Cindy.... Can't answer all of your questions without some research but here are some general responses.

1. Why would someone from Illinois serve in a Kansas regiment? Two possible reasons. Because there was an overall shortage of men to fill Kansas regiments and because the warfare between the free-state Kansans and the border-ruffian Missourians highlighted the national awareness before Civil War, men from some of the midwestern states flocked to Kansas to join regiments there. Secondly, some officers were detailed to recruit soldiers into Kansas regiments by traveling through the midwestern states, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio.

2. Where is George Simington's possible burial location? Most likely at Fort Scott National Cemetery. There is a smaller national cemetery at Mound City, Kansas but soldiers that died during the war were usually moved to the closest headquarters which for Neosho, would have been Fort Scott.

3. What information is out there on the 2nd Kansas Cavalry and 3rd Kansas Battery? A fair amount. The 2nd Kansas Infantry fought at Wilson's Creek and was mustered out shortly after. The regiment was then re-formed and mounted at the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. The split off to form the 3rd Kansas Battery is interesting in that I am aware of a diary (unpublished) that is from a sergeant of the 3rd Kansas Battery. I have a transcription of most of it and will look through to see if George Simington is mentioned.

Hope this helps some.

Howard Mann