Samuel Walker (soldier) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Walker
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| Born | October 19, 1822 Franklin County, Pennsylvania |
| Died | February 6, 1893 (aged 70) Lawrence, Kansas |
| Buried |
Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence
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| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1855–1861 (Kansas Militia) 1861–1865 (USA) 1865–1875 (Kansas Militia) |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel (USV) Brevet 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 |
| Spouse(s) | Marian E. Lowe |
| Other work | Lawman, Politician |
Samuel Walker (born October 19, 1822 – died February 6, 1893) was an important American soldier, lawman, and politician. He made his home in Lawrence, Kansas. Walker served as a leader during two big events in American history: the time known as Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War.
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Samuel Walker's Early Life and Moves
Samuel Walker was born on October 19, 1822, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. In 1842, he married Marian E. Lowe. A few years later, in 1848, the Walkers moved to Ohio. There, Samuel worked as a cabinet maker, building furniture.
In 1855, Samuel Walker and his family moved again, this time settling permanently in Lawrence, Kansas. This was a very important time in Kansas history, known as Bleeding Kansas. It was a period of intense fighting over whether Kansas would become a slave state or a free state.
Becoming a Leader in Kansas
Soon after arriving, Walker became a founder of the Bloomington Guards. This was a local group of citizen soldiers, also called a militia. He was quickly chosen as their first sergeant. The next year, in 1856, Walker was elected as a colonel of the 4th Kansas Cavalry. This group took part in all the fights for the "free-state" side during Bleeding Kansas.
Colonel Walker was present during important events like the sieges of Lawrence and Fort Saunders. A siege is when an army surrounds a place to try and capture it. On August 16, 1856, he led the free-state forces at the Battle of Fort Titus. This battle was a victory for the free-state side.
Around this time, Walker also served in the government. He was a member of the Territorial House of Representatives under the Topeka Constitution. He also worked as a Deputy U.S. Marshal, helping to enforce laws. In October 1857, he became the sheriff of Douglas County, Kansas, a job he held until January 1862.
Samuel Walker in the Civil War
When the American Civil War started in April 1861, Samuel Walker quickly volunteered to fight for the Union. The Union was the northern states that wanted to keep the United States together. On June 1, 1861, he was made a captain in Company F of the 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Captain Walker led his company at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri on August 10, 1861. This was a very tough battle, and his regiment lost more than half of its soldiers.
Promotions and Key Battles
Walker continued to rise through the ranks. On May 24, 1862, he was promoted to major of the 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. Then, in October 1864, he became a lieutenant colonel of the 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.
As a lieutenant colonel, Walker helped fight against Price's Raid. This was a large attack by Confederate forces into Missouri and Kansas in the fall of 1864. At the end of the war, many officers received special "brevet" promotions for their service. Walker was given brevet promotions to colonel and brigadier general, dated March 13, 1865. A brevet rank is an honorary rank, often given for bravery or good service, but it doesn't always come with the higher pay or command of that rank.
The Powder River Expedition
In the middle of 1865, after the Civil War ended, Major General Grenville M. Dodge ordered a military expedition. This mission was meant to punish Native American tribes like the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. These tribes were in the Powder River Country.
Leading a Column of Soldiers
The expedition was led by Brigadier General Patrick E. Connor. The plan was for three groups of soldiers to march separately and then meet up. Samuel Walker was put in charge of the middle group, or "center column." His column included eight companies from his own 16th Kansas Cavalry. They were joined by Company H of the 15th Kansas Cavalry, along with two small cannons called mountain howitzers. In total, Walker commanded about 600 mounted soldiers.
The column started marching north from Fort Laramie in early August 1865. They traveled through the land west of the Black Hills in Dakota Territory and into Montana Territory. The journey was very difficult. The soldiers faced bad water, harsh weather, and not enough supplies. They also had to deal with attacks from Native American warriors.
Even though the western column was able to build Fort Connor (later called Fort Reno), the army did not manage to defeat the Native Americans or bring peace to the area. All the forces in the field were called back to Fort Laramie. Samuel Walker and the 16th Kansas Cavalry were officially released from service in December 1865.
Samuel Walker's Later Life
After his military service, Samuel Walker continued to be a public servant. In 1865, he was named Major General of the Kansas Militia. He held this important rank for ten years.
Walker also returned to his role as a lawman. He served as the sheriff of Douglas County again from 1868 to 1872. In 1872, he was elected as a City Marshall, another law enforcement position. Beyond law enforcement, Walker also became involved in politics. He was a Republican and served in the State Senate from 1872 until 1874.
Samuel Walker passed away on February 6, 1893, in Lawrence, Kansas. He is buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery.
