 |
| Brigadier General James G. Blunt |
 |
| James Gillpatrick Blunt was born in Hancock County, Maine on July 21, 1826. He ran away from home at the age of fourteen; serving as a seaman for five years. He later studied medicine and graduated from Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio in February 1849. He practiced medicine in New Madison, Ohio until 1856 and there married Nancy Carson Putnam. He moved to the frontier in Anderson County, Kansas; working as a physician. Blunt's feelings against slavery led to his being active in politics. Through those activities he was aquainted with John Brown and James H. Lane. As an Anderson County delegate to the convention held in Wyandotte in July 1859, he assisted with the writing of the Kansas constitution. In July 1861, Blunt entered the army as lieutenant-colonel of the 3rd Kansas Volunteers. Lane used his influence with President Lincoln to have Blunt commissioned a brigadier general on April 8, 1862. Brig. General Blunt was assigned command of the army's newly formed Department of Kansas. He began active operations in Missouri and Arkansas. On October 22, 1862 at the battle of Old Fort Wayne on the western border of Arkansas, his men routed the confederate forces. He was promoted to major general November 26, 1862. On November 28th he defeated Marmaduke's forces at Cane Hill, Arkansas. At the battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862, with the aid of General Herron, his union forces defeated the confederate troops under General Hindman. On December 28 he captured Van Buren, Arkansas. From June through October of 1863, Blunt was commander of the District of the Frontier. On July 16, 1863, he defeated General Cooper at Honey Springs. |
 |
| copy by Willard of Portrait in Library of Kansas State Historical Society |
 |
| The Headquarters Band of Major General Blunt |
| William C. Quantrill's Southern guerillas killed every one of them at Baxter Springs, Kansas on October 6, 1863 |
 |
| Kansas Historical Society |
| His reputation was undone on October 6, 1863. Blunt was transferring his headquarters from Fort Scott to Fort Smith. During the transfer, Blunt and his escort were attacked by William Quantrill near Baxter Springs. The earth and log fort at Baxter Springs usually held 100 men but the day before the attack about 60 of them wer sent out to forage in the country-side. Quantrill was traveling south to winter. His men captured two teamsters from Baxter Springs; learning the post was nearby. Quantrill divided his force into two columns. The column under David Poole raided the fort at Baxter Springs; killing nine men and wounding fifteen; including a woman and small child. The soldiers were preparing to eat their noon meal but made their way to their weapons and returned fire. The garrison with the help of a howitzer held them off. Gradually the raiders withdrew back to their main force. Quantrill spotted the detachment escorting General Blunt and decided to lay in wait for them. With Blunt were about 100 troops plus a bandwagon with 14 musicians. The general was riding in the ambulance with his horse tied on behind. Major Henry Z. Curtis, the son of General Samuel R. Curtis, and the wife of Captain Chester Thomas who was planning to re-unite with her husband at Baxter springs were also in the ambulance. Quantrill's men were wearing Union blue. Blunt saw the blue uniforms and assumed it was a detail from Baxter Springs sent to welcome him. When Quantrill's men opened fire at point blank range, the Federals panicked and ran. By the time Blunt got out of the ambulance, there were 25 or 30 dead men. They put Mrs. Thomas onto an extra horse and the three raced over the prairie. Mrs. Thomas and General Blunt's horses jumped a nearby gully but Curtis's horse had been struck by a bullet and failed to make the jump. Curtis was shot in the head. The wagon with the band menbers lost a front wheel while racing toward the post. Every band member was shot and killed. A few men managed to limp back to the fort. Over 90 Federal soldiers were killed. Quantrill lost only 3 men. Blunt was removed from command for failing to protect his men but was later restored. |
|