1st Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry (Colored); 2nd Regiment Kansas
Volunteer Infantry (Colored) and the Leavenworth Militia (African Descent)
The 1989 movie "Glory" depicts the heroism of the 54th Regiment
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, a black unit during the Civil War. However, nearly a year before their heroic
battle, the men of the 1st Kansas Colored were involved in a battle with Confederate
forces near Island Mound, MO.
The recruiter of the 1st Kansas Colored unit was US Senator James Henry
Lane, no stranger to controversy. Since
1855, he had been involved in the turmoil and violence to bring Kansas, as a
free state, into the Union. Lane knew
the rules but, when to his advantage, he was quite capable of skirting those
rules. He also liked to extend his authority when to his advantage. His efforts to recruit black troops were not
shared by many at either the state or federal level.
Violence had been a part of Kansas since its settlement as a territory in
1854. The violence escalated when it entered the Union as a free state in
January, 1861, and again when the Civil War started a few months later. By 1862 Lane, holding a position as a General
in the Union Army, was the recruiting
commissioner for the area of Kansas north of the Kansas River. In August 1862, Lane sent a telegram to
Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, saying he was going to raise 2 white and 2 negro regiments. Receiving no immediate response, he carried
his plan forward. Later he received word
from Stanton stating that he didn’t have authorization to recruit
black soldiers; Lane ignored the directive and recruited a
regiment of free blacks
without federal authorization. Lane's
motives were a mixture of his abolitionist thinking and his own political and
military advantage.
He called for all able-bodied males between the ages of 18 and 45 to join
“The First Kansas Colored Infantry of the Liberating Army” for fighting the
Confederacy. He made it known that if
his recruiting tactics did not mobilize sufficient volunteers, he would resort
to paying for seized (kidnapped!) slaves from Missouri who were brought to
Kansas.
By 1862, escaped slaves from Arkansas and Missouri had made their way to
free Kansas; many of the journeys were made possible by James Lane. It was known that he was responsible for or
actually led liberation raids into Missouri.
He got around Stanton by enlisting black recruits as “laborers.”
On August 4, 1862, Lane issued an order to raise a full regiment under the
command of Captain James M. Williams. Joining the Infantry did have its
benefits. Those who signed up were promised $10.00 per month as well as
clothing, rations, and adequate quarters. Also black enlistees and their
immediate families were issued certificates of freedom. But, not all went well. There was mistreatment, abuse, and most never
advanced beyond laborers and low ranking enlistees.
President Lincoln argued that the Union forces were to prevent the
disintegration of the United States, not fighting to end slavery. But, for
abolitionists, ending slavery was the reason for the war, and they argued that
black people should be allowed to fight for their freedom. On January 1, 1863 the Emancipation
Proclamation stated, "And I further declare and make known, that such
persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the
United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to
man vessels of all sorts in said service.“
The 1st Kansas regiment was organized prior to the Emancipation
Proclamation and without federal authorization, thus becoming the first black
unit to see combat alongside white soldiers during the war in October 1862.
In October 1862 a detachment of 225 soldiers of the 1st Kansas was ordered
into Bates County, MO, to break up a gang of 'bushwackers,' a guerrilla
unit. Accompanied by the 5th Kansas
Cavalry serving as scouts, the forces set up camp on the homestead of
Confederate sympathizer John Toothman.
On Oct 27, they encountered a considerable Confederate force, including
the Missouri State Guard under Colonel Jeremiah V. Cockrell and local
Confederate irregulars led by Bill Truman and Dick Hancock.
The Kansans dug in building earthen fortifications and called their
encampment "Fort Africa.” After 2
days of siege, the Kansans were drawn out by a diversionary fire set by
Confederates. Several volleys of shot
were exchanged before the Confederate units retreated.
From the Lawrence KS Republican:
"The blacks behaved nobly, and have demonstrated that they can and
will fight." According to the Republican's correspondent, Lt W. H.
Smallwood, "the battle of Toothman's Mound, October 29, proved that black
men can fight, and they are now prepared to scour this country thoroughly, and
not leave a place where a traitor can find refuge."
The victory of the 1st Kansas encouraged their muster into Federal service several
months later. The 1st Kansas officially
mustered in and organized into 6 companies at Fort Scott, Kansas, on January
13, 1863, It was designated the 1st Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry (Colored) under the command of now Colonel James M. Williams. The 2 black commissioned officers
in the 1st Kansas, Captain William Matthews and Lieutenant Patrick Minor, were
forced to give up their commissions upon entry into federal service.
Despite the skepticism of Northern whites, the aptitude and bravery of
units like the 1st Kansas gradually drove public opinion to favor black
enlistment. As Colored regiments became more common, the 1st Kansas saw
continued service in southeastern Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. They saw
action at Honey Springs, in Indian Territory, July 1863, where they captured a
Texas regimental flag and drew praise from superior officers.
After December 13, 1864, they were designated the 79th United States
Colored Infantry. They served for the remainder of the war.
Plaque reads:
The 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry fought and won the
Battle of Island Mound, also known as the Battle at Fort Toothman on October 28
& 29, 1862 in Charlotte Township approx 7.5 miles southwest of Butler. It is said to have been the only battle
fought on Bates County soil, in which regular US troops were involved. The First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry
was the first black unit to fight in the Civil W ar. Reportedly Southern reb els outnumber the
black troops five to one, attacked the fort and fierce hand-to-hand combat
ensured.
Of the Kansas Infantry’s involvement it was written, “They Fought Like
Tigers”
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