Col. James Montgomery

6th Kansas State Militia

James Montgomery

(History of the State of Kansas by Cutler)

Born in Ohio, James Montgomery moved with his parents to Kentucky and worked as a teacher for several years. Also in Kentucky, Montgomery worked as a preacher. In 1852, Montgomery moved to Missouri, intending to relocate again as soon as the Kansas Territory was established. In 1854, Montgomery staked a claim about 5 miles west of Mound City, Kansas. Montgomery soon became active in the Free State movement and organized a “Self-Protective Company” of likeminded men. Montgomery became well known as the leader of Free State men in southeastern Kansas. At the start of the Civil War, Mont-gomery was commissioned colonel of the 3d Kansas Infantry on July 24, 1861. But the organization of the regiment was never completed and was consoli-dated with 4th Kansas Infantry to form 10th Kansas Infantry on April 3, 1862. Montgomery served as the 10th Kansas Infantry’s colonel but in January 1863, Montgomery transferred to South Carolina where he was authorized to raise a regiment of free blacks and refugee former slaves. On May 22, 1863, Mont-gomery completed the regiment’s organization and became colonel of the 2d South Carolina Colored Infantry. The regiment was later reorganized as the 34th US Colored Infantry. On September 23, 1864, Montgomery resigned his commission and returned home to Kansas. When Kansas Governor Thomas Carney called out the militia, Montgomery traveled to militia headquarters to offer his services. When the colonel of the 6th Kansas State Militia was arrested by Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt, the regiment elected James Montgomery their colonel. After the war, Montgomery returned home to his farm west of Mound City in Linn County.

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