George Martin
The 14th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
. . . On the 20th of this month, (November), by order of General Blunt, the regiment moved from Fort Scott (which was its place of rendezvous) en route for Fort Smith, Ark., under command of Lieut. Col. Thomas Moonlight, 11th Kansas Volunteers. It arrived at Fort Smith December 3d, 1863, and was at once placed under active duty by Gen. John McNeil, who then commanded at that place. The regiment (being well mounted, and cavalry being much need at the post) at once entered upon an active career of scouting, foraging, picket and other duties. This was kept up during the winter, or until the 23d of February.
Just before this time, Col. Moonlight was relieved from the command of the regiment, Maj. J. G. Brown succeeding him. Under this officer the 14th Kansas marched during the month of February on an expedition into the beautiful but almost deserted Choctaw country. The line of its march was that of Lieutenant Whipple's survey for hte Southern Pacific Railway via Sherman, Texas. Many of the iron bridges built by that pioneer of the Pacific Railroad, the Overland Mail Company, yet remained. The expedition was intended to penetrate to Boggy Depot, C. N., and was to co-operate with a force from Fort Gibson, C. N., under command of Col. Wm. A. Phillips. ON account of orders received from Headquarters District of the Frontier, the entire regiment did not proceed further than North Fork Town, on the Canadian river, eight companies of the regiment returned to Fort Smith under Maj. Brown, and cos. B, K, L and M accompanied Col. Phillips. As the only cavalry with the force it acted as the advance of hte command while penetrating the enemy's country, and when within twenty miles of Boggy Depot, it was found necessary to retreat to avoid a larely superior force, this battalion of cavalry acted as the rear guard of Col. Phillips' little army, doing signal service throughout. . .
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