, 1862-05-15
The New Military Department of
Kansas and its Com 8hAer

Kansas and its 8omn18nder,
Correspondence Of the Chlesgo Tsibuuo1
LEAyENwoRTH, KRl4zas, May 9, 1eE94
The restoration Of the Department of KAN
sas, {as established and defined uaaer> the
command Of Major General Hunter,) with IN
anti-tlaTcry commander, occasions the llyeli-
est qualification. Aud as this Department is
3l::e1y to attract :-essneral attention, brief
eAtt:S OF the nan to whom it has been en-
trusted will be read witu interest,", especially
as he Is one Of those bold, marked, Individual
characters which revolutions call from com-
raratirc obEcuriry into large and honorable
prominence.
General James 6. Blunt VA. born h Maine
in 1896. He removed to Ohio il 1915, where
be practlced medicine up TO 1856. The appeal
OF The Free State men of Kansas at this time
obtained q speedy response from him, and he
arrived in our State in the Fall Of the year,
settling IN Anderson county, and still contin-
ulDg the practice Of his profession. In all the
early struggles and priyaiions Of our people,
he bore conspicuous and honorable part
and when Convention was called to estab-
fsh 8 Pfr7Hanent Constitution for the State,
he was sent as member thereof with singular
unauimlty. In the annals Of that memorable
body no name appears more honorably than
that Of james G. Blunt. Bold, earnest, clear,
strong. he appeared tic unfli1ching advocate
Of equal rights and human liberty.
When the rebellion called the nation to
arms General Blunt was foremost among the
first in raising, organizing and disciplining our
hnrErv ~
Colonel OF tie Third Kansas regiment. In that
famous march Of the Kansas Brigade through
Missouri, under the command Of Gen. Lane,
General Blunt then Co1oneD was the most
able, alert and untirinx Of Lanes assistants.
One Of Blunt's expeditions may be recounted
to show the character Of the man.
4 gang Of rufians, under the lead OF one
Matthews. (a.notorious and most adroit bail
dit committed great depredations in Southern
hansas and then fell back into McCullough's
lines, in the Indian Territory. Blunt asked
permission to pursue and destroy lin. It vas
hesitatinGly granted, as the design was consid-
cred trlJ,rac:icable. BIaut started with l5o
men, marched 100 miles in four nights, laying
By curing the day. He overlook the bandits,
surprised them in their block houses, killed
Matt ht VS. and took his men prisoners, return
ing to Kansas within ten days from the time
Mccullough knowing, through spies, of tile
movement. But General Blunt took McCul-
lougl's scouts prisoners, and the first the lat
ter heard of Blunt he had accom-
pli.hcd I'LL he desired and was safe
III Kansas, without the loss Of man.
was presumed that Price would throw col
umn west Of Kansas City, rayage Kansas and
fall back to ATkanEes along our State line, de-
stroyinS as he went. The alarm was general.
Lane had received peremptory orders to burn
Ratsae x; City ard FIJI back upon Leayenworth.
Blnnt was called into council. He advised
that the order should be disobeycd, as the exc
cution would invite an advance from the
rebels. But Kansas vas in dreadful peril, and
it seemed as though nothing could prevent her
from devastation. Blunt asked for four hun
dred men to find out Prices movements. He
was told that he might fake the men, but
neither General Lane nor Sturgis would order
him on the perlIous reconnaissance. Blunt
took the men and the responsibility. He
marched forty miles in one ni5ht, and discoy-
cred all that 1t was essential to know. lie
came 20 ntar TO Prices forces as to fall in with
scattering parties. His presence was made
known to Price and his force SO exaggerated
that Price ordered 4 direct southern retreat,
and left Kansas out Of his programme. Thus
WAS Kansas saved.
AA0oN 4ASIoSaio ~ ~ oIOH lt1E EuskTAtLEE
the man. His plans IRE the rcadiest-his exc
cltlons marvellous. Though without rou-
tine military cducstion he has military &C.
Mus: which be could neyer gather from hooks
| or schools. The thing Is In him. He always
! possessed the confidence and affection Of his
| but "co,ae on" and the roughcst soldier fared
equally well With his commander.
! Gen Blunt has never been absent from hls
regiment day, except on business. From
the beginning of his service he has seen his
family but twice, and then only for few
hours. When some one told him he ought te
| 60 to Washington to work for 4 Bri!5sd1srship
he responded that the place for soldier wal
! in Il G field, and that a man who would forsakt
it in this hour OF peril to work for personal ad
vancenent, ought to be SHOT lie declined
even making request for promotion. ''rl
all"
The Generals is thoroughly md radically anti
slavery. Freedom to him has a meaning
tou shall hear no more about kidnappers O.
kidnapping in Kansas unless it be that somc Q
the wrctchcs ore caught and hung. No Genera
Orders, i'll appear hereafter outragiug the sent
| meDt OF our people. General Blunt Is terribl,
in earnest in this matter OF destroying the re
bellion, and Of making "the causc Of the va
the end OF the war;
Though SO suddenly elevated to such re
fFoneiblc position as the head Of this grea
Department from which two expeditions ar
even now being fitted out tone for Nav Mex
| ico-the other from the Indian Territory
General Blunt wears his houors mcek1y. 81
is accrsslp1e to a1l, aud dispatches busincs
With marvellous facisity.
The General is IF medium height, strong1
built, with face full of intelligence. and ofu
Doubted PUCK He has an iron &i!l aud grca
powers Of mental aud physical endurance. ]
Is part Of bis plan to concentrate stron
iorce IN this Department, ready to throw upo
TIE broken columns and scattered forces {
Beanr gard (pT< missing defeat Of the rebel
b5 HalIcck) on the west Of the Mississippi
In A1kansas and Texas, aud he is now ut wor
getting the troops up TO the highest state {
discipline
On the whole, then, you may rest assure
that the country will hear more Of Gen Blur
and Of the Department Of Kansas. The Pre-;
ident has acted most wisely in restoring tn
Department, and with equal wisdom in put
ting in command the man best qualiled fo
the responsible position JARVIS.
| The New York Apnfver1afies-Con
| den8Hd Statement