Shot trying to escape

In December of 1862, the Civil War was only 19 months old and Fort Scott had become a large military complex that was much bigger than the original fort of the 1840s. The town was occupied by Union forces and would remain so throughout the entire war. The military complex included very large Quartermaster and Commissary buildings, repair shops, forage yards, an ordnance depot, artillery park, wagon yards, General U.S. Army Hospital, Headquarters Garrison, military prison, National Cemetery and refugee and regimental camps along the banks of the Marmaton River and Spring Branch (old name for Buck Run).

The following report by the Commanding Officer describes the conditions in and around Fort Scott and his concerns on December 16, 1862 and is located on Pages 837 and 838, Vol. 22 of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

Headquarters,Fort Scott, Dec. 16, 1862

(To) Brigadier General Blunt, Commanding District of Kansas, in the Field:

General: I have the honor to report to you that since my last report everything at this post and vicinity has passed off quietly. The guerrillas of the South Osage have been effectually scattered, some of them having been killed by my scouts, 8 of them taken prisoners and the balance gone off. Of those, one by the name of Hartman, an old offender, was shot while trying to escape and one equally as bad, by the name of Cinnamon, died in prison. The whole tribe of guerrillas on the Little Osage and Marais des Cygnes have been driven off and gone south on Horse Creek and Spring River. For the last week I have had forage trains out and have brought in 2,000 bushels of corn and am busy at it still. Most of the Osage Indians are off on their hunt and those remaining behind are quiet although I have had to send for their chiefs and threaten pretty strongly to keep them so. I shall send a competent officer and a few men over to Humboldt and the Mission (Osage Mission at St. Paul, Kan.) as per your order of Dec. 2, with instructions similar to those given Capt. Stanhope while on that duty.

Quite a number of officers have appeared here upon orders of the regimental surgeon and medical director, ordering them to report to (the) General Hospital at Leavenworth or at this post. The authority is insufficient without your approval and hereafter I shall send all back to their commands. Of those that came up, most of them left before I could stop them and I suppose are in Leavenworth now. We expected that you would return so that you might be with us at Christmas and New Year and hope still that it will be so, but suppose that it will be regulated by events there.

I have to report that the last train up (from the Indian Territory), in charge of Major Purington, lost two wagons and teams by being taken by the enemy near Neosho and that, as near as I can learn, it was by carelessness. I shall gather the testimony in regard to this matter and forward (it) to you for your action. As these are the first and only teams lost on the road, I feel mortified at it, as I was in hopes to get through without losing a single wagon.

I have also to report that I have stationed Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry at Morris Mill, on Dry Wood (12 miles south of Fort Scott on what is now Old 69 Highway near the Bourbon/Crawford County line), for the protection of the loyal citizens in that neighborhood; also to prevent guerrillas from destroying hay put up in that neighborhood for the use of the Government. It has given great satisfaction and restored confidence in the people. The troops under my command are strictly ordered not to interfere with forage on the property of Union people, but detachments escorting trains belonging to other commands are not so particular and considerable complaint has been made of such.

The state of the whole country south of Kansas is quiet and no complaint of Jayhawking (robbing and stealing) to any extent.

I hear little from the 12th (Kansas Infantry Regiment) and suppose they are acting upon orders received from you. I am not now informed where they are stationed. I am of the opinion, however, that a couple of good companies of Cavalry would be more efficient than the whole regiment in that particular duty.

Benjamin S. Henning

Major Third Wisconsin Cavalry

Major Henning remained with the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Regt until 1864. Then he was promoted to Colonel and became the Chief of Cavalry in the Department of Kansas and was stationed at Fort Leavenworth. After the Civil War, he remained in Kansas, invested in railroads and became a civilian officer of the Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad.