Pvt. William F. Nichols, Co. A, 11th Ks. Vol. Cav. Regt.

Battlefield Dispatches is a column featuring original documents from the era of Bleeding Kansas (1854 -- 1861) and the Civil War (1861- 1865) west of the Mississippi River.

Private William F. Nichols served with Company A of the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment for approximately 18 months, from Feb. 13, 1864, to Sept. 25, 1865. During this time, he participated in patrolling the Kansas-Missouri border, Jayhawking in Missouri, escort duty from Fort Scott, Kan. to Fort Smith, Ark., the battles of Little Blue, Big Blue, Westport and Fort Lincoln. After the pursuit of Price's Army in October and November 1864, the 11th Kansas was transferred to Fort Kearney, Neb., Fort Laramie, Upper Platte Bridge and Fort Halleck, Wyo. Territory where it guarded the Overland Stage route, delivered mail and skirmished with the Cheyenne and Souix Indians. Throughout his memoir, Pvt. Nichols describes both the tragic and humorous aspects of army life in camp, on the march and in battle. This memoir was written by Pvt. Nichols in 1910 when he was living in Colorado Springs, Colo. Please note any text enclosed in brackets is part of the commentary and was not part of the original document.

Jayhawking in Missouri

["Jayhawking" consisted of robbing, stealing and / or murdering civilians during the Civil War and was committed by both "Union" and "Confederate" soldiers. It was especially prevalent in the eastern counties of Kansas and the entire state of Missouri.]

[Active service consisted of], "regular camp duty, an occasional raid into Mo. (3 miles form Camp) to hunt hogs and steal a wagonload of [fence] rails. We were allowed to take the 2 top rails and as to hogs, any that were not too poor to skin. There being no residents in that part of the State (Mo.) at that time as the Rebels had first control and had driven out all Union sympathizers, then the "Feds" gained possession and drove out all Southern sympathizers so that it was easy for us to get apples, fresh meat and a few rails for kindling."

Editor's note: Submitted periodically, this column includes commentary by Kansas State Historical Society Historian Arnold W. Schofield, who is also superintendent of the Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site near Pleasanton, Kan. If you have any questions or would like to donate copies of any applicable historic letters, diaries or photographs to Mine Creek Battlefield SHS, please contact Schofield at (913) 352-8890 or by email at minecreek@kshs.org.