The Kansas in the Civil War Message Board

Chaplain Benjamin L. Read, 15th Kansas Cavalry

In a recent post I indicated that a certain Benjamin L. Read was the Chaplain of the 15th Kansas Cavalry. Read was mustered in October 23, 1863 and mustered out with the regiment on October 19, 1865. While doing some research on Company M, 15th Kansas, which was primarily raised in Linn County, Kansas, I found an interesting description of the Marais des Cygnes Massacre in William Ansel Mitchell's "Linn County, Kansas, A History," Campbell-Gates, Kansas City (1928). The Massacre took place on May 19, 1858 northeast of Trading Post, Kansas, and 11 Free-State settlers of Kansas were lined up to face a firing squad composed of some 30 Proslavery men from Missouri led by Charles Hamelton. Five Free-Staters were killed outright, five were injured, and one escaped injury. Among the Free-Staters who were injured was Rev. Benjamin L. Reed, a Baptist preacher who was shot in the abdomen but survived his injury to live until 1890. Apparently Hamelton ordered that Reed be shot because he had previously gone to Westport Landing and bought fifty Sharps rifles which were then distributed among the settlers to aid them in protecting the families.

Could this be the same man? His name is almost idential, his profession certainly fits, and he would obviously be a strong candidate to join the "red-leg" regiment. I have been unable to find any further info to confirm this and any help would be appreciated.

Jim Benbrook

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Chaplain Benjamin L. Read, 15th Kansas Cavalry
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