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There was nothing picturesque or romantic about the Eighth Kansas, to which most of the Nemaha county men belonged. It is the story of real warfare, sordid, bitter, cruel, severe. No pictures of brilliant attacks and high-handed captures, but long, unnecessary marches over almost impassible roads, only to find when reaching their destination that the march was a false move, the enemy gone and a return necessary. Days without food and nights without rest. Bitter criticisms of careless generalship. Dogged determination to remain in line, and finally an entire regiment falling exhausted on scant beds of damp hay over sodden fields. Days of tramping through blinding rain; wading through rivers to their waists; provisions ordered left behind with the supposition that others would follow the skirmishing regiment, only to find orders reversed after their departure and without food or shelter, wet, disheartened, cold, hungry, but still with their country's need in their hearts, the Eighth Kansas struggled through Mississippi and Ohio for the better part of a year. Then General Rosecrans took charge of their division of the United States army and matters improved. Later General Grant himself was in command of their army. The battle of Lookout Mountain, Orchard Knob, Chattanooga and Chickamauga, big battles o f the war, were some compensation for the unrewarded hardships of those first bitter months. Colonel Martin, editor for many years of the Atchison "Champion" and later governor of Kansas was the Colonel of their regiment. Colonel Martin was a lovable and beloved man. He is one of the rare men to have entered a high position and to have left it with more friends than when he entered.
Captain A. W. Williams, founder of Sabetha, was in charge of company D and John L. Graham, of Albany, was second lieutenant. On the eighth of February. 205 men were mustered in as veteran volunteers and on the twenty-fifth the regiment reached Atchison on a furlough. The town was the home of Colonel Martin and great honor was done to the returned soldiers. These were bells and banners and flags, and parades, speeches, and banquets, with such food as had not been tasted by a soldier boy for three weary, stressful years.
In the battle of Chickamauga the Eighth had lost 267 men, either killed or wounded, out of a total enlistment of 408. But the Eighth never faltered. It saw more fighting and took part in more battles of than any other Kansas regiment. They fought under great generals, and every part of the bitterness and bravery, the gall and glory of war became known to them. A last bitter pill was administered to the 8th Kansas, when the regiment was ordered to Texas shortly before close of the war. They knew the war was reaching its termination and felt the order was intensely unjust. But good soldiers obey orders, and the regiment went to Texas, reaching Indianola July 9. Their route took them across a marsh filled with the poison of malaria. Men, worn and weary from the exactions of active warfare, could not overcome the contagion, and dropped on the line of march in complete exhaustion and unquenchable thirst. The brigade did provost duty in San Antonio until November 29, 1865, when it was mustered out after a service of four years, four months and eleven days, having been one of the earliest in the field. One writer in the regiment says that "Had some generals not thought wars were won by men's legs rather than their guns, the Eighth might have been saved 10,750 miles of tramping through the sultry days of summer and the stormy nights of winter, an experience which inclines the Eighth Kansas warriors to' consider that the war song -tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,' was written for and should have been dedicated to them."
Captain A. W. Williams, founder of Sabetha, was in charge of company D and John L. Graham, of Albany, was second lieutenant. On the eighth of February. 205 men were mustered in as veteran volunteers and on the twenty-fifth the regiment reached Atchison on a furlough. The town was the home of Colonel Martin and great honor was done to the returned soldiers. These were bells and banners and flags, and parades, speeches, and banquets, with such food as had not been tasted by a soldier boy for three weary, stressful years.
In the battle of Chickamauga the Eighth had lost 267 men, either killed or wounded, out of a total enlistment of 408. But the Eighth never faltered. It saw more fighting and took part in more battles of than any other Kansas regiment. They fought under great generals, and every part of the bitterness and bravery, the gall and glory of war became known to them. A last bitter pill was administered to the 8th Kansas, when the regiment was ordered to Texas shortly before close of the war. They knew the war was reaching its termination and felt the order was intensely unjust. But good soldiers obey orders, and the regiment went to Texas, reaching Indianola July 9. Their route took them across a marsh filled with the poison of malaria. Men, worn and weary from the exactions of active warfare, could not overcome the contagion, and dropped on the line of march in complete exhaustion and unquenchable thirst. The brigade did provost duty in San Antonio until November 29, 1865, when it was mustered out after a service of four years, four months and eleven days, having been one of the earliest in the field. One writer in the regiment says that "Had some generals not thought wars were won by men's legs rather than their guns, the Eighth might have been saved 10,750 miles of tramping through the sultry days of summer and the stormy nights of winter, an experience which inclines the Eighth Kansas warriors to' consider that the war song -tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,' was written for and should have been dedicated to them."
I am honored to have an opportunity to portray and honor in some small way , these Men and what they went through. Won't you join me in the 8th Kansas and remember these fine Soldiers from Nemaha County Kansas? Hurry registration close is drawing near sign up here!!