 | Frank Bergquist graduated from Eddyville, IA, high school in 1958. After graduation, he entered the Army, serving 20 years in Missouri, Maryland, New Mexico, Germany, Iowa, Turkey, Kansas, S.E. Asia, and finally retiring in 1978 in Louisiana. Before retiring, Frank was assigned as an ROTC instructor at WSU and Kemper Military School until 1974. In 1978 he served as the Non-Commissioned officer in charge of operations at Fort Polk, LA. He has served as the Veterans Counselor (DVOP) with the Kansas Job Service Center National Service Office, with the Disabled American Veterans at the VA Regional Office in Wichita; Veterans Employment and Training Coordinator with the US Dept. of Labor at Ft. Riley, KS; Service Coordinator with Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation; Dept Adjutant-Treasurer and the Dept. Executive Director Dept. of Kansas Disabled American Veterans; and past President of the Wichita Civil War Round Table. Currently he is doing graduate work as an instructor in Genealogy and Military History at Wichita State and Kansas State Universities, and is the CEO for the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores in Wichita, KS. Bergquist has an AA from Kemper Military School and College from Boonville, MO. and a BGS from Wichita State University. He can be reached by telephone at 316-262-6501. He is located at 926 N. Mosley Wichita 67214. |
Veteran Affairs
2009-10-01 15:50:00
Kansas soldiers
For Kansas and Kansans the first actions and engagements in Kansas in the Civil War were on May 4, 1861 when there was a seizure of Ordinance stores.
Followed on September 1, 1861 by a skirmish in Fort Scott, KS. A year later in September 8-32, 1862 there was an expedition from Fort Leavenworth, KS through Jackson, Cass, Johnson and Lafayette County, Missouri. There was also a skirmish near Cato, Kansas (Crawford County) on November 8, 1862 . Between November 6-11 there was an additional expedition from Fort Scott, Kansas. The following year in 1864 there were over twenty-three actions within Kansas or involving Kansas troops. In 1865, the year the Civil War ended there were seventeen actions or engagements in Kansas or involving Kansas troops.
Kansas was first known as a free state, then later as Bloody Kansas then later as the Soldier State. Bloody Kansas was because of the bloody actions with in its borders immediately before the Civil War and then during the war. The state was crossed many hundreds of times by troops and the bands of irregulars such as Quantrill and his raiders. This was war west of the Missippi. There was constant danger, whole cities were burned both from the southern forces and also from the Indian bands on both sides.
The quota for Kansas was over sixteen thousand men, but over twenty thousand served in the Union Forces. The Kansas units and its men served in all theaters. Kansas had many skirmishes but only one full blown battle on Kansas soil. That was the Battle of Mine Creek in Linn Co., KS.
The First Kansas Regiment was formed on May 8,1861 at Camp Lincoln, near Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It was mustered into service on June 3rd, 1861. The officers were from such exotic locations as Lawrence, Leavenworth, Quindaro, Burlington, Olathe, Kansas City, Atchison and Ohio City. Similar activity was followed by the other twelve regiments formed by Kansas troops. The last regiment, the Thirteenth was organized on September 10th, 1862 and mustered into service on September 20th, 1862 at Camp Stanton, Kansas. It was mustered out at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas on July 13, 1865.
Many Kansas soldiers were killed in battle, but at least six of them died in Camp Sumpter or as it was more commonly known as Andersonville, (Georgia):
Freeman, F.J. Sgt Company F, died June 4, 1864, diarrhea buried in grave 1614.
Gensarde, Thos. Company A died June 14, 1864 diarrhea buried in grave 1935.
Sweeney, M.I. Company H died November 22, 1864 seorbutus buried in grave 12127.
Weldman, W. Company B died October 19, 1864 diarrhea buried in grave 11139.
William, C.A. Company A died June 6, 1864 dysentery buried in grave 1663.
These are the only soldiers with a Kansas connection known. There may be many more but, records from that period of time are sketchy. Even researching by the National Park Register of burials may not bring up any information. In the 1990’s I asked about placing a marker honoring the Kansas units who fought in the Civil War. My answer was that space was at a premium. A marker could not be placed there, but they would be happy to accept donations..
The Andersonville cemetery is now the final resting place for those who perished while being held as POWs at Camp Sumter. But it is also now a National Cemetery, serving as a honored burial place for present-day veterans. It is an active cemetery, continuing to bury veterans and their dependents.
Kansas has two National Cemeteries. One at Leavenworth, KS, and one at Fort Scott. While not National cemeteries, both Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley also have cemeteries on base. Kansas has a rich history, sources such as Andrea’s History of Kansas or The Official Records: War of the Rebellion are important sources to any reader.
