James Ketner.
Birth: Jun. 30, 1836, Ohio.
Death: Feb. 19, 1906, Junction City, Geary County, Kansas
Photo was provided by Thomas Fisher
Civil War Union brevet Brigadier General. A lawyer and politician from Kansas, he became a Major in the 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. He was transferred to the 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry retaining the rank of Major. On March 13, 1865, he was made a Brevet Brigadier General for meritorious and gallant services during the war. From 1883 to 1885, he was a Major General of the Kansas National Guard. After the war he resumed his career as lawyer and politician. He died in Junction City on February 19, 1906.
Authors Note. I would like to thank ( Thomas Fisher ) who allow me to repost his information here which was originally posted at ( Find a Grave.)
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JANUARY 14, 1864.-Scout to Baldwin's Ferry, Big Black River, Miss.
Report of Major James Ketner, First Kansas Mounted Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST KANSAS MOUNTED INFANTRY,
January 15, 1864.
COLONEL: In obedience to your orders of January 14, I took command of Companies A, B, F, and G, in all about 40 men, and proceeded with them to Baldwin's Ferry for the purpose, as ordered, of destroying any and all flat-boats, ferries, or other means of crossing the river that I might find at or in the vicinity of said ferry. On my way to the ferry, and while there, I saw no signs or indications of any enemy, and in fact saw nothing by which the rebels or any one else could cross the river. I then divided my command and sent Lieutenant and Adjt. John A. Henry with 10 men up the river.
About 1 mile above the ferry he discovered a place where citizens or others had been floating cotton across the river, and about one half mile farther up he discovered on the opposite side of the river a small skiff half full of water and evidently not in use by any once. At Webb's he discovered 6 bales of the cotton that had been floated across the river from Baldwin's Ferry. Both up and down the river there is no road, so that we were compelled to pick our way through undergrowth, over fallen trees, and through swamp and almost impassable marshes. With the remaining 30 men I started down the river, but could not get to the river at any point, and after traveling over about 6 miles of territory below the ferry I returned to camp without having seen any of the enemy or even hearing of them.
Citizens through the country all tell me that no rebels have been over the river since the raid about Christmas. I found no boats of any description, nor could I find any evidences of crossing at any point. Could learn of only two points of crossing, to with Baldwin's and Hall's Ferries. I would suggest as the only feasible plan at present that a skiff be manned at the bridge and sent down the river. I am satisfied if there are any private ferries, flat-boats, skiffs, or other means of crossing the river they can in this way be discovered; and if, which is possible, although not very probable, the party should be surprised on their way down, if necessary they can abandon the skiff on the west side of the river and escape, and thus accomplish the object of their mission. The river is now very high, and I am of the opinion that no rebels are crossing at all.
I am, sir, your obedient servant, JAMES KETNER, Major, Commanding Detachment.
Birth: Jun. 30, 1836, Ohio.
Death: Feb. 19, 1906, Junction City, Geary County, Kansas
Photo was provided by Thomas Fisher
Civil War Union brevet Brigadier General. A lawyer and politician from Kansas, he became a Major in the 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. He was transferred to the 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry retaining the rank of Major. On March 13, 1865, he was made a Brevet Brigadier General for meritorious and gallant services during the war. From 1883 to 1885, he was a Major General of the Kansas National Guard. After the war he resumed his career as lawyer and politician. He died in Junction City on February 19, 1906.
Authors Note. I would like to thank ( Thomas Fisher ) who allow me to repost his information here which was originally posted at ( Find a Grave.)
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JANUARY 14, 1864.-Scout to Baldwin's Ferry, Big Black River, Miss.
Report of Major James Ketner, First Kansas Mounted Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST KANSAS MOUNTED INFANTRY,
January 15, 1864.
COLONEL: In obedience to your orders of January 14, I took command of Companies A, B, F, and G, in all about 40 men, and proceeded with them to Baldwin's Ferry for the purpose, as ordered, of destroying any and all flat-boats, ferries, or other means of crossing the river that I might find at or in the vicinity of said ferry. On my way to the ferry, and while there, I saw no signs or indications of any enemy, and in fact saw nothing by which the rebels or any one else could cross the river. I then divided my command and sent Lieutenant and Adjt. John A. Henry with 10 men up the river.
About 1 mile above the ferry he discovered a place where citizens or others had been floating cotton across the river, and about one half mile farther up he discovered on the opposite side of the river a small skiff half full of water and evidently not in use by any once. At Webb's he discovered 6 bales of the cotton that had been floated across the river from Baldwin's Ferry. Both up and down the river there is no road, so that we were compelled to pick our way through undergrowth, over fallen trees, and through swamp and almost impassable marshes. With the remaining 30 men I started down the river, but could not get to the river at any point, and after traveling over about 6 miles of territory below the ferry I returned to camp without having seen any of the enemy or even hearing of them.
Citizens through the country all tell me that no rebels have been over the river since the raid about Christmas. I found no boats of any description, nor could I find any evidences of crossing at any point. Could learn of only two points of crossing, to with Baldwin's and Hall's Ferries. I would suggest as the only feasible plan at present that a skiff be manned at the bridge and sent down the river. I am satisfied if there are any private ferries, flat-boats, skiffs, or other means of crossing the river they can in this way be discovered; and if, which is possible, although not very probable, the party should be surprised on their way down, if necessary they can abandon the skiff on the west side of the river and escape, and thus accomplish the object of their mission. The river is now very high, and I am of the opinion that no rebels are crossing at all.
I am, sir, your obedient servant, JAMES KETNER, Major, Commanding Detachment.
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