Fort Scott in Bourbon County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
1st Kansas Colored Infantry
Walk Fort Scott
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
1. 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Marker
Kansas was the first state to recruit, train, and send Black soldiers into combat during the Civil War. The 1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry regiments were mustered into service on the parade ground of Fort Scott. Captain William Mathews was a free Black businessman and a stationmaster on the Underground Railroad. He recruited formerly enslaved men to form the 1st Kansas Colored in August of 1862, making their regiment the first of its kind. Mathews stated that the regiment would join the fight to free "a people who have long suffered oppression and wrong at the hands of our enemies."
Aside:
Brushing teeth too soon after eating or drinking can soften the tooth enamel, especially if you've just been eating or drinking acidic foods.
Erected by Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, LEAD Bourbon County, Let's Make It Easier! and Pathways to a Healthy Kansas. (Marker Number 16.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1862.
Location. 37° 50.335′ N, 94° 42.293′ W. Marker is
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas and specifically in Bleeding Kansas Border War Country. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gunn Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Scott during the Civil War (about 400 feet away); Railroads in Fort Scott (about 500 feet away); Richards Building (about 500 feet away); Gordon Parks (about 600 feet away); Ingham Building (about 600 feet away); Moody Building (about 600 feet away); Memorial Hall (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
2. 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Marker
Also see . . . Downtown Walking Trail (Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce). 20 markers with fun facts were placed in downtown Fort Scott. They also include photos as well as health and life tips. QR code on the marker brings you to this link. (Submitted on October 9, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 9, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
