1ST REGIMENT KANSAS COLORED VOLUNTEERS MEMORIAL

ON JULY 17, 1863, AT THE BATTLE OF HONEY SPRINGS, THE 1ST KANSAS COLORED VOLUNTEERS WROTE A STIRRING PAGE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, BECOMING ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK UNITS IN THE CIVIL WAR TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN A UNION VICTORY. AS MAJOR GENERAL JAMES G. BLUNT, THE UNION COMMANDER AT HONEY SPRINGS, REPORTED: “THE FIRST KANSAS (COLORED) PARTICULARLY DISTINGUISHED ITSELF. THEY FOUGHT LIKE VETERANS, AND PRESERVED THEIR LINE UNBROKEN THROUGHOUT THE ENGAGEMENT. THEIR COOLNESS AND BRAVERY I HAVE NEVER SEEN SURPASSED; THEY WERE IN THE HOTTEST OF THE FIGHT AND OPPOSED TO TEXAS TROOPS TWICE THEIR NUMBERS, WHO THEY COMPLETELY ROUTED.”