Full Unit History
11th KANSAS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY/CAVALRY
Organized: 8/1862 Camp Lyon Ft. Leavenworth, KS
Mustered In: 9/15/18652 Camp Lyon Ft. Leavenworth, KS
Mustered Out: 8/19 - 9/26/1865 Ft. Leavenworth, KS
Regimental History
REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
The 11th was a three year infantry regiment whose members were drawn from the counties of Leavenworth, Jefferson, Jackson, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Pottawatomie, Riley, Davis, Morris, Lyon, Greenwood, Franklin and Anderson. It was recruited, organized, mounted and equipped for active service in less than one month. Its term of service was in the western theater region (Kansas & Arkansas) of the American Civil War (ACW).
The unit moved into its first campaign on 10/4/1862 by proceeding to Pea Ridge, AR. It then moved to Little Osage and Flint Creek on Arkansas’ western border. Its first fight with the enemy was at Cane Hill, AR (11/28/1862). The conflict resulted in a few men being wounded. It then fought at Prairie Grove, AR (12/7/1862). There, it suffered its full share of losses. A hard march to Van Buren on the Arkansas River saw many men die from bad weather exposure.
1863. By the time the 11th had been in the field for nine months, it had lost over three hundred men. This dropped unit strength to below the level required for an infantry regiment. As a result, the regiment was mounted and its designation changed from infantry to cavalry. Still, even with new recruits, unit strength was not up to cavalry standards until the following spring.
During the spring and summer of ’64 the 11th served, by detachments, throughout Kansas. That fall the regiment took part in all of the marches and fights which resulted from Confed. Gen. Price’s raid into Arkansas.
After Price’s Confederates had been driven from Arkansas, the 11th was ordered to Ft. Riley, KS for refitting and recruitment. Not long thereafter, while at Ft. Laramie, word was received about the Federal successes around Petersburg, VA.
From Ft. Laramie the 11th moved westward where, for four months, they guarded the overland telegraph lines and campaigned against Native American hostiles. Word then came to return to Ft. Leavenworth for final muster.
REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers killed or mortally wounded: 0; Officers died of disease, accidents, etc.:2; Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded: 61; Enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc. 110.
Soldier History
SOLDIER:Residence: Holton Jackson County, KS Age: 23.0 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/19/1862 Rank: Sgt.
Mustered In: 8/30/1862
Mustered Out: 8/31/1865
Highest Rank: Sgt.
Rank At Discharge: Sgt.
Family History
PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
Although one source indicates 12/1839, John Quigley Chase, Jr. was likely born 7/23/1839. The location of his birth was within the State of Indiana.
Fathering John, Jr. was John Q Chase.* John, Sr. had been born in Pennsylvania. His mother was Naomi (nee Quigley) Chase. Naomi was born in Missouri.
In late 1862 John, Jr. (hereafter just John) went to war. Without accessing his military service records all we can say about his period of enlistment is that he survived and returned to civilian life in Kansas.
Not long after The War, John married. His wife was Minerva A. (no nee) Chase. Minerva had been born during 12/1846 in Missouri. It appears that, for a time after being wed, the Chases lived in Missouri before moving to Kansa where they started their family.
In 1900 Minerva would report to the U.S. Census that during their years together she and John had produced thirteen children, six of whom were then living. The names of seven children are found in available documents. They were: Laura A. Chase (b. ca. 1867 KS), Oliver E. Chase (b. 7/1873 KS), Mamie A. Chase (b. ca. 1876 KS), Edna D. Chase (b. 1879 KS), John C. Chase (b. 1/1881 KS), Levileoti “Levi” I. Chase (female b. 6/1885 KS) and Laomadon Chase (male b. 3/1889 CO).
The U.S. Census for 1870 counted the Chase family farming in Augusta Township, Butler County, KS. Five years later, in 1875 and in 1880, they were still in Butler County, but then tilling the soil in Pleasant Township.
As noted by the birth state of Laomadon Chase, sometime after Levileoti (6/1885) was born and before Laomadon came into this world the Chases quitted Kansas for Colorado. Why this move was made and exactly when it happened are unknowns.
1900. The dawn of the twentieth century. By that milestone date, the Chases had quitted Kansas and moved to Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma Territory (OT). Again, the why and when are unknowns. There, John noted his occupation as “house mover.”
John Q. Chase died 6/7/1909 in Maple Falls Whatcom County, WA. Once more, the why and when the family came to the Pacific Northwest are questions unanswered.
Also not known is the cause of our old soldier’s death. We do know, however, that the Soldier’s Relief Fund of the Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) provided fifty dollars ($50) towards the cost of his burial in the Kendall Cemetery.
Dropping back many decades, on 3/11/1867 John had applied for and been granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. An unknown, however, without accessing his pension records housed in the National Archives located in Washington, D.C. is the dollar amount of his monthly stipend.
Forward to 1909, again. On 7/12/1909, after her husband’s passing Minerva petitioned the U.S. Government in order to keep receiving at least of portion of her late husband’s pension allotment. That petition appears to have been honored, but – once more – without her widow’s pension files the size of her monthly payments are not known.
At the time of the 1910 U.S. Census Minerva was residing in Jackson County, MO with son Oliver E. Chase. Ten years later, in 1920 she was living in King County, WA with married daughter Levi and her husband. The date of her passing and her final resting place are not known.
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* At times, John’s middle initial shows up in print as Q rather than O. Also, his 1909 Washington State Death Certificate notes his father’s name as John W. Chase. The W., however, would seem to negate our John’s name being Jr.
Posted: 11/10/2023
Updated:
Cemetery
Buried at Kendall Cemetery