansas and went into winter quarters at Barnesville. Colonel Powell Clayton assumed command of the regiment in February, 1862, and the organization rapidly improved in discipline and efficiency under his able management. From April 10 to May 25 it was stationed at Springfield, Missouri, and became very proficient in drill. The regiment was then ordered to join the Army of the Southwest near Helena, Arkansas. A detachment of 150 men under Captain Creitz, escorting the regimental train, engaged the enemy with loss at Salem, Arkansas, at the crossing of the Black river near Jacksonport, and received warm commendation from General Osterhaus for their bravery and skill in bringing the train safely through. The regiment remained in the vicinity of Helena until August, 1863, and while there was engaged in numerous expeditions, almost daily skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry. A list of its engagements during this period includes Trenton, Parkersville, Oakland, Little Rock road, Mount Vernon, Polk's plantation, and two actions at Helena. In the battle of Helena, July 4, the 5th fought from sunrise until 2 p. m. against Marmaduke's cavalry, finally routing it with great loss. On August 15 the regiment started for Little Rock as a part of General Steele's expedition and was engaged at Brownsville and Little Rock. On September 14, it was ordered to Pine Bluff, fought a sharp engagement with Marmaduke's outpost at Tulip early in October and gained a brilliant victory. Colonel Clayton had command of the post at Pine Bluff and with his force of about 600 men successfully defended the place against an attack by General Marmaduke with 3,000 men and 12 pieces of artillery. The loss of the 5th was 27 killed, wounded and missing. The regiment was again engaged in January, 1864, with Shelby's forces at Branchville, skirmished at Mount Elba, and late in March participated in the engagements with the enemy under General Dockery, at Monticello, Long View and Mount Elba, which resulted in driving the Confederates from the country between the Mississippi and Saline rivers and the capture of several hundred prisoners. After the disastrous ending of General Banks' Red River expedition, Steele's army was forced to retreat and abandon the region south of the Arkansas river. In April, 1864, a portion of the 5th shared in the disaster at Marks' mills, where Steele's train was captured, the loss of the regiment being 5 killed, 7 wounded and 44 captured. The last important engagement of the 5th was at the Warren cross-roads with a brigade of Texas cavalry, where it lost 1 killed, 4 wounded and 1 missing. During the remainder of its active service the regiment was occupied in scouting, picketing and the usual arduous duties of a cavalry regiment, but sustained few additional losses. A part of the regiment was mustered out in December 1864, at Leavenworth, and the rest at Devall's Bluff, Arkansas, in June, 1865. The services rendered by this gallant regiment were second to none sent into the field by Kansas. Its losses were 2 officers and 51 men, killed or mortally wounded; 2 officers, 219 men died of disease and other causes. It numbered 000 officers and men when it first took the field in 1862, and had a total strength during service of 1,320.

Sixth Cavalry.—Colonel William R. Judson; Lieut.-Colonels, Lewis R. Jewell, William T. Campbell; Majors, William T. Campbell, Wyllis C. Ransom, George W. Veale, John A. Johnson, David Mefford. This regiment, like the other organizations composing what was known as Lane's Kansas brigade, was mostly recruited during the summer of 1861 and while thus imperfectly and irregularly organized saw considerable service at Dry Wood. Fort Scott, and on Lane's Osceola expedition. During the winter 1861-62 the regiment was stationed at Fort Scott and in the spring it was completely reorganized under General Orders No. 26, issued by Governor Robinson. In June. 1862, Co. I, Captain Van Sickle, which had been irregularly mustered into the service, was mustered out, leaving the regiment with only nine companies, but in the spring of 1863 it was recruited to the standard required by the war department. The early part of its service was chiefly along the border counties of the state, in Missouri and the Indian Territory, serving mostly by detachments. On November 13, 1863, it moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and was employed during the winter in scouting and on escort duty, moving thence to Roseville. On March 26, 1864, it joined the 1st division, Army of the Frontier, then en route to join General Steele's command, and took part in the Camden expedition. The regiment sustained its greatest disaster at Mazzard's prairie, near Fort Smith, Arkansas, where a battalion was surprised by some 600 Confederates. After a gallant resistance Captain Mefford, Lieut. De Friese and 82 men were captured, and a considerable number were killed and wounded. A list of the engagements in which the regiment or some part of it participated is as follows: Dry Wood, Morristown, Osceola, Carthage, Diamond Grove, Lost creek, Taberville, Clear creek, Hickory Grove, Coon creek, Granby, Newtonia, Old Fort Wayne, Boston mountain, Cane Hill, Prairie Grove. Webber's Falls, Fort Gibson, Cabin creek, Honey Springs, Baker's springs, Roseville, Stone's farm, Prairie d'Ane, Moscow, Dutch mills, Camden, Poison springs, Princeton, Jenkins' ferry, Dardanelle, Clarksville, Fayetteville, Iron Bridge, Mazzard's prairie, Lee's creek, Van Buren, Fort Smith, Fort Scott, Cow creek and Trading Post. About December 1, 1864, Cos. A, B, C, D, E, F and K were mustered out at Fort Leavenworth. The remainder of the regiment, consisting of veterans and recruits, continued in service as a battalion and was mustered out July 18, 1865, at Devall's Bluff, Arkansas. The total loss of the regiment by death during service was, 4 officers and 91 enlisted men, killed in action or died of wounds; 3 officers and 120 enlisted men died by disease and other causes. The loss of the 6th in killed and died of wounds was the largest of any cavalry regiment of Kansas, and amounted to nearly 80 per thousand of the whole number enlisted. Its original strength was 851; recruits, 654; aggregate strength, 1,505.

Seventh Cavalry.—Colonels, Charles R. Jennison, Albert L. Lee, Thomas P. Herrick; Lieut.-Colonels, Daniel R. Anthony, Thomas P. Herrick, David W. Houston, William S. Jenkins, Francis M. Malone; Majors, Daniel R. Anthony, Thomas P. Herrick, Albert L. Lee, John T. Snoddy, Clark S. Merriman, William S. Jenkins, Francis M. Malone, Charles H. Gregory, Levi H. Utt. This regiment was recruited in the summer of 1861, and was mustered into the U. S. service, 902 strong, at Fort Leavenworth October 28, 1861, for three years. It was immediately ordered into the field and served during the fall and winter of 1861-62 in western Missouri. Its first battle was on the Little Blue river, where Cos. A, B and H were engaged with a force commanded by the notorious Upton Hays and lost 9 killed and 32 wounded. On January 31, 1862, it moved to Humboldt, Kansas, and on March 25 was ordered to Lawrence, where Colonel Jennison resigned and was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel Anthony. In May the regiment embarked on transports for Columbus, Kentucky, whence it shortly moved to Jacinto, Mississippi, and thence to Rienzi, Mississippi, where it remained until the evacuation of the post September 30, 1862. It was assigned to Colonel Philip H. Sheridan's cavalry brigade, Army of the Mississippi, and while stationed at Rienzi was constantly in the saddle, engaging in numerous severe cavalry skirmishes. Cos. B and E participated in the battle of Iuka and received special notice from General Rosecrans for bravery on the field and in the pursuit. The regiment was active during Van Dorn's raid upon Corinth, and was in the advance during the pursuit to Ripley, Mississippi. Returning to Corinth, it next engaged in an expedition into Alabama under command of Colonel Lee, routed Roddey's cavalry at Buzzard Roost station and took a number of prisoners. On its return to Corinth it was ordered to join Grant's army at Grand Junction, and had a sharp engagement with the Confederate cavalry under General Jackson near Lamar, Mississippi. On November 28 it made a raid to Holly Springs and routed the enemy's garrison when it charged into the town. As Grant's army moved into Mississippi the 7th held the extreme advance during the greater portion of the campaign. It was the first to cross the Tallahatchie; led the advance into Oxford; was first into Water Valley; and was heavily engaged with the advance at Coffeeville. It then fell back with the cavalry to Water Valley and formed part of the force sent to intercept Van Dorn, when that general captured Holly Springs and burnt Grant's stores. After joining in the pursuit of Van Dorn it moved to Moscow, Tennessee, and was employed in guard duty along the line of the Memphis & Charleston railroad until the middle of April, 1863. Colonel Lee was promoted to brigadier-general and the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieut.-Colonel Herrick. In the latter part of April, as a part of General Dodge's cavalry, it was engaged with Roddey's and Forrest's cavalry at Tuscumbia, Leighton and Town creek, and then moved south with the rest of the cavalry as a diversion in favor of General Grierson, who was then engaged in his famous raid through Mississippi. Attached to Colonel Cornyn's brigade it had a sharp fight at Tupelo in May, where the enemy was driven from the field with heavy loss. The regiment was stationed at Corinth from May 9, 1863, to January 8, 1864, during which time it was almost constantly in the saddle and participated in many severe battles and skirmishes, notably at Florence and Hamburg, Alabama, Iuka, Swallow's bluff, Byhalia, Wyatt and Ripley, Mississippi, and Jack's creek, Tennessee. In January, 1864, while bivouacked near La Grange, Tennessee 455 members of the 7th reenlisted as veterans and on the 18th the regiment was ordered to Memphis, where the veterans were remustered and then proceeded to Kansas on 30 days' furlough. On June 6, 1864, the regiment was again in Memphis. On July 5 it moved south from La Grange in advance of General A. J. Smith's infantry column, which moved against Forrest's cavalry, and it acted as rear-guard when Smith turned east toward Tupelo. In the battle of Tupelo, the 7th was on the right flank and was only lightly engaged. It had a sharp skirmish at Ellistown, and in August, when Smith again moved against General Forrest, it took a prominent part in the expedition, being engaged at the crossing of the Tallahatchie, Oxford and in the cavalry battle of Hurricane creek. Returning to Memphis after this campaign, it was ordered to report to General Rosecrans at St. Louis, where it arrived September 17, 1864. Commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Malone, it was active during the Missouri campaign against General Price, took part in all the principal engagements, routed a superior force and captured 2 pieces of artillery at Independence, Missouri. After this campaign the regiment served by detachments in the St. Louis district, where it was employed against guerrillas until July 18, 1865. It was finally mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, September 29, 1865, having served a term of 3 years and 11 months, during which it marched, exclusive of distance traveled on transports and by rail, 12,050 miles. The regiment lost by death during service 3 officers and 61 enlisted men killed in action or mortally wounded; 1 officer and 97 enlisted men died by disease and other causes.

Eighth Infantry.—Colonels, Henry W. Wessells, Robert H. Graham, John A. Martin; Lieut.-Colonels, John A. Martin, James L. Abernathy, Edward F. Schneider, James M. Graham, John Conover; Majors, Edward F. Schneider, James M. Graham, John Conover, Henry C. Austin. This regiment, like most of the first Kansas organizations, was originally intended for service in the state and along the border, and, as was also true of many of the early regiments formed, it was at first a mixed organization, intended to have eight companies of infantry and two of cavalry. The first six companies were mustered into the U. S. service in September, 1861, for three years, two more companies were added in October, and the regimental headquarters were established at Lawrence. During December 1861, and January, 1862, two more incomplete companies joined the regiment as Cos. I and K. On February 7, 1862, Colonel Wessells was ordered to rejoin his regiment in the regular army, and on the 28th, by order of General Hunter, commanding the department, the regiment was thoroughly reorganized and consolidated with a battalion raised for service in New Mexico, and Colonel Graham of the latter was assigned to the command. As finally reorganized the regiment had a total strength of 862 officers and men. Late in May, 1862, with other regiments, under command of General Robert B. Mitchell, it was ordered to Corinth, Mississippi, and a battalion of five companies left the state for that point May 27. After some delays at Columbus, Kentucky, Union City, Trenton and Humboldt, Tennessee, it finally arrived at Corinth July 3 and was temporarily attached to Colonel Fuller's brigade, General Jeff. C. Davis' division, Army of the Mississippi. On February 22, 1863, Cos. A, C, D and F, and March 29 Co. G, composing the battalion which had been left behind in Kansas, reported at Nashville and the regiment was there united for the first time since its organization. Meanwhile Co. G had been stationed at Fort Laramie, and the other companies had seen considerable service along the border of Kansas and in Missouri, fighting with Coffey, Cockrell, Quantrill and other guerrilla leaders. The battalion at Corinth left that point July 22, 1862, for Jacinto, where it was attached to the 1st brigade, 9th division, Army of the Mississippi, General Davis commanding the division, and General Mitchell the brigade. Colonel Graham had been taken sick at St. Louis, and never rejoined his command, being succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel Martin. The military historian of the regiment, in summarizing its services for the adjutant-general's report, says: "During its term of service the 8th traveled 10,750 miles. It participated in 15 battles and 18 skirmishes. It lost in battle, 3 commissioned officers and 62 enlisted men killed; 13 officers and 259 enlisted men wounded; and 1 officer and 20 enlisted men missing; or a total of 64 killed, 272 wounded, and 21 missing." In the above losses there are not included 5 men killed and 17 wounded in slight skirmishes or by guerrillas while foraging and scouting. Hence, the aggregate loss of the regiment was 379, killed, wounded and missing. Three officers and 92 men died of disease, and the total loss by death was 212. The heaviest loss sustained by the regiment was at Chickamauga, where out of a total of 406 engaged it lost 243 officers and men killed, wounded and missing, or 65 per cent, of those present. Says the same military historian: "The gleam of its bayonets was seen from Fort Laramie, Nebraska, to the Rio Grande; its banners fluttered in the sunlight from Kansas to North Carolina; the crack of its rifles startled the echoes in the valley of the Platte and along the hillsides of the Tennessee and Chattahoochee, and the tramp of its soldiers resounded in the dusty highways of twelve different states. * * * It hunted guerrillas in Missouri, combatted Longstreet's Virginia veterans at Chickamauga, stormed the blazing heights of Missionary ridge, fought a continuous battle from Kennesaw mountain to Atlanta, and broke through Hood's lines at the battle which annihilated the rebel army of the West. At Nashville it did duty in white gloves, and at Knoxville it was shirtless, shoeless, hatless and in rags. It knew how to garrison a post or charge a line of intrenchments. At Fort Leavenworth it vied with the oldest and best trained soldiers of the regular army in the perfection of its discipline and drill, and in Georgia it lived on the country with Sherman's bummers." The regiment was the last of the Kansas troops to be discharged, being finally mustered out at Fort Leavenworth January 9, 1866, when it mustered a total of 196 officers and men.

Ninth Cavalry.—Colonel, Edward Lynde; Lieut.-Colonels, Charles S. Clarke, Willoughby Doudna; Majors, James M. Pomeroy, Edwin P. Bancroft, Willoughby Doudna, Linn K. Thacher, J. Milton Hadley. The organization of this regiment was completed by consolidating independent battalions, squadrons and detachments originally intended for other organizations. The permanent organization was effected March 27, 1862, in accordance with General Orders issued February 28, 1862, by General Hunter, commanding the department. Cos. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and I were recruited in the fall of 1861 and were mustered into the U. S. service from October, 1861, to March. 1862, for three years. Co. K was mustered into service July 11, 1862, L, from May 2 to September 21, 1863; M, August 21. 1863. Soon after its permanent organization, the regiment then having nine companies, Cos. A, B, C, G and I were detached by order of Brigadier-General Blunt and sent to various points from the Missouri river to the Rocky Mountains. In the summer of 1862, Cos. D, E, F and H participated in the fight at Locust Grove, Indian Territory, and later in an eight days' running fight with the forces of General Coffee, in which the endurance of the men was thoroughly tested. The 9th was scarcely ever united in a single organization, but was engaged, at widely scattered points, serving by detachments. During nearly its entire period of service it was employed in the irregular and hazardous warfare along the border, where it rendered valiant and faithful service against the various irregular forces of the enemy, but where it found little chance to make a great name for itself. Such was the fine character of the regiment, it is believed that it would have achieved distinction had it been attached to one of the larger armies and thus enabled to participate in the more important engagements of the war. In the latter part of September, 1862, Cos. D, E, F and H, commanded by Colonel Lynde took part in the disastrous engagement at Newtonia, where they fought until their ranks were decimated and they were literally crowded from the field. They materially assisted in bringing off the artillery and enabled part of the infantry to escape. In the Cane Hill fight two squadrons of the 9th took part. It was next in the raid on Van Buren as a part of General Blunt's forces and in February, 1863, it convoyed an immense supply train to Fort Scott. During the remainder of 1863 the regiment; served by detachments along the eastern border of Kansas, employed in repelling the frequent and desperate raids of bushwhackers from western Missouri and on June 17 had a bloody skirmish with the enemy near Westport. Guerrillas under Todd and Parker had ambushed and badly cut up Co. E under Captain Flesher, while en route for Kansas City. Major Thacher was ordered back with Cos. A and K to the assistance of their comrades and finally located the enemy resting in camp. A charge was immediately made, in which the enemy was severely punished and the booty taken on the previous day was recaptured. The headquarters of the regiment during the summer was at Trading Post, but the companies were posted along the border at Harrisonville, Aubrey, Pleasant Hill and Westport. Co. C, which had been stationed at Fort Riley, joined the regiment at Trading Post and was active at Cabin creek against Cooper's forces, inflicting a loss on the enemy equal to the entire number of the company. After the Quantrill raid on Lawrence in August, nearly every squadron of the 9th participated in the pursuit. The last important service of the regiment on the border was in connection with the expulsion of Shelby's raiders from Missouri, when a detachment was engaged in the exhausting pursuit for 26 days, and nights, and followed the retreating enemy into Arkansas, 150 miles south of Neosho. The various companies then returned to their several stations along the border, where they remained until March, 1864, when by order of General Schofield all Kansas troops in western Missouri were sent over the line into Kansas. Colonel Lynde meanwhile had sought to have his command attached, either to the Army of the Cumberland or to that of General Steele, who was then preparing to cooperate with General Banks in his Red River expedition. The regiment was assigned to the latter department and began the march to Little Rock April 3, via Harrisonville, Clinton and Springfield. Before reaching Little Rock, orders reached it to proceed to Fort Smith, where it encamped at Mazzard's prairie until July. Here Colonel Lynde commanded the cavalry brigade and the 9th engaged in numerous skirmishes and scouting and foraging expeditions. Among others, raids were made to Dallas and Lane s bottom, 100 miles down the river from Fort Smith. On July 2 it was ordered to Little Rock and arrived on the 14th. It participated in an expedition towards the White river; another to the vicinity of Clear Lake, in order to free that region from the presence of conscriptors; and a third one against the forces of General Shelby. In this last expedition two battalions under Majors Pomeroy and Thacher took an active part, dismounting and charging the enemy at Bull bayou and achieving a brilliant success. When Price started on his raid into Missouri, the 9th was sent to annoy him and act as a corps of observation. In September Captain Coleman made a brilliant scout south of Little Rock, defeated a force three times his number, and shortly afterward Co. F, while engaged in a similar scout, was ambushed by a superior force, but rallied and put the enemy to flight. This practically closed the active service of the regiment. Its members were mustered out at Devall's Bluff, Arkansas, January 16 and July 17, 1865. Its casualties by death during service amounted to 1 officer, 55 enlisted men killed, or mortally wounded; 2 officers, 199 men died of disease and other causes. It numbered 817 men in the spring of 1862. and received 710 recruits, giving it an aggregate strength of 1,527 officers and men.

Tenth Infantry.—-Colonels, James Montgomery, William Weer, William F. Cloud; Lieut.-Colonels, James G. Blunt, John T. Burris, Charles S. Hills; Majors, Otis B. Gunn, Henry H. Williams. This regiment was formed at Paola, April 3, 1862, by the consolidation of the 3d and 4th regiments, together with a few members of the 5th(see 3d and 4th infantry). It numbered about 800 officers and men of exceptionally fine physique, as most of the physically unfit members had been culled out during the previous service of the several organizations of which it was made up. Its rolls disclose few deaths from diseases and but little sickness during the next two years. As soon as organized it was marched to Fort Scott, where it went into camp to await orders. Not long after four companies were ordered to report to Colonel Doubleday and moved on an expedition into Indian Territory against the notorious Colonel Stand Watie of the 1st Confederate Cherokee regiment. It was the only infantry accompanying the expedition and marched 30 miles a day to keep up with the cavalry and artillery. In June, 1862, Colonel Cloud having been transferred to the 2nd cavalry, Colonel Weer, formerly of the 4th, assumed command of the regiment. The first active service of the 10th was with the expedition commanded by Colonel Weer into the Indian Territory in June, 1862, returning to Fort Scott August 15. It was then assigned to the 2nd brigade (Colonel Weer), Frontier division (General Blunt), and marched into Missouri to assist in checking the advance of the enemy under Colonels Coffee and Cockrell. It was only lightly engaged at the battle of Newtonia in September, where the Union forces suffered a disastrous repulse in the first engagement, but received reinforcements and were victorious a little later at the same place. With the 1st division, Army of the Frontier, under General Blunt, it moved west into Indian Territory in October and arrived just too late to share in the fight at Old Fort Wayne. In November it was actively engaged in the battles of Cane Hill and Prairie Grove, losing in the latter action, 6 killed and 67 wounded out of 387 engaged. It was engaged at Van Buren, where the remaining portion of General Hindman's force was routed and finally driven south of the Arkansas river. In January, 1863, it formed part of the force sent to the relief of Springfield, then besieged by General Marmaduke. overtaking and driving the enemy at Sand springs, Missouri. In March, 1863, it moved into the White river country to check the enemy's cavalry under General Shelby advancing against Forsyth. The regiment then returned to the vicinity of Fort Scott and part of the command went home on 20 days' furlough. On April 27 it marched to Rolla, Missouri, where it did provost duty until June 4, then moved to St. Louis, whence it was ordered into Indiana at the time of General Morgan's raid. It was not needed there so it returned to St. Louis July 18, and moved to Kansas City in August. In September it marched into the Sni hills in pursuit of the guerrilla Quantrill, after his raid upon Lawrence, and after returning from the unsuccessful pursuit was stationed at Kansas City until January, 1864. It then moved to St. Louis, whence it was ordered to Alton, Illinois, to take charge of the military prison. On May 5, it was again ordered to St. Louis and detailed for provost guard of the city. In July Colonel Weer was arrested and tried under various charges, being sentenced to dishonorable dismissal from the service, though the sentence of the court was set aside a year later. The regiment was then ordered to Fort Leavenworth, where it was mustered out August 19-20, 1864. The veterans and recruits were organized at St. Louis, August 15, 1864, into a battalion of four companies and continued in service until after the close of the war. The veteran organization was under the command of Major Williams until the end of August and was then successively commanded by Lieut. F. A. Smalley, Captain George D. Brooke, Captain William C. Jones and Lieut.-Colonel Hills. In the latter part of November the battalion moved to Nashville and thence to Franklin, Tennessee, where it took part in the battle with Hood's forces as a part of the 4th corps. It was then assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division. 16th corps, and took a prominent and honorable part in the battle of Nashville. In February, 1865, it embarked on transports, went down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and later took part in the campaign for the reduction of Mobile, Alabama. Of its conduct at the battle of Fort Blakely General Gilbert, commanding the brigade in which it served, said: "The 10th Kansas, a little band of heroes, rushed forward as into the jaws of death, with a determination to conquer or die. * * * Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon them." The battalion was finally mustered out at Montgomery, Alabama, August 30, 1865, and was paid and discharged at Fort Leavenworth September 20. The 10th lost by death during service 2 officers and 23 enlisted men, killed or died of wounds; 4 officers and 118 enlisted men died of disease, accident and other causes.

Eleventh Cavalry.—Colonels, Thomas Ewing, Jr., Thomas Moonlight; Lieut.-Colonels, Thomas Moonlight, Preston B. Plumb; Majors. Preston B. Plumb, Martin Anderson, Edmund G. Ross, Nathaniel A. Adams. This regiment was recruited, organized, mounted and equipped for active service in less than a month after recruiting began in August, 1862. It was raised under the call of July 2, 1862, for three years' volunteers, and the rapidity with which it was formed is due to the energetic efforts and admirable recruiting organization perfected by Colonel Ewing, who left his position of chief justice of the supreme court of the state to assume the work. The members of the regiment were recruited from the counties of Leavenworth, Jefferson, Jackson, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Pottawatomie, Riley, Davis, Morris, Lyon, Greenwood, Franklin and Anderson, rendezvoused at Camp Lyon near Fort Leavenworth, and were there mustered into the U. S. service September 15, 1862, for a three years' term. A large proportion of the officers had seen previous military service and Lieut.-Colonel Moonlight had been a soldier in the regular army, commanding a battery of artillery. At the time the regiment was formed he was serving on the staff of General Blunt. On October 4 the regiment moved on its first campaign, proceeding to Pea ridge, Arkansas, where it joined the Army of the Frontier under General Schofield, and was assigned to Cloud's (3d) brigade, Blunt's (1st) division, serving as infantry. The first fight of its division at Old Fort Wayne, Indian Territory, was won by the cavalry, though the 11th arrived too late to participate in the action. It next moved to Little Osage with its division, thence to Flint creek on the western border of Arkansas, where it remained for two weeks. Late in November it made a forced march of 40 miles south and engaged in its first fight with the forces of General Marmaduke at Cane Hill, where it led the infantry advance and had a few men wounded. It was again engaged with Hindman's and Marmaduke's forces at Prairie Grove and sustained its full share of losses in that bloody and indecisive battle. Returning to Cane Hill after the fight, it moved on December 27 to Van Buren on the Arkansas river, 50 miles south. This was a hard march through a gorge of the Boston mountains and many men died from exposure. On the 31st it returned with the army to Elm springs, remained there two weeks, and then moved to the vicinity of Springfield, where it spent the remainder of the winter. In the latter part of March all the Kansas troops were ordered to Fort Scott, whence most of them went home on 30 days' furlough. On the expiration of this leave the regiment rejoined the Army of the Frontier at Salem, Missouri. On March 13, 1863, Colonel Ewing was appointed brigadier-general and assigned to the command of the 1st division. Shortly afterward the Army of the Frontier was broken up and scattered, and Ewing was sent to command the District of the Border, with headquarters at Kansas City, where the 11th moved in April. It had now been in service nine months, had lost over 300 men, and was reduced below the minimum standard of an infantry regiment. Soon after its arrival at Kansas City the regiment was mounted, changed from infantry to cavalry, and given authority to recruit two new companies. It was not until the following spring that the old companies were recruited to the cavalry maximum and the new companies, L and M, fully recruited. During this time the regiment was occupied in the arduous and thankless border service at scattered points by detachments and often engaged with the enemy's bushwhackers. In the latter part of September most of the regiment was engaged in the pursuit and expulsion of Shelby's forces from central Missouri. In December a detachment under Major Plumb was sent to the southern border of Kansas, to resist a threatened raid by the Cherokee Stand Watie, and was there employed until August, 1864, escorting trains to Fort Gibson, etc. The regiment, over 1,200 strong, was stationed in Kansas in the spring and summer of 1864, still serving by detachments. Colonel Moonlight had command of a sub-district with headquarters at Paola. The regiment took a prominent and honorable part in all the marches and battles incident to the Price raid in the fall of 1864, Lieut.-Colonel Plumb commanding the regiment and Colonel Moonlight the 2nd brigade. After Price had been driven across the Arkansas, the 11th returned to Paola, and not long after was ordered to Fort Riley to outfit and recruit. Cos. C and E were thence ordered to Fort Larned and the rest of the regiment to Fort Kearny, whence, after a halt of only two days, they marched to Fort Laramie, where news of the successes around Petersburg was received. From Fort Laramie the regiment marched 150 miles farther west to Platte bridge and remained in that vicinity for four months, guarding the overland telegraph and campaigning against hostile Indians. From their distant station, 1,000 miles away the 11th was ordered to Fort Leavenworth for muster out. This took place from August 19 to September 26, 1865. The loss of the 11th by death during its term of service was 65 men killed and died of wounds; 2 officers and 101 men died from disease, accident and other causes. It received 408 recruits and had an aggregate strength during service of 1,414.

Twelfth Infantry.—Colonel Charles W. Adams; Lieut.-Colonel, Josiah E. Hayes; Major, Thomas H. Kennedy. This regiment, recruited in the late summer of 1862 from the counties of Wyandotte, Johnson, Douglas, Miami, Franklin, Coffey, Allen, Linn and Bourbon, rendezvoused at Paola and was there mustered into the U. S. service during September for three years. Throughout its first year of service the regiment was stationed at different points along the line between Kansas and Missouri, serving by detachments. Co. H was stationed at Fort Larned. A detachment of the regiment was engaged at Baxter Springs in October, 1863, and in the latter part of the same month a detail of three companies escorted a supply train from Fort Gibson to Fort Smith, Arkansas. In November, 1863, the rest of the regiment, except Co. H at Fort Larned, was concentrated at Fort Scott, and the following month marched a distance of 215 miles in 15 days to Fort Smith, where in February, 1864, Co. H' joined the regiment. In March, 1864, as part of the 2nd brigade, frontier division (Brigadier-General Thayer), 7th corps, it moved on General Steele's Camden expedition, was engaged at Prairie d'Ane, and arrived with the army at Camden April 16. On the return the 12th took part in the action at Jenkins' ferry, and then moved with the army to Little Rock, Arkansas. Not long after this it moved with the frontier division on a forced march to Fort Smith, which was threatened by the enemy. During the 50 days between the time when it left Fort Smith, until its return to that post, it had marched 550 miles over the worst possible roads, most of the time on half rations, and part of the time entirely destitute of provisions for men or animals. It then performed fatigue duty for some months at Fort Smith and the following winter, until February 24, 1865, it was chiefly employed in escort duty. At the above date it embarked for Little Rock, Arkansas, where it was employed in fatigue and guard duty until it was mustered out June 30, 1865. Its loss by death during service was, 2 officers, 12 men, killed or died of wounds; 2 officers, i1 1 men died from disease, accident and other causes. Its total strength was 1,013.

Thirteenth Infantry.—Colonel Thomas M. Bowen; Lieut.-Colonel, John B. Wheeler; Major, Caleb A. Woodworth. This was the 3d Kansas Regiment raised under the president's call of July 2, 1862, for 300,000 volunteers to serve for three years or during the war. It was recruited during the months of August and September from the counties of Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Marshall and Nemaha, rendezvoused at Camp Stanton, Atchison, and was there mustered into the U. S. service September 20. The men were substantial citizens, principally farmers. Early in October, 1862, it was ordered to take the field, marched by way of Leavenworth and Fort Scott to join General Blunt's command at Old Fort Wayne, Ind. Ten, and henceforth was a part of the Army of the Frontier. From Old Fort Wayne it moved to Camp Ewing, thence to Camp Bowen, Arkansas, and later to Camp Babcock on Lindsay's prairie, Arkansas. As a part of Weer's (2nd) brigade, Blunt's (1st) division, it participated in the engagement at Cane Hill, but sustained no loss. After the pursuit of Marmaduke's retreating force it returned to Cane Hill and encamped until it was called into action at the battle of Prairie Grove, where it was warmly commended by its brigade commander. Its loss in this action was 8 men killed, 3 officers and 40 men wounded, and 5 men missing. Returning once more to its old camp at Cane Hill, it remained there until December 27, when it moved with the army to Van Buren. This march was made in extremely cold weather and the command was forced to ford a rapid mountain stream several times, resulting in numerous deaths from exposure. It then moved with the army to Elm springs and encamped there until January 7, 1863, when it made a forced march to Springfield, Missouri, in order to resist a threatened attack. There it remained until spring, performing garrison and escort duty, though a part of the command engaged in a raid on the town of Forsyth. On May 19 it moved to Fort Scott, thence to Dry Wood and engaged in outpost duty for a period of two months, during which time most of the men went home on 20 days' furlough. The regiment again took the field August 3, 1863, in General Blunt's campaign against the irregular forces of Cooper, Cabell, Steele and Stand Watie, which resulted in driving the enemy to the Red river and the capture of Fort Smith. The 13th marched over 400 miles in August, 200 of which were during the last 10 days of the month. Finally abandoning the pursuit of the enemy, it was ordered to Webber's falls, Indian Territory, remained there two weeks, and then moved to Scullyville, Indian Territory, where it performed outpost and scout duty until October 6. It next moved to Van Buren, Arkansas, where it went into winter quarters. In March, 1864, Cos. A, C, D, G, H and I were ordered to Fort Smith, Arkansas, for garrison duty, Cos. B, E and F remaining as a garrison for Van Buren. The regiment continued to garrison these two posts during the disastrous Camden expedition of General Steele. Colonel Bowen was captured by bushwhackers in August, 1864, but effected his release by a compromise on the same day. The year of 1864 passed in garrison and scout duty, numerous encounters with guerrilla bands taking place, of which no official report was ever made. On March 3, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Little Rock, Arkansas, where it performed guard and provost duty until June 26, when it was mustered out and was finally discharged at Fort Leavenworth July 13. It lost by death during its term of service, 3 officers and 20 enlisted men killed or died of wounds; 1 officer and 104 enlisted men died from disease, accident and other causes.

Fourteenth Cavalry.—Colonel Charles W. Blair; Lieut.-Colonels, Charles W. Blair. John G. Brown, J. Finn Hill; Majors, Daniel H. David, Charles Willetts, John G. Brown, J. Finn Hill, William O. Gould. This regiment was recruited during the summer and fall of 1863, under authority received by General Blunt from the war department. It rendezvoused at Fort Scott, and was mustered into the U. S. service November 20, 1863. On the same day it started for Fort Smith, Arkansas, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Moonlight of the_ 11th cavalry, and arrived at its destination on December 3. It remained there until February 23, 1864, performing picket, scout and forage duty, and then moved on an expedition into the Choctaw country. It was stationed at Ozark, Arkansas, from February 28 to April 6, when it moved on the Camden expedition as part of Bassett's (3d cavalry) brigade, Thayer's frontier division, which formed a junction with the 7th corps, under General Steele on the 11th at the Little Missouri river. It participated in the skirmishes at Prairie d'Ane and Moscow and was complimented by General Thayer for its coolness and bravery. A detachment of 92 officers and men from the 14th was engaged at Poison Springs, losing 9 men killed and captured. After the evacuation of Camden, Cos. F and G took part in the engagement at Jenkins' ferry, being the only Federal cavalry present. In May the regiment returned to Fort Smith, where it was stationed for the balance of the year, performing guard, picket, scout and escort duty and sustaining some losses. During the campaign against General Price in the fall of 1864, Co. E, Lieut. William B. Clark, served as personal escort to Major-General Blunt, and distinguished itself at Cabin creek, Westport, Mine creek and Newtonia. On January 1, 1865, the 14th was ordered to Clarksville, Arkansas, where, with the rest of the 3d brigade, it guarded the navigation of the Arkansas river and was almost daily engaged with some of the irregular forces of the enemy with which the region swarmed. One of the important services rendered was to succor the wounded soldiers, passengers and crew of the steamer Annie Jacobs, which had been attacked and disabled by a force under Colonel Brooks 15 miles above Clarksville. On another occasion a battalion of the 14th, led by Major Willetts, made a scout 125 miles northeast of Clarksville into the Bear creek country. In the latter part of February, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Pine Bluff, having been assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 7th corps. While there it was armed with the Spencer carbine, and served dismounted as infantry. Early in May it was ordered to Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, where it was mustered out June 25, 1865. It will be observed that most of its two years' term of service was spent in the Department of Arkansas and in defending the line of the Arkansas river. Its loss by death during service was 1 officer and 50 enlisted men killed and died of wounds; 2 officers and 106 enlisted men died from disease, accident and other causes.

Fifteenth Cavalry.—Colonels, Charles R. Jennison, William F. Cloud; Lieut.-Colonels, George H. Hoyt, Henry C. Haas; Majors, Robert H. Hunt, John M. Laing, Henry C. Haas, Benjamin F. Simpson, Leroy J. Beam. Immediately after Quantrill's raid upon the defenseless city of Lawrence, Governor Carney commissioned Colonel C. R. Jennison, formerly of the 7th, to recruit a regiment of cavalry. Previous to the Lawrence massacre the governor had received authority from the war department to organize a cavalry force to be primarily devoted to the protection of the exposed border of the state. The 15th cavalry was the immediate result. It was recruited from the state at large, rendezvoused at Fort Leavenworth and was there mustered into the U. S. service October 17, 1863, for three years. Colonel Jennison remained in command at Fort Leavenworth until August, 1864, during which time the several companies of the regiment were stationed along the eastern and southern border of the state at Olathe, Paola. Coldwater Grove, Trading Post, Fort Scott, Osage Mission, and Humboldt. Co. H served out its term at Fort Riley in another district. In February, 1864, the regiment was armed with the improved Sharp's carbines in place of the wretched Hall's carbines. Adjt.-General Holliday, in his report for 1864, thus characterized the regiment: "It was made up of men whose ardent attachment to the cause of freedom and the maintenance of the general government peculiarly qualified them as zealous and efficient guardians of the public welfare in the district of country where their duty called them. Always on the alert for bushwhackers and guerrillas, they have frequently administered such good and wholesome admonition to them as to cause the name of the 15th to become a terror to those 'enemies of the human race.' Patient of endurance and fearless almost to desperation in the face of the enemy, they have added laurels to the memory of their slain, and converted the appellation of 'jayhawkers' into one of honor and fame. The 15th was almost constantly in the presence of the enemy during the late invasion of Missouri (the Price raid), retarding his advance or hastening his retreat by following closely upon and striking terror and dismay into his broken and disordered hordes. Except the battles included in the invasion above referred to, the 15th has not participated in many of importance, but from the hazardous and arduous duties it has been required to perform, its numbers have been considerably reduced. The many outrages from which the sudden and unexpected presence of the 15th has saved the people of Kansas, will ever remind them of the gratitude they owe the soldiers of this gallant regiment." In August, 1864, Colonel Jennison was placed in command of the 1st sub-district of southern Kansas. Lieut.-Colonel Hoyt commanded the troops in and west of Neosho valley, with headquarters at Humboldt, and Major Laing commanded in Linn and Anderson counties until the troops were concentrated at Fort Scott, after the capture by the enemy of the train at Cabin creek. As the enemy withdrew south of the Arkansas the troops returned to their various stations about October 1. Shortly after this, when General Price invaded Missouri, Colonel Jennison was placed in command of the 1st brigade, 1st division. Army of the Border, the 15th Kansas, a battalion of the 3d Wisconsin, and a battery of 12-pounder mountain howitzers, composing the brigade. A portion of the regiment being on detached service, the regiment only numbered about 600 men when it entered on the arduous campaign against Price. It rendered gallant service in the engagements at Lexington, Little Blue, Independence, Big Blue, Westport, Santa Fe, Osage and Newtonia. In the last named engagement the first brigade was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Hoyt, who was recommended for promotion by General Blunt on account of gallant and meritorious conduct, in consequence of which he was brevetted colonel and brigadier-general. The campaign against Price practically closed the active service of the 15th, though the regiment was not mustered out at Fort Leavenworth until October 19, 1865. Its casualties by death during service were 2 officers, 19 enlisted men, killed or died of wounds; 2 officers, 77 enlisted men, died of disease, accident and other causes.

Sixteenth Cavalry.—Colonel Werter R. Davis; Lieut.-Colonels, Werter R. Davis, Samuel Walker; Majors, James A. Price, Wilber F. Woodworth, James Ketner, Clarkson Reynolds. This regiment was recruited from the state at large, rendezvoused at Fort Leavenworth, and was there mustered into the U. S. service from September, 1863, to October 8, 1864. A large proportion of its members had seen previous military service in other organizations and these veterans exerted a marked influence on the regiment in the matter of discipline and soldierly conduct. Says the historian of the regiment in the adjutant-general's report for 1861-65: "The 16th did not see the hard service which it was the fortune of the older regiments to perform. At the battle of the Big Blue, in the vicinity of Westport, Missouri, and in the pursuit of the retreating rebel army under General Price, the 16th bore an honorable part and gave proof of the same soldierly qualities that characterized the Kansas troops under all circumstances of danger and peril. A part of the regiment was sent to the plains in pursuit of hostile Indians during the summer of its organization, and with this, and the exception before mentioned, the regiment was performing post and escort duty during most of its term of service. The 16th was made up of men whose ardent attachment to the principles of freedom and the perpetuity of our institutions of justice and liberty peculiarly qualified them for the trust confided to them—guarding the defenseless homes of the citizens of Kansas on and near the border from the incursions of the numerous bands of bloodthirsty and unprincipled bushwhackers which at that time threatened that portion of the state. This duty, though onerous and fatiguing, requiring the greatest vigilance, watchfulness and care, they performed well and faithfully, and the self-sacrificing exertions of the 16th, although called into the field at a late day, to protect their homes from the torch and themselves from the knife of brutal assassins, should ever be held in grateful remembrance by the people of Kansas." Like the 15th cavalry, this regiment had its inspiration in the infamous Quantrill raid in August, 1863, and its first companies were rapidly recruited after that event for service along the exposed border counties of the state. It was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth December 6, 1865, having lost by death during its term of service, 1 officer, 13 enlisted men, killed or died of wounds; 94 enlisted men died of disease, accident and other causes.

Seventeenth Infantry.—Lieut.-Colonel, Samuel A. Drake. This regiment was called into service for 100 days in July, 1864, but men enough for only five companies (455 in all) were recruited. These were organized into a battalion at Camp Deitzler, Leavenworth, where they were mustered into the U. S. service July 28, 1864. Troops were needed to garrison the western posts, in consequence of which the companies of this command were early separated. Co. A was ordered to Fort Riley, C to Cottonwood Falls, D to Lawrence, and B and E remained with regimental headquarters at Fort Leavenworth. When the forces of General Price invaded Missouri and seriously threatened Kansas in the fall of 1864, Lieut.-Colonel Drake's command was ordered to Paola where Drake relieved Captain Huntoon of the 11th, in command of the post. As Price's army advanced toward the Kansas border the utmost vigilance was required of the little force stationed at the exposed station of Paola. Only two companies of the 17th and one of the 16th were left to protect the place, together with its valuable public property. Everything was done by Drake's command to put the town in a complete condition of defense and the men of the 17th built a fort on the site of their camp. Many of the state militia called out at the time of the Price raid rendezvoused at Paola and the several regiments and -detachments as they reported, were supplied and forwarded by Colonel Drake to their respective destinations. When the retreating enemy threatened Mound City, Drake's little command made a forced march to the relief of that point and assisted in preventing an attack on the town. During the cavalry engagement at Mine creek, the 17th formed in skirmishing order and brought in a number of prisoners from the cornfields surrounding the town. Its term of enlistment having now expired, the regiment was ordered back to Paola, thence to Fort Leavenworth, where it was mustered out November 16, 1864. The fortunes of war gave the command little opportunity to distinguish itself, but its reputation for discipline and soldierly conduct was good. There were no deaths and only 2 or 3 desertions by professional bounty jumpers.

First Colored Infantry.—Colonel, James M. Williams; Lieut.-Colonels, James M. Williams, John Bowles, Richard G. Ward; Majors, John Bowles, Richard G. Ward. In the summer of 1862, Senator James H. Lane was authorized by the war department to recruit the troops which Kansas was called upon to furnish at that time, and under certain restrictions to officer the same when mustered into the U. S. service, thereby taking from the governor of the state the customary right to commission the officers. Early in August, 1862, Lane appointed Captain James H. Williams, of the 5th Kansas infantry, recruiting commissioner for the northern portion of Kansas, and Captain H. C. Seaman, of the same regiment, recruiting commissioner for the southern portion, for the purpose of organizing a regiment of infantry to be composed of men of African descent. Much delay and a good deal of opposition were encountered in the work of recruiting, as a large element of the white population of the state, for various reasons, objected to the enlistment of colored soldiers. However, six companies were mustered in for three years at Fort Scott, January 13, 1863, and the remaining four companies, between January 13 and May 2. On October 28, 1862, a detachment of 225 recruits for the regiment, encamped near Butler, was attacked by a force of several hundred men under Colonel Cockrell. The enemy was defeated after a severe engagement, the loss of the 1st being 10 killed and 12 wounded, among the former being Captain A. J. Crew. This is claimed to have been the first engagement of the war in which colored troops were engaged. As soon as it was organized in May, the regiment moved to Baxter Springs, where a detachment shortly after made a diversion on Shawnee, Missouri, dispersed a small force of the enemy and captured some prisoners. In May 25 men of the 1st formed part of a small foraging party sent into Jasper county, Missouri, which was attacked and defeated by a superior force under Major Livingston. Two of the 1st were captured, and Livingston refused to exchange his colored prisoners, one of them being subsequently murdered. In retaliation Colonel Williams at once ordered one of his prisoners shot. The regiment remained at Baxter Springs until June 27, 1863, when it marched to Fort Gibson as part of the escort of a large supply train, engaging the enemy, under General Cooper, en route at Cabin creek, where the Confederates were defeated and driven with great loss. This is claimed to have been the first action during the war in which white and colored troops were joined, and it was the first battle in which the whole regiment was engaged. The colored troops evinced great coolness and bravery under fire. The regiment arrived at Fort Gibson July 5, and formed part of Blunt's forces in the battle of Honey springs, where it again fought gallantly, capturing 40 prisoners and a battle flag. Its loss in the engagement was 5 killed and 32 wounded. In September it again moved with Blunt's division in pursuit of Cooper's forces as far as Perryville in the Choctaw Nation. Returning, it encamped at Fort Davis until October, when it moved to Fort Smith, to Waldron December 1, and thence to Roseville, Arkansas, where it went into winter quarters. In March, 1864, as part of Adams' 2nd brigade, Thayer's frontier division, 7th corps, it moved on General Steele's Camden expedition. It was engaged at Prairie d'Ane, Moscow and Poison Springs, where it fought with the utmost gallantry against overwhelming odds from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. and lost 187 officers and men out of less than 500 engaged. The regiment returned with the army to Little Rock, where on May 1, Colonel Williams was given command of the 2nd brigade and did not again assume direct command of his regiment, though it continued to form part of his brigade. In the latter part of May the regiment moved to Fort Smith, then threatened by the enemy, and remained on duty there until January 16, 1865, performing escort and fatigue duty. During this period a detachment of 42 men of Co. K under Lieut. D. M. Sutherland was surprised by a force of the enemy under General Gano, and after a gallant resistance was defeated with a loss of 22 killed and 10 prisoners. On January 16, the regiment moved to Little Rock and remained at this point until July, 1865. It then performed garrison and escort duty at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, until October 1, 1865, when it was mustered out and ordered to Fort Leavenworth for final payment and discharge. The casualties of the regiment by death during service were 4 officers and 166 enlisted men, killed in action or died of wounds; 1 officer and 165 enlisted men died from disease, accident, and other causes.

Second Colored Infantry.—Colonel, Samuel J. Crawford; Lieut.-Colonels, Horatio Knowles, James H. Gillpatrick; Majors, James H. Gillpatrick, Jerome A. Soward. Authority to recruit a second regiment of colored infantry in Kansas was received in June, 1863, and the several companies were mustered into the U. S. service from August 11 to October 17 at Fort Scott for three years. On October 19 the regiment marched to Fort Smith, Arkansas, under command of Major Gillpatrick as escort to a supply train. The organization of the regiment was completed November 1, 1863, at Fort Smith, by the muster in of the remaining field and staff officers. Here it became a part of the Army of the Frontier and attained a high degree of proficiency in drill and discipline, duties. It was assigned to the 2nd brigade, Thayer's frontier division, and moved on Steele's Camden expedition in March, 1864, fighting at Prairie d'Ane, and in the various skirmishes leading up to the occupation of Camden. During the retreat of the army to Little Rock the regiment was heavily engaged at Jenkins' ferry, where it behaved with the utmost gallantry, charging and capturing a battery of 3 guns, and materially aiding in holding the enemy in check until the rear of the army could cross the river. During the heroic charge Colonel Crawford's, and every other field officer's horse, was killed under him. Besides the battery, the regiment captured a large number of small arms and a number of prisoners, and inflicted a loss of about 150 killed and wounded on the enemy. Its own loss was 1 officer and 72 men killed and wounded, among the killed being the gallant Alexander Rush of Co. H, who fell leading his company into battle. The campaign had been a disastrous one for Steele's army, the 2nd returning to Little Rock without transportation and with the loss of all company books and records. The half starved regiment only remained at Little Rock long enough to draw rations, when it was ordered being employed with other troops to Fort Smith, then threatened by the enemy under Dockery, Fagan, Cooper and others, and after an absence of 54 days it returned to its old camp on the Poteau river near Fort Smith. About June 1 the regiment was ordered, in part, to garrison duty at Fort Smith, and from this time on was under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Gillpatrick, Colonel Crawford being absent on special duty. The regiment had become so reduced in numbers by losses in action and from disease that it was below the minimum standard and Gillpatrick could not be mustered as colonel. During the six months the 2nd was stationed at Fort Smith it performed its full share of escort and fatigue duty, was frequently engaged with small bands of the enemy, and took part in several trying expeditions. About the middle of January, 1865, it was ordered to Little Rock, arrived there February 4 and encamped on the north side of the river among the cypress swamps, where it suffered greatly from sickness by reason of its unsanitary location. Its last offensive movement was in the spring of 1865, when it proceeded south some distance from Little Rock and operated against a large band of guerrillas on the Saline river, dispersing them with heavy loss. Early in August, 1865, the regiment moved to Camden, Arkansas, where it remained until mustered out October 9, and was finally paid and discharged at Fort Leavenworth November 27. The regiment lost by death during its term of service, 2 officers and 37 enlisted men, killed in action and died of wounds; 187 enlisted men died from disease, accident and other causes.

First Light Battery.—Captains, Thomas Bickerton, Norman Allen,. Marcus D. Tenney. This battery was mustered into the U. S. service at Mound City July 24, 1861, for three years, and during the first two years of its service was in action at Ball's mills, Dry Wood, Morristown, Osceola, Newtonia and Prairie Grove. In the early months of its service it was attached to Lane's Kansas brigade and in 1862 was assigned to Weer's 2nd brigade, Blunt's 1st division, Army of the Frontier. In the bloody victory gained by the Union forces at Prairie Grove the 1st battery gained new laurels for itself. Said the official report of Colonel Weer, commanding the brigade: "The conduct of Lieut. Tenney and his battery was under the immediate eye of the general commanding. Their destructive and rapid fire has even extorted high encomiums from the enemy," and Weer recommended that Lieut. Tenney, who had been long discharging the duties of captain, be promoted to that position. General Blunt, who was in general command of the Union forces in this battle, said: "To Captains Rabb and Hopkins, and Lieuts. Tenney and Stover, who served their artillery with such terrible and destructive effect upon the enemy's ranks, too much praise cannot be awarded. All did their duty well and nobly." On three separate occasions during this fight the 1st battery repulsed the enemy with terrible slaughter. On the last occasion it silenced a Confederate battery of 10 guns in less than 10 minutes and dismounted 2 of their guns. Its loss in this action was 11 killed and wounded. In the history of the Kansas regiments embodied in the adjutant-general's report for 1861-65, it is stated: "About the 9th of July, 1863, the gallant commander of this battery—Captain Norman Allen —was stricken down with disease and died. The command then devolved upon Lieut. Taylor. Directly succeeding this it was ordered to Indiana and took an active part in capturing Morgan then on his celebrated raid through that state. After this it was ordered to St. Louis and subsequently to Columbus, Kentucky. It served with distinction in all the principal actions in which the armies of the Tennessee and the Mississippi were engaged, and its numbers were greatly reduced by the casualties of war and by disease." The battery was mustered out at Leavenworth, July 17, 1865. Forty-three of its members reenlisted as veterans in 1864. It lost by death during its term of service, 5 men killed and died of wounds; 1 officer and 20 men died of disease, accident, and other causes.

Second Light Battery.—Captain, Edward A. Smith. This organization was recruited in the late summer of 1862 by Major C. W. Blair, of the 2nd Kansas cavalry, and it was mustered into the U. S. service at Fort Scott September 10, for three years. It numbered 123 officers and men and was at once assigned to what was later known as the 1st brigade, 1st division, Army of the Frontier. A section of the battery under Lieut. Clark was engaged without loss in the second engagement at Newtonia. During General Blunt's movement against Marmaduke at Cane Hill in the latter part of November, two sections of the battery guarded the brigade and supply trains which were parked on Lindsay's prairie, and later moved with them to Rhea's mills. On December 3, 1862, it was ordered back to Fort Scott to be paid and reorganized. The entire battery remained at Fort Scott until May 1, 1863, when one section under Lieut. Knowles was sent to Baxter Springs with the 1st Colored infantry. On May 18 a detachment of 25 artillerymen and some 50 or 60 colored soldiers were surprised by a force of guerrillas under Livingston near Sherwood, Missouri, when 3 of the battery were killed and 2 captured. In June the section at Baxter Springs returned to Fort Scott. Another section of the battery under Lieut. Wilson formed part of the escort to a large supply train to Fort Gibson a little later and took part in the engagement with Stand Watie's force at Cabin creek, but sustained no loss. On April 3, 1863, Major Blair was assigned to the command of Fort Scott and resigned the command of the battery. Lieut. Smith was mustered as captain on July 4, and on the 17th the battery took a prominent part in the action at Honey Springs, but escaped with a loss of only 1 man wounded, though it lost 11 of its horses. It then moved to Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, where it encamped until August 22, when it moved on the campaign to Perryville, Ind. Ter. In November, 1863, the two sections which had been engaged in the campaign in the Indian country were ordered to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and remained there until July, 1865. The third section, under Lieut. Knowles, was left at Fort Scott, when Captain Smith was ordered south in July, 1863, and did not rejoin the rest of the battery until the summer of 1865. During the Price raid in the fall of 1864, this section constituted a part of Colonel Blair's brigade, with which it participated in the march to Kansas City, the battle of Westport, and in the subsequent pursuit of the enemy beyond Fort Scott. On July 21, 1865, the battery was ordered home from Fort Smith, and after a journey of 1,700 miles by water, it arrived at Fort Leavenworth August 8. On the 11th it was mustered out and two days later the men were paid and finally discharged, just three years from the date of their first enlistment. It lost by death during service 5 men killed in action, and 15 died of disease, and other causes.

Third Light Battery.—Captains, Henry Hopkins, John F. Aduddell. This organization, subsequently known as "Hopkins' Kansas Battery," was originally recruited by Henry Hopkins and John F. Aduddell as a part of Lane's Indian or New Mexican brigade and was mustered into the U. S. service at Fort Leavenworth during October and November, 1861, for three years. It was originally organized as one of the companies of the 9th cavalry and in February, 1862, became Co. B of the newly formed 2nd cavalry (q. v.). After being stationed at Quindaro and Shawneetown until the latter part of April, 1862, it was ordered to Fort Riley, where it was under command of Lieut. B. S. Bassett, Captain Hopkins being absent on detached duty with a detail of 150 men forming a battery of light artillery, and 1st Lieut. Aduddell being absent without leave. On June 20 the company marched to Fort Larned, where it remained until August 20, 1862, when it rejoined the regiment at Dry Wood creek near Fort Scott. A little later it moved south with the regiment to Sarcoxie, Missouri, and took part in the engagement at Newtonia. From this point it pushed south rapidly in advance of the main army under General Blunt, skirmishing at Hazel bottom, Shell's mills and other points, until the 1st division reached Pea ridge, Arkansas, on the 20th. On the same day Co. B did heroic service at the battle of Old Fort Wayne, where its regiment, numbering less than 600 men, engaged a force more than ten times that number, drove them from the field in a brilliant charge and captured a battery of 4 pieces—three 6-pounder smooth-bores and one 12-pounder howitzer. Captain Hopkins and Lieuts. Aduddell and Bassett were warmly commended for their gallantry in this action by General Blunt, commanding the division, and by Lieut.-Colonel Bassett, commanding the regiment. After this fight Co. B was detached from the regiment and ordered to man the captured battery, which became known as "Hopkins' Kansas Battery." They were engaged for the first time as artillerists at Cane Hill, Arkansas, where the enemy was driven across the Boston mountains. In this engagement the battery silenced one of the enemy's batteries and showed a good degree of proficiency, considering their comparative inexperience as artillerists. It was next active at the battle of Prairie Grove, where it performed excellent service, but fortunately sustained no loss. It took part in the expedition to Van Buren, where it was again engaged, and returned to Rhea's mills January 1, 1863. It had previously served in Cloud's (3d) brigade, 1st division, Army of the Frontier, and was now assigned to Colonel Phillips' Indian brigade, consisting of the 1st, 2nd and 3d Indian regiments, a battalion of the 6th Kansas cavalry, and Hopkins' battery. On March 1 it moved to Fort Gibson, and in April was active at Webber's falls. At Fort Gibson about the middle of May, one section of the battery materially assisted in defeating the enemy under General Cooper. It was again engaged with the same enemy May 26, after which it remained without especial incident at Fort Gibson until July 17, 1863. It was then assigned to Colonel Bowen's brigade and was successively stationed at Webber's falls, Scullyville and Van Buren. On October 1, 1863, it was permanently detached from the 2nd cavalry and formed into a battery, officially designated as the 3d Kansas battery. In June, 1863, Lieut. Bassett, with a detachment of 60 men, was sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, to receive a new equipment of 3-inch rifles, and remained there until September 13, 1864, when Bassett was disabled by an accident and the detachment was assigned to duty with Battery K, 1st Missouri artillery, until January 1, 1865. On this date all the members of the battery whose term of enlistment had expired were ordered to Fort Leavenworth and mustered out on the 19th. The 45 remaining members of the battery were assigned to the 2nd Kansas battery and were discharged with that organization. The battery lost by death during service 5 men killed in action; 17 died of disease, accident and other causes. The aggregate strength of the battery, including recruits, was 193 officers and men. Independent Colored Battery.—Captain, Hezekiah F. Douglass. This organization was largely recruited and mustered into the U. S. service during the months of July and August, 1864, but it was not completely organized until the latter part of February, 1865. It saw some service during the Price raid in the fall of 1864, but lost no men killed in action. It was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth July 22, 1865, having lost 1 officer and 9 men, died of disease and other causes.


SAMUEL J. CRAWFORD

Brigadier-General Samuel J. Crawford, third governor of Kansas after its admission into the Union and editor of the chapter on "Military Affairs in Kansas," was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, April 10, 1835, and there spent his boyhood on the farm. While attending the Bedford academy he took up the study of law and in 1856 graduated in the Cincinnati law school. Two years later he located at Garnett, Kansas, and began the practice of his profession. He was a member of the first state legislature, which met in March, 1861, and though only 26 years of age he soon demonstrated his ability to represent the district from which he was elected. Upon the first call for troops he resigned his seat in the legislature, raised a company for the 2nd Kansas infantry, being in due season promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment and given the rank of brevet brigadier-general. In September, 1864, while still in the service, he was elected governor of the state and in 1866 was reelected, but resigned in November, 1868, to take command of the 19th Kansas regiment in an expedition against the Indians on the frontier. His last service in the Union army during the Civil war was as colonel of the 83d U. S. colored infantry, to which he was commissioned on March 13, 1865. After the war was over and the Indians had been subdued General Crawford located in Topeka and resumed the practice of law, taking rank as one of the leading attorneys of the state. He now has a law office in Washington, D. C., though he still claims his residence in Kansas.