1ST KANSAS VOLUNTEER COLORED INFANTRY - Additional Information




	1ST KANSAS VOLUNTEER COLORED INFANTRY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FIRST KANSAS COLORED INF’T. Interesting Reminiscences of Colored troops Who Probably Saved Mound City From the Fate of Lawrence. The following paper was prepared and read before Montgomery Post G.A.R. by J. H. Stearns. “During the latter part of the summer of 1862 Gen. J. H. Lane, then United States Senator from this state obtained permission of President Lincoln to organize a regiment of colored troops from among the slave refugees that had been coming into Kansas since the beginning of the war. For this purpose he appointed Capt. J. M. Williams of Co. F 5th Kansas Cavalry, as recruiting agent for the territory north of the Kaw river and Henry Seaman, Captain of Co. D also of the same regiment for that part south of the river. Captain Seaman commenced recruiting in Mound City about the middle of August and soon had two or three companies under his command here--quartered, some in tents and some in vacant buildings along Main street. At this time there was a great deal of opposition to the enlistlnent of colored troops among the loyal people of the North and even among the soldiers then in the field. The raising of this regiment--the first that had been authorized was therefore a subject for much bitter comment throughout he country. Some of this came as to be expected from those whose sympathies were with the South--some from those whose prejudices were so strong against the Negros that they were unwilling that they should be utilized in any way in the work of putting down the Rebellion and some from those who feared and believed that it would be impossible to make effective soldiers of them. A little incident occurred here soon after Capt. Seaman opened his recruiting office which illustrates to some extent the race prejudice then prevalent. A company of regulars on their way from Ft. Leavenworth to Ft. Scott camped one day near the spring west of town; this spring then as now was an important source for the water supply of our people and was utilized for this purpose by the colored recruits. At the hotel that afternoon the officers in charge of the regulars were very violent in their denunciations of the blacks declaring that it would be a disgrace to wear the uniform of an American soldier if the Government was going to put it on the backs of a lot of “niggers.” That evening they placed a guard at the spring with instructions not to allow any of the "niggers" to come near it. This was a little more than Capt. Seaman was willing to quietly submit to, so he ordered a cordon of guards to be placed around his camp which he made to include four or [five] blocks on Main street and adjoining thereto with orders not to let any of the regulars pass in or out without a pass. For a time the relations between the two camps were somewhat strained. Several of the regulars were arrested trying to run the guards after which a conference was held and all the guards removed. About the 1st of September the command was ordered to Ft. Lincoln where the work of recruiting and drilling was vigorously prosecuted. The recruits were furnished with a gray uniform and armed with a lot of Belgian muskets with a kind of sabre bayonet. These muskets were a part of those Gen. Fremont purchased early in the war and for which he was severely criticised. They were a short gun with a caliber which made up in 'width' what the gun lacked in 'length' and in kicking proclivities they were as energetic as the most vicious army mule. About the middle of October the force at Ft. Lincoln was increased by a part of Capt. William's recruits. On Oct. 27th Capt. Seaman received instructions from Major Henning, commanding at Ft. Scott, to take a part of his command and make a reconnaisance of the island in the Marais des Cygnes and vicinity a few miles this side of Butler, Mo., where a squad of Bush-whackers were supposed to have their headquarters. Accordingly on the morning of the 28th the command consistmg of about 250 of the recruits with their officers and a few cavalrymen, mostly of the 5th Kansas, under the command of Capt. Seaman started out from Ft. Lincoln, crossed Mine creek at the old Military ford and late in the afternoon the Marais des Cygues at Dickey's ford a few miles above the island. On emerging from the timber and tall grass on the other side of the river several horsemen were seen on one of the mounds overlooking the valley. Our advance started out on a gallop to interview them, but without waiting to learn what we desired to say they put spurs to their horses and left in the in the direction of the island. The command was hurried forward and went into camp around a large double log farm house whose owner, a man by the name of Toothman, by the way, was then an unwilling guest of the guard house at Ft. Lincoln. The heavy rail fence of the premises was utilized in building a barricade about the yard, and pickets were out for the night. That evening quite a force of horsemen were seen in the valley but nothing especial transpired till the next morning when a number of shots were exchanged between our pickets and some of the enemy. Along in the afternoon a small scout and foraging party was sent out in the direction of the river. Soon after a large body of horsemen emerged from the timber with the evident intention of attacking this party. The rest of the command was formed in line and moved out to the assistance of their comrades. The Rebs came on rapidly, and setting fire to the tall grass between their lines and ours--the wind blowing in our direction--moved up behind the smoke until the two lines were only a few rods apart. Quickly the order rang out, “Fix Bayonets, Charge" and then into that thick cloud of smoke and crackling flame, a living line of black humanity plunged; some to death, some to wounds disabling them for life--but all to victory. For some ten or fifteen minutes the conflict raged with demoniacal fury--a hand to hand fight--the first crucial test in our Civil war which proved the courage of the ex slave to meet his former master on the field of battle. With bayonet and clubbed gun he there did a deadly work unmoved apparently by a sign of fear, "Surrender, you black devil!” "Nevah!" and plunging his big sabre bayonet into the body of the white man, made a hole big enough to let out a dozen lives. The Rebels made a somewhat hasty retreat, leaving the field in the possession of the despised “niggers.” While gathering up our dead and wounded the enemy sent in a flag of truce asking permission to take away their dead and wounded of which there were several wagon loads; prisoners taken reported about thirty killed; our loss was ten killed and twelve wounded; among the former was Capt. Crewe, a gallant officer and among the latter Lieu't. Gardner; among the killed was a little Cherokee Indian who came up from the nation, bringing five of his slaves with him, and all enlisted in the same company together. Immediately after the fight the writer of this was ordered to report to Major Henning and ask for reinforcements. By dint of hard riding and dodging of rebel scouts he reached Fort Scott that night and was told to to go to Ft. Lincoln, take the rest of the recruits there--about 150 in number, all that could be spared from guard duty, and proceed back by way of Trading Post, on the north side of the river, and that a force of Ohio cavalry with a section of artillery would be sent along the south side. The colored reinforcements reached Ft. Africa, as the camp was called the next afternoon. The next morning the whole command moved out towards the island, expecting every minute to hear the boom of the Ohioan’s guns. Reaching the island we found the deserted camp of the enemy who had evidently left in great haste a short time before as we found quite a number of horses, some of which had been wounded in fight, and nearly a hundred head of beef cattle left behind. We followed the rebels' trail ten or twelve miles down the river but without coming in sight of them again. We learned afterwards that their scouts discovered the approach of the Ohio cavalry in time to avoid a collision. After scoutihg around in the vicinity for two more days the command returned to Ft. Lincoln--tired but jubilant--tempered with sorrow for the dead. In this engagement raw recruits just out of slavery earned the right to be called American soldiers, nor was this right forfeited in many succeeding battles in which they were engaged, notably at Cabin Creek, Honey Springs, and Poison Springs. Instead of a few bushwhackers, whom they were sent out to find, they had met and defeated more than their number of Confederate soldiers under the command of Colonel Cockerel. But this sketch would not be complete without alluding to one other fact. Mound City may be justly considered the most fortunate town in some respects of eastern Kansas. While someof her sister cities have been ravished by war and others destroyed by fire, and still others devastated by death dealing tornadoes, she has seemed as it were to be in the hands of some protecting Providence. But at no other time does this seem more manifest than of this of which we have been considering. Prisoners told the writer that Col. Cockerel had been in the northern part of the state (Missouri) recruiting for the Confederate service, that with some five or six hundred recruits he had camped on the island a few days and that in connection with the bushwacking squads of Bates and Vernon counties a raid upon Mound City and vicinity had been planned for the night we so fortunately came upon the scene, thus giving them other work to do. Had it not been for our timely appearance Mound City would undoubtedly have met the fate of Lawrence and some other border towns. Everyone here was ignorant of the impending danger and wholly unprepared for resistance. Probably no other border town was more hated by the Missourians than was Mound City. It was everywhere known as the home of Montgomery and Jennison and of others who supported them. To have wiped it from the face of the earth would have been the cause of much rejoicing across the line. Was it a mere coincidence, so called, that this expedition of raw colored recruits was sent out on another mission just in time to thwart the designs of the enemy or was there a Providence in it? Perhaps both. Who can tell? (Source: the Linn County Republic, 31 January 1902; the author J. H. Stearns was probably John H. Stearns, Company “K”, 5th Kansas Cavalry, and one of the cavalrymen who accompanied the 1st Kansas Colored. Transcription provided by Bryce Benedict.) THE NEGRO REGIMENT HAS A SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH GUERILLAS!, CAPT. ANDREW I. CREW KILLED! BRAVERY OF THE BLACK SOLDIERS! [Correspondence of the Conservative.] HEADQUARTERS 1ST REG’T KANSAS COLORED VOL.’S, FORT AFRICA, ON THE OSAGE NEAR BUTLER, BATES CO., Oct. 30, 1862. A detachment of seventy men from the southern battalion, (Col. Seaman’s,) and one hundred and sixty from Col. Williams, the latter undet Capt. R. G. Ward, Company B; the entire detachment under Col. Seaman, who acted under instructions from Maj. Henning, arrived at this point on Tuesday afternoon, having left Fort Lincoln late on Monday. The enemy’s scouts were seen in force when we arrived at this point, the residence of an infamous guerilla named Toothman, whose son is now a prisoner at Frot Lincoln. We were aiming to clean out a rendevous near here, on what is known as the Island, a long marshy tract of land, lying in the Osage, which been the resort of the Jackman and Cockerill bushwhackers. We found the latter in force, with a splendidly armed and mounted body, variously estimated at from 400 to 800 men. The probability is that the first named was the correct estimate, but since our arrival he has been reinforced till his command numbers over 600. We encamped within Toothman’s yard, throwing up a rail barricade and raising a flag. We named the place “Fort Africa.” Sending back for cavalry and for the balance of the regiment, we skirmished two days. Yesterday morning our skirmishers shot two scouts. After dinner, the enemy succeeded in drawing out a small detachment and cutting it off from our main body. A sharp engagement ensued, in the attempt to rescue our detachment. We lost eight men killed, and ten wounded. Capt. Crew, Company A, 1st Reg. K. C. V., formerly of the Mansion House, was killed. Lieut. Joseph Gardner was severely wounded, but he will be well within a week or two. The enemy report fifteen killed this morning and must have as many more wounded. It is useless to talk any more of negro courage. The men fought like tigers, each and every one of them, and the main difficulty was to hold them well in hand. We have just received reinforcements, and have intelligence of a guerilla force that renders a movement necessary. We have the guerillas h ?pê ?Ø@ll clean the ?Ìpt and this country out. Saddle and mount is the word. There are the boys to clean out the bushwhackers. R[ichard] J. H[inton] [Lieut. Joseph Lyon arrived here on Sunday with the body of Capt. Crew. He was in the engagement, and fully confirms the report of our correspondent. Capt. Crew had a wound through the heart and one through the groin and died instantly. His watch, which was stolen from him on the field, was afterwards found on the body of a bushwhacker, undoubtedly the man who had killed Capt. Crew, was another instance of speedy and retributive justice. Lt. Lyon says Missouri guerrillas have the highest respect for black valor.--ED.] (Source: Leavenworth, Kansas Daily Conservative, 4 November 1862. Transcribed by Bryce Benedict.) KANSAS BLACK SOLDIERS BATTLE! THEY FIGHT BRAVELY LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED! [Correspondence of the Lawrence Republican, TOOTHMAN’S MOUND, BATES CO., MO.] NOVEMBER 1, 1862. EDITOR REPUBLICAN: You have doubtless heard, ere this, of the battle of Toothman’s Mound fought here on the 29th of last month. Yet, a few particulars may not be uninteresting. There is a strip of land between the Marais des Cygnes, and a long connecting slough, known as “The Island.” This has long been infested with more or less bushwhackers, who have carried all their plunder off to it for safekeeping. Lately, they have been increasing in strength and boldness, until they had become the terror of all good citizens for miles around. Accordingly, about the 25th of last month, Col. Seaman was ordered, with about one hundred men, to proceed to the Island. He was joined by about one hundred and fifty men, under Capt. Ward (commanding in the absence of Col. Williams), and acting in concert, they moved down to this point, where they stopped within about three miles of the Island, and in sight of the enemy. About 250 of our Regiment were left in at Fort Lincoln, myself among the number. The day after the expedition left, we received a dispatch from Capt. Ward, calling for reinforcements. With three rounds of ammunition each (all we had in camp) we started for the scene of action--a little over one hundred of us, all told. We marched night and day until we joined our boys. And when we came up with them on the evening of the 28th, you may but slightly imagine our consternation, when you know that we found eight of our brave men dead, and eleven severely wounded. Among the former, the gallant Capt. Crew, of Leavenworth, and among the latter, Lieut. Joseph Gardner, well known by most of your citizens. He was wounded in the head, the hip and the knee, besides a ball grazed his ankle and one foot. For the benefit of their friends, I will give a list of the killed and wounded; most of the former were from Topeka: KILLED.--Capt. Crew, Co. A; Corp. Joseph Talbot; Privates Thomas Lane, Marion Barber, Allen Rhodes, Henry Gash, all of Co. F; John Sixkiller, Seaman’s Battalion. WOUNDED.--Lieut. Joseph Gardner, Co. F, head, hip and knee; Private Thos. Knight, both legs; Geo. Dudley, both legs; Manuel Dobson, both arms; Lazarus Johnston, arm, all of Co. F; Serg’t Edward Lowery, Seaman’s battalion, shoulder and arm; Serg’t Shelley Banning, Seaman’s Battalion, right breast and hip; Corp’ls Andy Hytower, left shoulder; Anderson Riley, left shoulder; Private Ed. Curtis, back and mouth, all of Seaman’s battalion; Corp’l Jacob Edwards, Co. E, head and side. The wounded are doing well . . . [several sentences missing here ] . . . who charged upon them desperately, and hewed them down in a horrible manner, not, however, without a heavy loss on their side. Our men, after the first fire, had to resort to the bayonet, which proved very effective. The officers were armed with revolvers and sabers, and they used these well, except Lieut. Gardner, who was one of the first to fall, and consequently did not get many shots at the enemy. Capt. Crew was called upon to surrender; he bravely replied--”Never”--and died with that determination. The only officer now left was Lieut. Huddleston, who had also determined to prefer death to being taken. You may well imagine his situation. The only remaining white man, of course the fury of the enemy was chiefly directed to him, but he kept the enemy at bay until succor reached him. He never discharged his revolver without taking good aim and doing good execution. In the meantime most of the available men in camp were ordered out under Capt. Armstrong and Lieut. Thrasher. They brought up their men in two bodies at right angles, and delivered a few volleys at the enemy, cross-fire, which caused him to retreat in great haste. He carried his wounded with him, and as the wind was toward us, fired the prairie, making it difficult to save the wounded alone, and consequently scorching the bodies of some of our dead. The whole force of the enemy was commanded by Cockerel, and numbered about five hundred. The day after we came up with reinforcements, the enemy retreated toward the southeast, leaving some valuable horses and beef cattle, which fell into our hands. Col. Williams arrived yesterday. Having proven that black men can fight, we are now prepared to scour this country thoroughly, and not leave a place where a traitor can find refuge. Yours, in haste, W. H. S[mallwood] Return to the 1st Kansas Volunteer Colored Infantry Unit History (Source: Lawrence Republican, 6 November 1862. Transcribed by Bryce Benedict.)