Born in Indiana, Orren (Oren) Arms “Jack” Curtis emigrated to Topeka in Kansas Territory in 1855 to work on behalf of the free state cause. Following Quantrill’s Lawrence Raid, Curtis mustered in on October 2, 1863, as captain of Company F, 15th Kansas Cavalry. Following Price’s Raid, Curtis was accused of hanging three prisoners. Following the pursuit of Price’s retreating army, Curtis was charged with three crimes that occurred in November 1864 near Cane Hill, Arkansas. The first charge was hanging three citizens in his custody. The second charge was defrauding the United States Government by selling captured property for his own benefit. The third charge was entering private property to plunder and pillage and allowing the men from his com-pany to do the same. At a court martial in April 1865, Curtis was found guilty of manslaughter in the fourth degree and sentenced to be dismissed from service and confined to hard labor for one year. Curtis received a dishonorable discharge on April 27, 1865. After only a month in the Missouri State Penitentiary, Curtis was paroled. In 1866, Curtis enlisted in Company H, 19th Kansas Cavalry and was promoted to quartermaster sergeant in October 1868. Curtis mustered out of service on April 18, 1869.
Kansas Adjutant General. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas, 1861-’65, 513.
t_town-ks, “Capt Oren Arms ‘Jack’ Curtis.” Find A Grave, February 7, 2007. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17853810/oren-arms-curtis.
US War Department, “Record of CourtsMartial.” The Army and Navy Official Gazette, Vol. II, No. 45. May 9, 1865, 710
Kansas Memory. “Orren Arms Curtis.” Accessed February 18, 2021. https://www.kshs.org/index.php?url=km/items/view/312786.
Goodrich, “Charley Curtis: From Tepee to Capitol Dome.” HistoryNET. Accessed February 18, 2021. https://www.historynet.com/charley-curtis-tepee-capitol-dome.htm.
“Proceedings of a General Court Martial Convened at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas: U.S. vs Capt. O. A. Curtis, 15th K.V.C.” Topeka Weekly Leader. February 8, 1866.