A Forgotten War

Warfare on the plains of Central and Western Kansas during the Civil War has almost been totally ignored in the history books.

This is the "forgotten war" of the Civil War and is documented in the "Official Records of the War of the Rebellion."

This conflict was not between Union and Confederate forces, -- it was waged by the Union Army against the Kiowa, Arapahoe and Comanche Indians of the plains. Westward Expansion did not end with the beginning of the Civil War. In fact, it continued as the was being waged, and increased settlement on the plains of Kansas caused many of the Indian tribes to go on the warpath. In addition to combating Confederates in Missouri, Arkansas and the Indian Territory (Oklahoma), defending Eastern and Southern Kansas; the Union Army was also responsible for protecting the commercial and emigrant traffic and the U.S. mail along the Santa Fe, Oregon and Smoky Hill River Trail to Denver, Colo. and protecting the settlers who located on the plains of Central and Western Kansas.

From late 1863 to 1865, Maj. Gen. Samuel Ryan Curtis was the commanding officer of the Department of Kansas, and it was his responsibility to also wage this war on the plains.

In the summer of 1864, he conducted a military campaign in Central Kansas, part of which he described in the following letter to the governor of Colorado. The letter can be found on pages 484 and 485 in Series I, Vol. 41, Part 2 of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

Headquarters Department of Kansas,

Fort Larned, July 30, 1864

His Excellency John Evens, Governor of Colorado:

Dear Governor:

After aiding Colonel Ford's successful movement against bushwhackers in Platte County and Clay County, Mo., I hurried over here to give directions to my defenses and hoped also to go through to Denver. [Note: whenever a department commander personally conducted an expedition or campaign in the field, the department headquarters was normally designated where the commanding general happened to be. Otherwise, the Department of Kansas Headquarters was at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.] I must, however, defer that movement, as the troops I have with me must be divided and concentrated so as to meet the dangers and apprehensions which change as the Indians shift their positions and multiply their outrages, and these days will exhaust the time i can spare from my headquarters [at Fort Leavenworth].

Having been in the field for the last 10 days, I have not heard a word from you since your dispatch concerning new troubles on the Platte [River]. I shall look for intelligence with great anxiety. Posts and stations from the crossing of the Cimarron [River], 85 miles west of this place [Fort Larned], to 6 Mile Creek, 22 miles this side [west] of Council Grove.

The dangers are not yet over, but the total disasters are not very great so far, 12 killed, 6 wounded and about 150 head of Government Stock stolen. The Kiowas, Big Mouths, Arapahoes and Comanches seem certainly engaged in this affair, but some stragglers from all the prairie Indians join in the villany. It seems impossible to get intelligence of the enemy.

All the Indians have gone from the reach of my correspondence, even the most friendly fearing to approach our troops, many of whom are militia that joined me on the way and are not very particular in their discriminations, as they are much enraged at the hostile acts perpetrated.

Two boys are here who were scalped alive and I think they will recover although one of them had the skin taken off to his ears and had 18 wounds besides!

My militia have now been out eight days and got a long way from their homes. They are, therefore, unwilling to go much farther and I have not the troops enough without them to guard the posts and follow as I would desire to do.

The Colorado troops just arrived make a fine appearance and I trust they will close out their career as it has so far progressed, with honor to themselves and their country.

I remain, governer, very respectfully,

S.R. CURTIS

Major-General

This "Indian War" on the Kansas plains continued beyond the end of the Civil War and will be featured in future columns.