The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-10-29
rHR WurxRN KANSAS MILITIA.

The Governors 9 call on the Militia to rally
to the defence Of Kansas and prevent an in
vasion Of our State by the rebel hordes under
Price, was most nobly responded to, and by
no section more 50 than Western Kansas.-
Menaced by savage foes on their own border,
the 18th Z. S. NJ. sprang quickly to arms to
defend the Eastern border from devastation by
Quantrelrs, Todds and Andersons inhuman
guerrillas, leaving for the time being their
own homes almost defenceless. We believe
that if the authorities had given the matter
thought, Western Kansas in her exposed situ-
alton would not have been called upon to fur
nish troops to be taken from her limits but as
it was they rallied, and were well on their way
for the scene of action before measures had
been adopted which led to their being retained
in the vicinity of home.
Upon receipt of the order calling into SER
vice all of our able-bodied population to march
to Olathe, distance of $50 miles, our leading
citizens, while doing all in their power to for
ward the object of the call, feeling it unwise
and unjust to call so far away from home the
men who had stood since last spring as a bull
wark between the hostile tribes Of Indians on
the plains and the more densely settled portion
of the State, and leave. their own homes un-
protected, dispatched Maj. Blakely to Topeka
to confer with the Governor, that the order
might be revoked so far as we were concerned,
or at least modified so that our men might not
have to leave unless absolutely needed. The
Governor being absent, the messenger failed to
see him, but laid statement of the facts be-
fore his Adjutant General, Col. Holiday. who,
after due consideration, promptly took the re-
sponsibility Of issuing an order for the regi-
ment to rendezvous at Fort Riley, ready to
march at an hours notice. for which he has
the thanks of our citizens.
This order met the regiment six miles below
Manhattan, on Sunday evening the 23d inst,
pushing forward in obedience to orders. The
next morning they took up their return march
to Fort Riley, where they arrived that evening
and went into camp. Here they remained un-
til Wednesday, the Goth inst, anxiously await
ing orders to disband or to march to the
front, and with very few exceptions without
grumbling or fault-fnaing. 1t was, however,
peculiarly trying to men to be so near home,
with their crops ungathered and liable to de-
struction by cattle and prairie fires, their hay
and stacked grain unprotected, and unable to
attend to it; to have their plans unfinished
and their business lying idle and unable to
finish or resume the same. But their country
demanded these sacrifices, and they submitted
without murmurinp.
On Wednesday, the 26th inst, by reason Of
the good news which arrived from the front,
Col. Price deemed it unnecessary to longer de-
tain the men from their homes and business
and therefore took the responsibility of reliev'
ing the men from duty until further orders
The order relieving the men was read on dress
parade, at the conclusion of (which the regi'
ment gave three rousing cheers respectively
for Col. Price, Lieut.-Col. Gordon and Maj
Blakely. and in the utmost good humor pre-
pared to. return to their homes.