Rentiesville in McIntosh County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

1st Regiment Kansas Colored Volunteers

1863 - 1865

1st Kansas Volunteers Monument, Honey Springs Battlefield, Oklahoma image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, July 2007

1. 1st Kansas Volunteers Monument, Honey Springs Battlefield, Oklahoma

Inscription. 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 of 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 number, whom they completely routed."

Consisting largely of escaped slaves from Arkansas and Missouri, on January 13, 1863, the 1st Kansas became the fourth Black regiment to officially enter Federal service. Later redesignated as the 79th U.S. Colored Infantry, this command fought with conspicuous bravery in Missouri, Indian Territory, Kansas, and Arkansas. Mustered out in October 1865, the 1st Kansas suffered a total of 177 men killed in action, more combat casualties than any other Kansas regiment.

Erected 1988 by The Community Heritage Recognition Committee - Amanda Fuhr Watts, Chairman.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1833.

Location.

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35° 31.818′ N, 95° 29.162′ W. Marker is in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, in McIntosh County. Marker is on 11th Street, 0.6 miles north of Gertrude Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rentiesville OK 74459, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Five Civilized Tribes in the Battle of Honey Springs (here, next to this marker); Confederate Soldiers (here, next to this marker); Union Soldiers (here, next to this marker); Texas Monument (here, next to this marker); How We Know What We Know · Soldiers' Letters (a few steps from this marker); Honey Springs Depot on the Texas Road (a few steps from this marker); Battlefield Archaeology (a few steps from this marker); The Confederate Headquarters and Reserve Units (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rentiesville.

Additional keywords. U.S. Colored Troops, USCT

USCT reenactors from Washington DC at Honey Springs Battlefield, 1996 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, July 1996

2. USCT reenactors from Washington DC at Honey Springs Battlefield, 1996

Monument Park at Honey Springs Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, July 1996

3. Monument Park at Honey Springs Battlefield

Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,882 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on January 28, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 15, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.