My primary interest is the 15th Kansas Cavalry since my grandfather, Joseph Bellmore (Bellmard), was a a Private in Company F. Just in case there is a question, he is my grandfather, not a great- or great-great and I have done a great deal of research on the regiment. Given this brief introduction, I have the following query for this forum.

There is a Reeder M. Fish shown as a 1st Lieutenant who was mustered-in Company H, 15th Kansas Cavalry on October 2, 1863. He was later dismissed the service per Special Order No. 232, War Department, Adjutant General Office, July 9, 1864. There is also a Reeder M. Fish who was mustered-in as a Chaplain in the 10th Kansas Infantry on September 4, 1861 with no evidence of muster-out on file. This brings up a number of questions.

1. Is this the same individual? (Seems likely because of the unusual name.)
2. Was "Chaplain" a recognized rank as an officer?
3. Why didn't all the other regiments have a Chaplain (the 15th Kansas didn't)?
4. Why would a Chaplain, supposedly a man of the cloth, want to become a 1st Lieutenant? (Shades of Colonel John Chivington of Sand Creek Massacre fame?)
5. Why was Fish dismissed from the service in 1864?

Jim Benbrook
Gilbert, AZ