Memorial Monument located at Elmwood Cemetery, Chanute, Kansas.
THIS MONTH IN THE CIVIL WAR IN KANSAS
INFORMATION FROM "THE ANNALS OF KANSAS" BY DANIEL W. WILDER
PUBLISHED IN 1875
OCTOBER
1861
OCTOBER.-- Organization of the Third Battery. Seventh Kansas organized.
OCTOBER 8.-- Col. D R. Anthony Provost Marshal of Kansas City.
OCTOBER 9.-- First Annual Meeting of the State Temperance Society, at Topeka.
OCTOBER 11.-- Sturgis and Lane leave for Springfield, Mo.
OCTOBER 16.-- Humboldt burned by Rebels.
-- The following petition led a meeting of the Republican State Convention at Topeka, and the nomination of a State ticket:
"We the undersigned citizens, suffering in common with others from impotency or malice of the present State Executive, and earnestly desiring a State Government that will in a patriotic and energetic manner defend our people from invasion--knowing that by the plain and emphatic provisions of the State Constitution the term of our State officers expires on the first day of January, and that the legislative enactment continuing the State officers beyond that time is null and void, and that there is not sufficient time, before the election, to hold a Nominating Convention, do respectfully pray your honorable body to nominate a full State ticket of efficient Union men, without reference to their political antecedents --men who will conduct the State Government with reference to the good of the whole country, and not upon mere personal grounds."
The Committee made the following ticket and platform:
For Governor, George A. Crawford, of Bourbon county; for Lieutenant Governor, Joseph L. Speer, of Jefferson county; for Secretary of State, J. W. Robinson, of Riley county; for Attorney General, Samuel A. Stinson of Leavenworth county; for Treasurer, H. R. Dutton, of Brown county; for Auditor, James R. McClure, of Davis county; for Superintendent of Public Instruction, H. D. Preston, of Osage county.
"Resolved, That the various presentation of the present war, the earnest and hearty support of the Administration in its efforts to crush out the rebellion, the maintenance of the Constitution, the enforcement of the laws, and the preservation of the Union, are the issues which these nominations are made."
OCTOBER 24.-- Organization of the Ninth Kansas begins.
OCTOBER 25.-- Gardner, Johnson county, sacked.
OCTOBER 30.-- Settlers driven from Mine creek, Linn county.
1862
OCTOBER 1.-- Democratic State Convention at Topeka. A. G. Ege, of Doniphan, President; Wm. Roy, of Johnson, and Wm. Shepherd, of Leavenworth, Secretaries. A resolution was passed to make no nominations, State Committee: H. B. Denman, N. J. Marvin, A. G. Ege, Hugh S. Walsh, Robt. Reynolds, Chas. Sims, N. S. Goss, John Martin, Robt. Graham. The following platform was adopted:
"Whereas, The Democratic party stands to-day where it has always stood, on the Constitution and Laws of the land, and an economical administration of the Government thereof; and
"Whereas, We believe that the Democratic party by its time-honored policy made this country great, powerful and prosperous and the people happy; and
"Whereas, We still have abiding faith in its power and willingness to save: therefore,
"Resolved, 1st. That to the Democratic party we look for the political salvation of the country, the maintenance of the Constitution inviolate, and a faithful administration of the Government, and the liberty of citizenship.
"2d. That we will uphold and defend the principles of the Democratic party, the Constitution of our country, and the laws of the land made in pursuance thereof.
"3d. That we deeply regret the present unfortunate condition of our beloved country, and hope that such measures may be adopted by the Government so that the Constitution may be preserved as it is, and that the country may be restored as it was, and the States again united in one common statehood.
"4th. That the Constitution, and laws made in pursuance thereof, are and must remain the supreme law of the land, and as such must be preserved and maintained in their proper and rightful supremacy; that the rebellion now in arms arms against them must be suppressed, and it is the duty of all good citizens to aid the General Government in all legal and constitutional measures necessary and proper to the accomplishment of this end.
"5th. That we recommend to the Democracy of the several counties of this State to organize immediately, and in every Senatorial and Representative District run a candidate or candidates (as the case may be) for the State Legislature.
"6th. That this Convention appoint a State Democratic Central Committee, with usual powers."
OCTOBER 1.-- Chester Thomas elected Chairman and Samuel F. Atwood Secretary of the Republican Committee. W. W. H. Lawrence, of Franklin county, put on the Republican ticket for Secretary of State. The Republican State ticket is supported by eighteen papers; the Union ticket by four viz.: Leavenworth Times, Lawrence State Journal, Atchison Champion and Manhattan Express. The Leavenworth Inquirer, Atchison Union and Fort Scott Bulletin are straight Democratic or neutral.
OCTOBER 4.-- Rebels defeated at Corinth.
OCTOBER 8.-- Battle of Perryville, Kentucky.
OCTOBER 10.-- James F. Legate, U. S. Assessor, enters upon his duties; office at Lawrence. Wm. G. Mathias is a straight Democrat candidate for Congress.
OCTOBER 16.-- The Union Crusader, edited by Benj. F. Simpson, is issued at Paola.
OCTOBER 17.-- Quantrell and his gang make a foray into Johnson county, kill three men and burn thirteen buildings. They killed two teamsters a few miles south of Shawnee, and stole their loaded wagons.
OCTOBER 17.-- An Address to the People, issued by the Republican Committee.
-- The First Kansas Colored is organized near Fort Lincoln, Bourbon county, and ordered to Baxter Springs. The Thirteenth is at Fort Scott, the Twelfth on the eastern border, and the Eleventh has left to join Blunt.
OCTOBER 21.-- D. P. Lowe declines the Union nomination for Attorney General, and Louis Carpenter, of Lawrence, is nominated.
OCTOBER 22.-- J. H. Watson is placed on the Republican ticket as candidate for Chief Justice. The Convention made no nomination.
OCTOBER 27.-- Thomas Ewing, senior, makes an argument in a land case at Topeka. The suit was brought by the United States against John Conner, Chief of the Delaware Tribe, and others, to set aside and cancel a patent issued by the United States for a large tract of land, known as the Government Farm, adjoining Leavenworth. Crozier and Gambell appeared for the United States; Ewing, Stinson, and Isacks for the defence.
OCTOBER 30.-- Joseph Killerman, his wife, and two children burned to death in a prairie fire, near Cresco, Anderson county.
1863
OCTOBER 6.-- First State Fair, held at Leavenworth.
OCTOBER 6.-- The following account of the massacre at Baxter Springs, Kansas, is copied from Greeley's Conflict, vol. II, p. 452:
"General Blunt having been on business to Kansas, was returning with a small cavalry escort to Fort Smith, when it was struck, near Baxter Springs, Cherokee Nation, by Quantrell, with 600 guerillas, and most of his small escort killed or disabled; among the eighty killed--nearly all after they had been captured--were Major H. Z. Curtis, son of Major General S. R. Curtis, and several civilians. [General Curtis named Fort Zarah for his son.] General Blunt, rallying some fifteen of his guard, escaped capture and death by great coolness and courage; their persistency in boldly fighting creating a belief that they were the van of a heavy force. A considerable train that accompanied them was sacked and burned. The attack was made very near the little post known as Fort Blair, which was next assailed; but its defenders, though few were brave, and well led by Lieutenant Pond, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, who beat the enemy off, inflicting a loss of eleven killed and many more wounded. General Blunt and his remnant of escort kept the prairie till night, then made their way to the post. They had not ventured thither before, apprehending that it had been taken."
OCTOBER 6.-- The Provost Marshal General writes that Kansas has furnished for the United States service the number of 4,400 troops in excess of all calls. Her white soldiers numbered 9,613. Colonel Fry's statement does not include the colored regiment, nor 2,262 Indians enrolled in three regiments, in Kansas in 1862.
OCTOBER 7.-- Meeting of State Editors at Leavenworth. D. H. Bailey, President; F. P. Baker, Secretary. On the 8th a Society was formed, with the following officers: President, John Speer; Vice President, Hovey E. Lowman; Secretary, D. H. Bailey; Treasurer, D. W. Wilder.
-- Mark W. Delahay appointed United States District Judge.
OCTOBER 8.-- The Republican State Committee meets in Leavenworth, and nominates Robert Cozier for Chief Justice.
-- D. W. Wilder appointed Surveyor General of Kansas and Nebraska.
OCTOBER 16.-- The Fifteenth Regiment mustered.
OCTOBER 21.-- Henry C. F. Hackbusch appointed Chief Clerk of Surveyor General.
OCTOBER 23.-- Discontinuance of the Delaware Land District--office at Atchison.
OCTOBER 25.-- Battle of Pine Bluff.
"Pine Bluff, on the south bank of the Arkansas, fifty miles below Little Rock, was occupied early in October, by Colonel Powell Clayton, Fifth Kansas Cavalry, with 350 men and four guns. Marmaduke, at Princeton, forty-five miles south, resolved to retake it. By the time he advanced to do so, Clayton had been re-enforced by the First Indiana Cavalry; so that now he had 600 men and nine light guns.
"Marmaduke, with twelve guns and a force estimated at 2,500, advanced in three columns, and poured in shell and canister for five hours, setting fire to the place; but Clayton had organized 200 negroes to barricade the streets with cotton bales, by whose service the fire was stopped without subtracting from his slender fighting force. The Rebel shells burned the Court House and several dwellings, battering most of the residue; but they could not take the town, and at 2 p. m. drew off, having lost 150 killed and wounded, beside 33 prisoners. Our loss was but 17 killed and 40 wounded--five of the former and twelve of the latter among the negro volunteers"---Greeley's Conflict, vol. II, p. 453.
1864
OCTOBER 1.-- General Sterling Price reported advancing towards Kansas with 15,000 men. He crossed the Arkansas, coming north at Dardanelles, Pope county, Arkansas, with 5,000 to 15,000 men. His army was greatly increased in Arkansas and Missouri. Rosecrans was in command at St. Louis, and Steele at Little Rock. A supply train from Fort Scott to Fort Gibson was captured September 19, by General Gano, at Cabin Creek. Governor Carney learned of the Rebel advance September 24. General Thomas Ewing, jr. commanded the southeast Missouri district. He reached Pilot Knob with 1,051 men, September 26, and had an engagement with Marmaduke on the 27th. He then retreated, marching north and west. He was attacked at Harrison on the 29th and 30th, and withdrew to Rolla October 1st.
OCTOBER 2.-- General Samuel R. Curtis, at Fort Leavenworth, learns that Price is coming west.
OCTOBER 8.-- General Alfred Pleasanton takes command at Jefferson City. He sends General John B. Sanborn with 4,100 mounted men to follow Price.
OCTOBER 8.-- Governor Carney calls out the State Militia. George W. Deitzler, Major General of the Militia; John T. Morton, Adjutant General.
OCTOBER 9.-- General Blunt arrives at Olathe.
OCTOBER 10.-- General Curtis proclaims martial law in Kansas. James H. Lane assigned to duty on his staff.
OCTOBER 11.-- General Blunt takes command at Olathe, relieving General Sykes.
The Militia assembled at Olathe number 6,816; at Atchison, 1,154; at Paola, 1,872; at Mound City, 1,180; at Fort Scott, 1,050; at Wyandotte, 550. All are soon concentrated on the border.
OCTOBER 20.-- Engagement at Lexington, Mo., and retreat to the Little Blue.
OCTOBER 21.-- Battle along the Little Blue; fall back to the Big Blue, six miles east of Kansas City. Price and his whole army engaged.
OCTOBER 22.-- Battle of the Big Blue; Union victory. General Pleasanton and Sanborn reach the Little Blue, and occupy Independence at night.
General Curtis's command consists of the Eleventh, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventh Kansas a battalion of the Third Wisconsin, a section of the Second Kansas battery, McLain's Colorado battery, and Captain Dodge's Ninth Wisconsin battery--in all, about 4,500 men.
Citizens of Kansas now under arms estimated to number 20,000.
OCTOBER 23.-- Battle of Westport. Defeat and retreat of Price. Colonel Moonlight moves down the Kansas border in advance.
A raid is made on Marmaton, Bourbon county, six citizens killed, and the town sacked and fired.
Price enters Kansas in Linn county, a few miles south of West Point, Mo., and remains in the State, in that county and Bourbon, until he crosses the Marmaton, reaching the farthest point west in Linn county.
OCTOBER.-- Publication of the first volume of Supreme Court Reports. Elliot V. Banks, Reporter. Preston B. Plumb, appointed the first Reporter, resigned in October, 1862. Louis Carpenter was appointed in January, 1863, and was killed in the Lawrence Massacre, August 21, 1863. The second and third volumes were issued in 1866; the fourth in 1868; the fifth in 1871--all by Banks. William C. Webb, was appointed Reporter, and the sixth volume appeared in May, 1872, the seventh in November, 1872; the eighth and ninth in 1873; the tenth, eleventh and twelfth in 1874; the thirteenth in 1875.
The following facts are obtained from these volumes: Archibald Williams, United States District Judge, died in September, 1863, Robert Crozier was United States District Attorney until elected Chief Justice, in 1863. James S. Emery succeeded him as Attorney. John T. Morton was succeeded as United States Clerk by Frank G. Adams, in 1863. Nelson Cobb was appointed Chief Justice December 28, 1862. Clark J. Hanks succeeded F. G. Adams as United States District Clerk in 1863; in 1865, Adolphus S. Thomas succeeded Mr. Hanks. Andrew Stark was the Clerk of the Supreme Court in 1865. David J. Brewer was Judge of the Leavenworth Criminal Court in 1864, and was succeeded in 1865 by Peter McFarland. Samuel A. Riggs was appointed United States District Attorney in 1867, and Charles C. Whiting, United States Marshal. Hiram Griswold was appointed Commissioner in Bankruptcy. E. B. Fowler was appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court in 1868. He was succeeded by A. Hammatt in July, 1870. J. F. Broadhead succeeded Judge Lowe in March, 1871. D. W. Houston was appointed United States Marshal May 13, 1869. Albert H. Horton became United States District Attorney. Henry G. Webb was appointed Attorney General July 30, 1860, B. F. Simpson having resigned and entered the service. John F. Dillon was appointed United States Circuit Judge December 22, 1869, and held his first term of court here in May, 1870. Cyrus O. French was appointed Register in Bankruptcy in 1871. B. W. Perkins was appointed Judge of the Eleventh District in March, 1873. C. I. Scofield was appointed United States District Attorney in June, 1873; he was succeeded by George R. Peck, in January, 1874. William S. Tough was appointed Register in Bankruptcy in 1874.
OCTOBER 24.-- The force in pursuit of Price numbers 10,000. There is a skirmish at Coldwater Grove, fifteen miles below Santa Fe, Pleasanton takes the right. Moonlight reaches Mound City at midnight, after a march of sixty-five miles. A part of the Rebel army encamps at the Trading Post. They murder and burn as they run.
OCTOBER 25.-- Decisive day for Kansas. Battle near Mound City. Price commands the Rebels. We capture Gens. Marmaduke and Cabel, with nine guns and 800 men. Rebels retreat across Mine Creek. Two hundred Rebels buried there. Mound City made a hospital for the wounded of both armies.
Another engagement on the Little Osage. McNeil and Pleasanton in advance. Rebels retreat eastward, leaving Fort Scott to the right.
The Rebels make another stand on the Marmaton, six miles east of Fort Scott. The battle in called Charlott, from a creek and farm on the field. It is a Union victory.
Gen. Curtis reaches Fort Scott, and rescinds the order proclaiming martial law.
OCTOBER 26.-- Gen. Curtis leaves Fort Scott with Moonlight's brigade, moving towards Lamar and Carthage. Gen. Blunt follows with the brigades of Jennison and Ford. McNeil had followed the retreating foe.
OCTOBER 27.-- The brigades of Sanborn and Benteen leave Fort Scott, and join in the pursuit. Curtis camps at Shanghai.
OCTOBER 27.-- Gov. Carney orders the Militia to return to their homes.
OCTOBER 28.-- Curtis reaches Carthage.
OCTOBER 28.-- Fight at Newtonia. Blunt begins alone. Sanborn comes up. Another struggle, and the Rebels abandon the field.
OCTOBER 29.-- Rosecrans orders all the troops of his Department to return to their districts.
Congratulatory order from Gen. Deitzler.
OCTOBER 30.-- Liet. Gen. Grant orders the pursuit of Price to be resumed.
.
