"As to the ferocity of some of the Kansas troops, unlike some Kansas-haters I don't believe there was anything in Kansas water that made those guys so mean. In a sense, they had been fighting the Civil War long before the actual war began. They didn't call it "Bleeding Kansas" for nothing."
The Handford clan moved to Wyandotte in the 1850's during the "voter" migration to Kansas. They did not move there because they were looking for greener pastures, as Joe Handford Sr had been a successful businessman.
G-granddaddy was 16 when he joined and his brother was a year older. This was during the first re-organazation of the 6th in 1862. They had two younger brothers. One joined the 12th Kansas Infantry the following year. If memory serves me right he was 12.(enlisted as "musician") He died at the Fort Smith Hospital of "accidental wounds". In one of the letters I sent you, there is a reference to "little George", "who was chipper as a bird on the Camdon retreat."
Also in one of the other letters there is a reference to "little Stanly", the youngest of the clan. This was after Westport, in which Joseph Sr and his son-in-law participated in as members of the Kansas Militia.
The reason I am posting all of this is too show how dedicated to "the cause" the parents were. They sent off two teenagers and one pre-teen to war. Pretty darn dedicated in my book.
One other item. The family had Quakers in their background. Not sure if this has anything to with anything though.