The Second regiment, Kansas colored infantry, was organized in June, 1863, at Ft. Smith, Ark., and among its line officers was First Lieut. John M. Cain, of Atchison. It conducted itself with conspicuous bravery with the army of the frontier, and during the brief occupation of Camden, Ark., by General Steele’s forces, this regiment was employed on picket and forage duty. It showed conspicuous bravery around Poison Springs and Mark’s Mills, and under the able command of Col. Samuel J. Crawford, who subsequently became governor of Kansas, it won for itself an enviable name among the regiments from Kansas, who participated in the Civil war. This regiment was finally discharged from the services at Leavenworth November 27, 1865, after having proved to the Nation the fidelity of the colored soldier. It was in September, 1864, that General Sterling Price created great consternation by an attempted invasion of Kansas, which ended in his defeat on the border by the Union forces, aided by the Kansas State militia. At the time Price started north in his march through Arkansas and Missouri. Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis commanded the Department of Kansas, which included Nebraska, Colorado and Indian Territory, in addition to Kansas. General Curtis had about 4,500 men, all of whom had been employed in protecting the frontiers of Kansas and Colorado, and the overland mail route. At this time General Curtis was near Ft. Kearney, operating against the Indians. On receipt of word announcing the movements of General Price, General Curtis was recalled and reached Kansas in September. A few days later he received word that 3,000 rebels were marching on Ft. Scott, and advised Governor Carney to call the militia into service. At this time George W. Deitzler was major-general of the State militia; John T. Norton was assistant adjutant-general; R. A. Randlett, assistant quartermaster; Samuel S. Atwood, assistant quartermaster; Charles Chadwick, George T. Robinson, Lewis T. Welmorth, John J. Ingalls, Thomas White, Elijah G. Moore, H. Stein, and John A. Leffkler were all majors. Constant reports of a conflicting nature were spread from day to day, regarding the movements of General Price, but the first point to be attacked was Pilot Knob, the engagement commencing September 27 and lasting all day. General Ewing put up a vigorous defense, with a force of about 1,000 men, while the militia commanders in Kansas made preparations for further resistance to the invasion of Price. Meanwhile General Price continued to make headway, and on the fourth of October an order was issued forbidding the transit of boats below Kansas City. When it was discovered that the rebels under Price had not been seriously checked in their movement westward, further efforts were made by General Curtis to prevail upon Governor Kearney to call out the militia, which the Governor seemed disinclined to do. Finally, on October 9, 1864, Major General Deitzler issued an order for