Samuel Walker (soldier)

Samuel Walker
Born	October 19, 1822 Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Died	February 6, 1893 (aged 70) Lawrence, Kansas
Buried at	Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1855–1861 (Kansas Militia) 1861–1865 (USA) 1865–1875 (Kansas Militia)
Rank	Captain (USV) Lieutenant Colonel (USV) Colonel (USV) Bvt.Brig. General (USV) Major General (Militia)
Unit	1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Commands held	4th Kansas Cavalry (Militia) 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Kansas State Militia
Battles/wars	Bleeding Kansas American Civil War Price's Raid American Indian Wars Sioux Wars Powder River Expedition Battle of Alkali Creek Battle of Dry Creek Battle of the Little Powder River
Spouse(s)	Marian E. Lowe
Other work	Lawman, Militia Officer, Politician

Samuel Walker (October 19, 1822 – February 6, 1893) was an American lawman and politician from Franklin County, Pennsylvania, who served as officer during Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War.

Early life

Samuel 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, Samuel then settled permanently in Lawrence, Kansas. There he became a founding member of the Bloomington Guards, a local Militia Company, in late 1855; and he quickly was elected first sergeant. In the following year he was elected the colonel of the 4th Kansas Cavalry, which participated in all the campaigns of the free-state men during Bleeding Kansas. In that capacity he 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; around the same time he also was a Deputy U.S. Marshal. He also became the Sheriff of Douglas County, Kansas in October, 1857 and served in this capacity until January, 1862.^[1][2]

Civil War

When the American Civil War began in April, 1861, Walker volunteered to fight for the Union and was elected the Captain of Company F, in the 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He became major in the 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on May 24, 1862. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel, of the 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on October 8, 1864; and instantly participated in opposing Price's Raid. In the wave of mass promotions by brevet at the war's end, he received the brevet promotions to colonel, and to brigadier general, on March 13, 1865.^[3]

The Powder River Expedition

In the middle of 1865, Major General Grenville M. Dodge ordered the expedition as a punitive campaign against the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho. Led by Brigadier General Patrick E. Connor, it was the strategy to have three independently marching columns of soldiers; and Walker was assigned the command of the Middle Column. Made up of eight Companies of the 16th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry and joined by Company H, of the 15th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, he had an aggregate of 600 men. The column was to head north from Fort Laramie and traverse the country west of the Black Hills. Marching through Montana Territory, and Dakota Territory, the force dwindled due to bad water, weather, supply shortages, and harassing Indian attacks. Though Connor's column was able to construct Fort Connor (later renamed Fort Reno) the Army was neither able to defeat the Indians nor to pacify the region. They were recalled to Fort Laramie, and when the 16th Kansas Cavalry mustered out in November 1865, Walker did the same.

Later life

In 1865 Walker was named a Major General of Kansas Militia, and held this rank until 1875. Walker also served as the Sheriff of Douglas County again, from 1868 to 1872, and as City Marshal, his last office, to which he was elected in 1872. Walker was a Republican in the State Senate. Walker died on February 6, 1893, in Lawrence, Kansas; and is buried there on Oak Hill Cemetery.^[1]

See also

• Powder River Expedition

Notes

1. The Lawrence Gazette. February 9, 1893. p. 2. Missing or empty |title= (help);
2. Connelley, William E. (1918). "Walker, Samuel". A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans (Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company).
3. Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford University Press. p. 550. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

References

• Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: William E. Connelley (1918). A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company.