Samuel Walker (October 19, 1822 – February 6, 1893) was an American soldier, lawman and politician who settled in Lawrence, Kansas, and served as an officer during Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War.
Walker was born on October 19, 1822, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. After marrying Marian E. Lowe in 1842, Walker moved to Ohio in 1848, and worked there as a cabinet maker. In 1855 he settled permanently in Lawrence, Kansas. There Walker became a founding member of the Bloomington Guards, a local militia company, in late 1855, and he was quickly elected first sergeant. In the following year Walker was elected colonel of the 4th Kansas Cavalry, which participated in all the campaigns of the free-state men during Bleeding Kansas. In that capacity Walker was present at the sieges of Lawrence and Fort Saunders, and commanded free-state forces on August 16, 1856, at the Battle of Fort Titus, which was a free-state victory. In 1856 Walker served as a member of the short-lived Territorial House of Representatives under the Topeka Constitution, and around the same time he also was a Deputy U.S. Marshal. Walker became the sheriff of Douglas County, Kansas, in October 1857 and served until January 1862.[1]
In mid 1865, Major General Grenville M. Dodge ordered an expedition as a punitive campaign against the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho. Led by Brigadier General Patrick E. Connor, its strategy was to have three independently marching columns of soldiers converge upon the Sioux and Cheyenne in the Powder River Country. Walker was assigned command of the middle, or center column. The column was made up of eight companies of his own 16th Kansas Cavalry joined by Company H of the 15th Kansas Cavalry with two mountain howitzer cannon. He had an aggregate force of 600 mounted men. The column started north from Fort Laramie in early August 1865 and traversed the country west of the Black Hills in Dakota Territory. Marching into Montana Territory, the command suffered from bad water, weather, supply shortages, and harassing Indian attacks. Though the western column led by Connor was able to construct Fort Connor (later renamed Fort Reno), the army was neither able to defeat the Indians nor to pacify the region. All of the forces in the field were recalled to Fort Laramie, and the 16th Kansas Cavalry along with Colonel Walker were mustered out in December 1865.
Later lifeedit
In 1865 Walker was named Major General of the Kansas Militia, and he held this rank for ten years. Walker served as the sheriff of Douglas County again, from 1868 to 1872, and as a City Marshall, to which he was elected in 1872. He was also a Republican in the State Senate from 1872 until 1874. Samuel Walker died on February 6, 1893, in Lawrence, Kansas, and is buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery.
^Connelley, William E. (1918). "Walker, Samuel". A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company.
^Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford University Press. p. 550. ISBN0-8047-3641-3.
Referencesedit
Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford University Press. ISBN0-8047-3641-3.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: William E. Connelley (1918). A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company.
Political offices
Preceded by
None
Member of the Kansas Territorial House of Representatives (Topeka Constitution) 1856
Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
J.C. Vincent & L.J. Worden
Member of the Kansas State Senate for the 19th Senatorial District 1872–1874 Served alongside: M.A. O'Neal
Succeeded by
Henry Bronson & J.C. Vincent
December 15, 2023
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Samuel Walker October 19 1822 February 6 1893 was an American soldier lawman and politician who settled in Lawrence Kansas and served as an officer during Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War Samuel WalkerBorn 1822 10 19 October 19 1822Franklin County PennsylvaniaDiedFebruary 6 1893 1893 02 06 aged 70 Lawrence KansasBuriedOak Hill Cemetery LawrenceAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1855 1861 Kansas Militia 1861 1865 USA 1865 1875 Kansas Militia RankLieutenant Colonel USV Brevet Brig General USV Major General Militia Unit1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry 5th Kansas Volunteer CavalryCommands held4th Kansas Cavalry Militia 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Kansas State MilitiaBattles warsBleeding Kansas Fort TitusAmerican Civil War Wilson s Creek Price s RaidAmerican Indian Wars Sioux Wars Powder River Expedition Powder River BattlesSpouse s Marian E LoweOther workLawman Politician Contents 1 Early life 2 Civil War 3 The Powder River Expedition 4 Later life 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesEarly life editWalker was born on October 19 1822 in Franklin County Pennsylvania After marrying Marian E Lowe in 1842 Walker moved to Ohio in 1848 and worked there as a cabinet maker In 1855 he settled permanently in Lawrence Kansas There Walker became a founding member of the Bloomington Guards a local militia company in late 1855 and he was quickly elected first sergeant In the following year Walker was elected colonel of the 4th Kansas Cavalry which participated in all the campaigns of the free state men during Bleeding Kansas In that capacity Walker was present at the sieges of Lawrence and Fort Saunders and commanded free state forces on August 16 1856 at the Battle of Fort Titus which was a free state victory In 1856 Walker served as a member of the short lived Territorial House of Representatives under the Topeka Constitution and around the same time he also was a Deputy U S Marshal Walker became the sheriff of Douglas County Kansas in October 1857 and served until January 1862 1 Civil War editAfter the American Civil War began in April 1861 Walker volunteered to fight for the Union and he was commissioned the captain of Company F 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment on June 1 1861 In this capacity Walker commanded the company at the Battle of Wilson s Creek Missouri on August 10 1861 where his regiment sustained over 50 casualties Walker was promoted to a major of the 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on May 24 1862 before being promoted lieutenant colonel of the 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment in October 1864 Walker participated in opposing Price s Raid in Missouri and Kansas during the fall of 1864 In the wave of mass promotions by brevet at the war s end he received brevet promotions to colonel and brigadier general dated to March 13 1865 2 The Powder River Expedition editMain article Powder River Expedition 1865 In mid 1865 Major General Grenville M Dodge ordered an expedition as a punitive campaign against the Sioux Cheyenne and Arapaho Led by Brigadier General Patrick E Connor its strategy was to have three independently marching columns of soldiers converge upon the Sioux and Cheyenne in the Powder River Country Walker was assigned command of the middle or center column The column was made up of eight companies of his own 16th Kansas Cavalry joined by Company H of the 15th Kansas Cavalry with two mountain howitzer cannon He had an aggregate force of 600 mounted men The column started north from Fort Laramie in early August 1865 and traversed the country west of the Black Hills in Dakota Territory Marching into Montana Territory the command suffered from bad water weather supply shortages and harassing Indian attacks Though the western column led by Connor was able to construct Fort Connor later renamed Fort Reno the army was neither able to defeat the Indians nor to pacify the region All of the forces in the field were recalled to Fort Laramie and the 16th Kansas Cavalry along with Colonel Walker were mustered out in December 1865 Later life editIn 1865 Walker was named Major General of the Kansas Militia and he held this rank for ten years Walker served as the sheriff of Douglas County again from 1868 to 1872 and as a City Marshall to which he was elected in 1872 He was also a Republican in the State Senate from 1872 until 1874 Samuel Walker died on February 6 1893 in Lawrence Kansas and is buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery See also editPowder River ExpeditionNotes edit Connelley William E 1918 Walker Samuel A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans Chicago IL Lewis Publishing Company Eicher John H Eicher David J 2001 Civil War High Commands Stanford University Press p 550 ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 References editEicher John H Eicher David J 2001 Civil War High Commands Stanford University Press ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain William E Connelley 1918 A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans Chicago IL Lewis Publishing Company Political officesPreceded byNone Member of the Kansas Territorial House of Representatives Topeka Constitution 1856 Succeeded byUnknownPreceded byJ C Vincent amp L J Worden Member of the Kansas State Senate for the 19th Senatorial District1872 1874 Served alongside M A O Neal Succeeded byHenry Bronson amp J C Vincent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samuel Walker soldier amp oldid 1181044534, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
