2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry
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The 2nd Kansas Infantry Regiment was an
infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...
that served in the Union Army during the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. Recruited in May 1861, it formally organized on June 20. Sent into
Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
, it participated in several small actions in the Springfield area before fighting in the
Battle of Wilson's Creek The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was the first major battle of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri. In August, Confe ...
on August 10, where it suffered 70 casualties out of about 600 men present excluded a detached cavalry company. Ordered back to Kansas after the battle, it fought in several small actions in Missouri and later mobilized in Kansas after enemy forces captured
Lexington, Missouri Lexington is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,726 at the 2010 census. Lexington is in western Missouri, within the Kansas City metropolitan area, approximately east of Kansas C ...
, as Kansas was believed to be threatened by the Lexington movement. The unit was disbanded on October 31, with some of its men, including its commander, joining the 2nd Kansas Cavalry Regiment.
Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
Robert B. Mitchell commanded the regiment until he was wounded at Wilson's Creek and Lieutenant Colonel Charles W. Blair took command.


Service


Formation

The 2nd Kansas Infantry Regiment was primarily recruited in May 1861, for service in the Union Army during the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
; the regiment's men were drawn from across the state. It was organized for a service period of 90 days. After gathering at
Lawrence, Kansas Lawrence is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Kansas, United States, and the sixth-largest city in the state. It is in the northeastern sector of the state, astride Interstate 70 in Kansas, Interstate 70, between the Kansas River ...
, the unit entered Union service on June 20. It was commanded by
Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
Robert B. Mitchell, a politician and veteran of the
Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...
. Charles W. Blair was lieutenant colonel, and William F. Cloud was the regiment's
major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...
. The men of the regiment were provided blue
fatigue Fatigue is a state of tiredness (which is not sleepiness), exhaustion or loss of energy. It is a signs and symptoms, symptom of any of various diseases; it is not a disease in itself. Fatigue (in the medical sense) is sometimes associated wit ...
blouses as uniforms and were armed with a mixture of
rifle A rifle is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting and higher stopping power, with a gun barrel, barrel that has a helical or spiralling pattern of grooves (rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus o ...
s and outdated smoothbore muskets. After entering service, the regiment moved from
Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...
, to
Clinton, Missouri Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Missouri, Henry County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,174 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Clinton was laid out in 1836. The city was named for Ne ...
, as part of a force led by Major Samuel Sturgis. Most of Sturgis's column reached Clinton on July 4 and went into camp. Discipline issues in the 2nd Kansas Infantry and the 1st Kansas Infantry Regiment resulted in Sturgis having some of the Kansans whipped, which culminated on July 8 in a confrontation between him and some of the men which Mitchell was forced to break up before it became violent. Joining the forces of Brigadier General
Nathaniel Lyon Nathaniel Lyon (July 14, 1818 – August 10, 1861) was a United States Army officer who was the first Union Army, Union General officer, general to be killed in the American Civil War. He is noted for his actions in Missouri in 1861, at the beginn ...
, the regiment marched to the
Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the List of cities in Missouri, third most populous city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County, Missouri, Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 censu ...
area, via Stockton and Melville. The men trained at a camp in the Springfield area, and the 1st and 2nd Kansas Infantry were
brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
d together under the command of Colonel George Washington Deitzler.


Wilson's Creek campaign

The regiment was part of a strike towards
Forsyth, Missouri Forsyth is a city in Taney County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,730 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Taney County. The town is part of the Branson micropolitan area. Forsyth is located on Lake Taneycomo on U.S. Ro ...
, beginning on July 20 and led by Captain Thomas W. Sweeny, along with troops from the
1st Iowa Infantry Regiment The 1st Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment's soldiers had enlisted for a period of three months after President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteer s ...
and elements of an artillery battery and a
cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...
regiment. By then, one company of the regiment had been mounted on captured horses. Reaching Forsyth on July 22, the mounted company routed a
Missouri State Guard The Missouri State Guard (MSG) was a military force established by the Missouri General Assembly on May 11, 1861. While not a formation of the Confederate States Army, the Missouri State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at variou ...
post outside of town, and Sweeny's column engaged more Missouri State Guardsmen outside of town. The Union forces were victorious, and captured supplies in the town before looting Forsyth. Losses were minimal for both sides, with the Union cavalry losing two wounded and the Missouri State Guard one man wounded and two captured. The skirmish at Forsyth was the first combat the regiment had seen. Sweeny's force returned to Springfield on July 25. On August 3, Lyon's force encountered a small
Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
patrol near the Curran Post Office, which was on the county line of Barry County and Stone County and was over from Springfield, while continuing a movement towards Cassville. Union troops drove them off and the 2nd Kansas Infantry scouted ahead to a location known as either McCulla's Springs or McCullah's store. Lyon later learned that the Missouri State Guard and the Confederates had joined forces and ordered a retreat to Springfield. On August 9, the regiment's mounted company was part of a Union cavalry force that defeated a group of Missouri State Guard cavalry west of Springfield. That evening, Lyon moved out most of his command from Springfield to attack a Confederate and Missouri State Guard camp along Wilson's Creek. Lyon divided his force into two columns for the August 10
Battle of Wilson's Creek The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was the first major battle of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri. In August, Confe ...
, with the second column under Colonel
Franz Sigel Franz Sigel (November 18, 1824 – August 21, 1902) was a German American military officer, revolutionary and immigrant to the United States who was a teacher, newspaperman, politician, and served as a Union major general in the American Civil ...
to attack from the opposite direction of Lyon's men. The 2nd Kansas Infantry was part of Lyon's column and was initially kept in a reserve role while Union troops occupied a terrain feature known as Bloody Hill at around 6:30 a.m. When a force of Missouri State Guard
infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
men advanced against the hill, Lyon brought the 2nd Kansas forward to the main line, where it deployed next to the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment. The Confederate attack failed at about 8:00 a.m. and was followed by a lull in the fighting. With another enemy attack ongoing, Lyon led the 2nd Kansas Infantry to another part of the line on Bloody Hill. As the fighting continued, Confederate fire killed Lyon and wounded Mitchell. Command of the regiment fell to Blair. The attackers eventually withdrew. When a Confederate cavalry force attempted to strike the Union
flank Flank may refer to: * Flank (anatomy), part of the abdomen ** Flank steak, a cut of beef ** Part of the external anatomy of a horse * Flank speed, a nautical term * Flank opening, a chess opening * A term in Australian rules football * The ...
, a company detached from the 2nd Kansas as
skirmisher Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They may be deployed in a skirmish line, an irre ...
s and the mounted company helped repulse it. Sturgis took command of Lyon's column, but Sigel's attack had already been defeated. Another Confederate/Missouri State Guard attack, the third against Bloody Hill, was made but was repulsed. During the fighting, the 2nd Kansas exchanged fire with the
3rd Regiment, Arkansas State Troops The Third Regiment, Arkansas State Troops, was an infantry formation of the Provisional Army of Arkansas in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. The regiment was designated as the Second Regiment by the Arkansas Military Bo ...
. Around the time the attackers withdrew, Sturgis ordered a withdrawal from the field. The 2nd Kansas, low on ammunition, fell back in good order at about 11:30 a.m. Excluding the mounted company, the 2nd Kansas had taken about 600 men into the fight and had lost 5 men killed, 59 wounded, and 6 missing.


End of service

After the battle, the Union troops fell back to Springfield, and then moved to Rolla and
St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...
. Ordered back to Kansas for its exit from Union service, the regiment halted at
Hannibal, Missouri Hannibal is a city along the Mississippi River in Marion County, Missouri, Marion and Ralls County, Missouri, Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 17,108, ...
, on August 31, where half of the regiment joined part of the 3rd Iowa Infantry Regiment on an expedition to
Paris, Missouri Paris is a city and county seat of Monroe County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,161 at the 2020 census. History Paris was platted in 1831, and named after Paris, Kentucky, the native home of one of the first settlers, Mrs. James ...
, where a skirmish was fought on September 2, driving the enemy out of the area. During the return march, on September 4, the men of the Paris expedition fought a small action at
Shelbina, Missouri Shelbina is a city in southern Shelby County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,613 at the 2020 census. History Shelbina was platted in 1857 when the railroad was extended to that point. The name "Shelbina" is derived from Shelby C ...
, with the officers of the 2nd Kansas deciding to withdraw to Macon. At Macon, Brigadier General
Stephen A. Hurlbut Stephen Augustus Hurlbut (November 29, 1815 – March 27, 1882) was an attorney and politician, who commanded the U.S. Army of the Gulf in the American Civil War. Afterward, he continued to serve as a politician and also as a diplomat. Although ...
ordered the regiment to return to Shelbina, but Blair cited his earlier orders to go to Kansas and continued moving. After a brief halt at Bloomfield to guard stores, the regiment continued on and fought minor actions at
St. Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States. A small portion of the city extends north into Andrew County, Missouri, Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the princ ...
, and
Iatan, Missouri Iatan is a village in Platte County, Missouri within the United States. The population was 69 at the 2010 census. It is within the Kansas City metropolitan area. History The community is said to derive its name from Iatan, a chief of the Otoe ...
. The unit arrived at
Leavenworth, Kansas Leavenworth () is the county seat and largest city of Leavenworth County, Kansas, Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States. Part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, Leavenworth is located on the west bank of the Missouri River, on the site o ...
, but was deployed to
Wyandotte County, Kansas Wyandotte County () is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City, with which it shares a unified government. As of the 2020 census, the population was 169,245, making it Kansas's fourth ...
, after enemy forces captured
Lexington, Missouri Lexington is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,726 at the 2010 census. Lexington is in western Missouri, within the Kansas City metropolitan area, approximately east of Kansas C ...
, since Kansas was believed to be threatened. It then returned to Leavenworth, where it completed its time of service. The regiment's service formally ended on October 31. During their time with the regiment, 17 men had died of various causes. Some of the unit's soldiers, including Mitchell, Blair, and Cloud, then served in the 2nd Kansas Cavalry Regiment.


See also

* List of Kansas Civil War units *
Kansas in the American Civil War At the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, Kansas was the newest U.S. state, admitted just months earlier in January. The state had formally rejected slavery by popular vote and vowed to fight on the side of the Union, though ide ...


References


Sources

* * * * * * {{Kansas in the Civil War Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1861 Units and formations of the Union army from Kansas 1861 establishments in Kansas