Regiments

-- Cols., James Montgomery, William Weer, William F. Cloud; Lieut.-Cols., James G. Blunt, John T. Burris Charles S. Hills; Majs., Otis B. Gunn, Henry H. Williams.

This regiment was formed at Paola, April 3, 1862, by the consolidation of the 3rd and 4th regiments, together with a few members of the 5th (see 3rd 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 Col. Doubleday and moved on an expedition into Indian Territory against the notorious Col. 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, Col. Cloud having been transferred to the 2nd cavalry, Col. Weer, formerly of the 4th, assumed command of the regiment.

The first active service of the 10th was with the expedition commanded by Col. Weer into the Indian Territory in June, 1862, returning to Fort Scott Aug. 15. It was then assigned to the 2nd brigade (Col. Weer), Frontier division (Gen. Blunt), and marched into Missouri to assist in checking the advance of the enemy under Cols. 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 Gen. 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 Gen. Hindman's force was routed and finally driven south of the Arkansas River.

In Jan., 1863, it formed part of the force sent to the relief of Springfield then besieged by Gen. Marmaduke, overtaking and driving the enemy at Sand Springs, Mo. In March, 1863, it moved into the White River country to check the enemy's cavalry under Gen. 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, Mo., where it did provost duty until June 4, then moved to St. Louis, whence it was ordered into Indiana at the time of Gen. 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 Jan., 1864. It then moved to St. Louis, whence it was ordered to Alton, IL, 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 Col. 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 Aug. 19-20, 1864. The veterans and recruits were organized at St. Louis, Aug. 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 Maj. Williams until the end of August and was then successively commanded by Lieut. F. A. Smalley, Capt. George D. Brooke, Capt. William C. Jones and Lieut.-Col. Hills. In the latter part of November the battalion moved to Nashville and thence to Franklin, Tenn., 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 Feb., 1865, it embarked on transports, went down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and later took part in the campaign for the reduction of Mobile, Ala.

Of its conduct at the battle of Fort Blakely, Gen. 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, Ala., Aug. 30, 1865, and was paid and discharged at Fort Leavenworth Sept. 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. Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 212

In March, 1864, went home on Veteran furlough. On expiration of furlough joined Seventeenth Army Corps, and proceeded up Tennessee river to Clifton , thence to Huntsville, Ala.; thence to Decatur and Rome, Ga., thence to Kingston, and joined General Sherman's army, moving on Atlanta. At Allatoona Pass the Fifteenth Regiment was, with the other regiments belonging to the 2d Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Corps, commanded by Colonel George C Rogers, ordered to fortify that place. The forts at Allatoona, where General Corse, with 2,100 men, defeated Hood,s whole army, were built by this brigade. Here the Fifteenth and Fourteenth Infantry were consolidated, and the gallant and brave McPherson knowing the honorable record of these regiments, and that neither might lose its identity, acceded to the request of Colonel Rogers and had the organization made and known as "The Veteran Battalion Fourteenth and Fifteenth Infantry Volunteers". The organization numbered 625 men. The organization was stationed at Ackworth, Big Shanty and Marietta for some time. The rebel General Hood struck the organization at Big Shanty and Ackworth, when he moved north, capturing quite a number of the command. The remainder fell back, some to Allatoona, and fought under Gen. Corse, where many were killed and wounded; the balance fell back to Marietta, and were mounted and acted as scouts for General Vandever. They were afterwards transferred to General F. P. Blair, and marched with General Sherman to the sea.

After the capture of Savannah, the Regiment proceeded to Beaufort, SC; thence to Salkahatchie river, participating in the various skirmishes in that vicinity--Columbia, SC, Fayetteville, NC, battle of Bentonville--losing a number wounded; thence to Goldsboro and Raleigh. At Raleigh, recruits sufficient to fill up both regiments were received, and the organization of the Veteran Battalion discontinued, and the Fifteenth reorganized. The campaign of General Sherman ended with the surrender of General Johnston. The Regiment then marched with the army to Washington, D. C., via Richmond and Fredericksburg, and participated in the grand review at Washington, May 24, 1865; remained there two weeks. Proceeded by rail and steamboat to Louisville, KY.; remained at Louisville two weeks. The Regiment was then detached from the 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, and proceeded by steamer to St. Louis; from thence to Fort Leavenworth, KS, arriving there July 1, 1865. Joined the army serving on the plains. Arrived at Fort Kearney August 14; then ordered to return to Fort Leavenworth, September 1, 1865, where the Regiment was mustered out of service and placed en route for Springfield, IL., for final payment and discharge--having served four years and four months.

-Capts., Charles G. Cooley, Patrick H. White; First Lieuts., Frank C Wilson, James H. Swan, George Throop, Pinckney S. Cone, Henry Roe; Second Lieuts., David R. Crego, Frederick B. Bickford, Joseph W. Barr, Henry Roe, Florus D. Meacham, James C. Sinclair. This battery was recruited and organized under the auspices of the Mercantile Association, an association of prominent merchants of the city of Chicago. It was mustered into the U.S. service at Camp Douglas Aug. 29, 1862, and remained in camp till Nov 8, when it was ordered to the field, reaching Memphis on the 11th, where it disembarked and went into camp on Poplar street. From there it accompanied Gen. Sherman on his expedition up the Yazoo, or the first attack upon Vicksburg, being assigned to the old 1Oth division of the 13th army corps, and reached the battle field on the morning of Dec. 27, performing splendid service on the right of the line. It then embarked on transports and with the rest of the army took part in the reduction of Arkansas Post. Crossing the Mississippi at Bruinsburg on the night of April 30, 1863, it was in time to take part in the battle of Port Gibson and was actively engaged and performed splendid service during the entire day. Continuing its march towards Vicksburg, it again encountered the enemy at Champion's hill, where it had a fearful artillery duel with an 8-gun battery belonging to the 1st Miss. light artillery. The following day more laurels were won at the battle of Black River bridge. On May 22, an assault was ordered along the whole line at Vicksburg and one section of the battery literally charged a bastion, pulling their guns by hand up to within 20 feet of the works. The following day one section was ordered to report to Gen. Alvin P. Hovey, on the extreme left of the line, where it remained for several days, and performed gallant service in the cause. After the surrender of Vicksburg it encountered the enemy at Jackson and was hotly engaged with him for seven days. It took part in the disastrous affair at Sabine cross-roads, and fought bravely to the last at close quarters, double-shotting the guns with canister. The losses were 2 officers killed and 2 captured, 4 men killed, 9 wounded and 23 taken prisoners. Late in June, 1865, the battery was ordered home to be mustered out, reaching Chicago July 3, where the men received their final payment and were mustered out of service July 10, 1865, having traveled by river, sea and land over 11,000 miles. On their arrival in Chicago a banquet was given in their honor in the Tremont House, and a glorious reception awaited them from the Mercantile Association and other friends. The total number of men connected with the battery was 244, it having been recruited several times while in the field. Of the original 156 officers and men who left Chicago with it Nov. 8, 1862, but 35 returned on July 3, 1865.