Tombstone of T. J. Losey, Company A, 14th KANS. Cavalry
THIS MONTH IN THE CIVIL WAR IN KANSAS
INFORMATION FROM "THE ANNALS OF KANSAS" BY DANIEL W. WILDER
PUBLISHED IN 1875
APRIL
1861
APRIL.-- Mark W. Delaney appointed Surveyor General.
APRIL 1.-- Suspension of the Lecompton Democrat.
APRIL 1.-- Fred P. Stanton gets the vote of the Senate for U. S. Senator "from the south side of the Kaw."
APRIL 3.-- Heavy rain, all over the State, the first of any importance for months.
APRIL 4.-- Election of United States Senators, by the following vote:
James H. Lane....................55 S.D. Houston....................1
S. C. Pomeroy.....................52 S. A. Kingman.................3
Marcus J. Parrott...............49 A. J. Isacks......................11
F. P. Stanton.....................21 M. F. Conway...................1
M. W. Delahay...................2
There was only one ballot. The voting continued two hours, in which interval Lane fluctuated between 45 and 64, Pomeroy between 49 and 57, Parrott between 47 and 60, Stanton between 10 and 32, Delahay between 2 and 11, and Kingman between 3 and 18. Fifty-eight members changed their votes. This vote-changing precedent has been faithfully followed, in Legislatures and Conventions, up to the time of going to press.
In the spring, Driggs, Faris and Moore moved the Lecompton Democrat office to Atchison, and issued the Bulletin. It died that year.
APRIL 8.-- Judge Williams opens the United States Court, at Topeka.
APRIL 9.-- Lane endorsed in Leavenworth. All the politicians go to Washington to get office.
APRIL 12.-- Bombardment of Fort Sumner by Rebels. Beginning of the Pro-Slavery Rebellion.
APRIL 13.--Illinois and Wisconsin currency no longer in use as a circulating medium. Great losses occasioned by Wild-Cat banks.
APRIL 15.-- President Lincoln calls for 75,000 men to enforce the laws and asks Congress to meet July 4th
APRIL 16.-- Dinner given to Judge John Pettit by the Leavenworth bar.
-- W. F. M. Arny reports to the Legislature that relief goods have passed through his hands weighing 9,197,300 pounds. Of this amount, 3,051,304 pounds were for seed. The money furnished by the Legislatures of New York and Wisconsin, and the New York City Committee, and $22,481.93 in addition, has been expended. No details are given. Wagons are still taking relief goods from Atchison.
APRIL 17.-- Governor Claib. Jackson, of Missouri, replies to the President's call for 75,000 men: "Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry on such an unholy crusade."
-- Captain Samuel Walker, of Lawrence, tenders to Governor Robinson a company of 100 men. A meeting is held in Atchison to form a military company. "Coercion" is voted down, and the Union company is not organized,
APRIL 18.-- The steamboat "New Sam Gaty" arrives at Leavenworth, from St. Louis, with a Rebel flag flying. An immense crowd collects on the Levee, and the Captain is compelled to take down the traitor ensign and run up the Stars and Stripes. This was the decisive day for Leavenworth.
APRIL 20.-- Seven military companies in Douglas county; nine in Leavenworth; one is ordered to Fort Leavenworth for thirty day's service.
-- The Rebels seize the United States Arsenal at Liberty, Missouri.
-- Samuel Walker and James C. Stone made Major Generals of the State militia.
APRIL 25.-- Military companies organized in nearly every county.
APRIL 26.-- M. Jeff. Thompson takes into St. Joseph the arms stolen at Liberty.
-- A night guard is organized by citizens of Leavenworth to defend the town. This service continues to be voluntarily performed, whenever necessary, during the whole war.
APRIL 27.-- Destructive fire in Leavenworth.
APRIL 29.-- Report of Legislative Committee on Blue Mont Central College. The Trustees of the College voted, February 28, to give it to the State.
-- Captain J. L. Reno has charge of the arsenal at Fort Leavenworth. He became a Major General, and was killed at Gettysburg. Reno county bears his name.
1862
APRIL 1.-- Robt. B. Mitchell and James G. Blunt are appointed Brigadier Generals.
APRIL 6.-- Battle of Pittsburgh Landing.
1863
APRIL.-- Organization of the Fourteenth Kansas begins.
APRIL 6.-- D. R. Anthony elected Mayor of Leavenworth.
APRIL 14.-- T. Dwight Thacher becomes the proprietor of the Kansas City (Mo.) Journal.
APRIL 25.-- Dr. Rufus Gillpatrick killed at Webber's Falls, Cherokee Nation, while dressing the wounds of a Rebel soldier.
APRIL 28.-- C. W. Babcock makes arrangements for bridging the Kaw at Lawrence.
APRIL 30. --The Commissioners appointed by the Governor report to him that they have selected forty acres of land near Lawrence as a site for the University buildings.
1864
APRIL 10.-- The first volume of Horace Greeley's American Conflict issued.
APRIL 12.-- William W. Bliss becomes one of the editors of the Conservative.
APRIL 20.-- The War Department credits the State with 1,529 colored troops.
APRIL 20.-- Thomas A. Osborn appointed U. S. Marshal.
APRIL 21.-- Republican State Convention at Topeka. Gov. Carney sends a letter to the Convention resigning all claims to the office of United States Senator. Called to order by Sidney Clarke. John W. Scott temporary Chairman, M. M. Murdock Secretary.
Committee on Credentials: Foster, Irvin, Hoaglin, Reynolds, and Jones.
Committee on Permanent Organization: McGrew, Guthrie, Thornton, Sherry, and Camp.
Officers: President, John W. Scott of Allen; Vice Presidents, S. H. Glen of Atchison, A. G. Procter of Lyon, S. C. Russell of Douglas, W. S. Hoaglin of Jackson; Secretaries, M. M. Murdock, of Osage; J. W. Roberts, of Jefferson.
Committee on Resolutions: Bowan, Foster, Sternberg, Hofmann, Danford, Proctor, Strickler, McDowell, Snoddy.
Vote for Delegates to the Baltimore National Convention: James H. Lane 44, A. Carter Wilder 49, Thomas M. Bowen 49, W. W. H. Lawrence 49, Martin H. Insley 51, F. W. Potter 49. Alternates: C. W. Babcock 50, S. A. Cobb 50, Joh M. Price 49, Robert McBratney 48, G. A. Colton 50, H. W. Farnsworth 50.
State Central Committee: Sidney Clarke, J. C. Burnett, J. M. Rankin, A. Low, James McCahon, W. S. Hoaglin, Jacob Stotler.
The following resolutions were adopted:
"Resolved, That the people of the State of Kansas have implicit confidence in the integrity, ability, prudence and patriotism of Abraham Lincoln. That he is their unqualified choice for re-election, and that a change in the Chief Executive at this critical time would prove detrimental to the cause of the Union and endanger our liberties as a people.
"Resolved, That the delegates from the State to the Baltimore Convention be instructed to cast their votes, and exert their entire influence, to secure the renomination of Abraham Lincoln to the Pesidency.
"Resolved, That Slavery was the cause and now constitutes the strength of the Rebellion, and that we see no hope of permanent peace until the principles of Liberty enunciated in the Declaration of Independence are carried into practice, and that we subscribe to the doctrine of Universal Human Freedom.
"Resolved, That the question whether Slavery is to be perpetuated or not is no longer exclusively a State, but a National one, and is therefore proper that the Constitution of the United States should be amended as to secure Freedom to every human being within its jurisdiction.
"Resolved, That at this, the first Convention which has met since the session of the Legislature which perpetuated the Senatorial Swindle, we, the representatives of the people, for them and in their name, do set the seal of condemnation upon said act, and denounce it as a Fraud unparalleled in the history of political frauds.
"Resolved, That we regard the law giving to our citizens in the United States volunteer service the privilege of exercising the elective franchise as an act of justice to those who are willing to imperil life in defence of our liberties.
"Resolved, That the letter of Gov. Carney to this Convention, declining to consider himself a Senator, is another evidence of the weakness of any policy to obtain power under a Republican Government without the consent of the people."
-- Death of John T. Snoddy, recently Major in the Seventh Kansas, at Mound City.
APRIL 30.-- Battle at Jenkin's Ferry, the crossing of the Saline, Arkansas.
Greeley's Conflict says:
"We had one section of a battery on the field, but could not use it. A section of a Rebel battery appeared and fired one round, when rhe Twenty-ninth Iowa and Second Kansas charged across the field, and brought away the guns.
"When all was over, and our men had crossed the river, Kirby Smith sent a flag of truce; but finding only a burial party, instead of an army, he made haste to capture these and claim victory."
1865
APRIL 1.-- Battle of Five Forks; great victory of Sheridan.--Grant closing around Petersburg.
APRIL 2.-- Advance on Petersburg. Petersburg and Richmond evacuated. Departure of Jeff. Davis.
APRIL 3.-- Weizel occupies Richmond.
APRIL 4.-- Lincoln in Richmond.
APRIL 8.-- Great Jubilee in Leavenworth over the Union victories and the end of the war. There were similar celebrations all over the State.
APRIL 9.-- Surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House.
