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Frank Bergquist
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
2011-12-27 09:10:53
Civil War battle summaries by state
Q: I have enjoyed reading the many different article series you have written on the Civil War. Most of these are from a broad look at the country and how the country was affected. Would it be possible to list what happened in each of the states’ battles?
A: Sure. I found several sites to put this information together. One of the best is www.nps.gov. This issue, we will feature Baxter Springs, Lawrence, Marias des Cygnes and Mine Creek. Baxter Springs Other Names: Baxter Springs Massacre Location: Cherokee County Campaign: Occupation of Indian Territory North of the Arkansas River (1863) Date(s): October 6, 1863 Principal Commanders: Lt. James B. Pond and Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt [US]; Lt. Col. William C. Quantrill [CS] Forces Engaged: Detachments from three regiments and an escort [US]; Quantrill’s Raiders (approx. 400) [CS] Estimated Casualties: 106 total (US 103; CS 3) Description: After conducting many raids in Kansas, including the massacre at Lawrence, Quantrill decided to winter in Texas. Along with other partisans, he headed south on the Texas Road and captured and killed two Union teamsters who had come from a post called Baxter Springs. Quantrill decided to attack the post and divided his force into two columns, one under him and the other commanded by a subordinate, David Poole. Poole and his men proceeded down the Texas Road, where they encountered Union soldiers, most of whom were African Americans. They chased and attacked the Union troops, killing some of them before they reached the earth and log fort. After the Union survivors reached the fort, the Rebels attacked, but the garrison, with the help of a howitzer, fought them off. Quantrill’s column moved on the post from another direction and chanced on a Union detachment escorting Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt and wagons transporting his personal items from his former headquarters of the Department of the Frontier at Fort Scott to his new one at Fort Smith. Most of this detachment, including the band and Maj. Henry Z. Curtis (son of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis), was murdered, but Blunt and a few mounted men returned to Fort Scott. Blunt was removed from command for failing to protect his column, but he was soon restored. Touted as a massacre by some, Baxter Springs was another of the events that characterized the vicious Kansas-Missouri border warfare. Result(s): Confederate victory Lawrence Other Names: Lawrence Massacre Location: Douglas County Campaign: Quantrill’s Raid into Kansas (1863) Date(s): August 21, 1863 Principal Commanders: No Union commander [US]; Lt. Col. William C. Quantrill [CS] Forces Engaged: No Union troops [US]; Quantrill’s Raiders and other guerrillas [CS] Estimated Casualties: 204 total (US 164; CS 40) Description: In a supposed retaliation for a Union raid on Osceola, Missouri, Lt. Col. William C. Quantrill led a force of about 300 to 400 partisans in an attack on the city of Lawrence, Kansas. His men killed civilians—men and boys—and destroyed many of the buildings. He held the town several hours and then withdrew. The “Lawrence Massacre” was, perhaps, the extreme example of the vicious Kansas-Missouri border warfare. Result(s): Confederate victory Marias des Cygnes Other Names: Battle of Osage, Battle of Trading Post Location: Linn County Campaign: Price’s Missouri Expedition (1864) Date(s): October 25, 1864 Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton [US]; Maj. Gen. John S. Marmaduke and Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan [CS] Forces Engaged: Provisional cavalry division [US]; cavalry division [CS] Estimated Casualties: Unknown Description: Maj. Gen. Sterling Price led an expedition into Missouri which Union forces under Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis and Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton finally countered around Kansas City, Missouri. Price withdrew south, and Pleasonton, commanding in the field, pursued him into Kansas and fought him at Marais des Cygnes. After an artillery bombardment that began at 4:00 am, Pleasonton’s men attacked furiously. Although outnumbered, they hit the Rebel line, forcing them to withdraw. Result(s): Union victory Mine Creek Other Names: Battle of the Osage Location: Linn County Campaign: Price’s Missouri Expedition (1864) Date(s): October 25, 1864 Principal Commanders: Gen. Alfred Pleasonton [US]; Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke and Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan [CS] Forces Engaged: Provisional cavalry division [US]; cavalry division [CS] Estimated Casualties: 1,300 total (US 100; CS 1,200) Description: About six miles south of Trading Post, where the Marais de Cygnes engagement had occurred, the brigades of Col. Frederick W. Benteen and Col. John F. Phillips, of Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton’s Provisional Cavalry Division, overtook the Confederates as they were crossing Mine Creek. These Rebels, stalled by their wagons crossing the ford, had formed a line on the north side of Mine Creek. The Federals, although outnumbered, commenced the attack as additional troops from Pleasonton’s command arrived during the fight. They soon surrounded the Rebels, resulting in the capture of about 600 men and two generals, Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke and Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell. Having lost this many men, Price’s army was doomed. Retreat to friendly territory was the only recourse. Result(s): Union victory Did we miss any Kansas battles? If we did, let us know and I’ll do some more research. Next month, we will feature the battles in Oklahoma.
 
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